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EARLY EDUCATION

  • Fall Resources from Better Kid Care - What does fall mean to early educators and families? This time of year often means getting ready for school, childcare, and celebrating the season. It also is an important time for planning and preparing quality childcare programs. View Resources .
  • Choosing a Curriculum - There are many needs to be considered when planning a preschool curriculum. The physical environment should contribute to well-planned activities that can help young learners meet their goals, but it should also allow for spontaneous and unplanned learning to occur. This article from NIEER helps clarify what should be considered when choosing a curriculum that will meet the needs of young learners in a preschool environment.
  • Visit USA.gov’s Back to School page for a little extra help.
  • Back to School Resources from Reading Rockets – Make great connections in coming back to school and beyond. Downloadable materials to use such as nametags, flyers, and templates for newsletters and notes to families.
  • The Early Care and Education Consortium launched new Web pages focusing on four key issue areas: prekindergarten, childcare subsidy, quality rating systems, and supporting the early childhood workforce. The pages provide background on the issues, updates, and links to handy relevant news and reports. To explore the new content, visit Issues in Focus.
  • Tool Kits for Use With Particular Published Children's Books - The family involvement storybooks selected portray culturally diverse families and appear on Reading Is Fundamental's list of the 100 of the Decade's Best Multicultural Read-Alouds.
  • InTime offers 400 video vignettes of pre-K to 12 teachers using technology in language arts, math, science, and other instruction. A conceptual model for analyzing the use of technology in instruction is among the tools and information on the site.
  • State Autism Profiles - Easter Seals and the Autism Society of America have partnered together to prepare a state-of-the-art report of autism services in the 50 states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico. Learn more about the number of children with autism who have received special education services, insurance coverage for autism, educational programs, and more.

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GRANTS and FUNDING

  • The Public Education Network has a wealth of information for education related grants.
  • Earth Day Network grants - Do you have a great idea to engage your students in civic action to protect the environment?  Are you planning a climate change campaign at your school?  If you answered “yes” to either of these questions then Earth Day Network wants to support you through their ground-breaking National Civic Education Project or Climate Change Educator grant program.
  • Kids in Need Teacher Grants - The School, Home, & Office Products Association Kids in Need Foundation offers Teacher Grants for K-12 educators to provide innovative learning opportunities for their students.  Grants range from $100-$500 each, and are used to fund creative classroom projects.

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NATURE RELATED

  • Walk to School Day October 8  - By registering, Walk to School organizers have access to a variety of downloadable materials, including certificates, templates for printing stickers, and a frequent walker punch card. Registrants can also subscribe to receive a weekly Walk to School e-newsletter with tips and resources on hosting a Walk to School event.
  • Nature and Play - Find activities to bring back the fun into nature year-round!
  • National Environmental Education Week will be held this year from April 12-18, 2009.  You can get a head start on your planning by registering online.
  • Take a Child Outside Week September 24-30 - Organizations and the public are invited to participate in Take a Child Outside Week, an international Internet-facilitated program that encourages all citizens (particularly children) to participate in outdoor activities.

FAMILIES

  • Children’s Budget 2008 - A comprehensive guide to over 180 different children’s programs funded by the federal government, from child health and education to child welfare and juvenile justice.
  • Family Gardens - Looking for some guidance on how to make the most of your family garden? Visit Kids Gardening’s Family Resource Room for a Parent’s Primer.
  • Make Tracks! Family Trail Weekend - Save the date! Walk, bike, roll, or stroll to a trail near you this Columbus Day Weekend (October 11 -13th, 2008) for the first annual Make Tracks Family Trail Weekend!

HEALTH

  • Children's Bureau Express is designed for professionals concerned with child abuse and neglect, child welfare, and adoption. Children's Bureau Express is supported by the Children's Bureau, Administration for Children and Families, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and published by Child Welfare Information Gateway.


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