Discussions

Name and Title: Valerie Borey, Lead Teacher

School, Library, or Organization Name: Concordia Language Villages

Country from Which You Will Present: U.S.A.

Language in Which You Will Present: English

Target Audience: preschool teachers, language immersion teachers, administrators

Short Session Description:

This session explores strategies for introducing and exploring another world culture with preschoolers, using the example of a Norwegian immersion preschool program.

Full Session Description:

National Public Radio’s Planet Money ran a story last May titled, “The Case for Preschool,” in which they featured economist James Heckman’s cost-benefit analysis of preschool, suggesting that preschool might be “the solution to society’s problems.” Heckman looked at research done with the Perry Preschool Program, which studied outcomes for students who participated in preschool programs vs. students who did not. What he found was that the “soft skills” learned in preschool (social skills, ability to stay on task, curiosity, etc.) made an enormous difference in terms of what happened to them in later life.

This session starts from the perspective/expectation that the "soft skills" learned in preschool, and specifically those that deal with an awareness/respect for other cultures, will have lifelong impact in terms of how individuals interact with those from other cultures. Using the example of Concordia Language Villages’ Norwegian Immersion Preschool Program (Barnehage), Norwegian teacher and anthropologist Valerie Borey will share strategies for introducing and exploring another world culture with preschoolers, including methods for integrating culture into classroom routines, songs, active play, circle time, and art projects.  This session is primarily geared towards presenting concrete examples of classroom practices and activities, for teachers and administrators who are looking to share strategies for making another culture tangible and present in their own early childhood programs. 

Websites / URLs Associated with Your Session:
www.ConcordiaLanguageVillages.org

Facebook pages: 

Barnehage (Norwegian Pre-K Program) https://www.facebook.com/pages/Barnehage/111939928849238

Pre-K Languages at CLV https://www.facebook.com/CLVPreK

Concordia Language Villages https://www.facebook.com/ConcordiaLanguageVillages  

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