“The Whole Child Conference” to be held Nov. 9

The importance of educating the whole child will be the focus of a November 9 conference presented by the Syracuse Association for the Education of Young Children (SAEYC). The event, which offers two training sessions for three hours of training, will take place at the Syracuse City School District Professional Development Center and is sponsored by Falk College at Syracuse University and the Syracuse Association for The Education of Young Children.

Nancy Gabriel, professor of human services and teacher education at Onondaga Community College and founder/director of West Side Nursery School will present the keynote address, “Making the Case for Educating the Whole Child.” To register, visit www.SAEYC.org.

Two workshop sessions will span a multitude of topics aimed at educating adults working with children from birth through age 8. Areas of focus and related presenters will include:

Environment as Teacher: Inspiring Spaces for Young Children—this session will examine classroom space and review a Reggio program in San Francisco to highlight the importance of setting up developmentally appropriate environments for children. Presenters from SU’s Early Education & Child Care Center (EECCC) include Holley Benjamin, director and Cheryl Walsh, head teacher, preschool classroom.

The Nurtured Heart Approach—this session will review a pragmatic system designed to turn the challenging child around to a new pattern of success. Teaching adults how to support experiences of success in children, it will be presented by Glenda Criss, It’s About Childhood & Family.

Put Nature in their Hands—nature isn’t something that can only be enjoyed while outside. Katie Mulverhill, education manager, Baltimore Woods Nature Center will shares tricks of the trade to bring nature and science into the classroom. Preschool activities will be demonstrated.

Process Art—if you’ve seen a child at an easel plunging a brush into paint and smooshing it on paper in an explosion of color Then you have experienced process art. This session will provide open-ended creative experiences for children. Presenters include Susan Campbell, who works with toddlers at SU’s EECCC, Kristin Hogan, head teacher at Bernice M. Wright Child Development Laboratory School and Holley Benjamin, Director, SU EECCC.

Brain Gym © for Young Children—learn what Brain Gym® is. Experience movements to ready the brain and body for learning. Learn Pre-Brain Gym movements for Special Needs children. Presenter is Patricia Urban, licensed Brain Gym® instructor and consultant

What’s in Your Literacy “Wallet”?—we spend lots of money on books for our programs but do children “love” them? Discuss what some of the best books to have are and how to make them come alive and connect. Session presented by Shari Purcell, with thirty two years of experience in Early Childhood and Elementary Education.

SAEYC is a non-profit organization made up of early childhood practitioners, teachers, parents, and other professionals who work on behalf of the needs and rights of young children and their families. The Syracuse Association for the Education of Young Children supports the development of professionals to promote quality care and education for the well-being of all young children and their families. SAEYC is an affiliate of both the New York State Association for the Education of Young Children (NYSAEYC) as well as the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC).

Website: falk.syr.edu

Contact Person: Holley Benjamin
Director, EECCC
(315) 443-3935