Yes, Bribes and Threats Work But….

Rae Pica with  Dan Pink, Larry Ferlazzo, Josh Stumpenhorst, Deborah J. Stewart

“When the subject turns to classroom management, using carrots and sticks (rewards and punishment) has been the prevailing strategy for getting compliance. But research and an emerging cadre of voices are asserting that engagement trumps compliance. So is there a place in the enlightened teacher’s classroom for rewards and punishments?”

TUNE IN HERE                                             

This edition of Career Crossings includes career opportunities from St. Philip’s Lutheran (Hastings, MN), St. Peter’s Early Childhood Education Center (Edina, MN), and Heart, Hands and Mind Childcare Center (Prescott, WI)

*St. Philip’s Lutheran Church *RESUMES DUE BY MAY 31* Early Learning Center Director (part-time)
Summary: Immediate need for qualified Early Learning Center Director at St. Philip’s Lutheran Church-Hastings. Is responsible to lead and manage the ELC in a manner that contributes to development and school readiness of children. Maintain daily operations of ELC programs and supervise teachers and assistants. Part time, 20 hours per week during school year, 100 hours over summer. Salaried position.

Job Responsibilities: Organize, manage and supervise program planning. Develop and manage program budget and prepare monthly financial reports. Maintain updated ELC website and develop marketing plan for growth. Coordinate with Pastors and other staff as a team player. Ensure compliance with regulatory agencies and schedule training required for staff. Responsible for purchase of all ELC education/food supplies. Prepare written annual report, monthly parent newsletter and ELC news update for St. Philip’s monthly newsletter. Conduct annual staff evaluations. Direct hire and term actions.

Qualifications: Prefer AA or BA degree with certification in Education, preferably in Early Childhood or Elementary Ed with clear understanding of needs of small children. 3 years of experience in teaching or related field. Certified in first aid and CPR. Must have 1,040 hours staff supervision experience (not necessarily in Education). At least 9 quarter credits or 90 hours earned in any combination of accredited courses in staff supervision, human relations and child development. Team building and leadership skills a must. Proficient in Microsoft Office, website maintenance, social media (Facebook), and email communication tools. If interested, email lawroge@embarqmail.com

*St. Peter’s Early Childhood Education Center Christian School Teachers - up to $14+/hr + 100% health coverage
Summary: This growing school has need for Lead, Full-Time and Part-Time teachers. Teachers at St. Peters Lutheran School are offered competitive pay, full benefits including 100% health care coverage, year-round employment and a loving and caring Christian atmosphere.

Job Responsibilities: Are you passionate about babies or toddlers? Do you long for an environment that stresses caring and academic learning in a Christian environment?  St. Peters is  an early childhood education program that provides great academic preparedness while also helping children realize and develop their unique God-given talents. They partner closely with the K-5 elementary school for many activities, events, and daily gatherings. The family-like culture, outstanding staff, and true dedication to children and families makes them unlike other childcare centers around. Days follow an ordered schedule that includes large and small group activities, skill development, indoor and outdoor play, meals and rest time. Teachers work closely as a team to nurture and develop students and their families. Seeking individuals passionate about growing a career in childcare in a faith-based setting.

St. Peters Lutheran School offers a highly competitive hourly rate, based on experience, 100% coverage employee benefit package including health, dental and disability, along with partially funded benefits for family coverage. Additionally we offer a retirement program and generous PTO. Successful teachers at St. Peters come from a variety of backgrounds.

Qualifications: Recent grads (AA or BA),  experienced teachers or childcare providers and adults interested in re-entering the workforce or changing careers. To apply, please send your resume to jmattei@stpetersedina.org. Indicate if you seek full-time or part-time employment.

*Heart, Hands and Mind Childcare Center  is looking for a couple of full-time or part-time staff.  Experienced and qualified preferred, although willing to work with students. If interested, email Terree Langer terreelanger@comcast.net

Congratulations to our 2013 EARLY CHILDHOOD and YOUTH DEVELOPMENT GRADUATES! We’re so very proud of you! Don’t forget to keep in touch.

Pictured: (beginning in back row) Jenna Nicole Leichty, Elizabeth M Shadeko, Kelsey Ann Kreidermacher, Jill Behnke-Instructor, Bridget Sturm, Samantha Ragsdale, Meghan Miller, Jessie Holst, Dawn Braa-Instructor, Morgan Ruth, Kaci Henry, Mandy May, Lorelei Rein, Brittany Montreuil

Not pictured: Susan Anselment, Megan Hernandez, Jessica  Sevcik, Melissa Van Dusartz, Janice Hakseth, Madelyn Todd, Sujeil Gaul, Kelli Wick, Lindsay Hartley, Naoko Soderberg, Sandra Perez

Grow a Family Garden:

We made it through winter and now we are being rewarded with longer days filled with sun, warmth, and the smell of fresh growth!  There’s nothing I love more than planting the first seeds or transplants of veggies in the spring.  And there’s no better way to have family fun than digging in the dirt and watching stuff grow that you can eventually eat!

Every time my nephew comes to my house we have to pick carrots and he can barely wait for them to be cleaned before he has them in his mouth.  We’ve even convinced him to eat more veggies at dinner by saying they were grown in Jamie’s garden!  Our two neighbor girls, on the other hand, can’t keep their hands off our spring peas and strawberries.

