In ThIs Issue:

• CDA Credential - What Is It and How Can You Get One?

• Featured Online Training

• Coming Soon - Changes Coming Your Way

• Pass along to Parents: 13 Tips for Starting Preschool

• Pass along to Parents: Listen, Talk, Answer - Support Your Child’s Learning

Gulf Regional Early Childhood Services 251-473-1060 www.grecs.org

Early Learning News A Quar te r ly News le t te r & T ra i n i ng Ca lendar

o f Gu l f Reg iona l Ea r ly Ch i ldhood Serv ices

"Tel l me and I forget , teach me

and I may remember, involve me and I learn. "

~ Benjamin Frankl in

JulyAugust

September2017

Renewing Our Commitment to ProfessionalismGRECS is committed to a future in which the early childhood profession is recognized as vital & performing a critical role in society. Here are some ideas to foster your professional renewal:Your work is powerful! Stop & listen to the parents and children in your program. Hear what your peers are saying in meetings & training classes. There is power in your profession! Own it!Research confirms the value of playful learning. Sign up for classes that further explore guided play & its role in children’s learning.See playful learning in action. Take a look around. Observe the children in your care. Put new ideas that you learn in training classes into practice and watch what happens. Reveal your inner leader! Our profession needs emerging leaders. Get involved and volunteer in community programs. Seek out leadership opportunities in your center. Mentor someone new to the profession.Laugh out loud! Revitalize your classroom and workplace with laughter. Research shows us more and more that there is learning power in laughter. (And GRECS has a training class where you can learn more about that!)American voters strongly support higher wages for early childhood educators. New research highlights widespread support for making investment in the early childhood education profession a national priority. Learn more and share that information.Engage families! You’ll find convenient, copyright free information for families each quarter in GRECS’ Early Learning News publication. Need something on a specific topic? There is an archive of “Pass Along to Parents” on the GRECS website. Download and print as often as needed!Renew your commitment to anti-bias education. Commit to set forth values-based principles & methodology in support of respecting and embracing differences and acting against bias and unfairness in early childhood education.Flex your political muscles! The 2016 election may be over, but there is still much work to be done! Join an advocacy group such as Alabama Association for Early Care & Education (AALECE) or VOICES for Alabama’s Children and learn about the issues affecting our industry on a local, state and national level.

Gulf Regional Early Childhood Services 251-473-1060 www.grecs.org

Featured Online TrainingPhysical Activity (1 Hour/.1 CEU) This course familiarizes students with the importance of physical activity to promote muscular development in infants, toddlers, and young children in a child care environment. It also suggests the amount of time children should spend engaged in physical activities and activities for children with special needs. (DHR: CD, HSU; Pathways: HSN, CGD; CDA: 2)

Conflict Resolution for Adults (1 Hour/.1 CEU) This course defines conflict and conflict resolution. It identifies conflict sources and their components. It discusses workplace conflicts and identifies problem-solving tools and techniques used to resolve them. Communication skills required for managing and resolving conflicts are addressed. (DHR: CCPF; Pathways: PPD; CDA: 6)

Circle Time (1 Hour/.1 CEU) This course provides information about circle time and its effectiveness. Teachers are provided with guidelines for effective circle time strategies and ideas for activities to use for specific skill development. Strategies for including parents in circle time activities are included. (DHR: CD; Pathways: ICFC, LEE; CDA: 2, 4)

Visit our website to learn more about our online learning opportunities.

www.grecs.org/online-training/

CDA - What’s This National Credential All About?In keeping with its goal to meet the growing need for qualified early child care and education staff, the Council for Professional Recognition administers the Child Development Associate® (CDA) National Credentialing Program. The CDA Program is designed to assess and credential early childhood education professionals.

The Council recognizes and credentials professionals who work in all types of early care and education programs - Head Start, pre-k, infant-toddler, family child care, and home visitor programs.

You can find all of the information and resources you’ll need about attaining a CDA on the Council’s website.

www.cdacouncil.orgDoing your research and gathering the necessary information is your first step in the credentialing process.

If you still need assistance after you’ve done that, contact our office to set up an appointment with a GRECS Consultant. We can help you with understanding the process and accessing the appropriate resources.

