UA’s Child Development Resources Hosts Training

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — The University of Alabama’s Child Development Resources is hosting a professional development workshop “Teaching Young Children in Challenging Times” in November.

The free workshop, which will be held from 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 5, at Child Development Resources, is open to UA faculty, child-care providers, students and anyone who works with children.

The training will feature Dr. Nancy Carlsson-Paige, who is professor emerita at Lesley University where she was a teacher educator in child development for more than 30 years and where she co-founded Lesley’s Center for Peaceable Schools.

Paige is a writer, speaker and activist. She has written five books and numerous articles, book chapters and op-eds on media and technology, conflict resolution, peaceable classrooms and education reform.

Paige has also received many awards for her leadership and advocacy in peace and early childhood education, including a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Academy of Education Arts and Sciences in 2013.

During the informative training, topics covered will include societal challenges that threaten to undermine optimal early childhood education, such as poverty, technology, media and marketing to children and the current push down of academic skills and testing into kindergarten and pre-k, including the influence of Common Core Standards.

The workshop will also help participants understand more thoroughly the importance of play and developmentally appropriate curriculum, how these are threatened by the outside influences listed above and how an optimal learning environment can be preserved for children.

Registration deadline is Oct. 29. Two hours of DHR credit will be issued to child-care providers attending the conference.

For more information or to register, contact Kristy Brown at 205/348-4280 or kbrown@ches.ua.edu.