ECA WebWatch - Issue 114 May 2011 - Early Childhood Australia

Feature Product

Planning in the context of the EYLF: Powerful, practical and pedagogically sound
Available now from ECA: only $15.95

Join Early Childhood Australia's mailing list

Awesome! It's great to have such relevant & interesting information to read.
Amanda

Child Development, Family, Health, and Education Research.

Sponsored link

Appeals

ChildFund Australia fundraising appeal—Australian-funded school helps children from PNG dumps

ChildFund Australia has launched a fundraising appeal to assist children living in the urban waste dumps of Papua New Guinea. They are working with a school in Port Moresby to get children out of the urban waste dumps and into the classroom, and also to help provide vital healthcare and nutrition for these children. View a video about the school. Make a donation to help assist these children.

EYLF Professional Learning Program update

Talking about practice series video out now

The first of the new updated series is now available. This video—Talking about practice: Intentional Teaching—provides insight into what 'intentional teaching' is and how educators can implement this approach in their daily practice in order to maximise children's learning and development outcomes in a thoughtful, informed and deliberate way.

EYLF PLP e-Newsletters

The latest edition of the EYLF PLP e-Newsletters titled Learning spaces 1: Outdoors focuses on outdoor spaces and the many roles that we want them to fulfill in early childhood education. This, and previous editions can be viewed on the EYLF PLP website. The next EYLF PLP e-Newsletter titled Learning spaces 2: Indoors, will be out Wednesday 25 May. Sign up here.

EYLF Professional Learning Workshops

During the last fortnight eight more Workshops have taken place around Australia in Sydney Paramatta, Brisbane, Broken Hill, Mt Gambier, Roma, Ballina, Adelaide and Hobart.

Planning doesn�t always have to be so structured. It�s ok to let the children play with risks involved.
Roma Workshop

Don�t forget that the EYLF PLP online Forum is a great place for Workshop participants to stay connected and exchange information on progress and challenges as they implement the EYLF. For more information about the EYLF Professional Learning Program, please visit the EYLF PLP website.

EYLF PLP Facebook

If you�re new to Facebook but would like to join, creating an account is very easy. All you need is a valid email account. Head to www.facebook.com and �sign up�. You will receive an email to activate your account. From there, all you have to do is search for the EYLF PLP account, or click this link and �like� us to be kept updated. For Facebook help, click here.

Connect with the EYLF PLP Twitter network

Link up with the EYLF Professional Learning Program community on Twitter! Use Twitter to share your Workshop experiences and take advantage of the Thinking Practice series—short thought-provoking statements guaranteed to get you thinking about the role of the EYLF in raising quality education and care for our young children. Join us at: http://twitter.com/EYLFPLP

EYLF PLP Forum—Quote of the week

I am struggling with documenting the �planned� intentional teaching/learning in my program. I understand and analyse the learning that has occurred AFTER it is observed and am comfortable documenting this and making links with the curriculum frameworks, but would love SEE how it is written BEFORE the learning has occurred. (Forum discussion thread—Intentional teaching: Documenting planned/intentional teaching—Contribution 1)

Join in and contribute to this discussion—and other discussions—on the EYLF PLP Forum.

Visit the EYLF Professional Learning Program at the C&K Conference

The C&K Conference Brisbane 2011 will include a range of attractions for educators, including the EYLF Professional Learning Program. The conference will be held at the Brisbane Convention & Exhibition Centre on Saturday 21 and Sunday 22 May 2011, come and visit us there!

Early childhood news

Funding a better future for Australia�s children

In this media release, The Hon. Peter Garrett MP and The Hon. Kate Ellis MP, announced that more than $32.4 million will be invested to further the early childhood reform agenda.

Inquiry into Commonwealth Commissioner for Children and Young People bill 2010

This private Senator's bill seeks to establish an independent statutory office of Commonwealth Commissioner for Children and Young People, to advocate at a national level for the needs, rights and views of people below the age of eighteen. View the report, the submissions and transcripts of the two days of public hearings.

Early years risk identified

This media release from the Australian Early Development Index (AEDI) announced that now ninety-six per cent of Australian communities have vital information about their children�s development. This increase up from the thirty-seven per cent of Australian communities being represented in 2009, presents a world-first towards the provision of equal opportunities for Australian children to have the best start in life.

