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Early Childhood Conference

‘It’s a breath of fresh air to be back’ in person
New York Teacher
Playing in a workshop on gross motor skills are (from left) Halley Gerstel from the Ezra Jack Keats Pre-K Center in Queens, Tien Francisco from the Mosaic Pre-K Center in Queens, paraprofessional Lisbeth Heras from PS 88 in Queens, teacher Linda Cowans from PS 88 in the Bronx and Jazmin Wright from the Mosaic Pre-K Center.
Erica Berger

Playing in a workshop on gross motor skills are (from left) Halley Gerstel from the Ezra Jack Keats Pre-K Center in Queens, Tien Francisco from the Mosaic Pre-K Center in Queens, paraprofessional Lisbeth Heras from PS 88 in Queens, teacher Linda Cowans from PS 88 in the Bronx and Jazmin Wright from the Mosaic Pre-K Center.

Spring was in the air at the UFT’s 14th annual Early Childhood Conference, where laughter, play and learning emerged after a difficult winter.

“From seasons of challenges and changes arise possibility,” said UFT Vice President for Elementary Schools Karen Alford as she welcomed nearly 400 educators — a blend of in-person and remote attendees — on March 19.

“It’s a breath of fresh air to be back,” said Katrina Thomas, a special education teacher at PS 289 in Crown Heights, Brooklyn. “UFT conferences always have great vibes, great energy.”

Workshop participants and teachers (from left) Linda Clarke from the Little Sun People Day Care Center, Odalys Alonso from PS 150 in Queens and Kidan Yigzaw from PS 158 in Brooklyn talk about ways to encourage classroom discussion.
Erica Berger

Workshop participants and teachers (from left) Linda Clarke from the Little Sun People Day Care Center, Odalys Alonso from PS 150 in Queens and Kidan Yigzaw from PS 158 in Brooklyn talk about ways to encourage classroom discussion.

UFT President Michael Mulgrew, a former high school teacher, drew knowing laughs as he told educators he was “in awe of the love and patience you have for young children.”

“New York City has the preeminent early-childhood education program in the country, and that’s your work,” he said. “Your work is building the foundation for the best future for children.”

Keynote speaker Raquel Ortiz, a cultural anthropologist and author of children’s books, joined the conference remotely from Ohio. She described her books using an analogy from Rudine Sims Bishop, who has been called the mother of multicultural children’s literature. Ortiz said her books are “windows, mirrors and sliding-glass doors” for children: windows to help them see the unknown, mirrors to help them see themselves in literature and glass doors to help them enter into different worlds.

Attendees at UFT headquarters in Manhattan chose from among 11 workshops for CTLE credit, with topics including gross motor skills in young children, culturally responsive books and the art of listening. Nine other workshops were offered virtually for remote participants.

Participants experience a “mindfulness minute” during the opening session.
Erica Berger

Participants experience a “mindfulness minute” during the opening session.

A hallmark of UFT conferences is the opportunity to engage in practices that can be replicated with students in the classroom. In a workshop on using oral language development to promote literacy skills in English language learners, UFT Teacher Center intervention specialist Stephanie Cullaj encouraged educators to join her in a “spirit read” — participating in reading aloud whenever the spirit moved them — and then discuss how they might use that same activity in their classrooms.

“We love protocols, and we’ll be showing you more that you can use with students,” she said.

At the end of a workshop on multisensory approaches to phonics, participants had the opportunity to begin building their own resources to take back to their classrooms, such as interactive paper-plate spinners to display the phonological units of a word.

UFT Vice President for Elementary Schools Karen Alford celebrates a raffle giveaway.
Erica Berger

UFT Vice President for Elementary Schools Karen Alford celebrates a raffle giveaway.

“It was very informative and enlightening, with no room for boredom,” said Jacqueline Clovis-Noreiga, a 2nd-grade teacher at PS 6 in Flatbush, Brooklyn. “I chose this workshop because I’ve been a bit stressed with my students not being able to sound out words, and now I feel motivated not only to use these strategies in my own classroom, but also to share with my colleagues who have the same frustrations.”

Sharice Richards, a first-year teacher at CS 55 in the Bronx, said the conference was an opportunity to get new ideas from experienced educators.

“I started in my classroom in December, and I’m just starting to get my footing,” she said. “Coming here makes me feel reinvigorated, rejuvenated — it’s a boost that keeps me going.”


