Thursday, May 5, 2011

Online Professional Development

ChildCare Education Institute Offers Online Professional Development at No Cost on May 6, in Recognition of "Provider Appreciation Day"


ChildCare Education Institute (CCEI), a nationally accredited, IACET CEU granting, distance training institution dedicated exclusively to the child care industry, offers students access to the CCEI Professional Development Library to complete up to six courses at no cost on Friday, May 6, in honor of Provider Appreciation Day.

Provider Appreciation Day was first introduced in New Jersey in 1996 and is celebrated to raise awareness of the importance of early child care providers and teachers. On May 6, caregivers can log into CCEI's learning management system and choose and complete up to six courses from over 100 IACET CEU approved online courses, in English or Spanish.

"Ongoing professional development is a large part of maintaining an educated child care workforce and online training is one way to meet this goal. We encourage all those involved with the care of children to try a course. Access to the professional development library for Provider Appreciation Day is our way of giving thanks to those who provide such a positive impact on the care and development of our children," said Maria C. Taylor, President and CEO of CCEI.

To register for this promotion as a new user, click on Take a Trial Course and Earn CEU Credit! at
http://www.cceionline.edu/ and enter promo code PROVIDE11, when prompted. Existing students can enter this promotion code when they log in to their account and click on Promotion Registration. No-cost access is for the day of the promotion only.

About CCEI
ChildCare Education Institute is an online child care training institution dedicated to providing the child care industry with professional development programs and courses to meet their education requirements. Over 100 professional development training courses are available in English and Spanish to meet annual licensing requirements, as well as online certificate programs of study, such as the Online Child Development Associate (CDA), Online Director's Certificate, and many other certificates. CCEI is accredited by the DETC Accrediting Commission and is approved by the International Association for Continuing Education and Training to award IACET Continuing Education Units (CEUs). CCEI is authorized under the Nonpublic Postsecondary Educational Institutions Act of 1990, license number 837.

For more information, visit www.cceionline.edu or call 1.800.499.9907.

Wednesday, May 4, 2011

CLASES BASICAS DE COMPUTACIÓN en español

CLASES BASICAS DE COMPUTACIÓN en español


Biblioteca Central

(40 E. St. Clair Street)

Laboratorio de Computación en la Biblioteca Central – Primer Piso

Mayo 2011

Introducción a los Computadores

Miércoles, 11 de mayo de 6:00 p.m. a 8:00 p.m.

En este curso usted se familiarizará con las partes básicas del computador, aprenderá a

utilizar el teclado y el ratón. Conozca los programas que vienen incluidos y aprenda a

personalizar su computador. Para registrarse, llame al 275-4099.

Navegando en Internet

Miércoles, 18 de mayo de 6:00 p.m. a 8:00 p.m.

Obtenga acceso a las noticias y a la información necesaria mediante el uso del internet,

aprenda las funciones, los sitios de web más conocidos. Aprenda a utilizar los mapas en

internet para llegar a diferentes lugares. Para registrarse, llame al 275-4099.

Creando una cuenta de Correo Electrónico

Miércoles, 25 de mayo de 6:00 p.m. a 8:00 p.m.

Aprenda a crear su cuenta de correo electrónico, y como enviar, recibir y almacenar sus

mensajes y las direcciones de las personas que le envían un correo electrónico, ya sea para

comunicarse con su familia y amigos o para solicitar un trabajo. Para registrarse, llame al

275-4099.

Cupo limitado.

Clases únicamente para adultos.

Las clases son GRATIS y están abiertas al público.

The plight of stepmoms on Mother's Day



The plight of stepmoms on Mother's Day By Rachelle Katz, CNN
May 4, 2011 9:11 a.m. EDT
"No matter how hard I tried to get close to [my stepdaughter], I felt like a distant relative," author says.STORY HIGHLIGHTS



Mother's Day can be a struggle for stepmothers and their stepchildren



Author: "No matter how hard I tried to get close to her, I felt like a distant relative"



Only 20% of stepchildren feel close to their stepmothers



Author started stepsforstepmothers.com to help other stepmothers talk out their issues



RELATED TOPICS
Mother's Day
Blended Families
Women's Issues



Rachelle Katz. is a licensed marriage and family therapist with a private practice in New York City. She also is the author of "The Happy Stepmother: Stay Sane, Empower Yourself, Thrive in Your New Family."

