Early childhood educators get up and move as presenter Chris Keegan of CogniMoves leads them through a cognitive-motor activity to demonstrate a tool that helps students strengthen executive functioning skills.
Collaborating at the “Science You Can Eat” workshop are (from left) paraprofessional Heather Parker-Davis of Brooklyn’s PS 315, paraprofessional Jasminie Jones of District 75’s P4 in Queens, and teacher Tiny Delaney of Richmond Pre-K Centers on Staten Island.
Participating in the “Where Play Meets the Science of Reading” workshop are teachers Kyle Jackson of PS 28 in the Bronx and Melissa Noble of the District 2 Pre-K Center in Manhattan.
Hundreds of early childhood educators gathered at UFT headquarters on April 25 to address a serious topic: the power of play. The UFT’s 18th annual Early Childhood Conference integrated the theme “learning through play” throughout the joyous events of the day — from a group karaoke sing-along to powerful presentations and nine CTLE-credit-bearing workshops.
“Play is instructional,” Karen Alford, UFT vice president for elementary schools, said in her opening remarks. “It needs to be part of every school curriculum. It needs to happen in all our classes — not just once a week, but every day.”
The daily diligence of early childhood educators sets the foundation that eases the work of educators in the later grades, UFT President Michael Mulgrew told attendees. “When I’m seeing 4-year-olds reading, the math they’re doing, the learning as they are playing, that’s amazing,” Mulgrew said. “You help set a child’s foundation for the rest of their lives.”
Early childhood educators also set the tone for children’s connection to the classroom and their future educational journeys, the program’s keynote speaker, former Schools Chancellor Meisha Porter, reminded the educators in attendance. Porter thanked attendees for “giving voice to young people to know that they belong in all the spaces they’re in. They remember the moments you gave them — when they felt brave enough to speak, or seen enough to try. And those moments you create will stay with them forever.”
Members embodied the affirmations in their pedagogy and activism.
Chapter Leader Amy Craine of the Richmond Pre-K Centers (Cohort B) on Staten Island was presented with the UFT’s Abe Levine Award for fighting back against a toxic principal who routinely violated contractual rights and rallying her members to a vote of no-confidence in the school leader. “If you ever feel scared you can’t do something,” Craine advised, “believe in yourself and try it, it will happen.”
Chapter Leader Amy Craine of the Richmond Pre-K Centers (Cohort B) on Staten Island (second from right) is recognized by UFT Vice President for Elementary Schools Karen Alford (center) and UFT President Michael Mulgrew (left).
Trying new things with colleagues and discussing early childhood issues was incredibly important for teacher Melissa Noble of the District 2 Pre-K Center in Manhattan. “The most fun,” however, was “engaging with others, creating together and collaborating on activities,” she said.
Members had ample opportunities to do so in nine hands-on workshops that conferred CTLE credit. In keeping with the “learning through play” theme, each workshop incorporated active learning while exploring early childhood topics. Educators tackled fostering empathy, language growth for young English language learners, executive functioning, play and the science of reading, math made joyful, and a “Science You Can Eat” workshop where real food was used to demonstrate ways to break down complex topics for the city’s youngest students.
The appeal of discovery inspired returning attendees.
Alyssa Rosado, a 3-K teacher at PS 185 in Manhattan, attends the Early Childhood Conference each year. “We get the affirmation that we’re doing the things we should be doing to serve our kids,” Rosado said, “and discover that we can learn more.”
