The Delaware Institute for Excellence in Early Childhood created a monthly newsletter just for you! Read about the latest news and updates, professional learning experiences, and a variety of other resources for the Delaware early childhood community.
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May 2025
This month, we’re celebrating our partnership with Delaware’s early childhood education programs, highlighting the incredible 716 Quality Improvement Plans we’ve co-created with you. In this issue, you’ll also find actionable ideas for supporting early literacy in our Coach’s Corner article, information on upcoming professional learning experiences, and important updates from our partners, including a survey from the Delaware Department of Education’s Early Childhood Support Team. Don’t miss the opportunity to share your valuable perspective.
As always, we’re here to support you in your vital work with young children and families. Friday, May 9, is Provider Appreciation Day. Please know that we appreciate you, and thank you for your dedication and commitment to Delaware’s children!
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April 2025
In this issue of REACH, we invite you to celebrate the Week of the Young Child, including your own contributions toward ensuring that every child receives the bright start they deserve. We also highlight Autism Awareness & Acceptance Month, reminding us there are many facets that contribute to the well-being of all children.
Did you know that play is an essential foundation of literacy? In this month’s Coach’s Corner, we share a variety of actionable tips for incorporating support for literacy throughout your program environment. And, as always, you’ll find a variety of valuable professional development opportunities and program support information. Thank you for your dedication to Delaware’s children!
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March 2025
Welcome to the March edition of REACH! Spring is a time of growth and renewal, and at DIEEC, we’re embracing that spirit by offering you a variety of ways to enhance your professional journey.
We’re thrilled to announce that nominations for the DIEEC Excellence in Early Childhood Awards are now open! This is your chance to recognize and celebrate the outstanding contributions of early childhood educators. We’re also excited to bring back the Physical Activity Learning Sessions (PALS), a professional learning experience that will equip you with the tools to integrate active play into your daily routines.
This month’s newsletter also features a Provider Spotlight on family child care educator Sharon McPhatter, whose dedication at Happyland Childcare is truly inspiring. And be sure to check out our Coach’s Corner for insights on enhancing dramatic play in your settings.
At DIEEC, we understand the importance of staying connected and informed, which is why we’re pleased to announce new open office hours for center-based programs. Finally, I’m particularly excited about the kickoff of this year’s Early Childhood Educator Leadership Board. Your voices matter to us, and we’re grateful for the opportunity to listen to and incorporate educators’ perspectives into the work we do every day.
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February 2025
This month, we’re excited to share new opportunities and resources to support you. Our new Microlearning Deep Dive professional learning experiences (PLEs) offer a chance to explore key early childhood topics with the addition of coaching and reflection. Plus, DIEEC’s Excellence in Early Childhood Awards are coming soon with a new category recognizing early career educators—consider nominating yourself or a colleague!
In February’s Coach’s Corner, you’ll discover practical ideas for building community partnerships that support children, families, and your program while strengthening connections beyond the classroom. You’ll also find updates on our refreshed website and quality improvement resources. As always, we appreciate your dedication to Delaware’s youngest learners.
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January 2025
Happy New Year! As we step into 2025, I’m excited to share that our team has updated DIEEC’s mission statement to reaffirm our commitment to ensuring high-quality early childhood experiences for all children. You can find the full statement in the DIEEC News section below. Together, we’ll continue working to build brighter futures for Delaware’s children and families.
In this issue, we share a variety of upcoming initiatives designed to support your important work. Our website is undergoing a refresh, and soon you’ll have access to the new Resource Hub—a comprehensive library of trusted information and tools to enhance your practice. On the wellness front, Shining the Light on You returns this March, offering family child care educators a free, 15-week program focused on health and well-being. Additionally, we’ve included details about a mini-grant opportunity to promote healthier lifestyles, and a last call for open enrollment in the Health Insurance Marketplace. Finally, don’t forget about the upcoming FY25 Quality Improvement Award deadlines, with support available from our Quality Improvement Specialists.
We are always open to input and ideas from the early childhood community- this month, be sure to fill out our poll about the topics you’d like to see covered in future Coach’s Corner blogs.
Guided by our updated mission, the DIEEC team looks forward to collaborating with you to make 2025 a year of growth and success.
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December 2024
As we close another impactful year in early childhood education, I want to take a moment to reflect on all we’ve accomplished together. Through Quality Improvement planning, Pyramid Model and Zero to Three cohorts, and a multitude of other professional learning experiences, your dedication to nurturing Delaware’s children has been unwavering, and the difference you make in their lives is profound.
As always, this month’s REACH newsletter is filled with opportunities and resources designed to support you and your programs as you continue this essential work. From leadership development opportunities to tips for enhancing active play and fostering inclusive learning environments, we hope you’ll find both valuable inspiration and practical support in this issue.
As the holiday season approaches, let’s celebrate the collective strength of our early childhood community and look forward to a new year of growth and success. Thank you for all you do to ensure that every child in Delaware gets the great beginning they deserve.
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November 2024
One thing we can all agree on in the early childhood education community is this: Early literacy is a critical building block of child development. The week of November 4 is national Children’s Book Week, and DIEEC staff are excited to be visiting programs across Delaware as guest readers. Throughout this issue of REACH, you’ll find resources and tips to celebrate and support early literacy in your own program, this week and beyond.
Another key element of early childhood education? Movement and active play! Check out our upcoming Physical Activity Learning Sessions for an opportunity to create experiences that will get your children moving while having fun!
If your program hasn’t yet created a Quality Improvement Plan (QIP), we encourage you to get started now. This month’s issue has information about upcoming deadlines, updates to the Quality Improvement System (QIS) guide, and how to co-create your QIP with a Quality Improvement Specialist.
