June Workshops CHILDSPAN:

To register for all classes, please contact Jessica Baez at 721-6419 or via email at jbaez@childspan.net .

Practical Issues in Leadership

Tuesdays June 15-29 6:30-8:30 pm CHILDSPAN, Pawtucket

Session 1: June 15, How Do I Get It All Done? Where Do

I Find the Time? Price : $20

This workshop will offer strategies for organizing oneself in order to get through the workday... through the week... through the project... through life... The presentation and hands-on participation will cover topics and situations related to time and project management, motivating oneself and others, communication and relationships with colleagues, clients, and friends, and overall stress management. It is a workshop that is designed for information giving as well as brainstorming among peers... it is a workshop suitable for supervisors, line staff, volunteers and administrators.

Session 2: June 22,Simple Grant Writing and Solicitation Requests

for the Early Childhood Classroom Teacher and Directors Price: $20

This workshop is designed to take away the fear of writing solicitation request letters and mini grants. The workshop will discuss the basics of grant writing and will offer simple tips and techniques for writing successful mini-grant proposals. It is a workshop suitable for teachers, teacher assistants, directors, owners, and volunteers.

Session 3: June 29, Teamwork and Communication Price: $20

So you want everyone to be friends and "play well together" ... Don't you think that you are expecting a bit much? TEAMWORK and good COMMUNICATION are achievable... this workshop session explores the basic concepts of both teamwork and communication. Building "Team Culture" is possible. Participants will participate in several interactive strategies while exploring and learning about these concepts.

I Am Not a Babysitter!

Thursdays, June 10, - June 24, 2010

6:00-8:30 pm CHILDSPAN, Pawtucket

Participants will examine why he/she has chosen to be an early childhood educator, and what that means. They will develop their ability to talk about why high-quality early childhood education is important and to advocate about relevant issues. They will learn about professional organizations that will support them in improving their practice, provide information for advocacy efforts and generally further their professionalism.

Session 1: June 10, I Am an Early Childhood EducatorPrice: $25

Why are you doing this work? What does it mean to be an early childhood educator? What do I need to do to be a professional?

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Session 2: June 17, I'm a Professional: I Follow a National Code of Ethics

Price:$25

Participants will explore a variety of scenarios to learn how the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) Code of Ethics is essential in their day-to-day work with children and families.

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Session 3: June 24, The Value of My Work as an Early Childhood Educator Price:$25

Participants will learn about organizations which will further their abilities as a professional and provide support in their advocacy efforts. They will learn about opportunities to get involved as a professional in Rhode Island.

Infants Are Supposed to Do What and When?

Tuesdays, June 15, - June 29, 2010 6:30-8:30 pm CHILDSPAN, Pawtucket

Session 1: June 15,Identifying Developmental Milestones 0-9 MonthsPrice:$20

This workshop will provide information about infants' typical developmental milestones and potential red flags for children 0-9 months. By being able to observe and identify developmental milestones, early childhood professionals will be able to create environments that will be able to assist in the healthy development of infants. Participants will be given a variety of developmental checklists for review.

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Session 2: June 22,Identifying Developmental Milestones 9-18 Months

Price:$20

This workshop will provide information about infants' typical developmental milestones and potential red flags for children 9-18 months. By being able to observe and identify developmental milestones, early childhood professionals will be able to create environments that will be able to assist in the healthy development of infants. Participants will be given a variety of developmental checklists for review.

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Session 3: June 29,Identifying Developmental Milestones 18-36 Months

Price:$20

This workshop will provide information about infants' typical developmental milestones and potential red flags for children 18-36 months. By being able to observe and identify developmental milestones, early childhood professionals will be able to create environments that will be able to assist in the healthy development of infants. Participants will be given a variety of developmental checklists for review.

Building Community in School Age Programs: Youth, Families, and Staff

Wednesdays, June 2, - June 16, 2010 6:30-8:30 pm CHILDSPAN, Pawtucket

Session 1: June 2,Positive Outcomes for Youth Price:$20

Youth development is well-researched over the past 20 years. Using evidence-based practice, you can add activities to daily program activities that insure youth attending out-of-school time programs will have positive outcomes in their daily life. In addition, participants will:

· Gain an understanding of the developmental needs of children K-8

· Learn activities and strategies to intentionally shape outcomes for youth growth and development

· Improve their daily activities to insure the program is delivering quality experiences for youth that are developmentally appropriate

Session 2: June 9,Creating an Effective, Creative, and Fun-Loving Staff Team Price:$20

Staff relationships are the heart and soul of effective youth development and quality program delivery. Gain insight on what you can add to your leadership and management skills that will insure you are developing a creative, results-oriented staff team. In addition, participants will:

· Learn how to supervise and develop staff to create an effective team

· Gain confidence that their leadership is solid and getting the results they want

· Improve their understanding of how to manage and supervise staff

Session 3: June 16, Engaging Parents as Partners in Your Afterschool Community Price:$20

Parents are an essential partner in developing strong, effective programming in out-of-school time. Learn specific parent engagement strategies that are proven to be effective and create a plan to implement in your program. In addition, participants will:

· Gain an understanding of parent engagement as a process of building relationships

· Identify the stages of engaging parents and how to create activities that establish a closer partnership with parents

· Design an approach to parent engagement that creates community within your afterschool program

To register for any class, please contact Jessica Baez at 721-6419 or via email at jbaez@childspan.net .

Rhode IslandOperation: Military Kids Ready, Set, Go! Training

Ready, Set, Go!training is offered as part of the larger Operation: Military Kids' mission to create community support networks for military youth, deliver educational programs to these youth, and collaborate with agencies involved in kids' lives to ensure that staff is attuned to the unique needs of military youth and families.

