Born to Read Seminars
Reading and Discussion Seminars for Child Care Providers and Volunteer Readers
"After looking at some of the classes providers take just to get their 'time' in, I chose this seminar, with a lot more training hours than I needed, because I felt I would actually learn from this one. And I did — much more than I thought I would." — Children's Literature Seminar participant
Children and Conflict in a Changing World
Fort Kent, Spring 2009
“If we are to have peace in the world, we will have to begin with the children.” — Gandhi
In this six-session series, teachers and others who work with young children read and discuss picture books with themes of peace-making and conflict resolution. Talking about these books with other adults—led by facilitators who have expertise in children’s literature—gives them lots of ideas for questions and activities to use when reading them with children.
Those who attend all sessions receive copies of the books used in the discussions. When they share these books with the children in their care, they are developing their capacity for empathy, helping them become creative problem-solvers, fostering a rich vocabulary for nonviolent communication, presenting new options for conflict resolution, and nurturing their dispositions toward peaceful play and relationships.
Here are some of the books that participants receive:
- Yo! Yes? by Chris Raschka (1993)
- Playing War by Kathy Beckwith, illus. by Lea Lyon (2005)
- The Other Side by Jacqueline Woodson, illus. by E.B. Lewis (2001)
- The Story of Ferdinand by Munro Leaf (1936)
The children’s literature seminar will be held in Fort Kent this spring, starting May 20:
Wednesdays, 5/20 through 6/27
Community High School, 84 Pleasant Street, Fort Kent
Tuition for the program is $25, with a light supper at each session included. Books are given to participants for each session. 1.5 CEUs are available for an additional $13. Funding for this seminar comes from Jane’s Trust.
The registration form can be downloaded, as a word document (144Kb) or as a pdf (176Kb).
Caregivers in a Changing World Seminars
Caregivers in a Changing World is a reading-discussion program that
brings early childhood educators, volunteers, and others together to discuss
the themes of diversity and inclusion in children’s literature.
Led by skilled facilitators, the series inspires caregivers to experience
the power and pleasure of sharing ideas about books and children.
Participants are given two books per session to read. In addition,
hands-on activities offer ways that caregivers can enrich the
language and literacy opportunities they offer to children.
In the course of the discussions and activities, we hope to focus
attention on the ways books can help us know more about people from
other cultures and with other points of view. The series offers
participants the chance to discover new levels of appreciation as
they learn different approaches to story interpretation and understanding.
We also hope that Caregivers in a Changing World rekindles
a dedication to keep books in the forefront of children’s daily
experiences.
The seminar consists of six 2-hour sessions over six consecutive
weeks. Facilitators and presenters include librarians, early childhood
educators, Born to Read staff, and scholars. Enrollment is
limited to 20 participants.
For more information, contact:
Born to Read
Maine Humanities Council
674 Brighton Avenue, Portland, ME 04102
Phone: (207) 773-5051
or toll-free 1-866-MEreader
Fax: (207) 773-2416
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