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
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
2010 Legislative Policy Recommendations
With only 90 days to accomplish its work, the Alaska State Legislature must hit the ground focused and prepared. A coalition of early childhood advocates, including Best Beginnings, has drafted recommendations to help public policy leaders develop a system of early learning that promotes school readiness, strong families, and a strong work force. The 2010 Read More
More than just the right thing to do
Most everybody agrees we should invest more resources in early learning because it’s the right thing to do for children. But, in this day and age, it’s difficult to change social, cultural, and political priorities simply on that principle alone. It’s not just right to make early learning a much higher and important priority in Read More
Happy birthday to us!
September marks the third birthday for Best Beginnings. What a ride it’s been so far! The movement for early childhood is growing – nationally and locally. Here in Alaska, momentum is building, and Best Beginnings is proud to be both a leader and supporter. Social movements don’t happen overnight. At risk of overstatement, what we’re Read More
Activities and Advocacy
Legislators heard from Alaskans across the state through e-mails, phone calls, personal visits, and testimony at committee hearings, advocating for programs, services, and initiatives that support young children and their families. Why does it matter? Because they all contribute to achieving the Best Beginnings vision: All Alaska children begin school ready to succeed. There is Read More
Is your child ready?
In the fall, thousands of young Alaska children will begin kindergarten. What can parents do over the summer to help their children be ready for the new challenges of kindergarten? Will teaching children letters and numbers guarantee their success? You may be surprised at a kindergarten teacher’s five recommendations to parents. All Alaska children begin Read More