HELLO,
Here is your March EYMPD newsletter that I hope finds you well, and looking forward to spring.

This month’s edition is dedicated to the topic of literacy. Literacy is a skill that is learned that requires much effort, dedication, and commitment; it also involves curiosity, engagement, and fun! As we all know, literacy starts very early on, way before a child is made aware of what an alphabet is. Being a competent reader/writer can set you up for success, and adversely, struggling with literacy can result in a lifetime of adversity.
 
I hope you enjoy the few resources on literacy included in this newsletter. Please share any resources of yours on the topic that you may have with our Early Years Community. You can do so by sending them to me for distribution. Thank you~

On a personal note, lately, I have been enjoying baking rye bread. I love easy recipes not involving too many ingredients, or specialized equipment, that do not leave one’s kitchen in need of a major clean-up. As you can see in the photo, a bit of the bread had been eaten before I managed to take a snap of it; it is that delicious. Do you also like to bake bread and have a recipe to share? If so, I would love to hear about it!

Stay in touch,
Kasia Oxley, Children’s Services Community Facilitator, Children’s Programs and Services
Work Cell: (705) 644-1533
Please note that the information contained in this newsletter is intended to encourage conversation and self-reflection and is not to be considered as advice. 
Early Educational Milestones as Predictors of Lifelong Academic Achievement, Midlife Adjustment, and Longevity Paper

Time commitment: approximately 25 minutes, will vary depending on depth of exploration
Areas of interest: literacy, lifelong academic attainment, school academic performance
Format: text


This study gathered follow-up data from the Terman Life Cycle Study (N = 1,023) to examine how age at first reading and age at school entry relate to grade school academic performance, lifelong educational attainment, midlife health and mental adjustment, and longevity across eight decades.

Early reading was associated with early academic success, but less lifelong educational attainment and worse midlife adjustment. Early school entry was associated with less educational attainment, worse midlife adjustment, and most importantly, increased mortality risk. Personality, midlife adjustment, and educational attainment partially mediated the school entry-longevity association (controlling for age, sex, personal characteristics, and home environment factors).

Although the sample is limited in some respects and care should be taken in generalizing the results, findings do confirm the importance of lifespan approaches in understanding the effects of education on individual patterns within social contexts.
All Things Literacy – Rotary District 5190 Podcast

Time commitment: 24 minutes, 39 seconds
Areas of interest: literacy, tips, stats
Format: podcast


Diane Barone, foundation professor of literacy in the College of Education at the University of Nevada, Reno, on all things literacy.rting phrases like "for a limited time only" or "only 7 remaining!"
Literacy Instruction for Students with Significant Disabilities

Time commitment: will vary depending on depth of exploration
Areas of interest: literacy, disabilities, strategies
Format: website


Literacy Instruction for Students with Significant Disabilities offers information, research-based instructional approaches, and effective instructional and learning strategies to support school leaders, teachers, and other specialists working to better meet the literacy and communication needs of students with significant disabilities, including students with:

  • moderate to severe cognitive disabilities
  • complex communication needs
  • multiple disabilities including deaf/blindness and/or physical access challenges
Sesame Street Every Day is Reading and Writing Day program

Time commitment: will vary depending on depth of exploration
Areas of interest: literacy, parental engagement, tips
Format: website, video, posters, brochures


Every Day is a Reading and Writing Day is a multimedia program that offers a comprehensive set of resources to support children's early literacy development. Each component of this initiative is developed to help young children and families make the most of everyday opportunities to talk, read, and write together.
Reading Rockets website


Time commitment: will vary depending on depth of exploration
Areas of interest: literacy, research, guides, resources, tips
Format: website

Reading Rockets is a national multimedia project that offers a wealth of research-based reading strategies, lessons, and activities designed to help young children learn how to read and read better.
Please write to Kasia to let her know your thoughts on literacy or any other topic for a chance to win a resource of your choice
(value of up to $50.00)
EARLY YEARS PROFESSIONALS IN MUSKOKA
Danielle Wadia
What is your current job, and how did you arrive at it, in other words why do you do what you do?
I’m the Case Aide for Children’s Programs at the District of Muskoka. Specifically, I complete intake for Child Care Fee Subsidy, I manage the waitlist and family registration for the Muskoka Home Child Care Agency, and I assist Kasia with Professional Development and these Early Years Newsletters.
Although my education is in Psychology and Social Service Work, I have always had a focus and passion for working with children or the realm of children’s services. I understand the importance that positive childhood experiences play and the impact it can have on development.

Without disclosing confidential information, please tell me about how your involvement within the early years profession created a better outcome for a child/family.
I love being able to assist families with the costs of child care. Child care should be accessible to every child, and the fee subsidy program makes this happen for some families. Child care is good for the child, their mental health, and their experiences, but child care is also good for the parent. Having a child in care allows the parent work or the time practice self-care.

What's most challenging about the work you do?
The most challenging thing about the work I do is when a family approaches me and we determine they aren’t eligible for fee subsidy. Having two young children myself, and having had paid the double daycare bills not long ago, I understand the burden this puts on a family, even one with a moderate income!

