STAR NET Regions I&III Podcast

Welcome to Voices From the Field!  This podcast series will look to interview a wide range of early childhood professionals across STAR NET Regions I & III, which covers Northern and Central Illinois counties.  We will look to include teachers, paraprofessionals, administrators, specialists, and many more as we highlight different people and their experiences in the early childhood field. Toda...

Welcome to Voices From the Field!  This podcast series will look to interview a wide range of early childhood professionals across STAR NET Regions I & III, which covers Northern and Central Illinois counties.  We will look to include teachers, paraprofessionals, administrators, specialists, and many more as we highlight different people and their experiences in the early childhood field. Toda...

In this episode, Bridget Meis and Katie Suchy talk with Grace Matzke, a Speech-Language Pathologist dedicated to bringing therapy directly into the heart of the classroom. Grace is here to discuss how to meet children’s needs in real-time through embedded therapy. We’ll explore her strategies for seamless collaboration with classroom teams—from aligning on student goals to weaving weekly curriculu...

In this podcast Roseann Slaght shares some insights into how self-care, for children and adults, can be an important factor in our mental and physical health.  Some of the topics she covers are breathing, nutrition, movement, relaxation, and more.  Roseann also shares some tips and tricks for children and adults to help achieve some of those goals. Below are links to some of the things discussed i...

Featuring: Natalie Doyle, Katie Madigan, & Shonda Ronen This is the third and final episode in a three-part series on inclusion and leadership.  This series covered topics such as: getting started in inclusion, maintaining staff-inclusive beliefs, and how to keep the inclusive culture thriving in schools when changes occur.  This third episode will focus on how to keep the inclusive culture th...

Featuring: Natalie Doyle, Katie Madigan, & Shonda Ronen This is the second episode in a three-part series on inclusion and leadership.  This series will cover topics such as: getting started in inclusion, maintaining staff-inclusive beliefs, and how to keep the inclusive culture thriving in schools when changes occur.  This second episode will focus on maintaining staff-inclusive beliefs, with...

Featuring : Natalie Doyle, Katie Madigan, & Shonda Ronen This is the first episode in a three-part series on inclusion and leadership.  This series will cover topics such as: getting started in inclusion, maintaining staff-inclusive beliefs, and how to keep the inclusive culture thriving in schools when changes occur.  This first episode will focus on getting started in inclusion, with insight...

Featuring: Kathy Slattery, Megan Carlson, and Nikki Norman In this episode our conversation is on the topic of Selective Mutism.  There is a wide range of information in this podcast about Selective Mutism as our guests share stories of their journeys learning about SM as professionals and family members.  Below is a list of resources discussed in the podcast and on the topic. Resources

In this podcast, Kristy Doan, from the Illinois State Board of Education, talks about what the itinerant model looks like when related service providers embed services into the classroom setting and community based settings.  Resources: Advancing Preschool Inclusion in Community Based Early Childhood Education Programs Policy Statement on Inclusion of Children with Disabilities in Early Childhood...

In this podcast, we will speak with Allyssa Harpist, a teacher for students with visual impairments in the Urbana School District 116, and Hong Phangia Dewald, PhD, Certified Orientation and Mobility Specialist, about strategies that can be implemented for children with visual impairments in inclusive early childhood classrooms.  Resources:  Teaching Students with Visual Impairments   ISVI Opening...

In this episode, we discuss the use of AI in preschool classrooms.  We highlight some of the different tools out there, such as Large Language Models (ChatGPT, Gemini, etc) and MagicSchool.ai.  We discuss ways to use these tools to support lesson planning, classroom environments, IEP development, BIP development, and writing Social Stories.  Take a look at the resources listed below to see example...

