Dr. Rebecca Isbell’s Blog

I just returned from the most creative early childhood conference I have ever attended! The theme was the brilliant idea of Kasey Kile, who has been leading the conference for the last four year with assistance from her friends at Kansas Child Care Training Opportunities.

I did the Keynote for this illustrious group of early childhood educators who listened, responded, and interacted with me as we investigated the power of stories read, told, and sung.

Atchison Child Care Family

Atchison Child Care Family

The focus of the literature for the day was animal stories that are appealing to young children. This entire experience reminded me again that early childhood teachers are very creative! They displayed their creativity throughout the day as they wore hats they had designed and made for the event.

In the afternoon, they participated in hands-on follow up activities that extended the stories we shared, including designing and making costumes to represent some of the animals in the stories we had enjoyed. A special feature was the afternoon “high tea” with yummy treats. The finale was “The Animal Parade” with all of us marching together to celebrate the day, stories, and these marvelous educators.

It was a joyful experience for me!

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Creative Spark for the Day

When children are using a variety of materials to develop a creative idea, add a novel material that will challenge their thinking in new ways. A piece of foil, tissue paper, or sheet of foam. Be creative!

Today I submitted the final editing of my new book: Nurturing Creativity: A Critical Mindset for Young Children’s Learning. It will be published by NAEYC with an anticipated Fall 2016 release.

It has been a long journey with many dips and highs to get this book completed. But I am excited about the message it conveys: Young children are creative and inspired by their Creative Early Childhood Teachers.

Often teachers will tell me, “I am not creative.”

Let me tell you: You are creative! When you work with energetic and curious young children you have to be creative, full of ideas, and flexible in your thinking. You use your creativity everyday as you build an interesting and challenging learning environment.

Please celebrate with me today! Tomorrow, I will get back to work on presentations, training, and handouts for the spring months…but now let’s celebrate!

Keep your creative juices flowing and your life filled with joy. Be inspired by the astonishing children who are an important part of your life!

Celebration Time! Come on! Celebration Time!

Now that the busy holidays are over, it is the ideal time to recharge and clear our brains of unnecessary issues and concerns. It is important for our well-being that we find time for ourselves to be quiet and recharge.

When we are so busy, overcommitted, and striving for perfection, there is often a drought of creative ideas. Now you can find a time and place where you can let your mind wander, daydream, relax your body, or listen to calming music.

Making time for yourself to chillout and regain your energy is an essential element to nurture creative thinking.

Making time for yourself to chillout and regain your energy is an essential element to nurture creative thinking. Creativity cannot happen when your mind is overloaded or filled with too many distractions. Find a time for yourself – 15 minutes or more – to think about “nothing”. When an unwanted thought tries to capture your attention, throw it out. The goal is to clear your brain so there is space for new ideas and possibilities.

It’s OK to be alone.

When I was working on my graduate degree, writing a dissertation, working full time, and raising two young children, I became very concerned because I had no creative ideas, or no new possibilities incubating. It was very scary because I had always had many ideas. Had my graduate work killed my creativity? Had over-work sapped my brain? As one person told me, “It’s done something to your brain.”

On the day I graduated, driving home alone in my car as my family followed, my ideas starting popping. A shower of new ideas was coming to my consciousness. I was overjoyed! I celebrated the return of these exciting possibilities. But why was this happening at this time and place? I realized that for the first time in over 2 years I had a quiet time. Many of my difficult tasks that had been filling my time and thoughts had been accomplished. This quiet time in my car provided the place to relax, be quiet, and let my mind flow.

Give yourself the gift of time.

Escape from an overstimulating and demanding world and turn on your creative ideas. You are creative! Your ideas have not dried up. All that is needed is the time and calmness to let your marvelous possibilities sprout and grow again.

Enjoy this first step in your creative journey.

For the past two weeks I have been in Spain learning about the culture and the families that live in this area. During my time, I was able to visit a beautiful Center for birth to 3-year-olds designed by a Spanish Architect, Alejandro Munoz Miranda. Centro Infantil Municipal is located In the city of Chaparral, Granada.

Teresa, the director welcomed me into the very special place where infants and toddlers were actively engaged with teachers. The structure was white stucco, reminiscent of the white villages scattered throughout the south of Spain.

Spain-Infant-Toddler-Teresa-DirectorThe Center spread across a hilltop in a quiet neighborhood. This municipal center is supported by the local government where children could attend at a very low cost. The Architect was obviously interested in the aesthetics of the building and the interior which focus on shape, color, light, and openness of the Center. Unique architecture and bright colors are so important in the Spanish environment and echo the spirit of the people who live in this region.

In the unique structure, colorful panels allowed the sun to enter the children’s space producing different colored light in the hallway and indoor play area. Inside spaces were filled with clear glass with sliding panels that allow the teachers to open areas to combine classrooms for activities and community meetings. These clear moveable doors made the spaces feel large and connected to the outside playground and courtyard.

Spain-Rainbow-lightsOver 100 infants and toddlers were able to move, learn, interact, and gain a sense of belonging in this beautiful place. The space was filled with light, colorful furniture, and children’s creations. An enormous covered outdoor area allowed the children to play and explore when weather was rainy or cold.

Spain-Infant-Toddler-Color-in-HallwayIt was so special to be welcomed into an Early Childhood program in Spain—-and feel the love and beauty that these lucky infants and toddlers were able to experience made me feel joyful!

