Integrating Acceptance, Belonging, and Community Components Into Early Childhood Education
Presenters: Sandy Lookabaugh, Ph.D., and Lisa Godwin, Ph.D.
Early childhood is the optimal time to introduce and reinforce prosocial attitudes and skills of acceptance, belonging, and community. Educators, at all levels, however, may be hesitant to directly engage in these conversations despite the importance of embedding these concepts within curricula and programing during this optimal time of learning.
Early education settings are ideal spaces to teach children how to accept people from diverse backgrounds, create a sense of belonging and inclusion for all people, and provide an equitable sense of community. Picture books, puppets, creative materials, and other classroom activities provide opportunities for children to build knowledge about people like themselves as well as those different from them.
In this webinar, the presenters will
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offer methods on how to instill a sense of acceptance, belongingness, and community within planned learning experiences and conversations;
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demonstrate teaching strategies using classroom materials as a teaching and learning tool;
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share how educators can be intentional in the what, when, how, and why of the learning experiences and conversations held; and
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provide participants with language to use with parents, colleagues, and administrators when describing the relevance and importance of engaging young children in learning about acceptance, belonging, and community.
To facilitate incorporation of these essential elements, educators may need to be reflexive and confront their own biases or prejudices as the learning journey is bidirectional and growth promoting for both educator and child.
Webinar participants will acquire knowledge and skills to engage children in conversations about specific aspects of diversity, equity, and inclusion.
As a result of attending the webinar, participants will be able to:
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Instill a sense of acceptance, belonging, and community within early childhood learning experiences;
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Use classroom materials as mechanisms to introduce conversations related to acceptance, belonging, and community;
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Be intentional with their approach to learning experiences and conversations around acceptance, belonging, and community; and
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Model appropriate language related to relevance and importance of acceptance, belonging, and community when talking with parents, colleagues, and administrators.
Intended Audience: Practitioners who work in early childhood education
Approved for 1.0 hour of CFLE continuing education
NCFR members and CFLEs receive discounts on this training. Become a member today and receive the full benefits of NCFR membership!
About the Presenters
The views expressed by the webinar presenters are their own.
Sandy Lookabaugh, Ph.D., is an Associate Professor in the Department of Human Development and Family Science at East Carolina University. Dr. Lookabaugh serves as the Program Coordinator for the M.S. in Human Development and Family Science. Her academic career has spanned over 39 years, primarily teaching in higher education focusing on children and families, as well as teaching children ages 2-7 years. Dr. Lookabaugh’s research has primarily examined children’s use of attachment objects and human-animal interactions. She has recently started exploring the power of children’s books and the myriad uses for them. Dr. Lookabaugh identifies as a White, cisgender, female and acknowledges the power and privilege that accompanies that positionality.
Lisa Godwin, Ph.D., is currently in her third year at East Carolina University. Previously, she taught at a community college in North Carolina for more than 20 years. Her academic career has spanned more than 35 years. Dr. Godwin’s professional career includes studying and working with bilingual college students, providing a two-generational approach to helping English Language Learners be successful in school, ensuring quality in child-care settings for children birth through age 5 years, supervising student teachers in early childhood settings, and grant writing and management for colleges and community agencies. She is passionate about multicultural and diverse families and has a long commitment to exposing students to other cultures by taking them on study abroad experiences. Recently, Dr. Godwin has had the privilege of spending time with Native American families in South Dakota, learning about their culture, traditions, and family relationships.
On-Demand Webinar Recording
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Classroom Use
Webinars are a great resource to use in the classroom. Classroom and departmental use licenses allow faculty members to share the video in class or embed the video in their online learning management system. Departmental use licenses allow more than on faculty member to use the webinar in their class. We request that links or downloads not be shared with students.
License for classroom use by one professor is available for $141 for NCFR members, $215 for nonmembers.
License for departmental use (multiple professors) is available for $194 for NCFR members, $341 for nonmembers.
Departmental license for CFLE-approved programs is $167.