In this episode, we will discuss how Tania Swigart, a preschool itinerant teacher from Rantoul City Schools, transitioned into her new role within the district and what her daily interactions are like while pushing into the classroom to support students.  Resource Resource Guide for Early Childhood Collaborative Itinerant Teaching Model

In this episode, Deb Shirley, Instructional Coach from Adams Early Childhood Center in Lincoln, Illinois, will discuss with us the ways she engages students by making stories come to life through storytelling, puppets, and role-playing. 

Dr. Lindsay Meeker and Dr. Kimberly Coy discussed the inspiration and importance of Dr. Coy's new book, "Mia with Dyslexia", which aims to provide a realistic portrayal of dyslexia and promote inclusivity in classrooms. They also discussed the challenges faced by individuals with dyslexia and other disabilities, the importance of learning in different ways, and the significance of c...

Join us as we meet with Kylie (OT), Alisha (PT), and Sidney (SLP) to discuss navigating different therapeutic solutions for helping children be successful in day-to-day life and in academic settings! This conversation dives through differences parents might see in school therapies versus outpatient therapies and gives concrete examples parents and educators can use to embed individualized supports...

In this episode, we are joined by Stephanie Mader, an Early Childhood Special Education teacher in Rock Island’s School District 41 who works as an itinerant teacher with the local Head Start program.  She shares how she builds relationships and collaborates with the Head Start Teachers as well as how the Head Start teachers support her work with the children in their classrooms. 

In this episode, we are joined by Jen Mohr a PFA teacher from Rock Island School District 41.  Today we are going to talk about Jen’s experience in creating an interactive and engaging writing center in her preschool classroom.  

In this episode, we talk with Dr. Kasandra Posey from FAIR Consultancy LLC, about what families should know about the IEP process.  She shares tips about what families should do, what to look out for, and how to work with the school district as they navigate the process.  Resources: The Parent Guide-English The Parent Guide Spanish Procedural Safeguards-English Procedural Safeguards- Spanish Forms...

In this podcast with the president of Hadley's Haven, Lenore Ashby, we walk through the journey of what it takes to build an inclusive playground in your community. From advocating for true accessibility over just meeting ADA compliance to setting up a 501c3 and navigating grants with a local township and fundraising, Lenore shares the importance of this work and the struggles she faced along...

In this episode, veteran teachers Sherial McKinney and Marc Baxter share some insights into preparing for a new school year.  Our discussion covers the weeks leading up to the start of school, preparing the classroom, and getting to know the children and families. Click here for a list of resources you might use for the start of the school year!

In this episode, we talk with Heather Nolan from the Urbana Early Childhood School about teaming and collaboration.  Heather takes a unique view on this process, including everyone in the process, making sure that all voices are heard, and having all classroom members, teachers, and paraeducators, take turns in the leader role, classroom support role, and the one-on-one support role in the classro...

In this podcast, we discuss the use of visuals with the whole class in addition to using them as individual supports. Jaz discusses several strategies she uses and the benefits she sees as she provides these supports for everyone.  Jaz even shared some examples of the visuals she created, click on the link below to view them. Resource Jasmine Norris' Classroom Visuals

In this episode, we talk with Kelly Russell from the CU Early Prevention Initiative Program in Champaign County.  We discuss the importance of Early Intervention, the transition process from Early Intervention to Early Childhood Special Education, extended services, and resources for families. Resources Children and Family Connections of Central Illinois Illinois Early Intervention Clearing House...

This podcast is a review of the book study series completed in the Spring of 2024 on Emotionally Responsive Teaching by Travis Wright.  Marc Baxter and Sheila Yates review some of the key points from the book and discussions with the group.  Some of the key points include: what is "trauma" and how it might have come to mean many things, how the skills children in trauma develop might not...

Nikki Pehlke is a WIU Student and currently serves as lead teacher in an Early Childhood Special Education classroom at PH Miller in Plano, IL. In this podcast, Nikki describes the power of student choice and voice, as well as how to use visuals authentically to support accessible communication. She also discusses how relationship-building with students helps teachers understand how to best suppor...