Training Classes

Advanced Level Training focuses on a more thorough

knowledge & understanding of developmentally appropriate practice

& highly effective application & demonstration of skills. For

professionals who have at least 3 years of experience & 30 credit hours

in child development.

a

Intermediate Level Training

includes expanding knowledge & application, & refining skills.

It is most appropriate for professionals who have at least (2) years of experience & 120

hours of training, and are moving toward more

formal education.

i

Basic Level Training covers a foundational

understanding & demonstration of developing skills. This training is most appropriate for entry-level

professionals who are new to early childhood and/or

school-age care.

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all - Appropriate for All Training Levels

Gulf Regional Early Childhood Services 251-473-1060 www.grecs.org

Behavior is Contagious- This lesson takes a developmental look at building community with infants, toddlers, preschool, and school age children and why this is important. Topics include helping children learn self-control, and conflict resolution, and suggestions for how to share with parents. Discover an effective strategy to help children learn problem solving skills. (Lisa Kirk-land; AL Pathways: CGD, COA, ICFC; DHR: CD, PDG; CDA: 3, 7, 8; CCDF: 13, 15; Intermediate Training Level; 2 hours / 0.2 CEUs; Age Group: Infants, Toddlers, Preschool) #5620 - 7/22/2017; 10:45am - 12:45pm; Jeff Davis Community College; Atmore; & #5628 - 8/19/2017; 10:45am - 12:45pm; Jackson City Hall, Jackson & #5637 - 9/16/2017; 10:45 am - 12:45pm; Washington County Public Library, Chatom

Creating Art: From a Child’s Perspective -Children’s creative abilities are exhibited when they are given the opportunity to make their own decisions about art. When allowed to choose and use art materials as they would like, children demonstrate critical thinking, problem solving, decision making, discovery, self-confidence and much more. It helps children make sense of their world by expressing themselves through a wide variety of medium. It’s just plain FUN! This presentation will encouage teachers to be-come facilitators for developmentally appropriate art experiences by enabling them to select and organize safe materials, prepare for the experience, and to communicate appropriately to children and parents about the creative process. (Mallory Blanchard; CCDF: 13; AL Pathways: LEE; DHR: QCCL; CDA: 2, 3; Intermediate Training Level; 2 hours /0.2 CEUs; Age Group: Preschool) #5640 - 9/21/2017; 6pm - 8pm; GRECS Training Room, Mobile

Director’s Forum: Becoming Acquainted with the Program Administration Scale (PAS) - This session provides an overview to the Program Administration Scale (PAS) which measures the level of quality of leadership and management practices of center-based early childhood programs. (Monica Byrd; AL Pathways: MA; DHR: ADM, QCCL; CDA: 5; CCDF: N/A; Basic Training Level; 2 hours/0.2 CEUs; Age Group: ALL) #5634 - 9/13/2017; 10:00am - 12:00pm; GRECS Training Room, Mobile

Director’s Forum: Infant/Toddler Environment Rating Scale - Revised (ITERS-R) - Learners will be introduced to the ITERS-R, which is designed to assess center-based child care programs for infants and toddlers up to 30 months of age. Participants will learn to administer the tool reliably and to properly assess and score items in each of 7 subscales: Space and Furnishings; Personal Care Routines, Listening and Talking; Activities; Interaction; Program Structure; and Parents and Staff. (Joanne Langevin; AL Pathways: PPD, MA; DHR: QCCL; CDA: 5; CCDF: 20; Basic Training Level; 2 hours / 0.2 CEUs; Age Group: Infant, Toddler) #5613 - 7/5/2017; 10:00am - 12:00pm; GRECS Training Room, Mobile

Director’s Forum: Service with a Smile: Customer Service Essentials - Child care is a service and parents/guardians are customers. This session will focus on teaching your employees the basics of customer service, how to handle difficult people and situations, and how to resolve and avoid problems in a way that reduces stress and leaves the customer feeling that your center is the best place for their children. (Avery Fick; AL Pathways: MA; DHR: ADM; CDA: 5, 6; CCDF: N/A; Intermediate Training Levels; 2 hours / 0.2 CEUs; Age Group: N/A) #5639- 9/20/2017;10am - 12pm; GRECS Training Room, Mobile

