We invite early childhood professionals to join us to CHOOSE WONDER
Experts in child development and early childhood education will share the latest research and practical tools to equip early childhood professionals to truly see and know children.
This one day conference includes a keynote by Kathy Hirsch-Pasek and an interactive discussion surrounding the High Quality Learning Project with Beverly Falk as the moderator.
- 8:00 - 9:00 ------- Registration
- 9:00 - 9:30 ------- Welcome by Dr. Peg Oliveira
- 9:30 - 11:00 ------ Keynote by Dr. Kathy Hirsch-Pasek
- 11:00 - 11:15 ---- Break
- 11:15 - 12:15 ---- The WONDER of Child Observation
- 12:15 - 1:15 ------ Lunch Provided
- 1:15 - 2:15 -------- Child Observation in Practice
- 2:15 - 2:30 -------- Break
- 2:30 - 4:00 -------- The High Quality Early Learning Project
- 4:00 - 4:30 -------- Closing Session
Kathryn Hirsch-Pasek, PhD
Author of Becoming Brilliant: What Science Tells Us About Raising Successful Children
Description:
Kathy Hirsh-Pasek uses the latest evidence from the science of learning to transform the way we think about education. Children must also learn to sort, prioritize, synthesize and create. Success is better measured by happy, healthy, caring, social and thinking children who will become the compassionate, creators and responsible citizens of our future. Kathy provides a new framework for achieving this breadth of skills – a framework that embraces a view of education that exists in and out of school and a framework that can take children from the sandbox to the boardroom.
Learning Objectives:
Discover how the latest evidence from the science of learning can transform the way we think about education
Learn a new framework for achieving a new breadth of skills (learn to sort, prioritize, synthesize and create) – a framework that embraces a view of education that exists in and out of school
Explore real examples of how the ideas can be put into practice in homes, early childhood programs, schools and communities
The WONDER of Child Observation: Science and Art
Erin Akers, MEd, Director of Education and Development, Gesell Institute
Description:
The science of observation informs us on what neuroscience explains regarding the development of executive function skills in the brain during the early years. Knowing what the current research tells us informs all who care for young children to know what best practice should be. Let’s look at YOU as an OBSERVER: including mindfulness, biases, personality, temperament, interests, feelings, culture, beliefs; and the art of striving for objectivity, not labeling, and focus on the individual child.
Then we will explore general guidelines for effective observation, including how to observe over periods of time, how to observe in different situations/times of day, recording reflection and observation.
Learning Objectives:
Explore how neuroscience explains the development of executive function skills in the brain during the early years
Know what current research tells us to inform all who care for young children to know what best practice should be
Learn about YOU as an OBSERVER: including mindfulness, biases, personality, temperament, interests, feelings, culture, beliefs; and the art of striving for objectivity, not labeling, and focus on the individual child
Define general guidelines for effective observation, including how to observe over periods of time, how to observe in different situations/times of day, recording reflection and observation
Child Observation in Practice: Planning and Implementation
Erin Akers, MEd, Director of Education and Development, Gesell Institute
Description:
Gain information on how to plan for what’s next: after recording; planning for implementation of practice/change, and communication with key players in the process. We will discuss informed practice for Pre-K and Kindergarten including: what areas should we observe? How do you get at specific information? What good does it do a teacher to have that info? We will explore the impact on classroom practices using specific examples of implementing information from observation.
Learning Objectives:
Learn how to plan for what’s next: after recording observation: planning for implementation of practice/change, and communication with key players in the process
Informed practice for Pre-K and Kindergarten including: what areas should we observe? How do you get at specific information? What good does it do a teacher to have that info?
Follow Through: explore the impact on classroom practices using specific examples of implementing information from observation
The High Quality Early Learning Project Interactive Video Worksop
Moderator: Dr. Beverly Falk, Professor and Director of the Graduate Programs in Early Childhood Education at The School of Education, The City College of New York
Description:
Focusing on documentation of those who work with diverse groups of children in early childhood settings, the Project videos will be viewed and used as discussion prompts to investigate how to strengthen education in the early years.
Learning Objectives:
Explore how children learn across multiple disciplines (neuroscience) - within strong, caring, trusting relationships, experiences
Provide practical help to groups who use variety of curriculum, or program they are being asked to implement
Understand how to connect with what the learners are making sense of/understanding within your current curriculum
Discuss strategies for play-based learning and inquiry, including incorporating into practices that are already present
