Need a logo?
ETP offers pre-designed logos for just $49.95. You'll receive a CD with three logo files: one for large print, one for small print, and one for use on the Web. Each one can be customized with your company name and some have various color options available.

All staff training
As a director, have you considered hiring a training agency to educate your staff on topics you want them to learn about? ETP has several contracts with early learning facilities to provide 10 hours of STARS credit training every year. We can customize the session(s) to meet your needs.

Transitions
Transitions can be a difficult time for any teacher. Step one is to look at the number of times a child must move from one activity to another. If possible, eliminate as many of these occurrences as you can. Children and teachers enjoy each other more when larger blocks of organized time are scheduled for play. Allow for at least 45 minutes of uninterrupted play.

Welcome!

Educational Training Partners has decided to supplement our print newsletter with an electronic update between quarterly mailings. We plan on communicating via email on occasion, to offer you solutions for various issues, training updates and other information.

Since this is our first Early Years E-Update tell us what you think. Email Amber with your comments and suggestions. If you know someone who would like to receive these updates, they can sign up on our site.

Don't worry, our printed newsletter is still being produced and you can browse archived editions on our Web site.

Thank you for your time and we hope you find the information we provide useful.

Upcoming Conferences

Several trainers who work with ETP also present at conferences throughout the state. If we're going to be in your area, stop by and see us OR, better yet, sign up for one of our workshops!

Mar 25: SW Washington Tapestry Conference (Vancouver, WA)
Taffy Gallagher (presenter)

Apr 1: Palouse Area AEYC Conference (Pullman, WA)
Amber Havens, Taffy Gallagher (presenters)

Apr 22: Childhood Matters Conference (Renton, WA)
Amber Havens, Taffy Gallagher (board members), Courney Huber, Paula Meder, Shannon Schinagl, Pam Grigsby Jones (presenters)

Families

Connecting with families is an essential part of any quality early childhood program. Families offer valuable insights into the lives of their children. They can also provide support for you and your classroom needs.

When families feel safe and valued in your program they are able to participate meaningfully and you are able to communicate with them effectively. Building a relationship like this takes time and effort, but the results come back to you tenfold.

Different families have different comfort levels regarding school participation. Offer them various ways to get involved. Try these ideas for starters:

Connect at home
Send an email or handwritten note home. Update the family on what their child enjoyed in class this month.

Share helpful tools
Print off our book list for parents and post it on your bulletin board, send a copy home with families, or put a link to the page on your website.

Gather together
Personally invite families to the program for a special family event.

Worth a thousand words
Send home a picture of their child having fun and a note telling about what they liked about the activity.

Ask them
Create a questionnaire and collect ideas to help bridge the space between home and school. Ask them what is important to the family and then try to implement their requests.

Also check out our latest money-saving specials. Right now, we're offering 10% off all 10-hour STARS credit annual contracts for all staff training.