My Story
All about Dr. Rebecca Isbell
A short video about me
Keynote Speaker
My early childhood education keynotes celebrate the positive influence that teachers have on young children during the critical early years of development. My sessions are energetic, full of laughter, but also contain cutting edge information that can be applied in their diverse settings. I want early childhood teachers to feel good about what they do and understand how influential they are in the lives of their children and families. Together we can expand the learning possibilities that work and benefit all children.
For the past twelve years I have been a keynote speaker, workshop leader, and featured speaker at many different professional teacher training and development meetings all over the world. These speaking experiences have ranged from local PreK conferences to regional ECE conferences to international educator meetings. In all these settings, I have renewed my belief that early childhood educators are working hard to create wonderful learning places for young children.
My goal is that each person will leave my session with new ideas and creative possibilities that will also provide a positive beginning to the conference. Every ECE keynote and teacher training workshop is tailored to the special group I am working with so my information is right on target for their needs.
Early Childhood Education Author
My very first book was about my experiences in developing learning centers in a preschool program. It has expanded to writing textbooks, “Creativity and the Arts for Young children” 3rd edition and numerous books about creating amazing environments and centers in early childhood classrooms. I now have twelve books relating to young children and their teachers.
My latest book is an NAEYC Bestseller: Nurturing Creativity: An Essential Mindset for Young Children’s Learning. You can buy it now in my bookstore.
Teacher, Director, & Professor
For many years I have worked with young children ranging from infancy to fifth grade. During that time I observed their amazing capabilities and watched them engage in meaningful experiences. As a teacher, I was able to encourage learning, watch the developmental changes, and share their joyful discoveries.
As a director, I learned about working with today’s families and their diverse needs. Together we created a program that cherished their child and provided a nurturing place for them to bloom.
As a professor I had the pleasure of working with “big people” who were on the road to become early childhood educators. Later, I worked with graduate and PhD students who were dedicated to becoming knowledgeable teachers and leaders in the field of early childhood education.
All of these wonderful and varied experiences have shaped my work, speeches, and writing.
Testimonials
Hear from attendees from my keynotes and workshops
All the participants left each of your sessions with their chin a little higher and proud to be a member of this profession. Your audience interaction and participation were just what everyone needed to jumpstart the day.
Rebecca, we appreciate your flexibility during these crazy times. The feedback about your virtual webinar have been great–4.5-5. We hope to work with you again in the future!
This was the best keynote I have ever heard—and I have heard a lot
Learning that I am creative and that my children are too was a very positive experience for me. This workshop provided me with many new and meaningful ways to nurture creative thinking in young children.
Dr. Isbell visited our classrooms and helped us improve our space. Her suggestions were appropriate, low cost, and would work. In the workshop on environments, she commented on the great things we were doing in our classrooms while providing new possibilities for us.
Dr. Isbell was the keynote speaker at our 5th annual symposium entitled Play: Where Learning Begins. The 175 educators in attendance thoroughly enjoyed her presentation and breakout session. She was knowledgeable, entertaining, and kept everyone’s attention. The next morning she delighted our preschool parents with an intimate coffee talk on ways to nurture their child’s play. I absolutely recommend her to any organization looking for an expert in early childhood education.