Alaskans across the state made their voices heard during the 2011 legislative session and told legislators why it is critical for Alaska to invest in early learning. They called legislators, sent e-mails, and testified before committees, in person or via teleconference. Results were mixed. Two bills (to extend Denali KidCare to more children and to Read More
Blog
Miles to go before we sleep, but oh, how far we’ve come!
In early March, Best Beginnings held a Founders & Friends lunch in Anchorage. Our purpose was to thank our longtime supporters, welcome newer friends, and give everyone a snapshot of how far we’ve come in just over four years. We just didn’t realize it would be so much fun, too. Thanks to loyal friends and Read More
Building Blocks of Literacy
I have a long personal and professional history with early childhood and education issues. Even so, I find that our work here sometimes produces delightful ah-ha moments, when something I’ve long known takes on a different light. My latest example of this relates to phonemic awareness, one of the critical building blocks to literacy. A Read More
Coaching Boosts Child Care Quality
With one-on-one coaching and modest funds, the quality of early care and early learning programs outside the home can improve rather quickly. This has been the experience in the state of Washington and might provide encouragement for Alaska to follow suit. When child care providers get one-on-one coaching and modest funds to make changes to Read More
A Movement in the Making
Once or twice in our lives, if we’re lucky, we might get a front-row seat at a movement in the making. In the nascent stages, we can’t know how the movement will evolve. Will it fall flat and dissipate? Or will the right combination of sustainable energy, leadership, and timing result in something much bigger? Read More
New baby – not a job for sissies
Our fifth grandchild arrived just a few weeks ago, and as I watch my daughter, and help when I can, I’m struck once again by how hard it is to be a new parent. While I empathize with my daughter, I revel in being a grandmother. And apparently, we’re not the only species with this Read More
News Post Three Really Long Title to Check Line Height
This is an example of a WordPress post, you could edit this to put information about yourself or your site so readers know where you are coming from. You can create as many posts as you like in order to share with your readers what exactly is on your mind. This is an example of Read More
News Post Two
This is an example of a WordPress post, you could edit this to put information about yourself or your site so readers know where you are coming from. You can create as many posts as you like in order to share with your readers what exactly is on your mind. This is an example of Read More
Voices in harmony
Advocates for early childhood are becoming much more effective in the public policy arena. Best Beginnings is proud to be part of the Alaska Early Childhood Public Policy Group, which includes thread, Alaska Head Start Association, the Alaska Infant Learning Professional Association, and Alaska AEYC. Broad-based, grassroots support gets the credit for what looks to Read More
Strengthening Families
Once a month in Dillingham, a small group of fathers and their children get together for an activity chosen by the fathers. It might be pure fun. It might be instructive, too. The important thing is they do it together, strengthening family ties and community bonds. In Fairbanks, a faith-based child development center offers concrete Read More