I had the privilege of providing virtual professional staff development for the staff of Kids at Work Preschool in the Dominican Republic last week. I was scheduled to conduct the project-based learning training in-person. However, the training became a virtual experience due to COVID-19 travel restrictions. Last year I introduced the Kids at Work Preschool staff to foundational principles of project-based teaching and learning, as well as two PBL units that are ideal and meaningful to incorporate at the early childhood level. The training this past week was a follow-up to the 2019 introductory session. A major part of our training sessions was spent on revising classroom learning experiences into virtual, and those that can be undertaken within the home with support from the children’s parents/caregivers. We started off the training by revisiting teaching via inquiry-based practices, and strategies to truly engage and immerse the young child in the virtual learning experience. To promote inquiry practices, I had teachers use a soap solution and a straw to blow bubbles. They made predictions, asked questions, theorized, drew in their journals, etc. We also made observations of objects found in nature. I introduced teachers to two new project-based learning units to incorporate within their classrooms “Math Is All Around Us” and “Transportation: Things That Go“. Both of these units are ideal for incorporating meaningful and authentic PBL learning experiences within the early childhood + settings. There was plenty of time during each of the virtual training sessions to share questions, participant video of the mini inquiry investigations they were conducting, etc. Our closing session was spent discussing ideas for a PBL unit as a group to assure that all of the staff were confident in designing and teaching a project-based learning unit over an extended period of time. As always it was a great group of dedicated educators, who like so many educators worldwide have spent countless hours on their own tweaking their teaching skills and lessons for the virtual learning platform. The following photos were taken during the sessions, as you can see it is possible to make virtual teaching and learning engaging! For more information on virtual and in-person science and STEM-based professional staff development, Diana provides worldwide complete the contact form here.
Tag: preschoolteacher
Early Childhood Teachers Introduced to STEM Practices and Content
In early Spring I traveled to beautiful Sunnyside Washington to introduce early childhood teachers of Inspire Development Centers to STEM practices and content. During the two day STEM training 50 School Readiness Liaison and Early Head Start Teachers were introduced to foundational principles of STEM education and content appropriate for early childhood classrooms. The second day of training introduced the School Readiness Liaison Teachers to STEM explorations that can be incorporated in Family STEM programs and at home. Throughout the two-day training teachers were actively engaged in conducting inquiry-based STEM explorations from building with recycled materials to conducting STEM explorations outside, water science, incorporating affordable and meaningful technology, incorporating children’s literature within STEM lessons, journaling for preschoolers, and more. It was a great group of dedicated educators who will go onto share what they learned during the training with their students and their parents, making a positive impact on the children of the Migrant Workers and the community. Check out some of the photos taken during the two training.
Early Childhood Teachers Explore STEAM Practices and Content
Had a wonderful visit with Wonder Years Learning Center early childhood teachers in Totowa, NJ. During the six-hour training, teachers were introduced to principle foundations of science, technology, engineering, art, and math (STEAM) practices and content appropriate for toddlers through pre-Kindergarten-age. We started off the session by exploring patterns and shapes in nature and in man-made objects and how engineers and architects incorporate patterns and shapes in their building designs. Time was also spent out in the schoolyard to observe patterns and shapes of the school building and local neighborhood. Teachers made observations and drew in their journals. Teachers were also introduced to a wide-array of STEAM-based children’s literature that was aligned with each of the STEAM investigations that were undertaken throughout the training. Teachers were introduced to age-appropriate and low-cost technology that can be incorporated within the early childhood classroom on a daily basis. Many of these tools can be incorporated within the block center such as levels, rulers, tape measures, and journaling. Additionally, each of the STEAM-based investigations undertaken during incorporated 21st-century learning skills: critical thinking, creativity, communication, and collaboration. As always during my trainings, I like to introduce teachers to new STEAM-based products that are well-made and truly incorporate at least three of the STEAM disciplines. Teachers were introduced to Fisher-Price Think and Learn Code-a-Pillar Toy which introduces young children to coding skills on the very simplest level. Teachers had the opportunity to test out Start-Up Circuits which is a well-made toy to teach young children about electric circuits. Another well-made STEM-based toy the teachers were introduced to was Grippies Builders which is a soft grip magnetic building toy for toddlers. Participants were also introduced to a number of robot building kits including Educational Insights Design and Drill Robot, and Velcro Kids Robot Building Kit by Velcro Brand Blocks. At the close of the session, teachers were introduced to tinkering, where children are given opportunities to take-a-part broken toys and household gadgets. Tinkering is perhaps one of the most powerful STEM-based learning experiences and center for any age. As always it was inspiring to see such a motivated group of early childhood educators, as well as a supportive administrator who wanted to provide her staff with a quality and engaging introduction to incorporating STEAM practices and content within the classroom. I look forward to hearing how the Wonder Years Learning Center Staff will incorporate STEAM investigations and practices within their classrooms for the 2018-2019 school year. To get a “bird’s eye view” of the training, check out a sampling of the photos taken during the STEAM training for early childhood educators. [envira-gallery slug=”early-childhood-steam-teacher-training-workshop-wonder-years-learning-center”]
Science and STEM Exploration Centers to Inspire and Empower Young Children
The school supplies are flying off the shelves, it’s that time of year again when parents and teachers are getting ready for the start of a new school year. If you are an early childhood educator, you are perhaps the most influential individual in the eye of a young child. As you begin to plan for the upcoming school year think about what changes you may be able to make within your classroom and even teaching practices that will provide plenty of opportunities for the young child to explore, discover, and investigate. Learning experiences that will lead to the child being inspired and empowered. Take the time to find out what each child’s interests are, and provide learning experiences that will fuel their natural curiosity and interests. With the push to incorporate more science, STEM and technology within the early childhood classroom think deeply about what science and STEM experiences you will introduce the children to. When it comes to incorporating technology within the early childhood classroom think beyond the computers and Ipads, and tool a child places in their hand to make observations, and gather more data about the world around them is considered a form of technology. Thus, incorporating mathematical tools such as rulers, measuring tapes and levels are a great way to introduce the children to tools and technology. Providing simple hand lenses and microscopes, plastic pipettes and beakers, simple household tools and tool belts are ideal for science and STEM exploration centers. Science and STEM exploration centers should allow children to use as many of their senses as possible, incorporate journaling and drawing, as well as access to children’s literature. The following video provides snippets of hands-on-minds-on science and STEM exploration centers that provide opportunities for children to truly explore and discover and make sense of the world around them. The science and STEM exploration centers are highly engaging and the concepts being learned are meaningful to the child. These type exploration centers are sure to inspire and empower the young child. For more information about the science and STEM professional staff development and interactive keynotes Dr. Diana Wehrell-Grabowski conducts worldwide contact her via the contact page. [embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j2vzWty0Zi8[/embedyt]