Collaborating Partners News
Wisconsin Early Childhood Collaborating Partners provides national and state news for members.
UW INFANT, EARLY CHILDHOOD & FAMILY MENTAL HEALTH CERTIFICATE PROGRAM
Applications for the 2013-14 Cohort are now being accepted. The application, details and supporting materials are available at: http://www.dcs.wisc.edu/pda/mental-health/infant/index.html
Applications are due on (new deadline) May 1, 2013
PROMISING PRACTICES FOR USING TECHNOLOGY TO IMPROVE EARLY LITERACY
The Campaign for Grade-Level Reading, the New America Foundation, and the Joan Ganz Cooney Center have published a report that looks at a variety of technology-based products and technology-assisted programs designed to improve the early literacy skills of children from birth through age 8. The report provides information about what is currently available to parents, educators and children, as well as what may be missing in current uses of technology by children.
Download the December 2012 report (pdf): Pioneering Literacy in the Digital Wild West: Empowering Parents and Educators
Download the PowerPoint slides from the webinar (pdf) - Dec 2012
To view a recording of a webinar of the findings from this report, go to https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/recording/5724837434785960704 (You will need to register to view the webinar.)
TALKING TO YOUNG CHILDREN ABOUT TRAGIC EVENTS
Statement of State Superintendent Tony Evers on the shootings in Newtown, Conn.
http://sspw.dpi.wi.gov/sspw_safeschool, has resources for schools, educators, and parents. Please direct comments or questions about this news item to Patrick Gasper, DPI Communications Officer, (608) 266-3559, patrick.gasper@dpi.wi.gov. (DPI staff members monitor calls and messages on this line every business day.)
Here are some additional resources for talking to young children about tragic events:
Little Listeners in an Uncertain World: Coping strategies for you and your young child after traumatic events
Fred Rogers talks about Tragic Events in the News
A New York Times article, "Tips for Talking to Children About the Shooting.";
Advice from National Child Traumatic Stress Network, "Talking to Children about the Shooting."
THE ECONOMICS OF CHILD WELL-BEING - NEW WORKING PAPER NATIONAL BUREAU OF ECONOMIC RESEARCH - October 29, 2012
The paper includes the following sections:
Section I - discusses indicators used for measuring child well-being.
Section II -reviews the early work on using an economic approach to child well-being.
Section III - presents the developmental approach to child well-being.
Section IV - summarizes recent empirical findings.
Section V - presents evidence from interventions that promote child well-being.
Section VI - concludes and offers suggestions for future research.
REPORT ON YOUNGSTAR IN WISCONSIN
Wisconsin Council on Children and Families (WCCF) has just released a new publication, YoungStar in Wisconsin: An Analysis of Data as of July 2012. This report is the 3rd in a series of progress reports since the YoungStar quality rating and improvement system was launched in 2011. The WCCF report analyzes the progress made and the challenges facing child care programs wanting to move to a YoungStar quality level. WCCF believes that YoungStar can be a significant catalyst to increase the number of low-income children receiving high-quality early learning and development experiences. Research shows that high-quality early childhood programs lead to positive outcomes for children in school and beyond, especially for children from disadvantaged backgrounds. This report is available online: http://www.wccf.org/pdf/youngstar_report_final_11-2012.pdf
NEW REPORT ON ACCESS TO FULL-DAY KINDERGARTEN
The Children’s Defense Fund (CDF) has released new information on the status of full-day kindergarten across the country. Please visit this link: http://www.childrensdefense.org/policy-priorities/early-childhood-education-care/full-day-kindergarten.html and see how Wisconsin compares to other states regarding student access to full-day kindergarten.
THE BRAIN SCIENCE OF EARLY CHILDHOOD
Ready Nation, in collaboration with the Center on the Developing Child at Harvard University offers tools to help non-scientists understand brain development. Available tools include a power point presentation, videos with talking points and briefs. Follow this link: http://www.readynation.org/BrainScience
WISCONSIN ADOPTS PALS READING SCREENER IN KINDERGARTEN
A new webinar and discussion forum for Wisconsin educators provide opportunities to learn more about using PALS, the reading screener now required at the kindergarten level in Wisconsin. Requiring a screener statewide was a recommendation of the Read to Lead Task Force. It became law in April, and the state has chosen PALS (Phonological Awareness Literacy Screening) as the tool. Read Wisconsin is an interactive portal and community of practice meant to help parents, families, educators, and early childhood professionals to ensure high quality reading practices for Wisconsin students. Resources and materials are continuously added.
INCREASING THE EFFECTIVENESS AND EFFICIENCY OF EXISTING PUBLIC INVESTMENTS IN EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION
Published by the Center for American Progress, this report includes recommendations to boost program outcomes and efficiency.
Click here to access the full report (pdf)
Click here to access the introduction & summary (pdf)
NAEYC & THE FRED ROGERS CENTER RELEASE
NEW POSITION STATEMENT ON TECHNOLOGY & INTERACTIVE MEDIA
On March 6, NAEYC and the Fred Rogers Center for Early Learning and Children’s Media at Saint Vincent College released a new position statement that provides important new guidance to early childhood programs on the effective use of media and technology.
Full story >>
RESEARCH FINDINGS - Preschoolers' Classmates Influence Their Language Skills
A recent article in e! Science News (10/26/11) discusses findings from a new study, which suggest that preschool students affect one another’s language development and relatively less-skilled students seem to be more affected than highly skilled students. The authors question the practice seen in many publicly-funded programs of placing disadvantaged children with relatively low skill levels with similarly performing peers. Follow this link: http://esciencenews.com/articles/2011/10/26/preschoolers.classmates.influence.their.language.skills
SAFE START CENTER
Safe Start Center Offers Downloadable Resources on Trauma Informed Care for Children Exposed to Violence and their Families. The Safe Start Center's Trauma Informed Care Tip Sheets offer information about warning signs, potential effects, suggestions and resources for care givers of children exposed to violence.
Follow this link: Safe Start center tip sheet