here's another

There is a big problem for our kids, schools, and economy. Too many of our kids are starting kindergarten unprepared. According to the Department of Early Learning (DEL), the WaKIDS 2010-2011 pilot involving 2,600 students from across the state shows "nearly one-third of children enter kindergarten below expected skill levels" in all four domains of learning (e.g. physical, social and emotional, cognitive, and language). WaKIDS pilot results showed 31-74% of our kids are starting kindergarten behind in the individual domains (see source here). When kids start behind they may need costly remediation, special education, and/or grade repetition once in the K-12 education system. A recent report from Governor Gregoire (see here) revealed that: (1) nearly 3,900 students repeated kindergarten or first grade in the 2006-2007 school year costing our State $10 million; and (2) early learning improvements alone can save our State $27 million per year in grade repetition costs.

its been a while, so here it goes.

March 28, 2011
I have a thing or two to say about.....well, alot of things.  First it is very important that we all, whether you are in the edcucation field or not, to pay attention to what is going on with education and our government.

How do you contact your elected officials?

• Call 1-800-562-6000. Leave a message for your representatives, senator, and the Governor through the toll-free legislative hotline and ask that they fund ECEAP at $110 million for 2011-2013.
• Email (firstname.lastname@leg.wa.gov). In a clear, brief message urge them to support ECEAP maintenance funding and be sure to include your address so they know you are a constituent.
• Find your elected officials here.

What is happening with the 2011-2013 biennial budget?

Planning and negotiations are underway right now. Last week the revenue forecast revealed the state is short $80 million for the current year and $5.1 billion short for the 2011-2013 budget. Thus, more cuts are imminent. The House is expected to release its 2011-2013 budget proposal early next week. The Senate will also release a proposal, either as the form of a separate bill or by amending the House proposal. Negotiations between the Governor, Senate, and House will be intense. Both the House and Senate will need to agree upon and approve one budget bill which will be sent to the Governor for action. She may choose to exercise her line item veto authority to strike specific portions of the budget bill.

Why must we keep speaking up for our youngest learners?

Nothing is safe from cuts. There is a fierce battle of priorities playing out in Olympia right now. The more people who speak up regularly for early learning and our children, the stronger the likelihood cuts to programs like ECEAP will be prevented. It is the third consecutive year of unprecedented budget shortfalls. Fiscal considerations have been taking the forefront from a number of months. Each revenue forecast reveals more of a shortfall and the Governor and legislators are constantly struggling with where to make the cuts.

So here's today's menu
breakfast--monday's low stress special--Cheerios with apple smiles and milk.\
Lunch-- cold chicken salad sandwiches(fresh cooked white and dark meat chicken mixed with our fresh and healthy yogurt ranch on whole wheat sandwich thins, with cubed canteloupe melons, celerey and carrot spears, and milk
snack--age appropriately cut red grapes, cottage cheese, and whole wheat crackers

Happy St. Patty's

Thursday,March 17
 So, how to make food green... without..... food coloring.  Such a task is easily done.
Breakfast--cream of wheat, green pears, and kiwi diced and sprinkled over the warm cereal, and milk
Lunch---green sloppy Joe's (ground turkey, whipped avocado mixed with a light amount of cream cheese....kids loved it and it was delicious), green apples, green mashed potatoes(blended parsley with a small amount of olive oil as to allow smooth incorporation into the potatoes), and milk
snack---left over muffins from breakfast on Tuesday and milk.......green because we recycled a menu item.......booyaa!!!

In order to form an immaculate member of a flock of sheep one must, above all, be a sheep.

Monday, March 14
breakfast--Cheerios, bananas, and milk...just like Monday should be, healthy and easy.
lunch--fish sandwiches (today we used baked swai and talapia with yogurt, minced celery and cucumbers on whole wheat bread), organic gala apples, fresh vegetable soup, and milk---it was all a hit.\
Which is great because it is becoming evident to me that our kids are becoming "fish eaters", the last three fish meals were very well recieved.  A testiment to consistency and familiarity being key to helping children understand nutrition and healthy eating.
snack--cottage cheese, fresh and crispy vegetables(grape tomatoes, red, orange, and yellow bell peppers), and saltine crackers

FRIDAY!!!!!!!

OK, first i need to say that I appreciate my job immensely.  Not only do i get to sit back and watch life grow and learn and just happen....but i get to be a catalyst for that whole beautiful process.  It truly is a wonderment that i want to share all the time.

Friday march 11, 2011

breakfast-- cream of wheat with dried blueberries and cherries, honey dew melon and milk
lunch--- fresh tomato soup, grilled cheese sandwich(whole wheat bread and real tillamook cheddar cheese), organic gala apples, and milk\
snack---cottage cheese, and a mixed fruit salad ( made with all the tidbits of fruit left over from the week as to not waste a single thing), and water....oh and a small amount of pirate's booty or pretzels

Any man who reads too much and uses his own brain too little falls into lazy habits of thinking.--Albert Einstein

LET US LEAD WITH IDEA THAT OTHERS ARE FOLLOWING!....because they will

March 7----Happy Monday!! 

        I would like to thank the PCAEYC for not the only the personal opportunity to share my passion with my peers by allowing me to present two classes on this important topic of early childhood nutrition, but thanks for the all the hard work and allowing early childhood professionals that time for one whole day to `network, learn, and feel important in the profession we have chosen.  THANK YOU!! 

Mon March 7, 2011

Breakfast----Cheerios, bananas, and milk (simple and to the point, as a Monday should be)

Lunch----BBQ chicken (home made BBQ sauce (so we can regulate the sugar and salt contents),and foster farms ck, local, one step below organic, but not garbage or mechanically manipulated), oven roasted yams, organic gala apple slices, celery and brown rice pilaf, milk

snack---- 100 % apple juice, graham crackers with cream cheese, (I am working really hard to find the time to create a recipe for fresh grahams, i don't like using packaged anything, i want to be able to regulate the amount of sugar and use fresh whole grain products for baking) 

If you have not yet, please become part of the FOOD REVOLUTION here in America.  Either go to jaimeoliver.com, foodrevolution.com.............DO IT....IT IS UP TO US!!!!!

EVERY ONE OF US NEEDS TO OWN THIS CHALLENGE!

A person who never made any mistakes never tried anything new.--Albert Einstien

March 1
Breakfast-- Hens in a nest (scrambled eggs on a whole wheat english muffin topped with cheese), clementine oranges and milk.........high energy, simple and delicious
Lunch-- baked swai (its a distant cousin to shark and costco was having a great deal, baked with a bit of lemon, fresh herbs and salt.......kids loved it, i mean looooooooved it, i had to bake more at the last minute, I was very proud of one of my pickiest eaters....she was talking to her classmates about how good it is to try new things and that she did and it was delicious........the other child tried it and liked it......it is wonderful the possibilites when we make them what they can be),   sweet corn, honey dew melons, brown rice and milk
snack-- cinnamon banana muffins and 100% apple juice