2015 Early Literacy Symposium

Register online or at 816.701.3585.

FREE PARKING is available in the adjacent Library garage.

Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) and Missouri in-service training clock hours will be granted for attending the Early Literacy Symposium.

The Library’s fourth annual symposium — a day of direction and support for parents, teachers, civic leaders, and others with a stake in children’s futures — features early literacy experts and practical approaches to early learning.

Early Literacy Symposium Schedule:

8 a.m. — DOORS OPEN FOR REGISTRATION

8:45 a.m. — WELCOME AND INTRODUCTIONS

9 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. — KEYNOTE ADDRESS
The Power of Play | Joan Almon

10:30 a.m. to 11 a.m. — BREAK | SHARE FAIR WITH OUR PARTNERS

11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. — BREAKOUT SESSIONS

 

Register online or at 816.701.3585.

The Early Literacy Symposium is part of the Kansas City Public Library's
Building a Community of Readers campaign. The goal of Building a Community of Readers is to transform our community by promoting a lifelong love of reading.

Major funding for Building a Community of Readers has been provided by the Hall Family Foundation, Greater Kansas City Community Foundation, H&R Block Foundation, Institute for Museum and Library Services, and the Sosland Foundation.

Early Literacy Symposium Session Descriptions:

Keynote Address | The Power of Play | Joan Almon (back to top)
Play is serious business. Research shows the importance of play for children's physical, social, emotional, and cognitive development. In her keynote, Joan Almon will explore different types of play (building, make believe, games, etc.) both indoors and out as well as, how play supports language development and establishes a foundation for reading and writing. Additionally, Ms. Almon will discuss child initiated play, the adults' role in inititiating and guiding children's play, and how to intervene when necessary.

Joan Almon co-founded the Alliance for Childhood in 1999 and served as its director until 2012 when she partially retired and became its director of programs. Joan has worked as an advocate for children's needs and has written and lectured extensively on child development, early education, the need to restore play for children and youth with a special focus on the need for play-based learning in preschools and kindergartens.


Breakout A | Supporting Children's Play in Early Childhood Setting | Joan Almon (back to top)
This session will explore the practical side of bringing play into an early childhood setting. The session will include an overview of how play develops at different ages and the play materials and environments that support healthy, creative play.


Breakout B | Playing with Words | Bridget Heos (back to top)
Attendees will learn about the process of writing a book for children as well as discuss methods for understanding the importance of and making reading time a component of play.

Bridget Heos is the author of more than 80 books for children, including the Missouri Building Block Award winner, Mustache Baby. Bridget lives in Kansas City with her husband and four children. You can visit her on the Web at authorbridgetheos.com, on Facebook @Author Bridget Heos, or on Twitter @BridgetHeos.


Breakout C | Motivating Early Reading, Playing, and Moving | Isabel Gutierrez (back to top)
This session will explore the joy of reading and the benefits of helping establish a lifelong reader. Discussion will include the benefits of choosing age appropriate books, early literacy programming, and the developmental benefits of early literacy interaction.
Breakout session will be presented in Spanish. Space is limited to 30 participants.

Isabel Gutierrez came to Kansas City from Juarez, Mexico as a teenager. She has worked as a certified educator with Parents as Teachers since 2008 providing dual language services to parents and caregivers of children birth to 3 years old.

2015 Early Literacy Symposium

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