Thursday,
May 14th - 10:00 am – noon
Think
Small - 2021 Hennepin Ave. E., Mpls
55413
EC
Directors Group meetings are open to all
Join us on May 14th for a run down of
the legislative session – what passed, what didn’t, what lies ahead for child
care and families’ access to quality programs, where do we go from here?
No RSVP necessary. For more info, contact Nancy
Johnson: njohnson@thinksmall.org
Note: my phone has changed to: 651-523-7295
MinneMessage of the Week
Please help us spread this message
as widely as possible!
"Lawmakers
have the opportunity to make huge strides in closing the achievement gap this
session. MinneMinds encourages both parties to continue to recognize not just
the importance of prioritizing investments in early learning, but targeting the
first dollars in to support the most at-risk children!"
Early Learning at the Legislature Ramps Up
There
has been a great deal of media attention on the early learning debate all session
long, and this week was particularly heavy with coverage. See below for the
full run down, but there are two articles in particular that show broad support
for early learning and early learning scholarships as a vital part of the
solution to the opportunity and achievement gaps.
· In the Bemidji Pioneer Press, leaders from Greater Minnesota called for an investment in a mixed-delivery system for early learning that gives parents and communities the flexibility to meet the needs of their early learners.
· The Star Tribune Editorial Board endorsed several of the education proposals being debated at the Legislature. On the topic of early learning, they supported an increased investment in early learning scholarships, saying "it’s best to target the neediest students first in this round of budgeting."
For more information about the MinneMinds Coalition and early learning policy in Minnesota, please visit www.minneminds.org.
Drew Henry
MinneMinds Campaign Manager
952-851-7228
University of Minnesota Hosting Forum on Early Childhood Education Policy - May 5
On Tuesday May 5th from 4-6pm at the Cowles Center, the University of Minnesota will host a forum on Early Childhood Education Policy entitled: Shared Commitments to School Readiness: Setting Minnesota's Future Direction.
Panelists will include:
- Brenda Casselius - Commissioner, MN Department of Education
FREE RESOURCE - Small Group
Activity Kits
Small Group Activity Kits are a new
addition to the Debra S. Fish Early Childhood Library. All of the kits include
a book, an activity sheet, and a learning game. Some of the topics covered in
the kits include: Match, Numbers, Opposites, Sequence, Sorting, and Vocabulary.
Any of the kits can be checked out for three weeks at the St. Paul and
Minneapolis sites.
For additional
information on obtaining a library card or requesting materials, please call
Cathy Clair at 651-641-3544, or email her at cclair@thinksmall.org. The library is open 8:30-5:00 Monday through Friday, and on
evenings and Saturdays during classes.
Mind in the Making
- Free ResourceMind in the Making and First Book have combined forces to compile lists of books and tips that support seven essential life skills. The lists are organized by topic and age group (0 to 2, 3 to 5 years, 6 to 8 years, and 9 to 12 years). For each life skill (e.g., focus and self-control), relevant children’s books are listed that can be used to support/develop that skill. Options for using each book are provided on a downloadable tip sheet; many tip sheets are available in both English and Spanish.
