The Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art to Host Two-Day Educators Conference on Multiple Literacies of Young Children
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Amherst, MA (July 3, 2014)—
Philip Yenawine, co-founder of Visual Understanding in Education (VUE), is the keynote speaker at The Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art’s Summer Teacher Institute held August 2 and August 3, 2014 at the Museum’s Amherst, Massachusetts location. On the Side of Childhood: Supporting the Multiple Literacies of Young Children, organized by The Carle and Smith College, will feature a host of distinguished presenters who will explore the joys and challenges that exist in the education of young children. Highlights include presentations by Bob Staake, award-winning author of Bluebird, Smith College’s Lella Gandini and Susan Etheridge, authors and advocates for the Reggio Emilia Approach to early education, and Warren Buckleitner, a leading expert on children’s technology.
Formerly, the Museum’s biennial conference centered on the Reggio Emilia model of early childhood education, a method frequently employed by The Carle’s educators. This year, it has expanded to encompass additional approaches to teaching, with special focus on the support of multiple literacies for all children. Emphasizing the importance of observation, communication, and collaboration, the Teacher Institute will highlight the development and learning potential of children and the importance of teachers and caregivers to stand “on the side of childhood.”
Philip Yenawine has worked for four decades in and with museums trying to connect people to art. He was director of education at MOMA, NY for ten years. He is currently Co-Founding Director of Visual Understanding in Education (VUE), a research entity that develops programs for schools, using art to teach thinking and communication skills. VUE’s curriculum, Visual Thinking Strategies (VTS), is in use in schools across the US and abroad. In his keynote presentation, Yenawine will discuss how children naturally learn by looking and will demonstrate the ways in which educators can use picture books to aid early educational development. “We are thrilled to welcome Philip Yenawine to The Carle,” said Courtney Waring, Director of Education. “His Visual Thinking Strategies are the basis for many of our educational programs at the Museum and have been used to great success here and in classrooms nationwide.”
In addition to presentations, the Teacher Institute will include breakout sessions for smaller groups. Participants can explore how Visual Thinking Strategies is applied at The Carle, or learn about the Whole Book Approach, a pedagogical method of evaluating and using the picture book as an art form, which was developed at The Carle and is used in the Museum’s outreach and on-site programs.
To register or learn more about the Teacher Institute, visit www.carlemuseum.org. A full conference schedule and registration information are available at http://shop.carlemuseum.org/category/workshops-classes/adults-educators.
About the Museum
The mission of The Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art, a non-profit organization in Amherst, MA, is to inspire a love of art and reading through picture books. The only full-scale museum of its kind in the United States, The Carle collects, preserves, presents, and celebrates picture books and picture book illustrations from around the world. In addition to underscoring the cultural, historical, and artistic significance of picture books and their art form, The Carle offers educational programs that provide a foundation for arts integration and literacy.
Eric and Barbara Carle founded the Museum in November 2002. Eric Carle is the renowned author and illustrator of more than 70 books, including the 1969 classic The Very Hungry Caterpillar. Since opening, the 40,000-square foot facility has served more than half a million visitors, including 30,000 schoolchildren. Its extensive resources include a collection of more than 12,000 picture book illustrations, three art galleries, an art studio, a theater, picture book and scholarly libraries, and educational programs for families, scholars, educators, and schoolchildren. Educational offerings include professional training for educators around the country. Museum hours are Tuesday through Friday 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Saturday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Sunday 12 noon to 5 p.m. Open Mondays in July and August and during MA school vacation weeks. Admission is $9 for adults, $6 for children under 18, and $22.50 for a family of four. For further information and directions, call 413-658-1100 or visit the Museum’s website at www.carlemuseum.org.
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