What do you like to do in your spare time?
Anything outside. Since the pandemic, I started to run again. This is my first year running during the winter, which I surprisingly enjoy!
I have two young kids, so a lot of my free time is spent “delivering babies”, being a “grandma” and coming up with missions for Paw Patrol and Octonaut adventures!
I’m also a board game enthusiast. We’ve been playing a lot of the game “Pandemic” during this pandemic. It sure feels great to beat it! I also love the game Small World.

What book/resource could you recommend to our readers?
Book for adults: the book that’s had the most impact on me lately is “Difficult Conversations” which we received through an Early Years Workshop last year. It lead me on a journey of self-discovery and has really made me think, personally and professionally, about my conversations and what could be going on in the background.
Book for children: Tap the Magic Tree by Christie Matheson. This is a book about a tree going through the change of seasons but it’s very interactive and engaging! It is well liked by my 3 and 5 year old and has led to many side conversations and ideas for learning opportunities.
What’s your favorite quote?
“All that is gold does not glitter,
Not all those who wander are lost;
The old that is strong does not wither,
Deep roots are not reached by the frost.”
― J.R.R. Tolkien, The Fellowship of the Ring

Which famous person would you like to have lunch with and why?
Hmmm. If I had to choose a famous person to have lunch with, it would be Amy Poehler (I guess more so Leslie Knope). I have been re-watching Parks and Recreation most recently and I find her hilarious. I feel like our lunch together would be quite the adventure!
Really though, I’d rather just have lunch with my family and friends. I miss them!

In the last couple of years, what new belief, behavior, or habit has most improved your life?
Getting back into running. Working from home, and at the start of the pandemic, needing a reason to get out of the house, gave me the drive to start running again. Running for me has never been about my physical health (although a great side gain), but more about my mental health. I don’t worry about my time. I’m not pushing myself to do better each time. I am simply enjoying being outside and getting lost in my thoughts, shaking off any negative energy, or lately, listening to a Stuff You Should Know Podcast.

What have you learnt to say “no” to?
I guess I’ve learned to say “no” to myself. I’m a very independent person and rarely ask for help, even if I need it. With the pandemic, a lot was put on my plate very quickly: I was a mom of 2, I was a child care provider, I was a home-schooler, I was working full time, my husband was still working outside of the home, and I was in the middle of a move. I quickly learned my limit and when I had to ask for help!

Anything else that you would like to share?
Thank you to all you Early Years Professionals and what you’re doing for our children. It doesn’t go unnoticed!
INSPIRATION CORNER
Agencies Providing Services for Children and Families in Muskoka
Thank you Rebecca Paul, Director of Programs and Quality Initiatives at Cottage Country Family Health Team for sharing information on your agency’s programs with us!

Welcome to Cottage Country & Algonquin Family Health Teams! 

We are interdisciplinary teams of health care professionals providing health promotion, disease prevention, chronic condition management, and primary health care to our patient population throughout Muskoka (and limited surrounding areas). Our team includes family doctors, nurses and nurse practitioners, dietitians, a pharmacist, mental health counsellors, health educators and administrators. We offer a variety of programs for patients of all ages, including dietary and nutrition counselling, seniors’ programs, smoking cessation and tobacco reduction, diabetes management, mental health, chronic condition management and medication reviews. Some of these programs are available to the general public and some require referral from primary care provider. Please read on for highlights of programs that are of interest to families and children (please note there are no fees for any of these programs):

  • Lactation Clinics in both Huntsville and Bracebridge support patients and their breastfeeding goals;
  • Patients who are struggling with mild to moderate mental health concerns can be referred to counsellors for short-term, one-on-one, couples or family therapy sessions. Children’s and Adult Mental Health Services available;
  • Diabetes Prevention Programs provide fun, educational means of achieving fitness goals;
  • Tobacco Reduction/Smoking Cessation programs assist persons to quit or reduce tobacco consumption; provides education, resources and support to help you remain tobacco free; 
  • One-on-one Therapeutic Nutrition Counselling is available to patients for a variety of conditions;
  • In a partnership with North Simcoe Muskoka Trans Health Services, we provide space in Gravenhurst and Huntsville for transgender individuals seeking healthcare to be seen by the mobile team of Nurse Practitioner, Mental Health Therapist and Peer Support Navigator. This program is open to anyone by self-referral. Please call: (705) 329-3649 x 214. 

This is a brief list of just some of the programs and services available at Cottage Country and Algonquin Family Health Teams. To learn more, please speak to your primary care provider (physician or nurse practitioner who provides care for you and/or your family) or visit our websites:


For updates, please also stay tuned on Instagram and on Facebook.
Heave You Heard About?
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For a chance to win a resource of your choice (value of up to $50.00), please submit a reflection of yours to Kasia on a topic of your choice that you would like to be considered for publication in one of the upcoming newsletter editions. 

Your submission does not have to be in a form of an essay, other forms of expression are welcome, such as: poetry, video footage, note, opinion piece, interview, photos accompanied by a short text, review, etc.  
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