Early Childhood Environment Rating Scale-Revised (ECERS-R)- Learners will be introduced to the ECERS-R, which is designed to assess center-based child care programs. Participants will be introduced to items in each of 7 subscales: Space and Furnishings; Personal Care Routines; Listening and Talking; Activities; Interaction; Program Structure; and Parents and Staff. (Allison Goff; AL Pathways: MA, LEE; DHR: QCCL; CDA: 5; CCDF: 17; Basic Training Level; 2 hours / 0.2 CEUs; Age Group: ALL) #5617- 7/18/2017; 5pm-7pm; GRECS Training Room, Mobile

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Gulf Regional Early Childhood Services 251-473-1060 www.grecs.org

Establishing a Positive Relationship with Parents - Parents play a vital role in being their child’s most important teacher. This course will help you understand the importance of positive, honest, and respectful communication. This course will also offer education on how to engage parents to create a team atmosphere in promoting intentional involvement. (Lauren Henson; AL Pathways: ICFC; DHR: CCPF; CDA: 4; CCDF: 16; Basic Training Level; 2 hours / 0.2 CEUs; Age Group: ALL) #5635 - 9/14/2017; 6pm- 8pm; GRECS Training Room Mobile

Go Healthy! It All Begins with You - Being a healthy role model not only is important for the children but enables the care provider to have the energy and good health to meet the demands of the job. This training explores key concepts and actions for modeling healthy behaviors for children. (Lisa Kirkland; AL Pathways: CGD, HSN; DHR: CD, HSU; CDA: 1, 8; Basic Training Level; 2 hours / 0.2 CEUs; Age Group: Infants, Toddlers, Preschool) #5619 - 7/22/2017; 8:30am - 10:30am; Jeff Davis Community College; Atmore; & #5627 - 8/19/2017; 8:30am - 10:30am; Jackson City Hall, Jackson & #5636 - 9/16/2017; 8:30 am - 10:30 am; Washington County Public Library, Chatom

How to Recognize Developmental Delays in Children: This course will focus on the 5 domains of development as well as methods to help you recognize children with delays. It will also include the actions you should take if a child in your care shows signs of a develop-mental delay. (Lauren Henson; AL Pathways: CGD, COA, DIV; DHR: QCCL, CD; CDA: 7, 8; CCDF: 13, 17; Intermediate Training Level; 2 hours / 0.2 CEUs; Age Group: ALL) #5618 - 7/20/2017; 6:00pm-8:00pm; GRECS Training Room, Mobile

Introduction to CDA - The Child Development Associate (CDA) Credential is the most widely recognized credential in early child-hood education (ECE) and is a key stepping stone on the path of career advancement in ECE. During this workshop, participants will examine the requirements and steps for obtaining a CDA. (Allison Goff; AL Pathways: CGD, COA, ICFC; DHR: CD, PDG; CDA: 3, 7, 8; Intermediate Training Level; 2 hours / 0.2 CEUs; Age Group: Infants, Toddlers, Preschool) #5625 - 8/17/2017; 5:00pm - 7:00pm; GRECS Training Room, Mobile

Keep Them Moving & Keep Them Learning- Participants will learn that exercise is the single most important tool we have to optimize brain function. We will also explore how time spent in physical activity affects a child’s health, development and ability tolearn when in the classroom. (Michele Williams; CCDF: 13; AL Pathways: CGD, LEE, HSN; DHR: CD, HSU; CDA: 1, 2, 8; Basic Training Level; 2 hours / 0.2 CEUs; Age Group: Infants, Toddlers, Preschool) #5638- 9/19/2017; 6:00pm -8:00pm; GRECS Training Room, Mobile

Magical Sensory Play with Infants and Toddlers- Sensory experiences tell us who & where we are. The accumulation of images seen, heard, tasted, touched and smelled build a complex image of surroundings in a small child’s mind. The senses constantly guide, stimulate, and reward the actions of the child. Workshop participants will learn the many ways that sensory play promotes growth in all the developmental domains- cognitive, physical, social-emotional- and how they can use sensory experiences to sup-port early learning for infants and toddlers. (Mallory Blanchard; CCDF: 13, 20; AL Pathways: CGD, LEE; DHR: CD, LD; CDA: 2, 8; Basic Training Level; 2 hours/0.2 CEUs; Age Group: Infants/Toddlers) #5631 - 8/31/2017; 6pm - 8pm; GRECS Training Room, Mobile

