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Summer Institute

St. Margaret’s 2024 Summer Institute

Exploring the Essential Role of Play in Early Childhood Education
 
June 14-15, 2024
San Juan Capistrano, California.
 
St. Margaret’s Episcopal School invites all early childhood educators, administrators and more to the 2024 St. Margaret’s Summer Institute, which will take place June 14-15, 2024 in San Juan Capistrano, Calif.
 
Over two full days of enlightening and research-based professional development, the inaugural St. Margaret’s Summer Institute will explore the essential role of play in early childhood education. Attendees will dive into the latest findings from neuroscience to understand how play actively engages and motivates children, fostering their physical, cognitive, and social development. Attendees will explore methodologies for tracking children’s growth over time using developmental continuums and observational techniques, gain insights into the realm of play-based projects initiated by children, and discover how these projects align with cross-cutting concepts and interdisciplinary studies to provide a balanced educational foundation.
 
Attendees will listen to keynote speakers, take part in classroom observations at St. Margaret’s renowned Early School, participate in workshops, listen to panel discussions and more.
 
Among the speakers and presenters are:

List of 4 items.

  • Dr. Jackie Grennon Brooks

    Professor Emerita, Hofstra University and co-founder of the Long Island Explorium in Port Jefferson, N.Y. Dr. Grennon Brooks has authored Big Science for Growing Minds, Schools Reimagined, and In Search of Understanding: The Case for Constructivist Classrooms in addition to numerous journal articles.

  • Dr. Sandra J. Stone

    Professor Emerita, Northern Arizona University and distinguished speaker at educational conferences worldwide, specializing in play and multiage classrooms. Dr. Stone is the author of Understanding Multiage Education, Creating the Multiage Classroom, and Playing: A Kid’s Curriculum, as well as numerous journal articles.

  • Dr. Cris Lozon

    Director of St. Margaret’s Early School. Dr. Lozon strongly supports the preservation of play within early childhood classrooms. She leads comprehensive teacher training and parent education initiatives to emphasize the importance of play in children’s development. Additionally, Dr. Lozon has authored journal articles on play and learning and shares her expertise both nationally and internationally.  

  • Dr. Sonia Yoshizawa

    Assistant Director and Pedagogista at St. Margaret’s Early School. Dr. Yoshizawa advocates for inquiry-based learning, STEM, and creativity. She is the author of Nurturing Creativity: An Essential Mindset for Young Children’s Learning, STEM Learning with Young Children: Inquiry Teaching with Ramps & Pathways, and Investigating STEM with Infants and Toddlers. Through her publications and active involvement in professional development, Dr. Yoshizawa is dedicated to promoting constructivism in early childhood education.
For more information on St. Margaret’s 2024 Summer Institute, please contact Angela Mackenzie, St. Margaret’s Director of Educational Technology and Library.

St. Margaret’s Episcopal School

31641 La Novia Avenue
San Juan Capistrano, CA 92675
(949) 661-0108
 
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An Independent Preschool Through Grade 12 College-Preparatory Day School in Orange County California

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St. Margaret's Episcopal School does not discriminate on the basis of gender, race, color, religion, sexual orientation or national and ethnic origin in the administration of its educational, admission, financial aid, hiring and athletic policies or in other school-administered programs.