Visit this link for more pictures and information.

 

This is an exciting week with our NAEYC Conference and thousands of early childhood educators descending on Orlando. What a great time I have connecting to old friends and meeting new folks who are interested in young children (birth to 8 years).

If you are attending the National conference, I would enjoy talking to you and listening to your thoughts about your work. Let’s try to connect!

You also have a special invitation to attend my session: Sat. Morning 8:00- 9:30 “Unsticking the Stuck: Making Powerful Connections that Inspire Young Creative Thinkers” in the Convention Center room W 311C.

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After the session come and talk with me or follow me to the Kaplan Booth in the Exhibit Hall. Here I will be signing copies of my books and talking with early childhood teachers!

Catch the spirit, gain new Ideas, and build connections to others who work with amazing young children.

I hope to connect to you at NAEYC!

I posted a new article at Earlychildhood NEWS! Take a look: http://www.earlychildhoodnews.com/earlychildhood/article_view.aspx?ArticleId=334

It is story time again in Jonesborough, Tennessee, where the International Center for Storytelling is sponsoring their 43rd festival. This is a grand celebration of stories told by amazing tellers from all over the world. Hope you will able to catch the storytelling bug at this festival or in the future.

Each year, over 10,000 people sit in colorful circus tents throughout this tiny town to be memorized by a story told. Some of the amazing tellers are Donald Davis who grew up in the Appalachian Mountains and shares his personal stories of growing up with his humorous family.

Another is Jay O’Callaghan who personalizes stories of important historical events. He is able to keep his audience on the edge of their seats for over an hour with one story. Wow, now that is a talented storyteller!

In tandem Eth-Noh-Tec perform ancient Asian folktales using movement, music, and the spoken word as they demonstrate kinetic storytelling at its finest.

Each year I am invigorated by the power of stories told and the diverse stories shared. It reminds me again what a wonderful gift it is for young children when we share a store with them. Learn a story and pass it on!

The festival runs from Oct. 2-4 and website is www.storytellingcenter.net.

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Today I was thinking about the joyful experience of working with young children, so I began to make a list of some of the special moments and inspirations that I have gained from working in early childhood. Read these and add your own special insights to this growing list.

Why do we love to work with young children?

  • They inspire our creativity.
  • They make us laugh.
  • They help us appreciate the small wonders of life.
  • They share their unconditional love with us.
  • They play with materials, ideas, and possibilities.
  • They create new words whenever they are needed.
  • They are excited about learning and it is contagious.
  • They are musicians and dancers who inspire our involvement.
  • Their endless curiosity leads us to gain new understandings.
  • Each day is an amazing adventure we can explore together!

Reflect with me on the many blessings we gain from working with small children!

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As we end a very busy summer, we begin to think about what is coming in the fall. What will the children be interested in? What exciting learning can occur? Are there new materials and projects that can be added to challenge children’s thinking?

 

My summer, as I am sure you feel, has flown by with few moments to relax and reflect on where we are going, and how we are going to get there. Now is the time to take that time to think, create, and reflect.

 

This spring and summer I have been writing 6-7 days a week and many hours on each of those days, but I am happy to share with you that my new book for NAEYC is finished and in my editor’s hands.

 

Of course there will be rewrites, corrections, and additions but the meat of the book has been written. Yeah! My husband Ben said, “This is the hardest I have ever seen you work on a book” and I must admit I did put in many hours recognizing that my professional organization is publishing it. Of course, I wanted it to be the best book possible!

 

With Sonia, my co-author, we have worked to develop a book that is beautiful, innovative, and filled with new possibilities for early childhood teachers.

 

Anticipated release date is June 2016.

 

Watch my blog for announcements of the release time and place for our new book on creativity in young children.

 

This coming week, August 4 and 5, I will be doing a keynote for the Kansas Christian Early Childhood Association in Kansas City with the focus on “Building a Sense of Community: Ensuring Every Child is Treasured” and several breakout sessions.

 

August 15, I will be doing a keynote and breakout sessions for TX Baptist Weekday Education Association. These sessions will focus on “Inspiring and Sustaining Creativity in Young Children.

 

As you think of your new year, think of some unique things you might try with your creative young children. They inspire all of us to think creatively, and collaborate in exciting ways! Have a wonderful beginning!

 

Idea for the first days: Take a picture of each child in your classroom and display these in a beautiful way for everyone to see. Your children will recognize that this is “Their Special Place”!

 

 

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June is the time for the exciting NAEYC Professional Development conference this year in New Orleans.  This is an amazing conference that allows us to reconnect with other early childhood professionals, renew friendships, and learn what is on the forefront for future policies.

Currently, I am working with Sonia on our new book related to “Sustaining Creativity in Young Children”, with anticipated publication early 2016.  The first event we attend at the conference is a reception for authors that write for NAEYC.  It seems funny for me to be considered a “new” author since I have already published 12 other books, but it is the first time I have written a book for my professional organization (although I have written many articles and served as a consulting editor for NAEYC for a number of years).

Attending lots of meetings, participating in informative sessions, and collaborating with colleagues will consume most of my time in New Orleans. But as a great lover of Jazz (and to stimulate my creative thinking) I will also go to the Preservation Hall for authentic Dixieland Jazz.

More to come from the conference and jam session!