Paint without Brushes- Paint, paint and more paint! Young children love to paint and create creative masterpieces to display on the walls of their classrooms and at home. This workshop goes beyond the paint jar and brush to encourage caregiver and child the opportunity to explore the world of paint by using easy to get materials to create and plan stimulating and imaginative paint-ing activities. (Phyllis Rizzo; AL Pathways: CGD, LEE; DHR:CD, QCCL; CDA: 2, 3, 8; CCDF: 13; Basic Training Level; 2 hours / 0.2 CEUs; Age Group: Preschool) #5630 - 8/24/2017; 6:30pm - 8:30pm; GRECS Training Room, Mobile

Positive Behavior Management and Modification- This class will focus on the use of positive reinforcement, positive language, attend and ignore strategies, and visual schedules to both manage classroom behavior and modify unwanted behaviors as need-ed. (Kerry Tran; AL Pathways: CGD, COA; DHR: PDG, CD; CDA: 1, 8; CCDF: 13, 20; Basic Training Level; 2 hours / 0.2 CEUs; Age Group: Preschool) #5616 - 7/13/2017; 6:00pm-8:00pm; Fisrt Baptist Church Day Care Center; Spanish Fort, AL

Reading Readiness: Building Children’s Vocabulary - Reading research continues to find that children’s vocabulary knowledge is directly related to their reading comprehension. And, children’s success in school and beyond depends greatly upon their ability to read with comprehension. This session will focus on specific strategies that teachers of young children can implement to increase children’s vocabulary. (Catherine Kreger; AL Pathways: CGD, LEE; DHR: CD, LD; CDA: 2, 8; CCDF: 12; Advanced Training Level; 2 hours/ 0.2 CEUs; Age Group: Preschool, School Age) #5614- 7/8/2017; 10am - 12 noon; Washington County Public Library, Chatom

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Gulf Regional Early Childhood Services 251-473-1060 www.grecs.org

Rich Environments for Literacy Learning - Simply put, environment is the total impact of conditions, influences, and surroundings on children. Readers tend to be more adventuresome and curious, and exhibit greater respect for their peers, teachers, and them-selves. Learn proven strategies for creating rich literacy and inquiry-based learning environments for young children. (Catherine Kreger; AL Pathways: CGD, LEE; DHR: CD, LD, QCCL; CDA: 2, 8; CCDF: 13; Advanced Training Levels; 2 hours / 0.2 CEUs; Age Group: Preschool, School Age) #5632- 9/9/2017; 10am - 12 noon; GRECS Training Room, Mobile

Supporting Fathers and Promoting Father Involvement in Early Childhood Settings - Fathers play a vital role in a child’s life. This course will focus on the latest research concerning fathers, recommended practices for childcare providers, strategies for promot-ing more father involvement, and tips for supporting those without a father in their lives. (Monica Byrd; AL Pathways: DIV, ICFC; DHR: QCCL, CCPF; CDA: 3, 4; CCDF: 16; Basic Training Level; 2 hours / 0.2 CEUs; Age Group: All) #5622 - 8/2/2017; 5:00pm - 7:00pm; GRECS Training Room, Mobile

Taking a New Look at Dramatic Play - This session will teach participants how to enhance and facilitate dramatic play in their classrooms and arrange pretend play areas. Participants will be given new ideas on how to use props. Also, participants will be able to understand the importance of dramatic play and its necessity to the development of young children. (Phyllis Rizzo; AL Pathways: CGD, LEE; DHR: LD, QCCL; CDA: 2, 4, 8; CCDF: Basic Training Level; 2 hours / 0.2 CEUs; Age Group: Preschool) #5615- 7/11/2017; 6:30pm – 8:30pm; Mobile

