KEYNOTER: LAURIE McINTOSH
Anything is possible, especially when we’re willing to ask questions, make mistakes, and take our inspiration from the world around us. This is something young children do naturally, and it’s an ability which we, as adults, tend to lose. In this playful, lively keynote brimming with poignant and humorous stories and songs, Laurie McIntosh (aka Story Laurie) will help us reconnect to our own “child mind,” and thereby to our own innate storyteller and music-maker. In so doing, we will be reminded of how deeply we are connected to one another and to the marvelous, magical world in which we all live. And we will come home with inspiration and ideas to create a classroom culture that celebrates those connections each and every day.
Laurie McIntosh’s work as a storyteller, musician, and teaching artist has brought her into hundreds of schools, libraries, and early childhood centers across New York State and beyond. Laurie’s belief that anything is possible informs her work and helps her create connections wherever she goes. Her inquiry-based approach -- complemented by her warm, original, and engaging style -- involves students directly in the stories and songs she shares, energizing listeners of all ages to want to learn more about the topics her cross-curricular performances and workshops explore. Laurie is also renowned for her professional development work for educators, offering inspiring keynotes and hands-on workshops to great acclaim; and is the creator of Harvest of Songs (harvestofsongs.com), a free music-based online resource for elementary educators, which features songs written by students in Laurie’s “Cultivating Connections” workshops.
WORKSHOP OFFERINGS
Developing STEM Through Cooking …. Marianne Dambra
Nature’s Loose Parts …. Julie Mike & Marianne Dambra
STEAM Activities/ Loose Parts …. Drew Beeman
Playing the Assessment Game ….Debbie Johnson
Responsive Curriculum …. Barbara VanGennip
The Box is Best …. Wendy Mendola
Understanding and Improving Teacher-Student Interactions in the Instructional Support Domain of the Classroom Assessment Scoring (CLASS) Tool …. Linda Murray and Christine Merle
Playing With a Purpose in the Early Childhood Classroom …. Jeanne Loysen, Kathy Burton, and Mary Ann Schifitto
