The Early Childhood Equity Initiative (ECEI) 2006 Leadership Training Is A Huge Success

The Teaching for Change Early Childhood Equity Initiative offers leadership training for ECEI core group members. This is part of our effort to build a local cadre of early childhood educators with expertise in anti-bias education. One of the requirements for this graduate course is that students present a workshop to demonstrate their knowledge and skills as an equity trainer. The workshops offered this fall received an enthusiastic response from participants. Below is a description of the first four workshops:

Using Portfolios to Promote Positive Racial and Cultural Identity
By Robin Cohen
The workshop introduced the use of portfolios in helping children embrace their racial and cultural identity. The portfolios serve as a meaningful tool that enhances children's sense of self, appreciation for their racial/cultural group and encourages them to use their emerging literacy skills to write and speak about their own skills and achievements in their learning. Sixteen teachers, resource specialists and a children's librarian took part in this stimulating and lively workshop, held at Centro Nía, a bilingual, multicultural child development and family service agency in the Columbia Heights neighborhood of Washington, DC.

The next two workshops were offered at the DCPS Head Start Programs Staff Development day, September 1, 2006, held at Gallaudet University, Kellogg Conference Center:

Supporting Bi-Racial Identity in Preschool Children
By Kevin McGowan, S.E. Cluster Education Supervisor
This workshop provides teachers with strategies and developmentally appropriate information concerning racial identity for young children and their families. Anticipating questions and remarks from children regarding race and identity, helping children feel comfortable with differences, and stages of identity development are major themes. Participants reviewed statistics about biracial children and families in the U.S. and became aware of biases and assumptions they held regarding multiracial families and biracial children. They learned how to help children to identify with all their identities.

Rethinking the English language Learner in Urban early Childhood Classrooms
By Selerya Moore, N.E. Education Supervisor and Placement Officer
This workshop foscuses on culturally responsive instruction for all English language learners in early childhood education classrooms. Participants explored: (1) defining the different types of English language learner, (2) generating ideas for creating authentic partnerships with culturally diverse families is a major theme, (3) the importance of creating culturally-responsive classrooms and (4) identifying instructional methodology that supports inclusion of family culture, language and “ways of being.

The workshop below was presented in Spanish to parents and staff at Barbara Chambers Child Care Center on September 12, 2006.

Promoviendo el Desaroyo del Lenguage Bilingue en Los Niños/ Promoting Bilingual language Development in Young Children
By Sonia Dimajo
The workshop opened with the group defining “bilingualism” and then exploring methods to teaching children whose home language is other than English, while promoting dual language development. Through video clips and discussion, participants explored myths and realities about bilingualism, the importance of being bilingual, and specific ways that parents can insure that their children maintain their home language while learning English. Participants concluded the workshop with a fitting song: “El Doble de Amigos/Twice as Many Friends.

For more information on workshops and trainings provided by ECEI, email ecei@teachingforchange.org.

Find out more about the Peppercorn Foundation funded Early Childhood Equity Initiative, ECEI.