Ready, Set, Go!

July 26-27

9-5 pm

URI Kingston Campus

For more information or to register:

pmartin@uri.edu or by phone at 401.874.5291.

Did you know that here are nearly 6,000 kids from Military

Families in Rhode Island, and that there are military families

in every town in Rhode Island?

When military deployments happen in our state, these military families have to cope with stressors that most of us can't even imagine. Military kids are our neighbors, our teammates, our students, patients, clients and friends.

To reach out to these military youth and families, Operation: Military Kids was formed. Nationally, it is a partnership of U.S. Army Child & Youth Services and the 4-H Youth Development Project.

In Rhode Island, it is a program of The University of Rhode Island' s College of the Environment and Life Sciences' Cooperative Extension 4-H program.

To help you better understand the impact of the deployment cycle on military families, youth and the community as a whole, the Rhode Island Operation: Military Kids State Team invites you to attend a free, 2-day-long educational session called Ready, Set, Go!. Space is limited; but the trainings are free and open to all.

This year's training is being held on July 26-27 from 9-5 at the URI Kingston Campus. If you work with kids, Ready, Set, Go! Can help you better serve Rhode Island's military families. Teachers, coaches, counselors, youth program leaders and others who serve families can all benefit from Ready, Set, Go!

Ready, Set, Go!

Teaches the community about

• military culture

• the mobilization cycle (deployment, homecoming, reunion)

• stress and coping

• grief, loss, and trauma

• resiliency

• media influences.

www.operationmilitarykids.org

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Universityof Rhode Island Feinstein Providence Campus Presents,

URI Development Program latest schedule for the following classes:

For more information or to register, please call the URI Special Programs Office at 401-277-5200 or emailbbb@uri.edu.

Microsoft Office 2007 Certificate Program.

All hands-on computer seminarsare conducted in the latest Microsoft Office 2007 environment. In addition to sharpening your computer skills, you will experience a new, different setting, and come away with helpful handouts filled with instructions, shortcuts, and tips. You will also receive a Certificate of Completion for each class.

Microsoft Office Computer Workshops & Certificate Program

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Grant Writing Workshop

Microsoft Office Computer Workshops & Certificate Program 80 Washington Street, Providence, RI

You may sign up for the full 5 day program, (one full day a week for 5 weeks), or separate, individual classes for any application. Classes meet at 9am at the URI/Alan Shawn Feinstein College of Continuing Education, 80 Washington Street, Providence, RI.

Fee: $180 per day; $900 for full program, includes course handouts, computer access, free parking (RI Convention Ctr.)

Certificateswill be distributed upon completion of the program. For more information or to register, please call the URI Special Programs Office at 401-277-5200 or emailbbb@uri.edu.

80 Washington Street, Providence, RI

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HarvardUniversityAnnouncement: No tuition and No Student Loans

HarvardUniversityannounced over the weekend that, from now on, undergraduate students from low-income families will pay no tuition. In making the announcement, Harvard's president Lawrence H. Summers said, "When only ten percent of the students in elite higher education come from families in the lower half of the income distribution, we are not doing enough. We are not doing enough in bringing elite higher education to the lower half of the income distribution."

If you know of a family earning less than $60,000 a year with an honor student graduating from high school soon, Harvard University wants to pay the tuition. The prestigious university recently announced that from now on undergraduate students from low-income families can go to Harvard for free... no tuition and no student loans!

To find out more about Harvard offering free tuition for families making less than $60,000 a year, visit Harvard's financial aid website at: http://www.fao.fas.harvard.edu/ or call the school's financial aid office at (617) 495-1581.

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Communication with Parents
Courtesy of http://www.resourcesforchildcare.org/

Once a child enrolls in your program, the need for communication begins. You will need to keep in touch about drop-off and pick-up times, schedule changes, variations in routine, an unexpected event, and more. See the suggestions below for tips on how to facilitate communication.
Ways to Keep in Touch with the Child's Family

Daily
Encourage parents to check in with you, even briefly, about how their child's morning went at or if there is anything else you need to know. Likewise, spend a moment at the end of the day informing the parent how their child's day went. Knowing that a child who regularly takes a two-hour nap did not sleep a wink during the day will give a parent the necessary information to transition into the evening and establishes a partnership between you and the parent.

Conferences
Offer formal conferences periodically to share specific information about a child with the parent. This is an ideal opportunity to measure how much their child has grown and changed in a period of time, and it gives you and the parent a chance to share ideas and insights.

Special circumstances
Illness, death of a family member or pet, a new home or a new sibling-are all big events in our lives and no less so in a life of a child. Let parents know you can help their child deal with new or difficult situations. Have follow-up conversations with a parent as needed through the change in the child's life.

Other options
Make sure you know the best time to reach parents. Likewise, let them know the best time of day for you to be reached. Both parties need to be respectful that some times of the day are better than others to give full attention to a matter. Obviously in an emergency, parents need to have an accessible way to reach them, but if you need some time to talk one-to-one, set ground rules on best times to avoid friction.

Encourage parents to participate in your program
Post or furnish lists of supplies and materials that are needed frequently. Many parents have access to free or very low-cost materials through their work place. Even if your program does not have a parent advisory board, find ways to solicit their opinions. Provide a short newsletter and personal notes to remind parents of upcoming activities or needed supplies.

Talk through ethical dilemmas
Sometimes a family's child-rearing practices may conflict with or be different from yours. Discuss issues of naptime, feeding, toilet training, television viewing, and discipline at the beginning of the interview process. When conflict issues do arise, talk the situation out with the parent immediately to find a solution that works for both of you.