North Central Region | December 2021

Resource & Referral North Central Region December 2021

Season's Greetings! Hello, and Seasons Greetings to our providers! 2021 has been yet another weird year for everyone, but I hope you all have been able to return to some normalcy . . . whatever that may be for you now. As we look ahead to a new year, I just want to take a moment and share with you all about our wonderful Resource and Referral team here at Ivy Learning and how they can support you. . . Click Here Culturally Appropriate Positive Guidance with Young Children Three-year-old Emily is singing to a rag doll in the dramatic play area, pretending to rock her to sleep. Ana, also 3, snatches the doll from Emily’s hands. Ana says, “Baby wants sleep!” Upset, Emily says, “It’s my baby! I am rocking her to sleep!” Ana insists that the baby needs to be under the blanket. She lies down with the doll for a second, then jumps up to close the blinds. At first glance, a teacher may view this situation as a behavioral issue—Ana needs to understand that no one can take another’s toy without permission. While the behavior is important to address, Ana and Emily’s teacher, Ms. Jones, is also aware that young children have a deep understanding of their own cultural routines and a strong desire to follow those routines. While acknowledging that Ana’s method was not appropriate, Ms. Jones realizes that Ana was trying to prevent an uncomfortable situation for the “baby” by putting her to sleep according to the routine in Ana’s home—lying down with the baby in a quiet, dark room. . . Click Here Every Individual is Rooted in Culture Culture is acquired through the repeated, daily interactions children have with the people around them while growing up. Children acquire cultural knowledge as they develop language, learn concepts, and experience the ways they are cared for by their parents and family members. Children also acquire cultural knowledge from their communities and Head Start experiences. The acquisition of culture begins at birth and continues throughout the life span. On a daily basis, adults make many decisions and continually model behaviors, such as: . . . Click Here Positive Teacher-Child Interactions “Research indicates the ways teachers interact with children is crucial in determining how children develop over time.” (Curby and Brock, 2013) Every time an early childhood teacher and a child interact it is an opportunity to build a positive relationship. A child that feels connected to their teacher will view the classroom as a safe learning environment. A child who has negative interactions with their teacher will view the classroom as an unsafe learning environment. . . Click Here Cultural Influences on Early Language and Literacy Teaching Practices Lisa and Danielle get along most of the time and are good friends outside of the work environment, but what seem to be minor issues can leave them rolling their eyes and unable to see each other’s point of view. They get exasperated with what they perceive to be the other’s illogical way of thinking. Why? Their own upbringing and their cultural perspectives about children influence their perceptions of even everyday activities such as using scissors and eating snacks. We all bring specific values, beliefs, and assumptions about child-rearing and child development to our work with infants and toddlers. Even two colleagues who share same ethnic culture may not share the same beliefs about what’s best for very young children, what experiences they need, and what our expectations for their development should be. Conflicts around these issues will, quite naturally, arise with our colleagues and the parents of children in our care. Learning how to recognize the other’s point of view and come to some shared solution is critical in providing high quality care to infants and toddlers. . . Click Here The Reading Corner! Each month there will be three books that your Resource & Referral Team recommend. The books will be based on age groups: Infant/Toddler; Pre-School; and School-Age. We hope you enjoy our book choices and read many books to the children this month and all year around! . . Click Here We are here to serve you! Ivy Learning Resource & Referral serves the North Central Region of Oklahoma, which includes nine counties. For more information, contact your Resource and Referral Specialist: NC Resource & Referral Specialist Heather Cruz 918-766-6254 HCruz@delawarechild.org (Osage, Payne, Pawnee, Lincoln, Logan, Washington, Nowata, Kay, Noble) NC Infant & Toddler Specialist: Renae Barnett 918-332-8651 RBarnett@delawarechild.org NC Business Consultant Tracy Hinton 918-766-2577 THinton@delawarechild.org QRIS Regional R&R: The Pyramid Model What is the Pyramid Model, and why are so many early childhood professionals in Oklahoma (and across the country) talking about it? It is a proven way to teach and support young children in understanding and managing their emotions, which helps children handle life’s tough situations with greater resiliency and hope. . . Click Here Scholars for Excellence in Child Care What Is the Scholars Program? The Scholars program awards scholarships to eligible child care professionals to complete coursework in the area of child development or early childhood education, as well as the Child Development Associate (CDA) and Certified Childcare Professional (CCP) Credential Assessment. These scholarships enable child care providers in Oklahoma to improve their skills through education, receive an educational stipend and continue the availability of quality child care in local communities. . . Click Here Technical Assistance from our Resource and Referral Specialists! Ivy Learning Resource and Referral can provide technical assistance to child care providers. Click below to find out more! Click Here More Resources for Information and Webinars

• Early Childhood Investigations Webinars - Early Childhood Investigations is a ongoing series of conference-quality free webinars for early childhood educators.

• Baby Talk: Resources to Support the People Who Work With Infants and Toddlers - Baby Talk is free and distributed monthly. Each issue features resources that are high quality and readily available at no cost. Click Here for archived issues that contain a wealth of information.

Additional Resources Ivy Learning & Ivy Academies 918.977.3600 Scholars for Excellence in Child Care Program 866.343.3881 Insurance Assistance Insure Oklahoma/OEPIC 888.365.3742 Oklahoma Child Care Warmline FREE phone support and consultation for child care providers regarding behavior, development, health, andsafety issues. Mon - Fri 8am - 5pm Automated system available 24/7. Questions? Email: warmline@health.ok.gov Follow us on Facebook: Delaware Child Development Facebook Centers for Early Childhood Professional Development (CECPD) 888.446.7608 Licensing OK Child Care Services Oklahoma Registry Child Nutrition Program Child and Adult Care Food Programs(CACFP) Information, Resources &Trainings Oklahoma Child Care Resource & Referral (OCCRRA) 888.962.2772 Multicultural Environments, Email Keila Garcia Fingerprinting: Delaware Child Development Fingerprinting Services OKDHS Information on fingerprinting Identogo to schedule an appointment. 2419 Nowata Pl, Ste 103 Bartlesville, OK 74006, USA Ph:918-977-3600 Share on social Check out our website