Keynotes/training

New Keynotes!!!!

Putting the Pieces Together Again: Educating the Whole Child

For the past few years, there has been an intensive focus on literacy. Although this is an important component of learning, it has often led to the exclusion of other aspects of young children’s development. Revisit why early childhood has long been a field that understands the true meaning of holistic education. Laugh at the silly things that have happened and cry for the things that we have overlooked. Leave with concrete support for “doing what is good for children.”

The environment in which children live has an enormous impact on their development, attitudes, and choices. Learn how to design a classroom environment that matches the way young children learn, expands their possibilities, and nurtures their thinking. Discover low-cost and effective ways to create a beautiful environment that helps children appreciate their world. View some wonderful classrooms, activities, and centers that have challenged children to reach their potential. And create a place where the teacher can say, “This is a special place for my children – and me.”

Music activates major portions of the young child’s brain. Stories establish a framework for thinking and literacy development. Together, music and song provide the cement to hold our curriculum together, to invite participation, and to calm chaos. Learn new stories, sing wonderful songs, and discover ways to combine these in active participation. Raise sprits, capture the imagination, and learn amazing new ways to nurture learning.

Experts and new books are speaking out to say that our children need new abilities to survive as adults in the 21st Century. In our fast-changing world, facts and memorization information are becoming obsolete. Learn how to stimulate creative thinking and problem-solving, so young children can invent, redesign, and solve difficult issues now and in the future. Discover ways to help children become independent learners who are capable of making decisions, building their confidence to accept challenges, persisting on difficult tasks, and making the world a better place for us all.

This high-energy session will focus on the importance of language during the critical early years of development. The unique qualities of stories told will be discussed and the specific benefits of this approach to the language development of young children. Wonderful and appropriate stories will be woven throughout the session to demonstrate the learning that can occur. Each story will be told in ways that will inspire early childhood educators to participate and retell the stories to their young children.

Are you doing the same old thing every year? Using packaged materials? Reading the old classics? Singing songs you have always known? It’s time for a change for you and your students. An exhilarating session about “being all you can be,” thinking in new ways, and creating exciting new spaces in your classroom. Be inspired to grow, by gaining the tools and ideas that will help make it happen

An up-close look at effectively-designed learning centers that inspire children to “use” literacy in meaningful ways. Collect practical and easy methods that can make communication, “reading,” and “writing” an essential component in both traditional and unique learning centers. See visuals of learning centers that work and are enriched with literacy. Discover ways to invite children to use and practice their literacy learning in an environment that is both appropriate and challenging.

Play is an essential way for young children to use the learning that is gained from their classroom curriculum. During play, learning is used in meaningful ways as children talk, collaborate, develop social skills, and use their literacy abilities. This session will explore findings and writings that support the inclusion of play in early childhood classrooms. Discover ways to connect standards with play, and how to enrich the environment to develop in developmentally appropriate ways.

Storytelling is a power literature technique that can positively impact literacy development. This session will demonstrate the direct relationship of storytelling and literacy. It will include practical ways to maximize this important area of development. Information will be included that explains and demonstrates how children can become retellers of stories and “writers” of their own stories.

Dr. Isbell is currently the Director of the Center of Excellence in Early Childhood Learning and Development. She is Professor of Early Childhood Education at East Tennessee State University where she was awarded the Distinguished Faculty award for Teaching. Dr. Isbell is author of eight books and numerous articles on topics related to young children, learning environments, creativity and literacy. She is a high-energy speaker who has been a Keynoter and presenter throughout the United States and internationally.

Books Published:
Stories: Children’s Literature in Early Education (a textbook for Children’s Literature Classes)
The Complete Book of Learning Centers (a best selling book with Gryphon House)
Tell it Again (received the Parent’s Choice Award) now published in Spanish and Indonesian
Tell it Again 2 (Received the Parent’s Choice Award and Benjamin Franklin Award)
Early Learning Environments that Work with Young Children
Creativity and the Arts with Young Children (A textbook for Early Childhood Courses)
The Complete Book of Learning Areas for Infants and Toddlers (Distinguished Achievement Award).
The Inclusive Learning Center for Children with Special Needs (Newest Publication)

Dr. Isbell would like to have her books available at the conference and she will autograph books at a designated time. She can bring the books and provide a person to do the selling at the conference.

Possibilities for Keynote and Follow-Up Sessions.