The Arts and Multiculturalism in the Early Childhood Classroom

By Kathy Ward Cameron, Executive Director, Early Literacy Institute

   A Chicago-based Early Childhood team includes artists who perform in the classrooms and at family literacy events using creative, interactive formats to emphasize key literacy concepts. Key concepts such as phonemic and phonological awareness, vocabulary, and other oral language development skills are taught while enhancing awareness and pride in children's heritage. Not only are their performances rich in content, they are great fun! This team is part of The Early Literacy Institute cadre who support the growing number of state and federally funded literacy programs throughout the U.S

   Mama Edie Armstrong is a speech therapist and bi-lingual storyteller. When she shares one of herinteractive African-inspired folk tales, she begins by pulling fun stuff from her bag...a puppet, a drum and several other percussion instruments and props. She presents the story in a rhythmic sing-song style, inviting the children to join in for a chorus that is repeated several times throughout the course of the telling.  

Periodically she will introduce one of the treasures from the bag and hand it to a child to hold. Through the course of the half hour story/song, she will add movements for the children to do to help emphasize what's happening in the story.

   Soon all of the children are engaged...singing, clapping,stomping and repeating the now familiar chorus. At the end of the story she reviews and highlights the new vocabulary she has introduced. During her performance she glances frequently at the teachers to make sure they are participating, and at the end she speaks directly to them, giving them suggestions for building on this new vocabulary after she leaves.

   Another literacy artist, Mama Vaune, is a professional dancer and choreographer. She provides the same type of literacy-rich, multicultural experiences in the classrooms as Mama Edie, but with particular emphasis on movement and music.  

  When you observe her working with a class of three and four year olds, you discover that even her opening greet is multicultural: 

  "Good morning!" she calls.

  "Good morning!" the children reply.

  "What's another way you can say hello?"

 she asks.

She nods to a Latino child who says, "Buenos Dias."

  "That's right! Buenos Dias. That's Spanish. Everyone say that."

  "Buenos Dias," they all say in unison.

   Mama Vaune then proceeds to teach the children how to greet one another in Japanese, French, Chinese and several African dialects. She pauses briefly to suggest to the teachers that they incorporate the greetings into the morning classroom routine so those new words in other languages will be incorporated in the children's vocabulary. From there she moves on to teaching concepts related to the class' study of supermarkets.

   Then, using African dance movements, she invites the children to come along with her to an open air market in Africa where they will sample different foods that children there enjoy. As the children and teachers sway, clap and stomp to the rhythm of the song Mama Vaune has taught them about the African market, they are transported to another place, to another world.

   These two talented performers demonstrate how the arts can be used to not only enhance language and literacy skills, but to also help create a global community of learners. Ame!

The Benefits of Implementing Daily Yoga 

Lessons in the Preschool Classroom 

By Sharlen Smith and Christine Mason

Yoga Opportunity -- June 9-12

   If you are new to yoga or if you practice it regularly and would like to gain certification for teaching children, you have the opportunity to enroll in the 30-hour level 1-3 training that will be offered soon in Sterling, Virginia by Shakta Kaur, an international yoga teacher and developer of Radiant Child Yoga. This training, suitable for parents, teachers, grandparents, day-care employees, anyone who works with children, will offer the experiences and guidance needed to teach children, from infants to teen-agers.  

   Radiant Child Yoga, which sponsors the training, was established in 1998. It is the only Yoga Alliance-approved certification courses for children and families. The training offers techniques that parents and teachers may use as they guide children into poses and demonstrate breathing techniques. While learning techniques, of course, participants will also gain the appreciation of the multiple effects of the practice.

   You can register at this site, locate an informational flyer and watch videos here: http://www.childrensyoga.com/RCY_basic.html  

    Participants will interact and are urged to bring questions and concerns about their own particular uses of yoga or yoga in the classroom.  

   Radiant Child Yoga is presenting teacher training at the Sterling Yoga Center in Sterling, VA, on June 9-12. Teachers on this list or those registered for CEI's June 24 workshop will receive an additional $50 off the already-reduced fee ($100 reduction because the session is being videotaped).

Whether it is at the high school or preschool level, implementing the Common Core provides an opportunity to revamp educational practices.  While the Common Core will require students to have a "deeper understanding" of academic content, the Common Core also provides a challenge to educators to make content and instruction more relevant and more exciting to students.

States have resources on the Common Core on their web sites. Major organizations also have resources.  With technical assistance supports, schools will have guidance to alleviate many of the faults of the current standard-based approach. However to do so requires creativity, collaboration, communication, and critical thinking -- the 4 cs-- for planners, implementers, and students. CEI urges schools and districts to keep their eye on "inquiry" as they proceed down the path to the Common Core.