Opening Schedule

Start

Long Beach City College

7:45

Registration packets, Vendors & Continental breakfast

8:30

Auditorium seating begins

8:45

Welcome and Keynote Presentation

" Most early childhood curricula have a strong focus on creative experiences, especially in music, movement and visual arts, because of their acknowledged role in enhancing intellectual, social and emotional development."

—Early Childhood,
Australia, Inc. June, 2007

"Role-playing games, poems, songs, rhyming, dramatic storytelling, and other creative arts play can develop language skills and a love of learning."

—Building Literacy Through the Arts in Early Childhood (A study by The Arts Education Partnership)

"New standards are being set for Head Start centers recognizing that we can best get our children ready for school by developing their creative self-expression through activities in art, music, movement and dialogue"

—Secretary of State & Former First Lady Hillary Clinton,
Recognizing the Power of Arts in Education, September 17, 1998

"Preschool children, before they are fluent in language are powerfully affected by music, visual arts and dance. Preschoolers can paint, color, mold clay, sing songs and dance in order to convey feelings and ideas. These activities encourage young children to express themselves through the use of nonverbal symbols."

—Coming Up Taller,
Arts and Humanities Program for Children and Youth at Risk

"Play is the work of young children, and the arts are a natural vehicle for young children's play"

—Young Children in the Arts:
Making Creative Connections (Goldhawk et al., 1998)

BEST Arts Conference Workshops

Select 3 Workshops (all registrations) Plus Six Alternatives (mail-in registration only)

1

CREATIVE DRAMA IN YOUR PRESCHOOL CLASSROOM

Jonas Basom—Drama and Theater Coach

Come and learn fun, easy, and effective drama activities to maximize creative expression and control with your preschool students. Fabulous techniques for classroom management, multiple intelligences, and arts integration across the curriculum will be presented. Learn how to bring school subjects and vocabulary alive with drama, while building social skills and self-esteem.

2

LET'S PRETEND: STORY DRAMATIZATION AND DRAMATIC PLAY

Cathy Bailey and Sandi Hill—Teachers and Parent Coaches

Tap into children's natural inclination to relive stories and experiences. Bring traditional folk tales and modern literature to life with classroom performances. Simple scripts and props, as well as dramatic play kit ideas, will be presented.

3

READING TOGETHER IS TWICE THE FUN!

Ina Buckner-Barnette—Actress, Family Literacy Coach, and Teaching Artist

This is an interactive workshop for teachers who want to empower children for early academic success by engaging in reading activities that are fun and educationally meaningful. Attendees will practice read aloud skills and playful literacy activities to encourage reading success. Participants will also explore resources to support family reading fun.

4

IMAGINE YOUR CLASSROOM AS AN ART MUSEUM

AlecSandria Colchico—Imagination Expert from KCET's "A Place of Our Own;" Long Beach City College Children's Center Manager

Participants will use their creative energies in a "hands-on approach", working with different art media including watercolor, paint, collage and clay. Let your imagination be your guide to creating fabulous artwork!

5

CLASSROOM ART FROM CLAY DOUGH AND PAPIER MACHE

JoAn Craig—Artist

There is more to clay than a keepsake handprint. Get your hands dirty making lasting art in clay. Design and create with different types of clay. Attendees will be given detailed instructions, recipes, recycling information and sources for supplies.

6

ENCOURAGING CREATIVITY THROUGH CREATIVE ART EXPERIENCES

Jeanette Ellis—Instructor/Parent Education, Coastline Community College

This workshop stresses the importance of encouraging creativity in an early childhood program and includes discussion about age-appropriate art curriculum. Participants will have hands-on experiences with creative art projects and will receive recipes, resources and lesson ideas for toddlers and preschoolers.

7

BABY AND TODDLER SIGNING FUN

Ken and Georgia Frawley—Authors, Performers

This American Sign Language workshop for parents and early childhood professionals will teach everyone, with or without signing experience, how to use ASL successfully with babies and toddlers. Included are age-specific and practical signs, useful tips, and important insights that will ensure your signing success.

8

SING AND MAKE INSTRUMENTS WITH YOUR KIDS

Annette Gunderson—Early Childhood Music Instructor

Fun and innovative ideas will be presented for singing and using instruments in the classroom. Learn how to write simple songs and make and use easy classroom instruments to teach rhythm and counting. Leave with ideas to use in the classroom on Monday morning.

9

CREATING ART WITH RECYCLED MATERIALS

Peggy Hasegawa—Professional Artist, Educator

Recycle, re-use and reduce the cost of art materials. Look at recycled items in new ways. Stimulate your creativity and the creativity of your students while teaching them to be earth-friendly.

10

SPLATTER, SPRAY, SMEAR: CREATIVITY IN 15 THE PRESCHOOL CLASSROOM

Judy Krause—Child Development Faculty, University of La Verne

Prepare to get MESSY! This hands-on interactive workshop includes a variety of creative media to utilize in early childhood classrooms. Handouts include recipes for child-centered activity success.

