First 8 Memphis

More children than ever are growing up in multilingual households and classrooms. But are we prepared to support them?

The First 8 Years Speaker Series returns Tuesday, June 23, to explore this topic, and registration is open now. 💚💜

What happens when a child speaks one language at home and another at school? How can educators distinguish between language differences and developmental concerns?

⏰ Join us from 12–2 p.m. CST for a virtual lunch and learn: "Two Languages, One Child: Understanding Identity, Language & Learning."

Led by Samina Hadi-Tabassum, Senior Academic Director at Dominican University, this engaging discussion will examine how language, culture, identity, and belonging shape early childhood development, and what we can do to better support multilingual children and families.

Whether you work in a classroom, childcare center, or community organization, or you're simply an advocate for early childhood care and education, you'll gain practical strategies and valuable insights to support children and families in an increasingly diverse world.

🎟️ Reserve your spot today: bit.ly/F8MSpeakerSeries-June2026

To all of the educators and care providers guiding, nurturing, and supporting young children every day: your well-being matters, too! 💚

The work you do to support young children requires patience, presence, and compassion. Prioritizing your own mental and emotional well-being isn't separate from that work; it's part of it. When educators and caregivers are well supported, children gain the consistency and connection they need to build confidence, resilience, and a strong foundation for learning.

This MentalDonna Davis Presents, for sharing practical, meaningful strategies that support the people who shapenth, we are highlighting insights from leadership and wellness strategist Donna Davis on protecting educator well-being and preventing burnout in early childhood spaces. From pausing to reset the nervous system to leaning on community and letting go of perfection, Donna reminds us that caring for ourselves isn't separate from caring for children—it's an essential part of it.

"When educators feel supported and emotionally well, they bring greater presence, patience, and joy into their classrooms each day."

Thank you, Donna Davis Presents , for sharing practical, meaningful strategies that support the people shaping our youngest learners every day. 🫶

Donna is a minister, author, motivational speaker, certified life coach, and AI consultant.

👉 Learn more about Donna Davis Consulting at donnadavispresents.com

Interactions with other children and adults develop social skills that help children learn to make friends, cooperate, have conversations, and care for others.✨🗣️🫂

Photo courtesy of Porter-Leath 🧡

Supporting young children starts with supporting the educators who care for them every day.

Registration is now open for our 2026–27 Early Care & Education (ECE) Providers Training Series. This 10-month learning opportunity is designed to equip ECE professionals with proven, practical strategies to support students, teachers, and classroom communities amid challenging behaviors.

From social-emotional learning and family engagement to classroom management and developmentally appropriate practices, this series is rooted in the real needs of today’s early childhood workforce. The training is approved by TrainTN and recognized by the Tennessee Department of Human Services.

Registration Deadline: July 1, 2026
$1,050 stipend for full participation

Don't miss out! Get complete details and register today: bit.ly/4nz8de7

Thank you to everyone who joined us for the Make a Circle documentary screening. We’re grateful for your time, engagement, and commitment to strengthening early childhood in our community.

Together, we deepened our understanding of the early childhood workforce and explored how civic engagement can shape policies and opportunities for young children and families. We’re excited to see how you carry this momentum forward as advocates in Shelby County.

Early childhood educators play a powerful role in shaping how young children experience belonging, communication, and success. Small, intentional shifts in language and practice can make a big difference for children with autism—and for all learners in your care.

This month, choose one small strategy to try in your classroom—whether it’s adding a visual support, shifting your language, or observing more closely before responding. These small changes can create more inclusive, joyful learning environments where every child can thrive.

Resources are brought to you by
Karen Weissinger, M.S.T.
Advocate, Coach, Consultant, Parent
All Children Excel

We've wrapped up our ECE training series with 130+ Educators! As part of our ongoing teacher training series, over 130+ educators participated in a 10-month Cohort (July 2025 - April 2026) to enhance the skills and knowledge of Memphis and Shelby County educators serving ages 0-8 in addressing challenging behaviors while fostering inclusive, supportive learning environments.