Creating a Bilingual Early Childhood Program

transcript

“Creating a Bilingual Early Childhood ProgramThat Teaches with Passion AND Follows Standards:

Lessons Learned from the Teachers, Director, and Coach”

Presented by Jacky Howell, MA coach/technical assistant, ICF

Natalie LaRochelle-Eades, director CentroNíaArlene Alcazar, lead teacher CentroNía

Beth Ann Moore, lead teacher CentroNíaNAEYC PDI Institute, Minneapolis, MN 2014

SHARING OUR STORY! Jacky Howell, MA coach/technical assistant, ICF

“What is lovely about children is that they can make such a big production, such a big deal, out of everything or nothing… I never want to be where I

cannot see it. And that energy and foolishness, all that curiosity, all those questions, talk, fierce passions, inconsolable sorrows, immoderate joys, seem to many a nuisance to be endured, if not a disease to be cured.

To me they are a national asset, a treasure beyond price.”

--John Holt

SHARING OUR STORY!

Natalie LaRochelle-Eades, director CentroNía

“I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel” -

Maya Angelou

SHARING OUR STORY!

Arlene Alcazar, lead teacher CentroNía

“ Anything that is worth teaching can be presented in many

different ways. These multiple ways can make use of our multiple intelligences.”

Howard Gardner

SHARING OUR STORY!

Beth Ann Moore, lead teacher CentroNía

“The greatest sign of success for a teacher is to be able to say, ‘The children are now working as if I did not exist’”

--Maria Montessori

WHO ARE YOU?

•THE CHAIN GAME

GOOD MORNING TO YOUNatii Wright

Good morning to you, how are you today?Good morning to you, I just want to say—

Good morning…. Good morning…

Sleepy eyes, open wideCome on in

Start your day!

Good morning to you, how are you today?Good morning to you, I just want to say—

Good morning…. Good morning…(repeat)

Start your day!

Dance!!

Start your day!

Good morning…. Good morning…

WHO ARE WE??CentroNía is a nationally recognized, multicultural learning community with a pioneering approach to bilingual

education. For everyone, CentroNía offers a welcoming environment that encourages intellectual adventure and provides guidance each step of the way for children, youth and families to achieve their goals.

We instill the love of learning for our children, families and staff. We seek to nurture this growth in an atmosphere of respect, innovation and collaboration.

AS A DC PRE-K PROGRAM WE ARE REQUIRED TO:Follow DC Early Learning Standards, follow Common Core Standards, follow DC Licensing Regulations, follow Creative Curriculum goals and objectives,

follow NAEYC accreditation standards…

All young children are capable of learning. Children show individual differences in development.Knowledge of child growth and development is essential for program

development and implementation.

Children’s language skills are the best predictor

of academic success.

Developmental domains are highly interrelated. Young children learn by doing.

Families are the primary caregivers and educators of their young children.

WHAT WE VALUE AT OUR PROGRAM:To meet the standards, our program creates a connected community of learners among

teachers, children, and families. We believe that teaching young children involves educating the whole child. We create curriculum that reflects the interests and passions of the

teachers as well as the developmental needs of the children.

“ Teaching is not just a profession, it’s a passion. Without passion for your subject and a desire for your children to

learn and be the best in the world, then we have failed as a teacher and failure is not an option.”

--John Podojil

IT’S ABOUT…

CREATING COMMUNITY/CREANDO UNA COMUNIDAD

CHILDREN AT THE CENTER/NINOS EN EL CENTRO

HONORING TEACHERS/RECONOCIENDO A LOS MAESTROS

CHILDREN

•CREATING COMMUNITY/CREANDO UNA COMUNIDAD

FAMILIESCHILDRENTEACHERS

ADMINISTRATORSNEIGHBORHOOD

AS YOU WOULD WANT THEM TO TREAT CHILDREN…

TREAT ADULTS….

