Welcome to the April 25, 2008 edition of Earlychildhood NEWSlink for early childhood educators and child care professionals, where you'll discover great ideas for your classroom!           Congratulations to Marilyn R. from Westfield, NY! Marilyn won this fantastic prize:     A Children's Factory® Hiding Penguin Mat     If you’re not already a subscriber, sign up today! Learn more about Our NEWSlink GREAT GIVEAWAY, including prize information!     Music for Learning Featured Song for May: "Whatever the Weather" You'll find downloadable MP3 files from award-winning Miss Jackie Silberg. Lyrics included! And don't miss the correlating activities for your center! ECN Radio Listen to experts in the fields of early childhood education, child development, physical education, neuroscience, play, and more, interviewed by Rae Pica, well-known author and early childhood expert. Rae explores every stage of child development, from birth to age 8 - another free resource from Earlychildhood NEWS! Our Job Board! Check out our Job Sharing Board. Another great resource from Earlychildhood NEWS!   Top     Earth Lanterns   Celebrate environmental awareness with this simple craft! Top

Stay informed with these pertinent news stories. Schools, Students Go Green "Schools have come a long way in recent years to nurture student interest in the environment...Environmental science classes and ecology clubs educate and energize students in all grade levels..." Read the Full Article Fighting Childhood Obesity with Tools and Teaching "The HSC Foundation is unveiling a grassroots campaign targeting childhood obesity awareness and education in low-income communities...The campaign will address the way families view weight and obesity and help them make healthier decisions for themselves and their children..." Read the Full Article Study: Pre-K Benefits May Not Be Universal "A study released by a Birmingham-based research and education organization said the benefits of pre-K may not be universal...The majority of low-income children experience only short-term positive impacts from participation in early childhood education programs..." Read the Full Article Parents Connect With Children Through the Arts "Since the enactment of No Child Left Behind (NCLB), schools are spending more time testing students in reading and math and less time ensuring students receive a balanced education that includes creative learning..." Read the Full Article Preschoolers Learn Language Skills to Prepare for Kindergarten "Spanish and even American Sign Language are making their way into the preschool curriculum. Children are learning not just to communicate, but to do so in a multicultural society... [C]hildren as young as 3 learn the basic words in Spanish ...They learn songs in both Spanish and English and how to sign their names..." Read the Full Article Pre-K – It's Not Just About Social Skills Anymore "Since the advent of federal mandates such as No Child Left Behind and the prevalence of computers in classrooms, curriculums have changed nationwide... Schools that once used the pre-K years primarily to socialize children are now making use of those early years to lay the foundation for not only reading, but math and science as well..." Read the Full Article   Top

When planning your summer activities, be sure to include some Crafting Fun! Select from hundreds of creative solutions! Save up to 52% off retail!   Shop Price Drops and save big - no fooling! We've lowered our prices on dozens of products for you! Save up to 85% off retail!     Starting at $27.99 when purchased as a set of five! Store more cots in half the space with SpaceLine®!   Save on hundreds of Arts & Crafts items - all for under $20! Save up to 53% off retail!   NEW! Visit our Infant & Toddler Activity Teacher QuickSource® for experiences and activities that help reinforce and support developmental milestones, aiming to build the foundation of learning. This invaluable, easy-to-use resource provides comprehensive support for children from birth to age 3.     Infant and Toddler Activity QuickSource® is a great companion for the new POCET™ Infant and Toddler! POCET™ Infant and Toddler allows the teacher to track development by identifying developmental milestones for infants and toddlers, helps to tailor interactions, routines, materials and activities to each child's individual needs.         Top

Ask the Expert: Connecting Children with Nature By Richard Cohen, Early Education Specialist "...Through positive experiences with nature, we set the stage for a lifetime commitment to caring for the Earth, animals, and our communities." Read the entire article by Richard Cohen   Top

Avoiding Negative Behaviors "I was speaking to a group in Kingsville, TX, this weekend and I was again reminded about how important it is for early childhood teachers to set up engaging and effective classrooms...Adults tend to blame children for negative behavior when the real culprit is the environment in which the child is forced to function..." Read the full topic   Top

Curriculum Training "I do training in the curriculum area – lots of hands-on learning activities, one-on-one learning centers, one-on-one interactive bulletin boards, and one-on-one thematic units. How can I grow my training business? [I]s anyone interested in some training?" - Mylene Add a reply or see what others are saying   Top

"It must be remembered that the purpose of education is not to fill the minds of students with facts... it is to teach them to think, if that is possible, and always to think for themselves." - Robert Hutchins   Top

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