The Early Years Count!
An education initiative
of the Community Foundation
of St. Joseph County
Early Years Count!, coordinated by The Family Connection since 2001, focuses like a laser on raising quality in Head Start, early childhood centers, preschools, registered ministries, and family home providers.
Upcoming Training
EVENING WORKSHOPS
Diving into KDI 44
Appreciating the Arts with Amy
Designed for preschool teachers
October 23
5:45-7:45pm
Make & Take
Make and Take props to support Planning and Recall time with Amy
Designed for preschool teachers
November 13
5:45-7:45
Grupos pequeño
Explorando grupos pequeños con Liliana
Presented in Spanish
November 21
5:45-7:45
Book Reading
Exploring the magic and wonder of books with Liz
Designed for infant/toddler teachers
December 11
5:45-7:45
INFANT TODDLER FOCUSED KDI SERIES
-ONE SERIES WITH SIX SESSIONS
We are pleased to announce the launch of an exciting new professional development series for teachers in infant, toddlers and 2’s classrooms. This comprehensive series of 6 engaging workshops with accompanying materials to take back to classrooms will offer practical strategies for intentional and responsive support of HighScope’s Key Developmental Indicators. Each teacher will receive a classroom kit of materials that focus on each of the 6 curriculum Content Areas. Following the workshop teachers will receive further in-classroom support in implementation of the strategies learned in the workshop.
CLASS IS FULL!
PRESCHOOL FOCUSED SERIES- THREE OPTIONS
MATH LAB
Empowering preschool teachers through mathematical professional development.
The Math Lab was created for newer teachers who have had 1-2 years in the classroom and is currently implementing the HighScope curriculum. The emphasis will be based on intentional planning with playful hands-on experiences.
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The 5 components of math and how they relate to the KDIs
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Scaffolding throughout the daily routine
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Books and materials that support mathematical learning
REGISTRATION CLOSED!
TELL
T.E.L.L. is a three part training opportunity with a literacy focus on different aspects of literacy skills taken from the ELLCO (Early Language and Literacy Classroom Observation) assessment tool.
The area of focus this year is:
Phonological Awareness through songs, great children’s books and activities to use in the classroom.
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Curriculum content through fun PA activities
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Linked to further reading success
ECAP PROGRAM DIRECTOR FOCUSED IN ST. JOSEPH COUNTY
Creating Collaborative Teams
Join us as we discuss strategies for fostering a collaborative environment where individuals can work together effectively as teams to achieve shared objectives.
OCTOBER 22, 2024
Circle of Influence
Please join us for a discussion on the implementation of shared decision-making and participative management.
FEBRUARY 4, 2025
OPEN TO ALL EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATORS IN ST. JOSEPH COUNTY
Free Little Library
Have you visited Ann and Sue's Little library yet? It is tucked away just outside of the Notre Dame campus, at Kelly Park. Help us keep it stocked with books! We are collecting book donations, especially looking for children's books. Thank you.
We stand in solidarity against injustice, racism, and hate. Our team shares in the collective outrage and heartbreak of our nation. We realize we have much to learn and unlearn. We are reading, watching, and listening. We are looking at ourselves as individuals and as an organization. We are learning to sit with discomfort. We are grateful for the grace offered by Maya Angelou who says, ‘Do the best you can until you know better. Then when you know better, do better.’ We are committed to doing better by ‘using our mouths to speak out against injustice, our noses to sniff out implicit bias, our eyes to identify privilege, our ears to listen to the people of color experience, our hearts to cultivate empathy for the oppressed, and our hands to take actions and make change.’ (@ohhappydani)
- The Family Connection Team
Visit our photo galleries
We’re thrilled to announce that we’ve been selected as a proud recipient of an Early Years Initiative grant from Early Learning Indiana! We’re stepping up our efforts to provide crucial support for infants and toddlers in HighScope classrooms in St. Joseph County. This grant empowers us to offer Infant Toddler HighScope training and curriculum support to Spanish speaking childcare providers, ensuring a brighter future for our little ones. Stay tuned for updates!
FREE BOOKS
in the mail every month for children
birth to five in St. Joseph County!!!
Thanks to the Community Foundation and a host of dedicated funders.
Information and registration here.
A growing collection of useful links to state and local resources and like-minded national organizations.
We are always on the lookout for qualified candidates with early childhood and/or elementary school expertise.
Find us:
132 N. Lafayette Blvd.
South Bend, IN 46601
Call us:
(574) 237–9740