Early Learning Book Chats is a free professional learning community that helps educators and caregivers find the tools that they need to bring the joy of learning to young children. Moderated by Gryphon House, the community hosts regular webinars presented by award-winning early childhood authors and experts who will provide information, resources, and ideas to support educators as they positively stimulate language, cognitive, social, and emotional development of young children.
Join HereOur brains are naturally wired to speak. In fact, children start learning spoken language from the day they are born. Our brains are not, however, wired to read and write. Children typically begin learning to read around the age of 5 or 6 and require many years to develop their literacy skills. This webinar will unpack the research base for the connection between oral and written language as well as the development of both. Armed with an understanding of the processes involved in early literacy and language development supports early childhood educators as they intentionally plan activities, create literacy-rich learning environments, and provide purposeful (and fun) opportunities to practice our children’s growing literacy knowledge. Children need to engage in instructional experiences, including opportunities to practice, that integrate their interests with early literacy activities across these foundational literacy competencies: oral language, phonological awareness, alphabetic code, foundational fluency, word recognition, early writing, and listening comprehension alongside vocabulary development. The webinar will outline hands-on, playful activities that you can use tomorrow in your classrooms, early childhood centers, or homes to provide children with a firm literacy foundation. Tuesday, May 31, 2022 @ 2:00 pm - 3:00 pm EDT
As an early childhood professional with a disability, a child of a parent with a disability, and the mother of a son with a disability, Jani Kozlowski, author of Every Child Can Fly: An Early Childhood Educator’s Guide to Inclusion brings a unique perspective to the inclusion of children with disabilities in early childhood settings. In this edWebinar, Jani will share personal stories, current research, and evidence-based practices for educators, coaches, trainers, and leaders in Head Start, child care, and prekindergarten programs. Participants will learn strategies to foster inclusive learning environments, individualized teaching practices, and meaningful family engagement. We believe that by building secure relationships and trust with children and families, educators can facilitate a culture of belonging, caring, and kindness. The past two years have been challenging for all of us, so let’s find out how to promote inclusion as an intervention that is healing for each and every child, family, and educator. This edWebinar will provide educators, leaders, coaches, and other early childhood professionals with strategies to apply lessons learned from research on inclusion, access, and equity to promote and practice high-quality inclusion in early childhood environments, build skills and confidence for meeting the needs of each and every child, and develop secure relationships with children and families that can reduce stress and build trust. Thursday, June 9, 2022 @ 3:00 pm - 4:00 pm EDT