(CNN) -- Mother's Day is a sad occasion for many, but not all of the 15 million U.S. stepmothers who have stepchildren under the age of 18.

As it approaches, I am reminded how disappointed and hurt I used to be when my stepdaughter didn't acknowledge me on this day. From the time I married my husband when my stepdaughter was only 4 years old, I always felt she viewed me as his wife rather than as a stepmother.

This distinction may be acceptable to women who marry men with older children, but it bothered me because for years I spent every other weekend playing with her, cooking for her, and doing every other activity of a maternal caregiver. I really tried to develop a close relationship with but never felt I succeeded.

Being ignored is minor compared to the hostility and emotional abuse many other stepmothers experience, but my sense of failure grew each time I tried to grow closer to my stepdaughter and was rebuffed.

My husband inadvertently compounded my discomfort each Mother's Day by asking me what kind of gift I wanted.

His gesture of kindness felt like he was offering me a present for failing a class, which increased my feelings of shame rather than joy. Also, I hate pretense, and I felt that he was pressuring me to accept his view of our happy family unit.

He was unwilling to acknowledge my perception that my relationship with my stepdaughter was friendly yet superficial, and just not as intimate as I expected it to be given the time we spent together. I felt he valued his feelings more than mine, and I became angry that my feelings weren't given equal standing to his.

Being wished a Happy Mother's Day by my parents and friends also felt bad. How could I sincerely accept their considerate remarks when my stepdaughter didn't recognize or appreciate my efforts in this capacity? I felt fraudulent as a stepmother.

Thankfully, my feelings have changed and, now I am in a better place where I accept and understand why my stepdaughter will not reach out to me on Mother's Day. I just wish other stepmothers wouldn't have to go through similar or far worse emotional distress.

If stepmothers weren't so unhappy, the divorce rate for second marriages, as high as 60% to 75%, might be reduced. Let me share my journey with you.

When I first became a stepmother, I was surprised to find it to be so difficult because my stepdaughter has always been well-behaved, smart and respectful. No matter how hard I tried to get close to her, I felt like a distant relative.

I wondered if my experience was unique or similar to other stepmothers so I started a website (stepsforstepmothers.com) which featured an online chat room and a questionnaire for stepmothers to fill out.

Almost instantaneously, a vibrant community of stepmothers formed that gave each other encouragement and advice during difficult times. In less than two years from the inception of the website, more than 3,000 women answered my questionnaire sharing the challenges they faced.

At the same time, I also began a monthly stepmother support group comprised of a handful of women who could fit into my small office.

From these three venues, I gained a lot of information about the specific problems stepmothers encounter. More important, I received the necessary support from women sharing similar experiences. This helped me overcome my feelings of inadequacy and isolation.

Being understood by others is so important. Without a doubt, knowing that I wasn't alone, that there were other stepmothers struggling to find their rightful place in their new families just like me, was the best medicine to heal my pain.

While these women couldn't (and shouldn't) have solved my specific problems, they validated my feelings. While my family and friends cared that I was unhappy, they didn't truly understand what was bothering me.

These other stepmothers intuitively knew how I felt, and this made me feel much better even though my situation did not actually change.

These women also helped me understand that my desire to be acknowledged by my stepdaughter on Mother's Day was not unreasonable, but it might be too much for her to give me. They helped me understand the dilemma that many stepchildren face on Mother's Day.

Their loyalties may lie with their mother, and they believe she will be offended if they acknowledge their stepmother. I respect my stepdaughter's love for her mother, and never want her to feel any loyalty binds.

So, I worked on developing a thicker skin to shield myself from being hurt.

After doing some research, I also learned that only 20% of stepchildren feel close to their stepmothers. As much as I want a close, loving relationship with my stepdaughter or anyone else for that matter, I realized I can't force anyone to love or even like me.

My stepdaughter is entitled to select the people she wants in her intimate circle of family and friends. What I can do is appreciate those people in my life who want to be close to me and nurture these relationships.

By shifting my focus to the positives rather than the negatives in my life, I am now more content.

While my husband used to encourage my stepdaughter to wish me a Happy Mother's Day, she is an adult, and he can't control her actions. Both he and I worked hard to accept the fact that most stepfamilies are not perfect, and ours may never be.

