EARLY CHILDHOOD
EQUITY INITIATIVE

Workshops

The following are the current ECEI workshops that are available for facilitation by ECEI staff and Core Leaders Group members for organizations, schools and ECEI programs:


1. Implementing an Anti-Bias Curriculum in Your Program

The workshop will begin with an introduction to the Anti-Bias Curriculum through the viewing of The Anti-Bias Curriculum video. In small groups, participants will discuss examples of activities or practices they facilitate that promote A/B goals. Creating a partnership with parents, dealing with anti-bias issues in a homogeneous class and handling sensitive topics effectively and tactfully will also be explored. Resources for use in beginning development of an anti-bias curriculum will be available.


2. Assessing Equity in Your Classroom and in Your Teaching

The workshop will begin with a look at what we mean by the term “equity” in the early childhood setting. Participants will examine the ECEI sample classroom assessment tool and will form small groups to discuss their own classroom practices and the equity goals they have for their children’s learning. Participants will have the opportunity to schedule an ECEI staff observation where the ECEI tool will be used to assess their teaching practices and classroom environment.


3. Anti-Bias Literature for Young Children

Participants will be introduced to the Anti-Bias Curriculum as a philosophy of early childhood education. We will present criteria for selecting children’s books that support this approach. And there will be an opportunity for participants to work in small groups to evaluate different children’s books using these criteria. Many wonderful books that meet the criteria will be displayed for participants to examine. Some will be available for purchase. We will also cover the issues that readers should be thinking about as they read these books to young children.


4. They May Be Small But They Ask Big Questions

How to address issues of bias and fairness with young children at home and in the curriculum is the focus of this workshop. Guidelines for responding to children’s issues and questions will be covered, including:

• the handling of discriminatory behavior
• responding to children’s questions and comments with accurate, developmentally appropriate information
• educating rather than shaming children
• not pretending that children are colorblind and
  talking openly about any questions they have

5. Identity Development: Key to Mental Health in Young Children

This workshop will examine:

• Stages of children’s identity development, particularly within a cultural and community context
• The relationship of identity and a healthy outlook on self, family and the outside world
• Approaches for assisting children and parents with building strong, positive racial/cultural identity in children
• Elements that influence identity development in young children; barriers to strong, positive identity development in young children
• Examples of strategies and activities with children and parents will be shown and explained.

Resources and handouts on this topic will be distributed.

6. Helping Your Child’s Teacher See Your Child’s Full-Potential

This workshop will examine what research tells us about teacher expectations of children and the implications these expectations might have for your child’s education. Together we will consider what a parent can do to make sure that his/her child’s teacher has appropriate (high) expectations of your child:

• Be clear about what your child’s skills and abilities are
• Talk to your child about where they see their strengths and helping them be realistic about their expectations and goals
• Seek help for areas where your child has needs
• Schedule an appointment to sit down with the teacher and discuss the teacher’s perceptions of/expectations for your child
• Making an ally of the teacher

7. Meeting the Nutritional Needs of All Our Children

The workshop will present an understanding of how to create a nutrition program that encompasses all areas of the curriculum and is inclusive of a diversity of cultural and ethnic foods, customs and traditions. We will explore:

• Learning from families about their cultures
• Explore alikes and differences through foods
• Making your classroom a multicultural learning environment
• Encouraging children to be food tasters to promote good nutrition
• Promoting the joy of cooking and the importance of safety
• Promote good nutrition while fostering multicultural understanding

ECEI Workshops soon to be available:

8. Effective Communication Across Cultures
9. Promoting Bilingual Language Development in Young Children
10. Supporting Bi-Racial Identity Development in Young Children
11. Eliminating Gender Bias in ECE Classrooms
12. Negotiating Cultural Conflicts
13. Designing a Multicultural Classroom Environment

If your school, program or organization is interested in hosting one of the ECEI workshops mentioned above, send an email to ecei@teachingforchange.org