In a garden, you can be active, relax, and spend time together.  Growing vegetables or herbs teaches children that plants, like people, need food and water to grow and stay healthy.  Caring for plants helps develop responsibility.  It also builds self-esteem when kids see what they can grow!

What you need:

• For Container Growing: milk and juice cartons, empty cans, empty bleach bottle, dishpan, plastic bucket  (be creative – I’ve seen people grow out of an old pair of boots, a hollowed out television, or a wheelbarrow!)
• For Growing in the Ground: A 2-foot plot is big enough.  Start small this year, you can always expand, but it’s hard to reduce the size.  Hint: preparing soil is hard for young children.
• Child-size tools: watering can, hose, small shovel, old spoon and fork, small rake, digging stick, hoe and spade, sticks to label plants
•  Seeds or seedlings (young plants) Hint: Ask around, many times people have extra seed packets they are no longer using!
• Water for your hose or watering can
• Soil for container gardens.  You can get this at any of your local hardware stores.
• Fertilizer: compost, worm castings – this is optional and can typically be found at your local hardware store as well.

Easy foods for kids to grow:

• Beets,* carrots,* cherry tomatoes,* collard greens,* cucumbers,* green beans,* herbs,* lettuce,* okra, onions, peppers,* spinach,* tomatoes

* = grows easily in a container

Most kids are proud of what they grow.  Even when gardening is messy, your child is learning.  It is okay if the garden is not planted perfectly.  He or she can help with almost any gardening task, such as:

• Pick the vegetables or herbs we will grow
• Find a sunny place
• Make the soil ready in a container or in the garden
• Plant seeds or small plants in the soil
• Water plants when they are thirsty
• Measure plants as they grow and vegetables form.  Talk about it!
• Pull the weeds (get them excited about this early!)
• Pick vegetables or herbs when they are ready
• Wash the food
• Make something to eat with your family.  Use the food you pick
• Eat and Enjoy it!

If you have further questions about starting a garden at your home contact a University of Minnesota garden expert through this website:

http://www1.extension.umn.edu/garden/yard-garden/ 

Information for article taken from the following website: http://teamnutrition.usda.gov/resources/Nibbles/Nibbles_Newsletter_33.pdf

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Jamie Bain is a Health and Nutrition Extension Educator for the East Metro. Her passions are working with youth, local foods access, and cooking healthy delicious food (preferably from the garden!).  She believes that communities are only as healthy as their food systems. Before working with Extension, she worked for a variety of nonprofit organizations in the metro area with a focus of holistic health for all and received her Master’s degree in Public Health Nutrition from the University of Minnesota in 2006. You can link to the Extension Health and Nutrition website at:  http://www.extension.umn.edu/health/

It’s hard to be “mom enough” or “dad enough” even under the best of circumstances. But when stress, frustration or exhaustion consume us, parenting can feel downright impossible. But there are strategies we can use to reduce our stress and manage our feelings – strategies that will pay off for us, our children and our whole family.

This week’s Mom Enough guest, Cheryl Lundsgaard from St. David’s Center for Child & Family Development, brings years of experience as a therapist and clinical supervisor (and mom!) to this discussion of how to move toward more positive patterns of stress management, with long-term benefits for all. TUNE IN HERE.

What is the All MN Academic Team? Phi Theta Kappa, two-year college presidents, and community college state associations co-sponsor All-State Academic Team recognition programs in 32 states. All-State recognition programs are most often held in the state capital with legislators, education leaders, and corporate leaders attending. All-State Team members receive special recognition including medallions, certificates, and oftentimes stipends and scholarships.

Each two-year college in Minnesota may nominate two students per campus to the All-USA Academic Team. Students from Minnesota nominated to the national team comprise the All-Minnesota Academic Team Academic Team. Nominations are based on outstanding academic performance and service to the college and community. One of the students from DCTC was a student in our ECYD program – Lorelei Rein! Lorelei is a previous SkillsUSA National Champion.

The ceremony to recognize the All-Minnesota Academic Team was held in Vadnais Heights, MN on April 19, 2013 at 12-2:30 pm. We’re so proud of the students representing DCTC! CONGRATULATIONS!

This edition of Career Crossings includes career opportunitities from Jenny’s Puddle Jumpers (Northfield, MN) Read more »

“Many of us believe that bullying is more rampant today than in previous decades But is that true? And how do technology and social media shape bullying behavior and its impact today? Most important, what should we be doing to support a deeper understanding of – and more effective response to – this complex problem? Marti & Erin explore these and other questions with Emily Bazelon, Senior Editor of Slate and frequent guest on Comedy Central’s Colbert Report, who has written a fresh and thoughtful book on bullying, Sticks and Stones: Defeating the Culture of Bullying and Rediscovering the Power of Character and Empathy.” ~MomEnough

This week’s Mom Enough guest highlights the importance of building a peer culture that does not accept bullying behavior. TUNE IN HERE.

This message is from Debbie Johnson-

After a 35 year career in early childhood, I am retiring as Director of Country Garden Nursery School, June 1.  The program will continue at Highland and Thomas Lake Elementary School under the new Director/Owner Nikki Maloney and she will be acquiring much of the equipment.  Being in the public schools, there is some equipment that we are not able to use:  Christian books, puzzles, etc.; some unit materials.  There is also some equipment that we do not need since we are in the public schools with libraries, gyms, etc.  so I am selling some of our items such as some children’s books, balls, etc.  I also have some of my personal teaching resources, teacher books, director books, etc.  I also have office equipment and supplies. Read more »