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Creating an Inclusive Library: Why and How?
(For early childhood educators, elementary teachers, and administrators), 1-1.5 hours
Every child has the right to see themselves and their family reflected in books, and every child deserves to have his or her world opened up to the world of others. This means that we need to be intentional about the books we are choosing to share with our children and students. Join me as I share how and why to build an inclusive library collection. We'll talk, we'll laugh, and we'll learn together as you figure out the next steps for you to create your inclusive library!
Reading Aloud: How Important Is It, and How Can I Do It Well?
(Ideal for early childhood educators), 1-1.5 hours
There are so many benefits to reading aloud! Learn what they are at each stage of development, from babies to Kindergarteners, the research behind them, as well as tons of tips on how to do it well! Through half a dozen read-alouds throughout this interactive session, you'll experience the tips first hand. Multicultural books will be used as example texts, and you'll learn why these and other diverse and inclusive books are important, too!
"Thank you for a wonderful presentation! I learned a great deal in a short time. You are a gifted presenter and are doing a great service by disseminating this very important information along with very concrete, practical, examples of how to implement them!" - Sandra Portko, PhD, Professor of Psychology, GVSU, ret.
"I learned that it's important to use multicultural books even as infants...to read with excitement...to take time for the last line of the book you are reading to the children...The best part of this, for me, was the recent research findings and the resources for finding books that will expand my children's awareness of racial, cultural and differently abled population differences." - Excerpts from participants at the Camp Fire West Michigan 4C's 43nd Annual Early Childhood Conference
Exploring Visual Literacy in the Early Childhood and/or Elementary Classroom
(Ideal for early childhood and elementary teachers), 1-1.5 hours
Through active participation, explore ideas and tools for helping children both create and comprehend images – very necessary skills for effective communication in today's world. This intro to visual literacy will enable you to guide your students to "read" pictures and create visual stories as well!
"Great class...very informative...good ideas I will use in class...lots of open-ended info...very interactive...loved the new positive ways to present to engage younger children in reading...not long enough...awesome job!" - Excerpts from participants at the Montcalm County Great Start Early Childhood Conference
(Ideal for early childhood and elementary teachers), 1-1.5 hours
Through active participation, explore ideas and tools for helping children both create and comprehend images – very necessary skills for effective communication in today's world. This intro to visual literacy will enable you to guide your students to "read" pictures and create visual stories as well!
"Great class...very informative...good ideas I will use in class...lots of open-ended info...very interactive...loved the new positive ways to present to engage younger children in reading...not long enough...awesome job!" - Excerpts from participants at the Montcalm County Great Start Early Childhood Conference
Incorporating Sign Language into Songs to Increase Merriment, Movement, and Memory!
(Ideal for early childhood and elementary school teachers), 1-1.5 hours
Enhance your literacy and content area instruction by learning how to take any song and incorporating sign language based movements, thereby making them interactive. Not only is this fun, but it also aids the students' memory of the words and concepts by utilizing another learning modality. Incorporating sign language is great for your kinesthetic learners!
"Very beneficial for my special education background! It was fantastic to learn some new things and to use some skills I already know! Excellent presenters!...
It really reinforced my thoughts about sign language and how we should pair them with our lessons to help our students expand their learning. My wheels are already spinning about how I can use this in my future classroom...I loved the content of this session and the presenters! Energy was high even though it was the end of a long day. It was a great, quick intro to using sign language based movement with songs. It was easy to understand and apply to my teaching as someone with experience with ASL, but I wonder how those with no experience kept up...I personally want to learn more sign language and am always looking for ways to integrate kinesthetic learning into my classroom. Therefore, I loved this class!"
- Excerpts from participants at the Inter-Institutional Fire Up! Student Teacher Conference 2014
(Ideal for early childhood and elementary school teachers), 1-1.5 hours
Enhance your literacy and content area instruction by learning how to take any song and incorporating sign language based movements, thereby making them interactive. Not only is this fun, but it also aids the students' memory of the words and concepts by utilizing another learning modality. Incorporating sign language is great for your kinesthetic learners!
"Very beneficial for my special education background! It was fantastic to learn some new things and to use some skills I already know! Excellent presenters!...
It really reinforced my thoughts about sign language and how we should pair them with our lessons to help our students expand their learning. My wheels are already spinning about how I can use this in my future classroom...I loved the content of this session and the presenters! Energy was high even though it was the end of a long day. It was a great, quick intro to using sign language based movement with songs. It was easy to understand and apply to my teaching as someone with experience with ASL, but I wonder how those with no experience kept up...I personally want to learn more sign language and am always looking for ways to integrate kinesthetic learning into my classroom. Therefore, I loved this class!"
- Excerpts from participants at the Inter-Institutional Fire Up! Student Teacher Conference 2014
Using Pattern-Based Songs to Actively Stimulate Creativity
(Ideal for early childhood and elementary school teachers), 1-1.5 hours
In this workshop you will develop the skills to turn pattern-based songs and high-energy movements into open-ended experiences that empower students to think and write creatively. Pattern-based songs are easy to “catch-on” and then “add-on” to, making them a great choice for use with your students to get their imagination juices flowing!
"Very fun seminar! Great ideas and very interactive to learn/implement...This was a great session to enjoy being vulnerable and to get out of my comfort zone while having fun. I enjoyed learning how to grab the attention of my students!...I could definitely see integrating the use of these songs with science and other subject areas." - Excerpts from participants at the Inter-Institutional Fire Up! Student Teacher Conference 2014
(Ideal for early childhood and elementary school teachers), 1-1.5 hours
In this workshop you will develop the skills to turn pattern-based songs and high-energy movements into open-ended experiences that empower students to think and write creatively. Pattern-based songs are easy to “catch-on” and then “add-on” to, making them a great choice for use with your students to get their imagination juices flowing!
"Very fun seminar! Great ideas and very interactive to learn/implement...This was a great session to enjoy being vulnerable and to get out of my comfort zone while having fun. I enjoyed learning how to grab the attention of my students!...I could definitely see integrating the use of these songs with science and other subject areas." - Excerpts from participants at the Inter-Institutional Fire Up! Student Teacher Conference 2014
Please contact me today if you are interested in one or more of these professional development workshops! If you would like financial assistance for bringing in a workshop for the staff of your school, district, or group of childcare centers, The Meemic Foundation offers grants for educators. Additional grant resources can be found here.