Early Childhood Conference 2022

The 14th annual Early Childhood Conference returned to UFT headquarters on March 19, where participants celebrated the theme of "Lighting the Future, Charting the Course."

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Early Childhood Conference 2022

In a workshop on using talk routines to ignite classroom discussion, participants (from left to right) Linda Clarke (a teacher at the Little Sun People Day Care Center), Odalys Alonso (a teacher at PS 150 in Queens) and Kidan Yigzaw (a teacher at PS 158 in Brooklyn) talk about ways the encourage classroom discussion.

Erica Berger
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Early Childhood Conference 2022

Playing in a workshop on gross motor skills are (from left to right) Halley Gerstel from the Ezra Jack Keats Pre-K Center in Queens, Tien Francisco from the Mosaic Pre-K Center in Queens, Lisbeth Heras, a paraprofessional at PS 88 in Queens, Linda Cowans, a teacher at PS 88 in the Bronx and Jazmin Wright from the Mosaic Pre-K Center in Queens.

Erica Berger
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Early Childhood Conference 2022

Participants show off culturally responsive books. From left to right are Ayantokumbo Lawall from PS 158 in Brooklyn, Michelle Formery from PS 25 in Brooklyn, Karen Darrell from PS 244 in Queens and Zakiya St. Louis and Ayoka Wise from Little Sun People Day Care Center in Brooklyn.

Erica Berger
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Early Childhood Conference 2022

Alejandra Sanchez, a kindergarten teacher at PS 90 in Queens, gets her picture taken at the photo booth.

Erica Berger
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Early Childhood Conference 2022

Erica Newton and Diana Guerrini, teachers at PS 48 in Queens, take notes during a workshop on social-emotional learning.

Erica Berger
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Early Childhood Conference 2022

Teachers demonstrate their final poses in a mindfulness and yoga workshop.

Erica Berger
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Early Childhood Conference 2022

UFT Vice President for Elementary Schools Karen Alford celebrates a raffle giveaway.

Erica Berger
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Early Childhood Conference 2022

Educators participate in the opening session.

Erica Berger
Image
Early Childhood Conference 2022
Participants experience a "mindfulness minute" during the opening session.
Erica Berger
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Early Childhood Conference 2022

In a workshop on using talk routines to ignite classroom discussion, participants (from left to right) Linda Clarke (a teacher at the Little Sun People Day Care Center), Odalys Alonso (a teacher at PS 150 in Queens) and Kidan Yigzaw (a teacher at PS 158 in Brooklyn) talk about ways the encourage classroom discussion.

Erica Berger
Image
Early Childhood Conference 2022

Playing in a workshop on gross motor skills are (from left to right) Halley Gerstel from the Ezra Jack Keats Pre-K Center in Queens, Tien Francisco from the Mosaic Pre-K Center in Queens, Lisbeth Heras, a paraprofessional at PS 88 in Queens, Linda Cowans, a teacher at PS 88 in the Bronx and Jazmin Wright from the Mosaic Pre-K Center in Queens.

Erica Berger
Image
Early Childhood Conference 2022

Participants show off culturally responsive books. From left to right are Ayantokumbo Lawall from PS 158 in Brooklyn, Michelle Formery from PS 25 in Brooklyn, Karen Darrell from PS 244 in Queens and Zakiya St. Louis and Ayoka Wise from Little Sun People Day Care Center in Brooklyn.

Erica Berger
Image
Early Childhood Conference 2022

Alejandra Sanchez, a kindergarten teacher at PS 90 in Queens, gets her picture taken at the photo booth.

Erica Berger
Image
Early Childhood Conference 2022

Erica Newton and Diana Guerrini, teachers at PS 48 in Queens, take notes during a workshop on social-emotional learning.

Erica Berger
Image
Early Childhood Conference 2022

Teachers demonstrate their final poses in a mindfulness and yoga workshop.

Erica Berger
Image
Early Childhood Conference 2022

UFT Vice President for Elementary Schools Karen Alford celebrates a raffle giveaway.

Erica Berger
Image
Early Childhood Conference 2022

Educators participate in the opening session.

Erica Berger
Image
Early Childhood Conference 2022
Participants experience a "mindfulness minute" during the opening session.
Erica Berger