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PRE-K UPDATE
OCTOBER 22, 2020
The Long Island Pre-K Initiative is proud to be part of Long Island's Regional Technical Assistance Center for Pre-K and Early Education (LI-RTAC). Visit its web page for links to all partner organizations. Many have important COVID-19-related resources to offer:  www.nassauboces.org/rtac 

Dolls, drama and "embodied learning"-- this kind of acting out is important for learning

Because of COVID-19, educators have to face the new challenges of remote teaching or classrooms where children must stay physically distanced. It may not be easy to make sure students move and engage in dramatic play--but it's as important as ever.

In an "oldie but goodie" from public radio, Katrina Schwartz runs down the research on how children use their bodies to learn. Acting out a math problem, for example, results in better understanding of the answer. Some studies even show that babies who move more--and earlier--do better academically later on. "We can start leveraging the power of our bodies to help us learn, think and perform our best," says one neurologist. Read more.
child playing doctor with toy at home

"Why dolls belong in Kindergarten" is the title of an article from We Are Teachers. And it's a surprisingly controversial topic these days. "Unfortunately as we've shifted academic benchmarks to the lower grades, young children in school have lost their dress-up closets, play kitchens and dolls," writes Kimmie Fink, who taught for 13 years.

In an article written last March, just before the pandemic hit, she runs down seven ways that dolls are important for developing social-emotional, self-care and communication skills. Playing with dolls can help children understand that people have feelings, can promote a sense of responsibility ("Time to change your diaper!") and encourage creative thinking. "Free play actually provides the prerequisites (think: memory, symbol recognition) for more sophisticated learning later on." Read more.

Authors and child development experts Amber and Andy Ankowski want people to know that "Your child is so....dramatic!" can be a real compliment. The ability to understand emotions "can positively affect self-esteem, personal relationships, career success and overall happiness," they say. So the more a child plays pretend, the more they can develop empathy. In an article for PBS Parents, the Ankowskis offer several drama games that can get kids started, from Funny Faces to Mirror, Mirror to Magic Rocks. Click here if you want to know more.

YOUR CLASSROOM
Tips for keeping kids social while physically distanced
Tag with pool noodles, using puppets for dramatic play, and a game of animal
Red and blue sock puppets argue on the colorful yellow background
charades are just three of the suggestions offered by the Oregon Department of Education for keeping children active and engaged while staying safely separated. Supplies for physical distance success include not just the pool noodles but sidewalk chalk, mats for children to sit on (separately) and hula hoops (how about a dance party where kids stay inside their hoop?). Read more.
 
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
Last chance to register for "Now That We're Back" and this month's Professional Learning Circle
Don't miss out on one of the free webinars we're offering in the last week of October and first week in November. As always, these sessions are free and offered via Zoom, but pre-registration is required.
Happy Young Beautiful Woman Using Laptop_ Indoors

Now That We're Back: How Do We Continue to Support Students, Families and Ourselves
Date: Monday, October 26, 2020
Time: 4:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Presenter: David Hymowitz

Now That We're Back: Strategies for Program Leaders
Date: Monday, November 2, 2020
Time: 4:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Presenter: David Hymowitz

Professional Learning Circle--Sharing How We Work With Children With Special Needs
Date: Wednesday, October 28, 2020
Time: 7:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
Guest expert: Cindy Samide, Assistant Director for Special Education, Roslyn Public Schools

Play All Day: Structures and Strategies for Joyful, Reponsive and Exploratory Learning--Part Two
Date: Wednesday, November 4, 2020
Time: 5:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Presenter: Kristi Mraz, author of Purposeful Play

And coming in December:

Picture Books that Promote Inclusion and Build Community
Date: Wednesday, December 2, 2020
Time: 4:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Presenter: Sarah Cordova, nationally recognized literacy consultant

FROM OUR PARTNERS
Early Childhood Career Development Center offering new series of workshops
Interested in advancing your career by applying to colleges? There's a workshop just for you on Thursday, October 29 at 6:00 p.m. Wondering if you can use social media, such as LinkedIn and Twitter, to advance your career? There's a session on Thursday,  December 10 at 6:00 p.m.  Click here for more information about free virtual workshops and to register.

The Career Development Center, in partnership with the Child Care Councils of Nassau and Suffolk, offers a range of free, comprehensive services to current and aspiring early childhood professionals. For details, email:  careercenter.longisland@earlychildhoodny.org
HELP WANTED
This week's job listings for early ed on Long Island

For the Long Island Head Start positions listed below
Email resume to humanresources@liheadstart.org or fax to 631-758-2953

Full-Time Teacher
Long Island Head Start, Amityville, Bay Shore, Bridgehampton, Southampton

Full-Time Certified Teacher
Long Island Head Start, Southampton

Full-Time Teacher I
Long Island Early Head Start, Islip

Full-Time Teacher II
Long Island Early Head Start, Central Brookhaven

Full-Time Family Educator/Home Visitor--Bilingual
Long Island Early Head Start, Patchogue

Full-Time Family Advocate
Long Island Head Start, Bay Area, Bay Shore, Bellport

Full-Time Temporary Family Advocate--Bilingual
Long Island Head Start, Central Brookhaven, Patchogue

Full-Time Center Manager
Long Island Head Start, Huntington

Full-Time Teacher Assistant
Long Island Head Start, various locations

Full-Time FCP Specialist--Bilingual
Full-Time EHS-CCP Assistant
EHS-CCP Disabilities Services Consultant (Birth to 2)
Long Island Head Start, Central Administration, Patchogue

Here's how to add your school's staffing needs to this list:
 
Send an e-mail to prek@nasboces.org with the subject line "List our position."
 
In the body of the e-mail, include the following information:
 
For our records: 
  • Your name
  • Your position
  • Your e-mail and phone number
For the listing in our e-newsletter 
  • The name of your school and the town it's located in. You can include your web address, if you have one.
  • A very brief description of the position or positions you want to fill. (For example: "Part-time Teacher Assistant" or "Full-time Pre-K Teacher."
  • Information about how potential applicants should contact your for details or to apply. (For example: "Call Jane Smith at 631-xxx-xxxx" or "Send e-mail to jane.smith@schoolname.org") 
It's important to understand that:
 
We will not include information about salary. We will not include any descriptions of your school or program, although we can include a link to your school's web site.
 
We will publish your information a single time. If you still have openings, you can e-mail us again with the details and we will run the information again.
 
Our e-newsletter is typically sent out on Wednesday mornings. However, it may be mailed on a different day, depending on content or technical considerations. 
 
The Long Island Pre-K Initiative reserves the right to edit information; space in the e-newsletter is very limited.
 

About Us
The Long Island Pre-K Initiative is a collaborating partner in the state-funded Regional Technical Assistance Center, which supports Pre-K and early childhood education on Long Island. The other collaborating partners are the three Long Island BOCES, the Child Care Council of Nassau, Inc., the Child Care Council of Suffolk, Inc. and the Family Leadership Network. 




NASSAU BOCES 
71 Clinton Road, Garden City, NY 11530-9195
Phone: (516) 396-2220  Fax: (516)-396-2355
www.nassauboces.org