Summer is Here!

Are you ready?

Check Your Training Hours!

The end of the training year is quickly approaching. As a reminder, Certified providers must complete nine hours and Type II providers must complete 15 hours of training between July 1st and June 30th.

(For providers who are in their first or second year of child care, there are special considerations when determining your training year. For more information, check out https://ece.trc.eku.edu/ece/resources/files/128.)

Not sure how many hours you have currently? Check your ECE-TRIS training record! If you need assistance, reach out to your Family Child Care Specialist who can assist you in locating your training record, as well as help you find training opportunities that are geared towards your interests. If you are in your first or second year and need help determining your training schedule, they can assist with that information as well!

Need additional hours to meet your training requirement?

Join us in June for Strengthening Business Practices training on Tuesday nights in June - 6, 13, 20, and 27th from 5:30 to 8:30 CST!

This training series is FREE and consists of four three-hour online training sessions for center-based programs (or three three-hour training sessions for Family Child Care providers with an option to join in on the fourth session). This could be a great way to get your hours in for the year if you’re still looking for training. You must take all three sessions to receive ECE-TRIS credit.

If you are a Family Child Care Provider that received the Startup Grant funds, this training covers one of the grant requirements.

For more information, or to register, please visit:

https://www.wku.edu/fccn/calendar/index.php?eventid=78210

Check out our last group of Strengthening Business Practice participants! We can’t wait to hear how they apply what they learned in their programs!

As another year of training comes to a close, we want to say a big THANK YOU! to all of the child care providers that have joined us. Whether it has been in person, on Zoom, or through independent studies on your own time, we have truly enjoyed getting to know all of you and supporting you in your professional development. We look forward to seeing you again in our 2023-2024 training year!

Summer Activity

The Colors of Nature

You will need a paper plate, clothespins, and markers or some way to show different colors (like paint swatches). On your paper plate, color squares all around the rim so each color has one square. You can either hot glue (teacher only), tape, or regular glue the clothespins to each color square. For extra support, color the clothespin the same color as the square! When the glue is dry and the clothespin is secure, take the color plates outside or on a nature walk and have the children match pieces of nature with the chosen colors. They can keep the item pinned to the color and everyone can see what each child found for each color. This activity highlights key learning aspects such as color matching, environment exploration, basic science principles, and vocabulary building. A great way to get the younger ones started is to point out specific items that match the colors on the plate. To increase the challenge, have the older children make their own plate and choose the colors they want to find in nature. If you can’t find a color on the plate, you can point out something big that matches. On my cousin’s plate, he was missing the blue, but held it up towards the sky and said, “I found a match!”

Beat The Heat!

With the summer heat heading our way, it is important to remain weather aware for all of our outdoor playtime! The Division of Child Care provided us with a resource on different temperatures at different wind chill and heat index levels. This resource also provides tips on what signs to watch for on a warm day. You can use this resource in your program as a way to know when it is too hot, too cold, or just right to go outside!

https://www.chfs.ky.gov/agencies/dcbs/dcc/Documents/weatherwatchforchildcareproviders.pdf

Professional Development Training

View the WKU FCCN Training Calendar for more information and to register.

The WKU FCCN delivers comprehensive, high-quality, and cost-effective face-to-face professional development opportunities. Our training focuses on topics of ongoing interest, recent innovations and initiatives, and current best practices in all content areas.

June 5th - Using Assessment Tools In the Classroom - Henderson, KY

June 10th - Sign Language for Classroom Management - Madisonville, KY

This 6-hour course fulfills the mandatory orientation requirement for early care and education professionals in Kentucky. Successful completion of this course satisfies the Division of Child Care’s (DCC) new regulatory requirement for each center to ensure that every staff member has received training on first aid and CPR.

Upcoming Dates:

July 18th & 19th - Online via Zoom

FREE TRAINING

The Family Child Care Network will be offering a 4-part training series focusing on strengthening business practices. The purpose of this training is to strengthen childcare providers’ foundational knowledge of fiscal terms, concepts, and practices. It encourages providers to realize the importance of financial planning to the sustainability of their business. It provides tips and best practices to help break down fiscal processes into manageable steps.

This training is intended to be one part of the learning process to build providers’ understanding of good business practices.

Whenever possible, it is recommended that this training be supplemented with technical assistance and ongoing peer-to-peer sharing opportunities such as communities of practice. During this training, you will be introduced to financial reports that can help you better manage your center’s finances. We will also be helping you understand the concept of internal controls and how they can strengthen your program's fiscal health. Sign up now for the next series that begins in June!

Each month the WKU FCCN provides independent studies. Independent studies are online and work at your own pace. They are available for registration until the 15th of each month. Independent studies must be completed within two weeks.

Topics include:

Being Prepared for Emergencies
Curriculum-based Assessment
Developmental Screening
Evaluating Your Services
Family Engagement
Family Engagement: Literacy Bags
Health, Safety, and Nutrition
Infant and Toddler Development
Early Childhood Environments: Learning through Routines and Rituals
Language and Communication for Infant and Toddlers
Let’s Get Appy
Preventing Burnout
Recognizing and Reporting Child Abuse Neglect and Safe Sleep
Science in an Early Learning Classroom
Social Studies in an Early Learning Classroom
The Stressed Child
The Value of Play

Join us for live training from the comfort of your home!

We strive to provide personal, live sessions that are welcoming to all that allow for networking no matter where in Kentucky you live.

You do not need any special skills to attend, however you do need access to the internet and a free Zoom account.

June 8th - Is the CDA Right For Me?

Do you need CPR and First Aid?

FOR A LIMITED TIME GET IT FREE!

The WKU CCR&R offers both hybrid and face-to-face sessions. During hybrid sessions, the session content is online and the skills check is in person. Please make sure you are registering for the session that best meets your needs.

In-Person Classed: June 17th

Hybrid Class: June 17th

Training Calendar

A publication of the WKU Family Child Care Network

Funded through Family Childcare Support Award SC 7362100001482

www.wku.edu/fccn