Using Technology to Promote Global Awareness in the Early Childhood Classroom PreK-2
2011 Global Education Conference/Webinar
November 17, 2011 12:00-1 PM (US/Eastern)
Join early educators from all over the world and promote global awareness. This session equips the digital early educator with tools that will enable them to create a learning environment in the classroom that provides the opportunity for students to develop both academic skills and 21st century skills. The digital classroom offers learning experiences which expand the classroom beyond the four walls into the global community. Technology tools enhance a child’s passion for learning by engaging all learning styles and develop globally competent citizens, workers, and leaders by equipping them with the knowledge and skills needed for success in a progressively more interconnected world.
Jonassen (1995) has determined that for meaningful learning to occur in the classroom, educators must employ five teaching strategies: active, constructive, collaborative, authentic, and intentional or reflective learning. Early educators will gain tools and resources that will encourage their students to investigate the world, recognize, understand and appreciate differing perspectives. Hands on projects, such as digital storytelling may require students to learn to communicate ideas with diverse audiences. Zemelman (1998) expanded upon this concept to develop standards for best practices that include student-centered, experiential, holistic, authentic, expressive, reflective, social, collaborative, democratic, cognitive, developmental, constructive, and challenging. Interpersonal communications, web based research, collaborative projects, and virtual fieldtrips encourage global awareness through dialogue, data collection and analysis, critical thinking, and problem solving. Multimedia presentations of content provide the student with the opportunity to better understand and process the material as they are engaged in the learning process. In earth science, this may entail students using technology to review the earth’s systems and identify how their local experience impacts the rest of the world. This interactive workshop encourages the integration of technology in meaningful and authentic learning experiences in order to foster global competence and understanding of the interconnectedness or people globally. Technology empowers teachers like never before to support their personal mission of providing the best possible education to their students. (Duncan, 2010)
To attend the conference, you do not need any special training. The conference will be held using Blackboard Collaborate (formerly Elluminate). To check that your computer is ready for Blackboard Collaborate, please go here. "Step 1" will indicate if you have a version of Java that is compatible, and then "Step 2" lets you actually go into a test session.
You do not need a microphone to attend the sessions. A headphone or earbugs may be helpful. Collaborate has a number of great features, and short introductory video to the technology can be seen here. There is, additionally, web / print training material here (click on the "For Participants" link to see moderator-specific material).
Email me for further information.
Are you looking for professional development resources that will take your program to the next level? Then mark your calendars! You are invited to join me for a two hour Bright From The Start approved training: Developing and Managing Employees Successfully (Motivating Early Educators).
During these times of economic turmoil and uncertainty… strategic planning and the implementation of best practices are the keys to program sustainability. A highly qualified and highly motivated staff is the key to your program's success. This workshop provides participants in early childhood with the opportunity to develop skills in both the business and human relations component of administering programs for young children. Workshop content includes seven critical factors in the development and motivation of early childhood educators.
Join us December 7, 2011, 11:30-1:30 p.m. for an old fashioned brown bag lunch and learn… Feel free to pick up your lunch on the way to the training! It will be held at: Peachtree Childtown, 1580 Peachtree Street NW Atlanta, GA 30309. The cost is $15/person regular or walk-in registration and $10 for pre-registered attendees. Bring your lead instructor as well as other key administrative personnel. They will learn ways to maintain high morale and create a work environment which is fun and conducive to high employee commitment. This two hour workshop might just make your year! A registration form is attached for your convenience. You may fax (678.620.1698) or email your registration form by October 31 in order to pre-register at ($10/person) or bring it with you on the 2nd to register in person ($15/person). Please register early as space is limited. Enjoy your day!
Monthly Director’s Training Dates:
February 8 Leadership Development and Management of Employees Part I
March 7 Budgeting Basics for Child Care Program Administrators
April 4 Leadership Development and Management of Employees Part II
May 2 Basic Grant writing for Child Care Program Administrators
June 6 Leadership Development and Management of Employees Part III
40-Hour Director Training Dates are also available. Please email me at penntraining@yahoo.com.
Shining Stars Early Educator Super Saturday February 11, 2012 Earn six hours of BFTS approved training. Please email me for further information.
Are you looking for professional development resources that will take your program to the next level? Then mark your calendars! You are invited to join me for a two hour Bright From The Start approved training: Developing and Managing Employees Successfully (Motivating Early Educators).
During these times of economic turmoil and uncertainty… strategic planning and the implementation of best practices are the keys to program sustainability. A highly qualified and highly motivated staff is the key to your program's success. This workshop provides participants in early childhood with the opportunity to develop skills in both the business and human relations component of administering programs for young children. Workshop content includes seven critical factors in the development and motivation of early childhood educators.
