4th Annual ELN Buffet: Powerful Early Math Explorations through Music and Movement

On February 22, 2014, the San Francisco Early Literacy Network presented its 4^th Annual Early Literacy Buffet.  Educators from all over San Francisco gathered for a nourishing breakfast and an opportunity for professional development around the topic “Powerful Early Math Explorations through Music and Movement.”  As usual, collaborating, sharing wisdom, and taking away tools to use right away were the hallmarks of the day.

A full house of educators.

Christy and Kenny capture memories.

Christy Estrovitz and Valerie Reichert shared the latest from the San Francisco Public Library, and reminded participants of the extensive support the Public Library offers early childhood educators.   

A warm welcome from each of the Early Literacy Network member organizations followed, and it was time to begin our day.

Christy from San Francisco Public Library.

Valerie from San Francisco Public Library.

Catherine from Jumpstart.

Lynne from Screen Actors Guild BookPALS and Pulsing Word.

Alli from Pulsing Word.

Jo from Raising A Reader

We got our wheels spinning (literally) with the “Wheel of Wisdom.”  Educators were invited to come to the front of the room, spin the wheel, and share their experiences, according to the prompt or question on the wheel.  While each educator who spun the wheel received prizes of books, music, or classroom supplies (courtesy of Project Read), all of us present in the room were able to benefit from the insight and experience of fellow early childhood educators.  Thank you Brian Castagne for channeling your inner gameshow host!

Spinning and sharing.

Spinning and sharing.

Spinning and sharing.

Spinning and sharing.

Spinning and sharing.

Spinning and sharing.

Workshops were held upstairs in the Children’s Center, with Raising A Reader and Jumpstart offering “Beat by Beat: Building Math through Music.”  Jo Potter (RAR) and Catherine Aranda (Jumpstart) kept educators busy with several hands-on activities designed to support math literacy, and ensured each person received NAEYC’s extensive list of math-related books, songs, and finger plays to take back to their centers.

Math and music.

Math and music with a special guest.

Math and music.

Math and music.

Pulsing Word led educators through “Early Math Explorations from a Child’s Perspective.”   Beginning with an exploration of how to foster symbolic thinking, Alli Cuentos and Lynne Maes went on to engage educators in a variety of games designed to make mathematical concepts relevant and embodied, to engage children in problem-solving and experimentation, and to build skills such as logic, pattern recognition, and mathematical reasoning.   

Math explorations.

Math explorations.

Math explorations.

Math explorations.

A future educator crashes the event.

Math explorations.

 Educators received the books that were used in each session to bring back and use right away in their own classrooms, and free books were certainly a key feature of this year’s buffet. First Book, a national organization that provides free and low-cost books to organizations that work with underserved populations, made a special effort to connect with early childhood educators at this event.  The First Book Local Advisory Board, who are members of the ELN and have been active for many years in San Francisco, brought 40,000 free books to educators in San Francisco the following month, and participants at the ELN Buffet were offered a special opportunity to register right there on site.  As we know, it is only through partnership and collaboration that so much can be accomplished!

Irene admires a selection of books while preparing to sign folks up for the First Book Books on Wheels giveaway.

We closed the day with a Family Dance Party, Professional Development Certificates, (more) books, and much gratitude.  As always, the goals of the Early Literacy Network are to provide professional development in the field of early literacy and learning, and to provide professional support, networking opportunities, and camaraderie.  We hope all of the participants came away as informed and inspired as we did!

Engaging and connecting.

Engaging and connecting.

Engaging and connecting.

Educator shares experiences.

Jo and Catherine collaborative colleagues.

Lynne, Alli, Christy debrief and plan next year's buffet with the out of the frame, and out of this world, Jo, Catherine, and Brian.

Text by Lynne Mayes. Photos and captions by Brian Castagne.