In March I attended my first SRCD (Society for Research in Child Development) conference. It was very different from the typical library conferences I have attended. One of the coolest things was meeting (in person) some of the people whose research I have read and whose names I have been citing in my bibliographies for years. Some of my favorite researchers were there including Clancy Blair, Adele Diamond, Roberta Golinkoff, Kathy Hirsh-Pasek, and Allison Gopnik. If you’d like to read more about the SRCD conference, have a look at the most recent MGOL monthly newsletter at http://us9.campaign-archive1.com/?u=df06df4c99dd5cf4c9aafe975&id=4878f5a79d
While trying to expand examples of nursery rhymes for use in library programs, I have asked readers to send in links to any library websites that contain videos of librarians reciting fingerplays or rhymes. We just sent out the newsletter this morning, and have already received six!
Toward the end of March, I presented a MGOL workshop in East Hartford, Connecticut. After being rescheduled because of the enormous snowstorms, we finally met to have a fun day together in a wonderful building in a room with a working fireplace. Librarians were in the minority there; most of the attendees were people from the East Hartford area who work with early literacy such as home visitors and childcare resource center staff.
In April, I’ll be presenting a MGOL program at a Baltimore City Public School followed by a mini workshop for Baltimore City School Librarians. For two weeks, I will be traveling throughout Pennsylvania presenting “Nurturing the Brain through Storytime” workshops for the Pennsylvania One Book Professional Development Day 2015. Then, it is off to Ocean City to present a session for the Maryland State Child Care Association Conference.
In between all of this, there will be our family celebration of Passover, work on a grant, a new book, and writing the newsletter for May! Plus, the MGOL office has expanded going from one small room upstairs to our entire downstairs family room. It’s time to go through files and organize materials, plus weeding the collection of books and papers I have accumulated throughout the years.
I feel lucky to be so busy doing work that I am passionate about.
Have a wonderful month, everyone.
Hi Betsy,
I read about your chat with Clancy Blair in the newsletter. My sons attended a “Tools of the Mind” preschool here in MA. I have “borrowed” so many Tools ideas for my storytimes and other programs. It is a great curriculum and educational theory that can really help support much of what we do in library programs for children. I especially love their games that help with executive functioning skills like impulse control. My sons’ preschool is our town’s inclusive special ed school, and having both a typically developing and a developmentally disabled child, I saw first hand how Tools of the Mind can scaffold kids at every stage and ability. I’m so glad you got the chance to attend that conference and learn about the research being done. -Ashley