Study identifies environmental health issues for Aboriginal children in cities

The University of Sydney and the Sydney Children�s Hospital Network presented early findings from the SEARCH (Study of Environment on Aboriginal Resilience and Child Health) study of Aboriginal children living in some urban areas. The study demonstrated the need for critical intervention for children with unrecognised and untreated conditions identified by the study. Read the full article.

Mental health testing planned for three-year-olds as part of early intervention program

In the recent budget, the Federal Government �has allocated $11 million to bring forward current universal health checks to three-year-olds and to expand them to include "emotional wellbeing and development"�. Read the full article.

New online national program trains teachers in cybersafety

The Australian Communications and Media Authority released an online professional development program—Connect.ed—designed to train teachers on how to protect students from potential online dangers. More information about Connect.ed and other Cybersafety initiatives can be found here.

Never too early to read

This article talks about the numerous benefits of reading to children, and highlights that the earlier parents/carers start reading to children, the better. Read the full article to find out about the ways that reading helps children�s development.

US studies show children�s IQ deficiencies caused by exposure to pesticides during pregnancy

Three studies, funded by the National Institutes of Health, have found that prenatal exposure to organophosphate (OP) insecticides causes IQ deficiencies in children. Read the report.

Supporting ECEC practitioners

New site of early childhood educators

The Early Childhood Care and Education: Developing and Sustaining Pedagogical Leadership website offers a valuable selection of topics, underpinned by a focus on leadership and transdisciplinary practice to lead and influence the development of practice in the early years. Visit this new site at www.ecceleadership.org.au.

AITSL launches the National Professional Standards for Teachers website

The Australian Institute for Teaching and School Leadership (AITSL) is pleased to announce the new National Professional Standards for Teachers website, providing a platform for exploring the Standards and enabling teachers to access and engage with the Standards. Visit the new site to review the new Teacher Standards website and the exciting new interactive version of the National Professional Standard for Principals Exposure Draft. Download AITSL's first App for iPads and iPhones free from the Apple iTunes store.

Teachers Are Teachers campaign

How can you help achieve pay equity for teachers in early childhood services? The Independent Education Union (IEU) is running a campaign to try and win pay equity for early childhood teachers—to try and secure the funding for early childhood services so that our services can pay their much-valued teachers the same as what teachers in Department of Education preschools earn.

Building the brain�s �air traffic control� system

This fascinating document outlines how early experiences shape the development of executive function—different brain functions that work together to activate, organise, integrate and manage other brain functions.

KidsMatter Early Childhood—Family information sheets

KidsMatter Early Childhood is a national mental health promotion, prevention and early intervention initiative specifically developed for early childhood services. KidsMatter will support services in their implementation of the EYLF and the NQS. KMEC Information for Families gives ideas on what families and staff of early childhood services can do together to enhance children�s mental health.

New report on professional care for infants and toddlers

This article talks about a recent policy brief that provides recommendations for the US Federal Government and states on how to prepare early childhood education bachelor�s degree programs and associate�s degree programs for early childhood teachers, that focus on infants and toddlers.

University of Southern Queensland �Feeding in young children� survey

Researchers from USQ are conducting research into feeding during childhood. Making sure children eat well can be a challenging task for parents. Researchers are interested in the role of fathers in feeding; specifically fathers� impressions of how their children feed, the strategies they use and what they think and feel about feeding. Why not mention this in your next newsletter and encourage fathers of children aged 18 months to 5 years to take part in this survey? Take part at: https://psych.sci.usq.edu.au/olsRun.asp?Survey=RFFY2011.

Conferences and dates

May—National Pregnancy Loss Awareness month

The Small Miracles Foundation is a registered charity and non-profit organisation that works to support people dealing with the full range of pregnancy-related issues. If you have lost a baby or know someone who has, a counsellor is available on 1300 266 643 to offer support. Find more information here.

Power of Play National Playgroup Conference—October 12–14

Playgroup Australia�s Power of Play National Playgroup Conference �All Together Now� in Melbourne, will bring together early childhood professionals, child care workers, policy makers and playgroupers to focus on how the simple act of coming together in play has the power to nurture children, support families and build socially inclusive and active communities. For more information and to register click here. Please note that in the previous edition of ECA WebWatch the dates of this conference were incorrectly communicated as being from 1–14 October.

ECA Greenwatch

22 May—International Day for Biological Diversity

2011 is the International Year of Forests and �forest biodiversity� is the theme for this year's International Day of Biodiversity (IDB).

