EARLY CHILDHOOD INSTITUTE TO FEATURE OOEY GOOEY LADY
AND FOCUS ON TEACHING YOUNG CHILDREN THROUGH PLAY
Waco, Texas – Education Service Center (ESC) Region 12 will offer a three-day conference presented by well-known education consultants, including Lisa Murphy, also known as the OOEY GOOEY lady. The Third Annual Region 12 Early Childhood Institute will take place from 9 a.m. – 4 p.m., June 5-7, at ESC Region 12, in Waco. The special institute will focus on unique strategies to teach core subjects, such as math, reading and science.
Murphy’s presentation on Day 3 will focus on using art to learn science; however, the presentation will not include standard tools and activities, such as Bunsen burners and chemical equations. Instead, the presentation, titled “Ooey Gooey Art and Science!” will supply attendees with hands-on art and science ideas as well as the “science words” that support their use in the classroom. The unique presentation will follow a keynote address from Murphy called, “What if today was their only day?”
“In order for children to be “ready” for school, they need to have time to PLAY. It is ok for kids to play and the best places for them to play are in child-centered environments - whether within homes, preschools, family childcares, etc., children need to have the opportunity to be engaged in experiences that are relevant and meaningful to them,” says Murphy.
That’s the philosophy the "Ooey Gooey Lady" has been taking nationwide for nearly ten years.
Specifically, Murphy believes that linking child-centered curriculum and playtime to state standards is the key to understanding the difference between controlling the learning environment and stifling the learning process by controlling the child. According to Murphy’s website, child-centered is about linking concepts to experiences; controlling the environment, not the children; making a commitment to understanding the research that impacts education and that understanding that the one size formula does not fit each child, each time, in each situation.
The Early Childhood Institute will begin Day 1 with a presentation by Linda Holliman, who will share strategies for teaching math to young children, including the use of math centers. The presentation, activities, and displays are organized to support national Math standards. Centers will focus on Geometry, Patterns, Numbers Sense, Computation, Money, Fractions, Measurement and Graphing.
Day two will feature Jim Gill, an award-winning musician and national early childhood presenter who will share a number of his songs that make a connection to literacy. Focusing on music as a context for active play and participation, Jim will discuss how a play-based program provides an inclusive environment for children with special needs and thoughts on how children of all ability levels can learn.
The event will cost $65 per day for teachers and is free to parents of early childhood students. Attendees may attend one or more days of the event and teachers will receive six hours of continuing education units per day. More than 300 educators are expected to attend; therefore, early registration is encouraged. Online registration is available at www.esc12.net.
For an event flier or more information about Region 12 Early Childhood services, contact Melba Bunch at 254-297-1145 or visit www.esc12.net/preschool.
About Region 12
ESC Region 12 provides professional development and technical assistance for 78 independent school districts and 10 charter schools. Based in Waco, with offices in Copperas Cove, Corsicana, Goldthwaite, Hillsboro, and Teague, the ESC Region 12’s service area includes Bell, Bosque, Coryell, Falls, Freestone, Hamilton, Hill, Lampasas, Limestone, Mills, McLennan, and Navarro counties.
About the Presenters
Monday, June 5
Linda Holliman shares innovative ideas for creating literacy centers that will reinforce your reading and writing program. The ideas are teacher-friendly, easy to implement, and educationally sound. Linda provides dozens of ideas on how to easily develop and manage outstanding literacy centers that will not require extensive teacher preparation time.
Tuesday, June 6
Jim Gill presents concerts of “music and play” to children and families throughout the country at libraries, schools, theaters and museums. His ideas, however, come from weekly programs in music play that he directs for families with children with special needs in the Chicago area. Jim also speaks to early childhood educators throughout the country about the many benefits of play in young children’s lives. He has produced five recordings of music play activities that have received awards from both the American Library Association and the Parents’ Choice Foundation.
Wednesday, June 7
Lisa Murphy, the ooey gooey lady, has been an early childhood educator for over fifteen years. She has worked with children in various environments including Head Start programs, private preschools, family childcare and kindergartens. She is the owner and director of OOEY GOOEY, Inc., an educational consulting firm she created in 1997 when she began doing workshops for parents and teachers. Lisa presents over 150 workshops each year to audiences across the country!
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