IdahoSTARS RECOGNIZED FOR INNOVATIVE APPROACH to PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

The IdahoSTARS Project was recently awarded the Human-Centered Design Award by the National Workforce Registry Alliance (NWRA) at their annual conference in Minneapolis on September 25, 2024. Brenda Ingalls, IdahoSTARS Training Lead, and Eleni Graham, PDS Registry Coordinator, accepted the award on behalf of the team.

This recognition underscores the innovative work IdahoSTARS has undertaken by prioritizing Beneficiary Voice and incorporating provider feedback. Our efforts, particularly in developing IdahoSTARS Badges and restructuring the Professional Development System (PDS), have been significantly informed by insights gathered from child care providers. Over the past four years, we’ve conducted 50 listening sessions with hundreds of providers, enabling us to tailor our support and systems to better meet their needs. This award reflects our commitment to creating a more responsive and effective system for child care providers in Idaho. Thank you to Idaho’s child care providers, this work would not be possible without you!

TRAINING CORNER

Log into your RISE account to learn more or to register for these and other upcoming training opportunities. For training support, please contact trainingoffice@idahostars.org

WEBINAR TRAININGS:



Oct 23 Responsive Feeding in Childcare FREE

Oct 24 Designing a Classroom that Encourages Positive Behavior $60

Oct 24 Strengthening Family Series: What Happened to You? FREE

Oct 26 Introduction to ASQ:SE-2 FREE

Oct 30- Basics of Active Physical Play FREE

Oct 30 BOOKS; How to Use Stories to Integrate Learning Experiences Across Curriculums, Enhance Children’s Imaginations, and Create a Love of Literacy $60

Nov 4-15 Teaching the Positive Discipline Way $399

Nov 6 Challenging Behavior; Facilitating Social and Emotional Development $60

Nov 7 Story Mill Innovators LLC $60

Nov 8 Pyramid Module 1: Part 3 Promoting Children's Success: Schedules, Routines, & Transitions FREE

Nov 13 Adding High Quality Interactions to Your Classroom $60

Nov 14 BOOKS; How to Use Stories to Integrate Learning Experiences Across Curriculums, Enhance Children’s Imaginations, and Create a Love of Literacy $60

Nov 14 Designing a Classroom that Encourages Positive Behavior $60

Nov 15 Infant-Age Focus: Designing Environments FREE

Nov 21 Challenges, Diagnosis, and the Positive Attributes of ADHD $60

Nov 21 Strengthening Families Series: It Takes a Village FREE

IN-PERSON TRAININGS:

In-person training & events are noted by the location.

Nov 7 Activities for ALL with IdahoSTARS PD Specialist Shawnee McKinnon in Region 7- FREE (Idaho Falls)

EVENTS:

Nov 9 Partnerships with Families PLC with IdahoSTARS Guest Speakers FREE (Coeur D'Alene)

Nov 12-14 2024 Northwest Early Learning & Pyramid Summit $425 (Portland, Oregon)

Nov 14-15 Early Years Conference $60-$200 (Boise)

RECALLS

Consumer Product Safety Commission recalled nearly 520,000 Red Toolbox Stanley-Branded Jr. Kids Garden Sets that were sold at Costco. These products are being recalled because the painted long hoe and rake of the recalled garden set contain levels of lead that exceed the federal lead paint ban. Learn more about the effects of lead on children through the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare. 

HEALTH CONSULTANT CORNER

Dyslexia Awareness

Stefanie Jones, IMH-E®

Infant Family Associate

IdahoSTARS Child Care Health Consultant

Dyslexia is a common learning difference that affects how children process language, particularly reading, writing, and spelling. It’s important for child care providers to recognize the early signs of dyslexia to offer the right support for children in their care.

Early Indicators:

While dyslexia often becomes more evident in school-age children, early signs can include difficulty with:

·        Learning the alphabet

·        Rhyming words

·        Recognizing familiar words (like their name)

·        Pronouncing simple words correctly

How to Support:

Create a language-rich environment: Provide daily opportunities for children to engage with letters and sounds through songs, stories, and activities.

Be patient with reading and writing tasks: Children with dyslexia may need more time and encouragement to learn new skills. Avoid rushing or pressuring them.

Use multisensory teaching techniques: Engage children with hands-on activities like tracing letters, playing with alphabet blocks, or using visuals alongside verbal instruction.

Collaborate with Families: If you notice a child struggling with early literacy, communicate openly with families. Early identification can lead to the right interventions and support systems, ensuring the child builds strong literacy foundations.

By recognizing and addressing early signs of dyslexia, child care providers can play a crucial role in supporting children’s learning journeys.

To learn more, explore the resources below:

Decoding Dyslexia Idaho

International Dyslexia Association

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