The Importance of Reading to Infants: The How and Why - It’s never too early to read to infants! Why is it important? What will Iread? How do I keep an infant interested in a book? It’s easier than you think! Participants will develop an understanding of how to choose developmentally appropriate books and create hands on activities that will keep infants and teachers excited about story time. (Mallory Blanchard; AL Pathways: CGD, LEE; DHR: CD, LD; CDA: 2, 8; CCDF: 13, 20; Basic Training Level; 2 hours / 0.2 CEUs; Age Group: Infant) #5623 - 8/10/2017; 6:00pm-8:00pm; GRECS Training Room, Mobile

The Learning Power of Laughter- Adults with a good sense of humor often have children who enjoy humor and are funny them-selves. Having a good sense of humor and recognizing and taking opportunities for laughing out loud help develop good social skills and encourage the development of many other skills that children need, including pre-reading skills, creativity, and cognitive thinking. This workshop is designed to help parents and caregivers understand the power of laughter and how to utilize laughter in their daily routine. (Phyllis Rizzo; AL Pathways: CGD, LEE; DHR: CD, QCCL; CDA: 2, 3, 8; CCDF: 13; Basic Training Level; 2 hours / 0.2 CEUs; Age Group: ALL) #5633- 9/12/2017; 6:30pm – 8:30pm; Mobile

Transportation Safety- In this session, participants will learn basic precautionary information and best practices for transport-ing children. (Avery Fick; AL Pathways: HSN; DHR: HSU, QCCL; CDA: 1, 5; CCDF: 5; For All Levels; 2 hours / 0.2 CEUs; Age Group: All) #5624- 8/15/2017; 6:00pm - 8:00pm; GRECS Training Room, Mobile

Understanding Autism - When a child is diagnosed with Autism it is so important to be educated on the signs and understandhow to make your classroom more adaptive to their needs so they can reach their fullest learning potential! This course will help you describe and identify the signs and facts about Autism and how to have respectful communication with parents. (Lauren Henson; DHR: CD, CCPF; CDA: 4, 7, 8; AL Pathways: CGD, ICFC; CCDF: 12, 15; IntermediateTraining Level; 2 hours/0.2 CEUs; Age Groups: ALL) #5629 - 8/22/2017; 6:00pm - 8:00pm; GRECS Training Room, Mobile

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Training Levels Basic = Most appropriate for entry-level professionals who are new to early childhood and/or school-age care. Basic Level Training cov-ers a foundational understanding and demonstration of developing skills. Intermediate = Most appropriate for professionals who have at least (2) years of experience and 120 hours of training in child develop-ment, and are moving toward more formal education. Intermediate Level Training includes expanding knowledge and application, and refining skills.Advanced = Most appropriate for professionals who have at least three (3) years of experience and 30 credit hours in child develop-ment. Advanced Level Training focuses on a more thorough knowl-edge and understanding of developmentally appropriate practice and highly effective application and demonstration of skills.

DHR Minimum Standards Training AreasCD = Child DevelopmentHSUP = Health, Safety, and Universal PrecautionsQCCL = Quality Child Care and LicensingCCPF = Child Care Professional and the FamilyLD = Language DevelopmentPDG = Positive Discipline and GuidanceAM = Administration and Management

CDA (Child Development Associate) Content Areas1. Planning a safe, healthy environment to invite learning2. Steps to advance children’s physical and intellectual development3. Positive ways to support children’s social and emotional develop-ment4. Strategies to establish productive relationships with families5. Strategies to manage an effective program operation6. Maintaining a commitment to professionalism7. Observing and recording children’s behavior8. Principles of child growth and development

Alabama Pathways Core Knowledge Areas (CKA) CGD = Child Growth and DevelopmentHSN = Health, Safety and NutritionLEE = Learning Experiences and EnrichmentDIV = DiversityCOA = Child Observation and Assessment (Planning for Individual Needs)ICFC = Interaction with Children, Families and CommunitiesPPD = Personal and Professional DevelopmentMA = Management and Administration

