Presented by Kristin Faiella, Preschool Teacher, Chelsea Public Schools, MA; and Jeanne R. Paratore, Ed.D., Professor Emerita, Boston University Wheelock College of Education

Sponsored by PBS TeacherLine

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Fun AND instructive learning centers provide a rich opportunity for children to develop and deepen their understanding of the world around them as they engage in different types of play and exploration. They also create equitable learning opportunities by providing youngsters multiple pathways to explore and learn important concepts. But this does not happen without thoughtful, intentional preparation and skillful guidance by the teacher.

In this edWebinar for preK-2 teachers, Professor of Reading and Literacy Education Jeanne Paratore and veteran preschool teacher Kristin Faiella explore:

• The role of the teacher in child-centered classrooms
• The importance of multimodal resources in creating equitable learning classrooms
• Types of activities that support understanding of important science concepts

At the end of the edWebinar, viewers will be able to plan learning center activities that are evidence based, accessible to children, and deliberately connected to disciplinary studies, and assemble an array of learning centers intentionally designed to provide children with multiple learning pathways.

Don’t miss this opportunity to learn ways to enhance your classroom learning center and offer kids multiple learning pathways—e.g., hands-on investigations, digital experiences, art, drama, books, etc. This recorded edWebinar will be of particular benefit to preK-2 teachers, school leaders, guidance counselors, and school psychologists.

About the Presenters

Dr. Jeanne R. Paratore is a former classroom teacher, reading specialist, and Title I director, and is currently Professor Emerita, Literacy Education, at Boston University Wheelock College of Education and faculty advisor to the Boston University/Chelsea Intergenerational Literacy Program, a program she founded in 1989. Dr. Paratore has been principal investigator on several funded studies of family literacy and home/school partnerships, presently serving as principal investigator on a funded study of effects of integrating PBS programming with sound instructional practices on development of early literacy and early science knowledge. She is widely published and has served as Co-curriculum Director of the award-winning children’s television series, Between the Lions. Honors include being an elected member of the Reading Hall of Fame, a recipient of the New England Reading Association’s Lifetime Achievement Award, and the Ida M. Johnson Award honoring distinguished alumni of Boston University’s School of Education.

Kristin Faiella has been teaching in the Chelsea Public Schools for 26 years. Her passion and love for her students are evident as you walk through her preschool classroom door. Her philosophy is simple—spread, love, joy, and kindness throughout the day, and the rest will fall in place. She is firmly committed to teaching the whole child—nurturing each child’s social-emotional development and gaining their trust and comfort as a foundation for academic learning. Her young students respond in kind, as they open their hearts and minds to her and to the adventure of learning! Kristin holds a Bachelor of Arts degree with a focus in education and the humanities, and a master’s degree with a focus on reading.

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