Lean Into You

In today's episode of Lean Into You, we talk with Michelle Kelly, the Director of Child Care WAGE$® Tennessee. In our chat, we will talk about how WAGE$ compensates educators for their commitment to the classroom. We will cover:
   
     1) How WAGE$ got started and how it addresses turnover
     2) How WAGE$ works and what are the requirements
     3) How you can start receiving financial compensation through WAGE$

If you would like to engage more with some of the topics in today's conversation, visit www.tnwages.org.

This podcast is funded through a grant with the Tennessee Department of Human Services and Signal Centers, Inc.

Today, we’re bringing you another guided meditation to help us reflect on the previous year. This year is safe to say one that is unlike any many of us have ever experienced before. It’s easy and natural to want to wish it away and move forward but that would be dishonoring to the things we’ve learned precisely because of how this year went. So, Alex Farrell wrote this meditation to help us put 2020 in its proper context, to not rest too much in the good or the bad, but to see both as necessary for getting you to where you are today. We hope it brings you clarity and gratitude in the midst of the complexities we’re facing, and that we’ll begin to view the events of the past year with palms open and with acceptance. 

In today's episode of Lean Into You, we continue our conversation with Dr. Ajita Robinson, a licensed counselor and grief and trauma expert. In part two of our chat, we will talk about how adults and children are fundamentally different as grievers. We will cover:
   
     1) Why children are often disenfranchised as grievers
     2) How children express their grief
     3) Why educators have an advantage in understanding how children grieve
     4) Being a resource to parents so they can better understand the actions of their children

If you would like to engage more with some of the topics in today's conversation, visit www.ajitarobinson.com.

This podcast is funded through a grant with the Tennessee Department of Human Services and Signal Centers, Inc.

In today's episode of Lean Into You, we talk with Dr. Ajita Robinson, a licensed counselor and grief and trauma expert. In part one of our chat, we will talk about how to understand our own grief journeys. We will cover:
   
     1) Some of the misconceptions surrounding how grief presents in adults
     2) The difference between physical and symbolic loss
     3) How we can begin to assess our own grief journeys
     4) How grief can present us with a gift we couldn't have received any other way

If you would like to engage more with some of the topics in today's conversation, visit www.ajitarobinson.com.

This podcast is funded through a grant with the Tennessee Department of Human Services and Signal Centers, Inc.

In today's episode of Lean Into You, we talk with Heather Hicks, the Chief Officer of Statewide Initiatives for Signal Centers and the Director for the Tennessee Child Care Resource & Referral Network. In our chat, we will talk about a few of the ways CCR&R supports educators. We will cover:
   
     1) The scope of CCR&R's services
     2) How CCR&R's Small Business Academy supports Owners/Operators
     3) How educators can get CPR certified for free
     4) How you can sign up for a training through CCR&R

If you would like to engage more with some of the topics in today's conversation, visit www.tnccrr.org.

This podcast is funded through a grant with the Tennessee Department of Human Services and Signal Centers, Inc.

In today's episode of Lean Into You, we talk with Monica Stone, the southeast coordinator for the Tennessee Child Care Resource & Referral Network. In our chat, we will talk about how we can begin to reverse our limiting beliefs. We will cover:
   
     1) What limiting beliefs are and how they form
     2) Why reversing limiting beliefs starts with how we speak about our work
     3) Why finding a mentor can help remind us of our value
     4) The importance of replacing our "but" statements with "and" statements

If you are interested in receiving trainings on self-care, or are interested in finding a quality coach as a mentor, please visit www.tnccrr.org.

This podcast is funded through a grant with the Tennessee Department of Human Services and Signal Centers, Inc.

We want to thank everyone who has tuned into our podcast over the last few months! We've received overwhelming positive support and we are so grateful that you've entrusted us with these, often sensitive, conversations. We hope that everyone tuning in will have a restful and rejuvenating holiday.

If you would like to be more connected with us and our podcast, please follow us on our new Instagram! We'll be sharing bite-sized takeaways and teasers to help encourage you in your self-care journey. 

In today's episode of Lean Into You, we talk with Rebecca Parlakian, the Senior Director of Programs for ZERO TO THREE. In our chat, we will talk about what it means to be a co-regulator of our emotions with the children in our care. We will cover:
   
     1) Noticing stress accumulation is the first step towards regulating our emotions
     2) Adjusting our expectations to the ages and stages of the children in our care
     3) How we can begin to regulate the toughest parts of the day
     4) The importance of relaxing into being a "good enough" teacher

If you would like to engage more with some of the topics in today's conversation, visit www.zerotothree.com.

This podcast is funded through a grant with the Tennessee Department of Human Services and Signal Centers, Inc.

Today we are bringing you another guided meditation to help you connect with the other. This meditation was written by Alex Farrell as a way to help us resist the urge to dehumanize those that are different from us, or those that we feel have wronged us in some way. Through visualizing the things that influence our emotions, the messages we receive, and the words we speak, it becomes easier to find common ground, to see ourselves as human beings just trying to navigate the worlds that influence, mold, and shape us everyday. 

In today's episode of Lean Into You, we talk with Kristin Dunn, the Director of Professional Development with AIMHiTN. In our chat, we will talk about a few of the ways AIMHi supports educators. We will cover:
   
     1) What AIMHi is and how it fulfills a need within Early Childhood Education
     2) How ACE's have elevated our knowledge of infant mental health
     3) The infant mental health endorsement credential
     4) How you can take the next step with AIMHi

If you would like to engage more with some of the topics in today's conversation, visit www.aimhitn.org.

This podcast is funded through a grant with the Tennessee Department of Human Services and Signal Centers, Inc.