Why not take the opportunity to celebrate the wonderful biodiversity in your local forests? This lesson plan for Prep–Grade 2 relates to the biodiversity in the Canberra region, but can be adapted to talk about your local area. You could also plan a trip to your nearest botanical gardens and take advantage of their programs for young children, such as the programs offered at the Australian National Botanical Gardens.

ECA Facebook

If you already have a Facebook account, simply click here to land on our wall. Don�t forget to �like� us to be kept updated.

If you�re new to Facebook but would like to join, creating an account is very easy. All you need is a valid email account. Head to www.facebook.com and �sign up�. You will receive an email to activate your account. From there, all you have to do is search for the Early Childhood Australia account, or click this link and �like� us to be kept updated. For Facebook help, click here.

Quality�assured early childhood resources

All of ECA's publications are peer-reviewed by early childhood experts, so you can be assured that all our publications are of the highest quality, and relevant to you and your work. Here are some ideas for those of you interested in developing reading ideas, exploring the biodiversity in your gardens, understanding more about children and digital technologies and developing healthy eating habits:

Creating readers: Over 1000 games, activities tongue twisters, fingerplays, songs and stories to get children excited about reading

Teach the basic building blocks of reading using this fun book filled with over 1000 activities. This resource develops a child's desire to read as well as the skills needed to begin reading.

Reading magic: How your child can learn to read and other read-aloud miracles

This delightful title from Mem Fox, written for parents and carers of children from birth to age five, shows how reading aloud to children can increase their literacy with glorious results.

Everyday learning together in the garden

Help children discover the wonders of the natural world and explore the possibilities that can be found in the garden.

Everyday learning about screen time and digital technologies

Everyday learning about screen time and digital technologies outlines important aspects of children�s use of digital technologies, which includes understanding screen time, children�s learning, literacy and web 2.0 and digital technology safety. It provides information on cyber bullying and measures parents can take to prevent their child from being a cyber bully or the victim of one.

Positive food for kids: Healthy food, healthy children, healthy life

Concerned with how little your child eats? Worried about their weight? Is every meal a battle? These simple, effective food strategies will help parents introduce young children to healthy food.

Resource of the week

Take advantage of this week�s ECA WebWatch resource special!

Over the coming week (18–24 May) ECA is offering a 15% discount on Curriculum: Art, music, movement, drama—a beginnings workshop book. This book usually costs $80.95, but this week you can purchase this resource for just $68.80.

Don�t forget to enter the promotional code: BOW1101, into the shopping cart in order to get the special price. The prices quoted above include postage and handling.

The ECA values statements

Early Childhood Australia is guided in its work by endorsed values. These sit alongside ECA�s Principles, Positions, Code of Ethics, Scope of Activities and Governance Guidelines as our Foundation Materials. With the other Foundation Materials the ECA values inform ECA�s Strategic Directions and all our day-to-day work. View the ECA Values statements.

ECA website usability survey

We need your help! We are asking people who use the ECA website for their opinions. By taking part in our usability survey, you are helping us to make a better website.

Help us expand the ECA WebWatch community

Please pass this e-newsletter service on to friends and colleagues with this link to subscribe: www.earlychildhoodaustralia.org.au/mail

Early Childhood Australia's strength is determined by the strength of its members and supporters. It is only through your support that we can advocate for and on behalf of the sector. As a reader of ECA WebWatch you can make a big difference to the sector. By forwarding this newsletter to colleagues and inviting them to subscribe, you extend our advocacy chain – increasing our ability to communicate and work with the sector.

Let us know what you think ...
We welcome any suggestions or comments you have: webwatch@earlychildhood.org.au.

Past issues of ECA WebWatch are available on the Early Childhood Australia website.

Subscribing
If you have received this copy of ECA WebWatch from a friend and wish to subscribe yourself, simply send a blank email to subscribe@earlychildhood.org.au.

Unsubscribing
If you do not wish to receive ECA WebWatch, send a blank email with a subject of Unsubscribe ECA Webwatch to unsubscribe@earlychildhood.org.au from the email address it was sent to.

Change of address
Please send an email to webwatch@earlychildhood.org.au, clearly stating your old email address as well as your new address.

(Please remember to add webwatch@earlychildhood.org.au to your safe senders list to ensure that you receive your copy of ECA WebWatch promptly.)

Last Updated ( Thursday, 23 June 2011 )




Home Early childhood news ECA WebWatch ECA WebWatch - Issue 114 May 2011