•CHILDREN AT THE CENTER/NINOS EN EL CENTRO

•HONORING TEACHERS/RECONOCIENDO A LOS MAESTROS

“What’s love got to do with it? In a real sense, everything. When I bring my loves—my interests and passions—to the classroom I am able to convey

a genuine enthusiasm for the topic at hand. This enthusiasm is the elixir that turns ordinary activities into compelling curriculum. If I hit upon an area

that the children love— or come to love—we become bound together by our common interest. The

classroom becomes a place where study and discovery are celebrated. And in the end it is this love of learning in general and passion for

specific content areas that we are trying to nourish in our children. Love and wonder are the seeds of knowledge that will help

children blossom into lifelong learners.” --Ben Mardell

From Basketball to the Beatles: In Search of Compelling Early Childhood Curriculum

SHARING OUR STORY!

Natalie LaRochelle-Eades, director CentroNía

“I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel” -

Maya Angelou

TREAT ADULTS AS YOU WANT THEM TO TREAT CHILDREN

Plan a nurturing environment for the adults.

Provide time and tools (resources).

View staff as competent thinkers and learners.

Think of HOW to support staff in their own personal growth.

Emphasize dispositions as much as skills and knowledge. Lilian Katz originally described dispositions as “relatively stable habits of mind” (Katz, 1979)

CORE DISPOSITIONSDelight in and be curious about children’s development

Value children’s playExpect continuous change and challenge

Be willing to take risks and make mistakesReflect and self-evaluate

Seek collaboration and peer supportActively advocate for children and appropriate teaching practices

--Margie Carter/Deb Curtis

Uncover and cultivate passions.

Create a culture of curiosity, research, and storytelling.

“The truth is the better the environment is for the adults involved in the program, the better the care the children receive.”

COMMITMENT TO ACTION

2 things I can do to nurture community in my program…

2 things I can do to shift the focus from teaching to learning and keep children at the center…

2 things I can do to foster teachers growth in their work…

Beth Ann Moore, lead teacher CentroNía

“The greatest sign of success for a teacher is to be able to say,

‘The children are now working as if I did not exist’”

--Maria Montessori

The children guide my thinking and feed my

enthusiasm…

Involving home and school connection….

Involve learning through all curriculum areas

Designing areas for further exploration…

Using local resources for teaching…

Creating a long term project…

Thoughts on teaching from my passions…

SHARING OUR STORY!

Arlene Alcazar, lead teacher CentroNía

“ Anything that is worth teaching can be presented in many

different ways. These multiple ways can make use of our multiple intelligences.”

Howard Gardner

Literacy can take us anywhere…

Multiple ways of knowing culture…

Drawing can express our learning…

Purposefully thinking of development…

Play is THE way of learning…

Value and respect every home culture…

Cultural context as being meaningful learning…

Field trips/the community are important sources for

learning…

Understand each child is unique…

SHARING OUR STORY! Jacky Howell, MA coach/technical assistant, ICF

“What is lovely about children is that they can make such a big production, such a big deal, out of everything or nothing… I never want to be where I

cannot see it. And that energy and foolishness, all that curiosity, all those questions, talk, fierce passions, inconsolable sorrows, immoderate joys, seem to many a nuisance to be endured, if not a disease to be cured.

To me they are a national asset, a treasure beyond price.”

--John Holt

Includes building relationships….

Discovering WHERE is this teacher right now?

Using questions for discussion…Understanding reasons for choices

Empower rather than solve…Cultivating dispositions

CORE DISPOSITIONSDelight in and be curious about children’s development

Value children’s playExpect continuous change and challenge

Be willing to take risks and make mistakesReflect and self-evaluate

Seek collaboration and peer supportActively advocate for children and appropriate teaching practices

--Margie Carter/Deb Curtis

Maintaining connection to the heart of this work…

Providing resources and support

“The key factor distinguishing good schools from truly exemplary schools is staffs’ willingness to look at their

imperfections and create a climate of continual improvement.”--Sara Lawrence Lightfoot

“We want to know what the children think, feel, and wonder.We believe that the children will have things to tell each other

and us that we have never heard before.We are always listening for a surprise

and the birth of a new idea.This practice supports a mutual quest for understanding.

It is a practice of searching together for new meaning.Together we become a community of seekers.”

--Louise Boyd Cadwell

THANK YOU!!

Feel free to contact us at:

Natalie LaRochelle-Eades: neades@centronia.orgJacky Howell: jacky.Howell@icfi.com

ENJOY THE REST OF THE CONFERENCE!!

Creating a Bilingual Early Childhood Program

Education