Igniting the Spark

Tuition

March:
Full time: 19 days x $30 = $570

M/W/F: 12 days x $30 = $360

T/Th: 7 days x $30 = $210

April:

Full time: 16 days x $30 = $480

M/W/F: 9 days x $30 = $270

T/Th: 7 days x $30 = $210

May:

Full time: 20 days x $30 = $600

M/W/F:12 days x $30 = $360

T/Th: 8 days x $30 = $240

Kinderpalooza and Childfest 2026, April 17th from 4-6pm at Collett St. Recreation Dept.

From Human Resources:

Please share this opportunity with any EC TA(s) at your schools that may be interested in the UNC Charlotte EC TA to Teacher opportunity. As a reminder, BCPS offers tuition reimbursement at $190 per class. Any EC teacher that works at a qualifying school for 5 years qualifies for up to $17,500 in tuition reimbursement. With the cost of tuition for the 60 credit program at $12,000, there is potential for the cost of the degree to be fully paid for. Just food for thought.

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Updates and Info

For Older Preschoolers: Unpacking the Early Learning and Development Standards

The NC Foundations Unpacking Guide aligns with the North Carolina Foundations for Early Learning and Development and is designed to support teachers, instructional coaches, and administrators. It clarifies developmental indicators, supports core instruction, and strengthens formative assessment by providing instructional strategies, examples of children’s responses/actions, descriptions of practice-based evidence, and suggested teacher prompts.

Updated NC Foundations Unpacking Guide

FINCH Training Update

Register Now for Live Sessions

The Finch Literacy Screener training includes completing a required 1-hour asynchronous training module. The self-paced online training is required to get a full understanding of how to administer the literacy screener and is now available within SmartTeach. Log into SmartTeach and navigate to the Develop area to launch the 1-hour Getting Started with Finch™ Literacy Screener module. Educators can revisit the content of this module throughout the year following initial completion.

Optional live virtual training sessions are scheduled for March 31 at 3:30pm and April 7 at 1:00pm. Each session will be 90 minutes, and the content for each of these live sessions is the same. A recording of the webinar will also be posted in the Hub following live sessions. If needed, in-person support can be scheduled with OEL Early Learning Consultants after teachers have completed initial training.

Register for March 31:

https://teachingstrategies.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_8wyB0oqkTVmC-MZ1l2oIvw

Register for April 7:

https://teachingstrategies.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_5zl-ED9kR06O9eQK-jdWAg

Progress notes due dates: October 21, January 9, March 17, May 29

ECATS

Progress notes are due on March 17th. You may have less data to report on progress notes due to our snow closures. If so, you may include this statement with the data you do have:

“Inclement weather closures impacted data collection for the third nine week grading period.”

This is a good time to remind everyone that you must include data on your progress notes, not just general statements about the child.

Professional Development

Specially Designed Instruction Training March 31, 2025 at OHRC 3:30 - 4:30.

Please bring scenarios, situations, or struggles you're having in delivering specially designed instruction to your exceptional children.

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Updated & Now Available Course: Introduction to Foundations for Early Learning and Development

This self-paced NCEES course introduces the North Carolina Foundations for Early Learning and Development (Foundations). Participants will explore the structure, purpose, and key components of Foundations and learn how to use the framework to support child development, planning, and instruction.

The estimated completion time is 3 hours. Successful completion earns 0.3 CEUs.

Access Information:

Title: Introduction to North Carolina Foundations for Early Learning and Development
NCEES Course #: 31052
Public school educators may register through NCEES using the course number or title. Newly hired PSU educators should wait for district credentials to access the course in NCEES.
Non-public school educators, public school educators who will not receive NCEES access, and others should complete this Canvas access request form to be added to the course.

If you have not received Foundations for Early Learning and Development training, you are required to complete this.

Classroom Ideas

Using Picture Books to Develop Students’ Emotional Vocabulary in Pre-K

4 Ways to Give Preschool Students Autonomy During Large Group Time

How to Accurately Document Preschool Students’ Growth - Great article with helpful information when dealing with children who have experienced trauma.

Teaching Preschool Students About Insects

Taking Preschool Students Outside to Support Executive Function