Summer Institute 2011 Overview
The discussions from our study groups served to inform the curriculum of a professional development summer institute where the CREATE team invited cooperating teachers from a range of school districts and early childhood centers to attend a 3-day series of engagements. The institute was designed for all those involved in pre-service teacher preparation to enter into dialogue about the concepts that guide our work, particularly our focus on ‘funds of knowledge.’ These engagements aimed to address and illustrate connections with families, stories, and communities where pre-service and in-service teachers come to learn and exchange knowledge from each other.
The institute began with a dinner celebration of our partnership with the Helios Foundation, followed by a presentation by the noted children’s book author, Monica Brown. About 75 members and advocates for the ECE community at large (e.g., teachers, district superintendents, representatives for early childhood organizations and agencies) attended the event. In the following two days, 23 cooperating teachers and the CREATE team engaged in intensive dialogue involving conceptual and practical issues and ideas. They also participated in a digital-story workshop, where they learned how to use bookmaking tools that can be used to create libraries in classrooms and schools with books made by children, families, teachers, and other community members. The CREATE summer institute was highly rated as supported by the evaluation comments of the participating teachers. Their remarks were very positive and pointed to their desire to learn more about the project; their recognition of the value of the project and focus on funds of knowledge for their classroom, families, and communities; and their willingness to strengthen collaborations with the UA ECE teacher preparation program.
The discussions from our study groups served to inform the curriculum of a professional development summer institute where the CREATE team invited cooperating teachers from a range of school districts and early childhood centers to attend a 3-day series of engagements. The institute was designed for all those involved in pre-service teacher preparation to enter into dialogue about the concepts that guide our work, particularly our focus on ‘funds of knowledge.’ These engagements aimed to address and illustrate connections with families, stories, and communities where pre-service and in-service teachers come to learn and exchange knowledge from each other.
The institute began with a dinner celebration of our partnership with the Helios Foundation, followed by a presentation by the noted children’s book author, Monica Brown. About 75 members and advocates for the ECE community at large (e.g., teachers, district superintendents, representatives for early childhood organizations and agencies) attended the event. In the following two days, 23 cooperating teachers and the CREATE team engaged in intensive dialogue involving conceptual and practical issues and ideas. They also participated in a digital-story workshop, where they learned how to use bookmaking tools that can be used to create libraries in classrooms and schools with books made by children, families, teachers, and other community members. The CREATE summer institute was highly rated as supported by the evaluation comments of the participating teachers. Their remarks were very positive and pointed to their desire to learn more about the project; their recognition of the value of the project and focus on funds of knowledge for their classroom, families, and communities; and their willingness to strengthen collaborations with the UA ECE teacher preparation program.