CCDF Training Areas1. Prevention and control of infectious diseases (including immuni-zations)2. Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) prevention and use of safe sleep practices3. Administration of medication4. Prevention of and response to emergencies due to food and aller-gic reactions5. Building and physical premises safety, including identifying elec-trical hazards, bodies of water, and vehicular traffic6. Prevention of Shaken Baby Syndrome and abusive head trauma7. Emergency preparedness and response planning for natural or man-caused events8. Handling and storage of hazardous materials, including correct disposal of bio-contaminants9. If applicable, appropriate pre-cautions in transporting children 10. First-aid and CPR 11. Recognizing and reporting child abuse and neglect12. Identifying and serving homeless children and their families 13. Promoting the social, emotional, physical, and cognitive devel-opment of children, including those related to nutrition and physical activity, using scientifically-based, developmentally appropriate and age appropriate strategies14. Caring for children in geographic areas with significant concen-trations of poverty and unemployment15. Implementing behavior strategies, including positive behavior interventions and support models that promote positive social and emotional development and reduce challenging behaviors, including reducing expulsions of preschool-aged children for such behaviors16. Engaging parents and families in culturally and linguistically appropriate ways to expand their knowledge, skills and capacity to be meaningful partners in supporting their children’s positive development17. Understanding early neurological development18. Using data to guide program improvement19. Supporting positive development of school-age children20. Improving the quality of programs and services for infants and toddlers

Target Age GroupsInfants = Birth to 12 monthsToddlers = 1 and 2 year olds (13 to 36 months)Preschoolers = 3 and 4 year oldsSchool-agers = 5 to 12 year oldsALL = Infants, Toddlers, Preschoolers, and School-agers

TRAINING LEGEND dhr 2016

Gulf Regional Early Childhood Services 251-473-1060 www.grecs.org

We are celebrating over 20 years of collaboration with the Children’s Trust Fund supported through the Department of Child Abuse and Neglect Prevention!

Caring for the Caregiver allows us opportunities to mentor Family Child Care providers. We appreciate all who participate to make this project possible and help educate parents and caregivers on the prevention of child neglect and abuse.

Gulf Regional Early Childhood Services 251-473-1060 www.grecs.org

CPR & First Aid Training on Saturdays!

Our friends at Complete Safety Works are offering Heart Saver First Aid and Adult, Child & Infant CPR/AED

training on the second Saturday of every month!

You must register through and make payment to Complete Safety Works for this important training session.

Heart Saver First Aid / Adult, Child & Infant CPR / AED

(First Aid - $35; CPR - $35; Both First Aid & CPR - $45)

Call 479-6788 for more info or registration.

Get Ready For the 2017-18 School Year!

Gulf Regional Early Childhood Services’ Lending Library and Resource Place

will be open on Saturdays throughout the coming months from 9:00am - 12:00pm -

By Appointment Only.

Scheduling an appointment is easy! Simply send us an e-mail before Thursday of

the week you’d like to come and we’ll contact you to make detailed arrangements.

jstinson@grecs.org

We’re changIng ThIngs up aT grecs!

If you’ve been by our offices lately, you know that there has been a lot going on. In addition to physical changes in our work space, we have added additional employees, updated some policies and shuffled around existing duties & respon-sibilities. Here are some ways in which these changes might affect the services we offer you in the coming months...

• Policies regarding training registration may impact how and when you sign up for a training classes.

• Development of new and updated training classes give you opportunities to expand your knowledge in a variety of areas!

• Utilizing the technology at our disposal will bring changes to many aspects of what we do. We hope to extend those experiences to you as well.

We will notify our training participants and child care pro-grams of any changes in advance of them taking place. As an Accredited IACET Provider, GRECS has mandates on how we implement such changes & notify you of what is coming.

Don’t worry... We’ll let you know!

We’d lIke To hear from you!As we take a new look at many aspects of what we do

here at GRECS, we want your input. Connect with us via our Facebook page and let us know how we can better

serve you and/or what types of training sessions you’re interested in taking. You can also send that same

information via e-mail to Kym Carroll (kcarroll@grecs.org).

Gulf Regional Childcare Management Agency, Inc.3100 Cottage Hill Road; Building 4, Suite 400; Mobile, AL 36606Phone: 251-473-1060; Fax: 251-473-1084

Visit us on the web!

www.grecs.org

Support Children’s Trust Fund programs by purchasing this specialty car tag. The tag is available at your local Probate office. It is tax deductible & proceeds directly fund community-based prevention programs.

mark your calendar

Tuesday, July 4, 2017GRECS and Early Head Start

CLOSED for Independence Day

Monday, September 4, 2017GRECS and Early Head Start

CLOSED for Labor Day