A British lesson for Romanian teachers: The Early Years Education Conference 2019
Technology and development of mathematical intelligence (November 6-9)
Over 550 educators have benefited from free training sessions, focusing on innovative methods of teaching the first mathematical notions, in the 6th edition of the Early Years Education Conference, held on November 6-9 in Bucharest and Suceava. The trainings were conducted by 6 British specialists who offered examples of practices with immediate applicability, adapted to the needs of current generations and to the conditions of the Romanian educational system.
The event with the theme “Technology and development of mathematical intelligence” started with “Sticky Maths”, a session held by Ali McClure. This concept promotes joy in the classroom and the unique ways of learning mathematical concepts starting from an early age. The training focused on how teachers can stimulate children’s brain development by stimulating reasoning and the connections between abstract notions and concrete forms.
Helicopter rescue, Block a doodle doo, Path puzzle, Oscar’s pizza or Code a pillar are some of the examples of games and digital applications recommended to educators by the British technology education expert, Martin Bailey. The trainer encouraged educators to introduce technology in the classroom from the age of 3 and to use it to bring even concepts such as algorithms down to a simple level that can be easily understood by children.
In modern early education, mathematics becomes accessible and attractive to children, with the help of a variety of creative teaching resources. In the workshop “Making Maths Magic”, Anita Curtis encouraged educators to mix accessible resources, such as figurines, jellies, tassels, feathers, glitter or pasta which the children can sort or count.
Helen Battelley offered the participants two hours full of positive energy and physical educational activities, explaining how these contribute to the development of problem solving and motor functions. Starting from the premise that the energy of an educator is transmitted to the children, the room was challenged to participate actively in physical activities that simulate fascinating contexts for children, such as a circus performance.
Pamela Mundy, a consultant in the Education Department of the British Government, presented a series of fundamental principles in early education, strengthening the contribution of teachers to the development of new generations. She drew attention to the fact that children often spend too much time sitting down, doing activities that are imposed on them, and an effective educational process is one in which children are involved in making their own decisions.
Experts say that those who are now 7 years old will be able to choose from over 70 professions that are not yet invented, and the role of educators is to prepare children for occupations that will shape the workforce of the future. During his inspirational session, Will Hussey conveyed to educators the desire to encourage children to dream, to believe, to be curious, to research and to discover. He encouraged those present to be creative and to always want more, both professionally and personally.
“I return home richer professionally and personally. We, the teachers, have the opportunity to work with little humans that already come with an extraordinary genetic dowry! It depends on us what ways we select to succeed in showing them the right path, to help them develop their skills, talents, abilities, to encourage them to explore, to experience and to discover the world. Following the presentations, I realized that you do not need very expensive resources to succeed in teaching. If we follow the examples given by the trainers, we will discover that mathematics is really beautiful, fun and easy ”, declared Daniela Soare, educator at the Kindergarten Casa Copilariei in Calarasi.
The 6th edition also marked the organization of the Early Years Education Conference in a city outside Bucharest for the first time. On November 9th, at Casa Corpului Didactic in Suceava, over 300 educators from Moldova region participated actively in the training sessions held by Anita Curtis and Helen Battelley.
”The Acorns Foundation aims to organize the Early Education Conference in other regions of the country. This project is created to contribute to the improvement of the education system in Romania and can only grow with the support of partners in the private and institutional environment,” says Valentina Secara, founder of the Early Education Conference.
Sponsors for the Bucharest edition: Catena, Apa Nova, Amos, Air France KLM, Borsec, Estetiq Solutions, VDM Rental, Avincis, Imagine Art, Optiprint, Camera Luminoasă, Selftrust Academy, Almaj Iordache, Napolact, Bistro Dorobanți, Ofin Consulting, Autonom, Ezy Design, Familia Toneli, Camera de Comerț și Industrie a României
The official Facebook page of the conference is: https://www.facebook.com/ConferintaDeEducatieTimpurie/
Special thanks to: Măriuca Talpeș, Mugur Pulbere, Radu Boanta, Bogdan Buzdugan, Arcade Expert și Melania Tecu, Delta Conf și Mihaela Badea
Sponsors for the Suceava edition: Rotary Club, Borsec, Autonom, Tehno World, Edu Max
With the support of: Casa Corpului Didactic ”George Tofan” Suceava
Main Media Partner: Itsy Bitsy
Media partners: Tonica, www.didactic.ro, www.suntparinte.ro, www.9vremparinti.ro, www.suntmamica.ro, Senso TV.