As we move into the season of holidays and celebrations, know that DIEEC is thankful for the partnership we have with the early childhood education community and for the opportunity to support you in creating high-quality experiences for Delaware’s children.
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October 2024
If you’re anything like us, you’re wondering how on earth it can be October already! Our calendar for the coming month is packed, and this issue of REACH is your guide to all of the good things we have in store.
In this month’s Provider Spotlight, FCC educator Tredena Trott shares how she stays connected to her colleagues in the field…and our 1st State Family Child Care Conference is one of her many ways! If you’re a family child care educator, don’t miss your chance to join us at the conference in November.
DIEEC’s Early Childhood Educator Leadership Board is a fantastic opportunity for ECE educators to share their perspectives with us. Feedback from the board has a direct, positive impact on our work at DIEEC, and we invite you to apply and join the conversation.
In early November, we’re celebrating Children’s Book Week. Our entire staff at DIEEC will head out to serve as guest readers at programs around the state, and we are so excited to connect with you around our shared understanding of how important early literacy is for our children. Even if you’re not hosting a guest reader, you can still take advantage of the resources we’ve shared for promoting literacy and a love of reading.
For those of you working on Quality Improvement Plans, we have important information about working with your QI specialists toward the November 15th Quality Improvement Award application deadline. If you’ve already received an award, we have supports available to help with the financial management side of things!
If you’re an early bird already thinking ahead to spring, check out our new Let’s GROW Outside! opportunity – applications open on October 14.
There’s plenty more in this issue- read on! May your month be free of tricks, and full of treats.
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September 2024
Our fall calendar is filled with good things for the early childhood community!
First, we invite you to visit our table at Newark’s Community Day event, where DIEEC will be sharing information about how we support Delaware early childhood educators and programs in providing high-quality care to our children.
Next, note that registration for two key DIEEC initiatives is now open. We hope you’ll sign up to receive a visit from a guest reader during Children’s Book Week and, if you’re a family child care educator, that you’ll register for our annual First State Family Child Care Conference. Both of these events take place in November, but you need to register in advance. Don’t miss out!
For programs currently engaged in Quality Improvement Planning, be sure to check the important updates included in this issue of REACH.
Finally, we have new resources to share with you this month. Read Coach’s Corner for tips on making the most of multi-age environments; find simple tips for integrating diversity in our Diversity, Equity and Inclusion highlight; and learn more about deaeyc’s new resource center that is open to all programs and families!
We look forward to seeing you at a program or event this fall!
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August 2024
August is a month of transition for many of us, as we prepare to move children into new classrooms, send our own children back to school, or think ahead to the coming school year and all that we want to accomplish. At DIEEC, we’re excited about the possibilities and opportunities ahead. This month, we preview two of our key fall initiatives: Children’s Book Week and the 1st State Family Child Care Conference. Mark your calendars now! Take a few minutes to read this month’s Coach’s Corner about circle time- we have tips to help you ensure it’s appropriate and effective, and the new school year is a great time to try a new approach.
Family child care professionals, be sure to read about how our FCC network is now statewide, with meetings and activities open to ALL licensed Delaware FCC programs.
Check out our Pyramid Model and Zero to Three: Critical Competencies initiatives- is one of our upcoming cohorts right for your program? And finally, remember that DIEEC’s quality improvement specialists are here to support your program’s continuous quality improvement journey- reach out when you’re ready to get started!
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July 2024
Welcome to summer! This month’s resource highlight focuses on summer safety, highlighting resources designed to help your program prepare for fun activities while prioritizing safety.
We’re kicking off the new fiscal year with a lot of activity. Applications are open to join upcoming cohorts for the Pyramid Model or the Zero to Three Critical Competencies for Infant-Toddler Educators. Not sure if one of these opportunities is a good fit for your program? Fill out the interest form to learn more! We also have a full calendar of professional learning experiences available on the DIEEC registry at no cost to you.
Don’t miss the provider spotlight below. Mary Waters and Meghan Eudy, our Early Childhood Educators of the Year, share more about their programs and their perspectives on their roles as educators.
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June 2024
Greetings! As we welcome June and the start of summer, we’re excited to share some news and upcoming opportunities with you in this issue of REACH.
Applications are now open to join cohorts focused on the Pyramid Model and cohorts focused on the Zero to Three Critical Competencies for Infant-Toddler Educators. Both of these new in-depth series include workshops, classroom observations, and coaching. Cohorts are being launched across the year – make sure to read more below!
Responding to feedback about the need for more self-paced offerings, we’re launching a new self-paced PLE, “Introduction to Delaware’s Early Learning Foundations”. We also include additional organizations that provide online courses to support early childhood educators in completing their annual licensing training requirements.
We’d also like to spotlight the final episode from season 2 of X, Why, Z: Reflections for Early Childhood Education Professionals, “It Starts with You.” Make sure to listen from wherever you stream your podcasts to hear from Dr. Nefertiti Poyner about resilience and self-care.
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May 2024
Welcome to the next edition of REACH, your trusted resource with information and supports for Delaware’s early childhood community. This is an exciting issue!
Following our “Welcoming All Children” webinar last month, we’re highlighting the Delaware Early Childhood Inclusion Guide as a support for early childhood programs and professionals working to meet the needs of each and every child and family. Not to worry if you missed the webinar – we’re also including a link to the recording.
We’re thrilled to announce this year’s DIEEC Early Childhood Educators of the year – make sure to take a look at the message from Delaware’s first lady, Tracey Quillen Carney. Congratulations to the winners!
