Early Childhood Educators Share Innovative Approaches at NAEYC Conference

Early childhood educators from around the globe gathered to connect, collaborate, and learn together in a four day conference early this month at the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) Annual Conference in Anaheim, and members of St. Margaret’s professional community were among the presenters.

 

The conference purpose was to share ideas, collaborate, and explore the future of early childhood education. Among the many dynamic presentations, St. Margaret’s Early School educators were featured: Dr. Sonia Yoshizawa, Early School assistant director and pedagogista, and Joanne Livingston, Early School teacher.

Dr. Yoshizawa co-presented with Sherri Peterson, co-author and Program Coordinator at the Regents’ Center for Early Education at the University of Northern Iowa, on Spinning, Rolling, and Swaying: Investigating Balance with Infants and Toddlers. 

Dr. Yoshizawa also presented alongside Mrs. Livingston and Dr. Ruth Facun-Granadozo, associate professor in the Department of Early Childhood Education of East Tennessee State University, on Nurturing Musical Minds: Building Intentional Sound and Music Learning Environments, both of which were well-attended sessions on the final day of the conference.

 

The presentation on music explored an infant and toddler approach to Dr. Yoshizawa’s dissertation research, as well as the early stages of St. Margaret’s new constructivist music curriculum.

 

In addition to their presentations, Dr. Yoshizawa and Mrs. Livingston participated in the Early Childhood Science Interest Forum, the NAEYC Authors Gathering and attended various sessions focused on STEM, music, and play in early childhood education.