"It is what it is," and accepting this reality relieved a lot of wear and tear on my brain as well as his. I used to believe that I must always persevere until my goals were accomplished even if they were insurmountable.

What a relief to know that I can be happy even if every aspect of my life isn't perfect.

This year I am looking forward to celebrating Mother's Day with my mother and will try to make it as special for her as possible. I have learned that when I focus my energy on her, I feel good.

This works for a lot of other stepmothers who choose to spend the holiday with their mothers or with women for whom they deeply care. Many also treat themselves to a massage, lunch with friends or flowers on this day.

By choosing to do positive activities on Mother's Day, we take responsibility for our happiness.

I hope my experiences can help other stepmothers have a more enjoyable Mother's Day.

All I Want For Mother's Day...

Moms Talk: Mother's Day
What does mom really want this year?

Q: Flowers and gifts aren’t what I really want for Mother’s Day. What I really want is a clean house, a cooked meal and some time to myself. How do I tell my family this without hurting their feelings?

A: I am a selfish mother. I say this because I hate doing motherly things for Mother’s Day. Much of motherhood is about obligations, commitment and sacrifice. Of course, love is the essential element that makes it all worthwhile.

How do I get my way? I ask. Asking for what you want for your special day is the best way to ensure your satisfaction. If you let people guess how to make you happy, you are more often than not going to experience disappointment. Communicate with your family your vision of the perfect day in advance.

Imagine a day where you don’t have to wash dishes, cook, clean, put away laundry, wipe the sink, clear the shower drain or any of that other motherly stuff.

What do moms really want for Mother’s Day? Here is a Mother’s Day wish list to pass along:

1. Time. Time to do the things life never seems to allow. Time to read, sleep in or lay in the sun. Time may not seem like a thing you can easily give someone, but by taking care of some of the obligations that traditionally fall on a mom’s shoulders, time is magically hers.

2. Thanks. Say thank you for whatever she has done for you. There are many ways to express thanks. Many of them simple. Many of them free. Everyone appreciates more appreciation, right?

3. Clean the house. Or, hire someone else to do it. Show her how much you appreciate all the things she usually does for you by doing them yourself. Do this only if you want to make her extremely happy.

4. And if you do have some money you want to spend on her, here are a few recommendations that would make any mom’s day special:

•Books. If you aren’t sure what genre she prefers, look at the stack beside her bedside table or consider her favorite hobbies. Bookshop Santa Cruz and Capitola Book Cafe are great local retailers.
•A pedicure. I really don’t know a woman alive who doesn’t fancy getting her feet prettied up. Maybe she’s out there and I just haven’t met her. Send her over to Studio 16 for a fix up this year, or stop in for a gift certificate.
•Something pretty to wear—a scarf, jewelry, a nice bag. Zinnia's always has something unique to offer.

Role of the Program Administrator in the CDA

CDA: What Do I Have to Do with It? Role of the Program Administrator in the CDA Credentialing Process by Debra Pierce



Wednesday, May 11, 2011 2:00 PM - 3:30 PM EDT

The session:
In addition to the myriad of responsibilities you have as the administrator of a child care program, you must ensure licensing and professional development for your staff. In many states, the Child Development Associate (CDA) credential plays a crucial role in this process. In fact, in some programs, the CDA is often the backbone of minimum standards for staffing. If you have asked your teachers to get the CDA Credential, your responsibility has really only just begun. As the administrator, you must be a source of support and help to your staff as they earn a CDA. In this session, you will learn:

- The steps involved in the CDA process.

- Why your center must meet the standards required by the Council for Professional Recognition.

- The best ways to be an advocate, mentor, and active participant in the CDA process.
- The top 5 mistakes a director can make that can derail the credentialing process.

Everybody wins in the CDA process... Why not let it begin with you?

Debra Pierce is a professor of Early Childhood Education at Ivy Tech Community College of Indiana. She is a registered CDA Council Advisor and also a Council Representative. She has dedicated the past 12 years to the success of those pursuing the CDA Credential, providing help and support through her website (http://www.easycda.com) blog, and materials. She is the author of “The CDA Prep Guide: The Complete Review Manual for the Child Development Associate Credential," which is used across the country by individuals, trainers and agencies, and as a textbook in colleges and universities.

Click here to register.