Join us December 7, 2011, 11:30-1:30 p.m. for an old fashioned brown bag lunch and learn… Feel free to pick up your lunch on the way to the training! It will be held at: Peachtree Childtown, 1580 Peachtree Street NW Atlanta, GA 30309. The cost is $15/person regular or walk-in registration and $10 for pre-registered attendees. Bring your lead instructor as well as other key administrative personnel. They will learn ways to maintain high morale and create a work environment which is fun and conducive to high employee commitment. This two hour workshop might just make your year! A registration form is attached for your convenience. You may fax (678.620.1698) or email your registration form by October 31 in order to pre-register at ($10/person) or bring it with you on the 2nd to register in person ($15/person). Please register early as space is limited. Enjoy your day!
Monthly Director’s Training Dates:
February 8 Leadership Development and Management of Employees Part I
March 7 Budgeting Basics for Child Care Program Administrators
April 4 Leadership Development and Management of Employees Part II
May 2 Basic Grant writing for Child Care Program Administrators
June 6 Leadership Development and Management of Employees Part III
40-Hour Director Training Dates are also available. Please email me at penntraining@yahoo.com.
Improve Parent Teacher Relations and Student Achievement
“The earlier in a child’s educational process parent involvement begins, the more powerful the effects.” Cotton, K., Wikelund, K., Northwest Regional Educational Laboratory, School Improvement Research Series. In Parent Involvement in Education.
Parents are a child’s primary teacher. Help your families establish home environments that support children as students.
NEW! PARENTING SEMINARS
$10/person or $15/couple for pre-registered attendees
Minimum 10 participants 50% off for 20 or more participants!
Positive Discipline is Teaching- 90 minutes
Parenting in the Real World:Kids Don’t Come with Instructions:The Center for Child Well-being (CCW) developed this state-approved workshop to promote the optimal social, emotional, and behavioral development of young children. This interactive parenting workshop is designed to help parents of children from birth through 6 years to enhance their young child’s development.
Bringing up Healthy Children – USDA Nutrition Guidelines – 90 minutes
Adults influence the development of children’s healthy habits beginning in their earliest years, from the variety of foods they try, to ideas about to how to keep their bodies active and healthy. By the time a child is between two and four years old, their eating habits are largely shaped. If he/she reaches the age of five without learning about healthy eating, the chances of him/her developing poor nutritional habits, and attitudes are significantly increased. The causes of childhood obesity, the importance of family meals, United States Department of Agriculture nutrition guidelines, and prevention of childhood disease are just some of the topics covered in this workshop where parents will be able to set personal goals and discuss. This workshop offers simple strategies to help parents and caregivers instill healthy behaviors in children and ensure that they grow into strong adults.
Literacy Begins at Home – 90 minutes
A child's success as a reader begins much earlier than the first day of school. Listening to adult speech gives the children a model of behavior and a model of language [e.g. the structure as well as the vocabulary of the language to be learned].This workshop providesinformation which reflects what we know about instructional and parenting practices that build a foundation for literacy in the formative years between infancy and eight years of age. Infants, toddlers, primary, and school age children need assistance in gaining awareness of books and print and learning about sounds and letters. Parents play a critical role in promoting literacy, preventing reading difficulties, and preparing young children for school success.
Raising Spiritual Champions – 90 minutes
This informative parenting workshop is designed to help faith based programs and parents enhance their child’s faith development. We will identify ways to biblically discipline children in a positive way according to their age, personality style, learning style, and level of development... Parents will have an opportunity to discuss different discipline scenarios and ways to react to each.
Three simple steps to book a date:
1. Email me for date availability at penntraining@yahoo.com
2. Print the attached registration form
3. Complete and mail with payment.
About the facilitator:
Althea Penn has a passion for children and those who serve them. She has over twenty years of experience in education serving as a teacher, Children’s Ministry Director and principal. Althea has earned a Masters degree in Education Administration, undergraduate degree in Organization Leadership, certification as an Early Childhood Educator, and the National Administrator Credential. This well-rounded background equips her to share with fellow educators as she regularly conducts high quality early childhood professional development seminars and leadership workshops. Althea is an inspirational communicator and serves as a featured conference speaker for The Georgia Preschool Association, the National Black Child Development Institute, Kid’s Advocacy Coalition, Quality Care for Children, The Association of Christian Schools International and other organizations which share her passion for children and her colleagues. As an educational consultant she designs and delivers strategic interventions to organizations interested in creating high performing, inclusive and culturally effective workplaces. She is married to her best friend and high school sweetheart, Mike. They are the parents of two beautiful daughters who have also become certified educators. You can usually find her curled up with a book whether it is her own or one chosen by her grandson.