The Long Island Pre-K Initiative is proud to be part of Long Island's Regional Technical Assistance Center for Pre-K and Early Education. Visit its web page for links to all partner organizations. Many have important resources to offer:  www.nassauboces.org/rtac

"The RTAC supports the expansion of Pre-K on Long Island, provides professional development to ensure quality programs and provides technical expertise for program leaders," said Carla Theodorou, Executive Director of the Nassau BOCES Department of Regional Schools and Instructional Programs. "Our region receives the least amount of public funding for Pre-K, so it is important that we coordinate the resources we have and work together to build a system that assures access and equity for all children."

The Long Island Pre-K Initiative is one of the collaborating partners in the RTAC. The other eight are the three Long Island BOCES, the Child Care Councils of Nassau and Suffolk, The Long Island Regional Early Childhood Career Development Center, the Long Island Regional Leadership Initiative and the New York Early Childhood Professional Development Institute.

"Long Island's Regional Technical Assistance Center is a champion for quality education programs for our youngest learners and the teachers who serve them," said Florence Barbour, Executive Director of Harbor Child Care."The RTAC offers school districts and community-based organizations the tools to successfully teach the whole child and the support needed to build partnerships with families and other community stakeholders."

"Know how to wait their turn." "Open string cheese." "Flush the toilet." These are among the answers she got when literacy blogger Angela Snodgrass reached out to 70 Kindergarten teachers across the U.S. and asked them one question: "What skills do you wish every incoming Kindergartener would have mastered on the first day of school?"

Almost 90% of the responses were life skills, not academic ones. Kindergarten teachers want students who can put on a jacket and tie their shoes--even, according to one response, "know that they have to keep their clothes on at school." And they hope children can sit quietly and listen to a story, follow two-step directions and hold a pencil.

"Imagine the amount of time we would give back to our Kindergarten teachers if every parent made sure their child knew these skills," says Snodgrass.

Read more on the We Are Teachers website, where you can download a list of the skills.

The results Snodgrass reports are very similar to answers we received when The Long Island Pre-K Initiative surveyed 100 local Kindergarten teachers back in 2014. "Everyday Skills" like using the bathroom and opening juice boxes were high on their list, too, along with listening skills, being able to name common colors, and being able to express their wants verbally. You can access the Long Island survey results here, It's also available in seven languages other than English.

"The rise in violent attacks against Asian Americans of late has marked the need for Americans of all ages and ethnicities to learn more about these communities," writes Rebekah Gienapp for PBS of Southern California. That's why the parenting author shares a list of a dozen picture books to consider, ranging from Eyes That Kiss in the Corners by Joanna Ho (a young girl explains what makes her eyes special) to Drawn Together by Minh Le (a Vietnamese American boy finds a way to connect with a grandfather who doesn't speak English).

Book blogger Devyn has collected a list of 31 picture books to celebrate Asian American-Pacific Islander Heritage Month--that's one for each day in May. They cover a wide range of topics and backgrounds--for example, Cora Cooks Pancit by Dorina K. Lazo Gilmore is about a young girl who helps her mother prepare her favorite Filipino noodle dish while a little-known Chinese scientist is introduced in Queen of Physics: How Wu Chien Shiung Helped Unlock the Secrets of the Atom by Rebecca Huang. Also of interest: Ohana Means Family by Kenard Pak, which celebrates Hawaiian land and culture.

Finally, the Scholastic blog runs down 17 titles by Asian American authors that "you can read all year." They range from picture books ( Wishes by Muon Thi Van) to Young Adult (I Love You So Mochi by Sarah Kuhn).

Child Care Council of Nassau, Inc., Garden City

The Infant/Toddler Specialist will work with the Infant/Toddler Manager to build and enhance quality early childhood education settings for infants and toddlers, families and child care professionals, including using screening tools and conducting site visits. Qualifications include bachelor's degree and three years work experience in an early education setting.

Email cover letter and resume to hr@childcarenassau.org

Community Synagogue Early Child Care of Port Washington, Port Washington

Call 516-883-3144 ext. 314 or fax 516-548-5283

Academic Explorers, Merrick and Roosevelt

Apply online

Soccer Shots Long Island West

Apply online

Hofstra University Child Care Center, Uniondale

Email Donna.Tudda@hofstra.edu or call 516-463-6055

Stony Brook Child Care, Stony Brook

Apply online

North Shore Montessori School, Stony Brook

Email nsmsdirector@northshoremontessori.com

Tiny Treasures Day Care, Great River

Call 631-650-0564

Shalom DCC, Plainview

Email resume to michelalfanosdcc@gmail.com or providencealfieri@gmail.com

In the body of the email, include the following information:

For our records: Your name and your position.

For the listing in this e-newsletter:

It's important to understand that:

The Long Island Pre-K Initiative is a collaborating partner in the state-funded Long Island Regional Technical Assistance Center for Pre-K and Early Childhood Education.