Below are resources for early childhood professionals and those serving the early childhood community.
Play-Based Learning: The What, Why, & How Materials Posted Materials from the seminar have been posted to the B-3 Continuity’s website. Materials from last week are on a site with other materials from the Developmentally Appropriate Practices Training Series. A webinar specifically for administrators is coming in April – details will be posted soon! Please follow the B-3 Continuity Project at the Center for the Study of Education Policy for updates about other resources and training opportunities.
Serving Families Together: Home Visiting, Early Intervention, and Child Welfare Cross-Trainings. This cross-training series in Central Illinois will support early childhood providers in better understanding the impact of trauma on child development and how various early childhood programs and services can support children’s recovery and developmental trajectory. In addition, cross-training attendees will have the opportunity to network, problem solve across systems, and identify community-level planning needs for improved cross-system collaboration and ensuring families can receive the services they need. Registration is available through the DCFS Virtual Training Center (VTC). If you already have a VTC account, please register online at www.dcfstraining.org. If you do NOT have a VTC account, register by emailing DCFSTraining@illinois.gov or calling 877-800-3393. If you need assistance with registration, please contact Brooke Taylor at Brooke.Taylor@illinois.gov. If you need additional information or have general questions about the cross-trainings, please contact Carie Bires at cbires@theounce.org or 312-291-2160.
Training locations, dates, and times include:
- April 12—Illinois Education Association in Springfield, 9 am- 4pm
- April 13—Decatur Public Library, 9:30 am-3:30 pm
- April 17—Illinois Law Enforcement Training Building in Urbana, 9 am- 3pm
- April 20—Illinois Central College East Peoria Campus, 9 am- 3pm
The Roots of STEM Success This paper details the importance of exposing children ages 0-8 to science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) experiences, so that they can build the thinking dispositions needed for success in an increasingly STEM-based world. Research indicates that children’s early experience builds brain architecture and lays the foundation for one’s lifelong thinking skills and approach to learning, both critical roots of STEM success. The STEM disciplines require not only content knowledge but also robust thinking dispositions – such as curiosity and inquiry, questioning and skepticism, assessment and analysis – as well as a strong learning mindset and confidence when encountering new information or challenges. According to the authors, these dispositions need to be developed in a child’s early education, beginning in infancy and continuing through third grade to lay the roots for STEM success. (Center for Childhood Creativity)