11

MOVEMENT, PLAY AND PROPS

Ilaan Egeland Mazzini—Movement Educator

In this participatory workshop, Ms. Mazzini will share 16 some of her playful movement games and the reused or repurposed items that inspired them. The use of props as a tool for engagement, plus setting up environments for movement explorations, will be discussed and experienced. Please wear comfortable clothing.

12

START WITH ART, FOCUSING ON YOUNG CHILDREN WITH SPECIAL NEEDS

Angelin Miller—Art Education Specialist

Beginning with a short discussion on best practices for teaching art to young children with disabilities, we will focus on creating art projects that incorporate the senses and which are made with simple household and/or found objects. Each participant will walk away from this class with a grab bag of simple art lessons and some fun make-and-take items.

13

LET'S PLAY PUPPETS!

Michelle Moen—Childhood Education Instructor, El Camino College

This workshop will empower teachers to make (and use!) puppets. We will discuss why puppets are important in classrooms, different types of puppets, and how to expand your puppet inventory inexpensively by using recyclable treasures.

14

HOW TO BRING A GREAT MUSIC LESSON TO PRESCHOOLERS

Craig Newton—Performing Artist and Music Specialist

We will focus on giving preschool teachers the resources to present great music lessons, whether they play an instrument or not. Learn ideas for songs and activities that work extremely well with this age group. All attendees will receive workbooks with songs and activities that will help your students build language, memory, and movement skills. Be prepared to participate.

15

SONGS, GAMES AND RHYMES FOR THE MULTICULTURAL CLASSROOM

José-Luis Orozco—Bilingual Educator, Children’s Author and Recording Artist (Sessions 2 and 3 only)

Music is an exceptional learning tool! Music promotes every important aspect of a child’s development. It sparks and enhances language, listening and cognitive skills, motor skills and coordination. Music develops the ability to learn faster and more effectively, especially when games, rhymes and movement are combined.

16

CONNECTING MUSIC AND LITERATURE FOR CHILDREN OF ALL ABILITY LEVELS

Lynda Roberts, Reni and Matthew Roberts—Professor Emeritus Child Development, Cerritos College

Participants will be introduced to the wonderful world of "singable books". Students will be actively engaged in books that teach through songs. Books for infants, toddlers, pre-school and school age children will be shared as well as teaching strategies that work with children of all ages, including those with special needs.

17

TUNING YOUR TELLING

Antonio Sacre—Bilingual Storyteller, Author, Performer (Session 1 only)

Come and discover specific tools that you can use to create your own personal and family stories, as well as explore resources to gather folk tales. Learn the five things you need to know about telling stories well. You will leave with stories that you can tell immediately in your classroom, as well as be inspired to collect additional stories. This is an interactive workshop.

18

MAKING AND PRESENTING FELT-BOARD STORIES

Nora Sanchez—Preschool Teacher/Curriculum Consultant

Discover various "FUN" ways to use felt-board stories to enhance your curriculum. Learn how much students enjoy listening, singing, dancing and participating with these stories. Song handouts will be part of this exciting workshop.

19

CONNECTING THE 3M's: MUSIC, MOVEMENT AND MATH

Kelly Sowle—Education Specialist, Head Start

Let me see, can you find the beat with me? Come and learn how to foster body-brain connections and make math come alive through rhythm. Movement education builds children's self-confidence, social skills and math skills. Attend this participatory workshop and walk away with renewed inspiration for helping children learn!

20

MUSIC! MOVEMENT! THEATRICS!

Chris Shima—Clinician, Choreographer, Musician, Teacher

Bring your classroom ALIVE with music, movement, and theatrics! This unique style of teaching is for those wanting to engage, excite and entertain your students. Featuring a mix of past favorites and new ideas, this workshop is a must see! Learn techniques and methods that will set you apart from the rest. Wear comfortable clothes and be prepared to rock and roll.

21

THE JOY OF DANCE: DISCOVERY, EXPRESSION AND CONNECTIONSs

Susan Cambigue Tracey—Director of Special Projects, Los Angeles Music Center

This fun-filled workshop will include a variety of creative movement activities for young children. An emphasis will be on building self–awareness, responding to creative prompts, working with language, dramatizing stories, interpreting songs and music, and working with simple props. Children will express themselves with spontaneity, joy and control.

22

NEVER UNDERESTIMATE WHAT A TWO-YEAR-OLD CAN DO

Debra Watts—Preschool Teacher

Come and hear about the daily life of the two-year-olds at Long Beach City College Child Development Center. Ideas from all areas of curriculum will be shared, ranging from art to storytelling to outdoor activities. Come and be amazed at the things two-year-olds can do!

23

ENHANCE EARLY CHILDHOOD LITERACY USING FELT-BOARD PUPPETS, PIECES AND PROPS

Judy Woodworth--Educator, Author, Artist

Learn how to combine rhymes, finger plays, stories, books and songs with felt-board puppets, pieces and props to create dynamic teaching tools! Many examples are shared for math, language, literature, music, and art concepts. Learn how to increase attention span, comprehension levels and retention!