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Mr. AL
Live in Concert
What a great way to spend
quality time with the kids! Mr. AL will bring a smile to your face and put a
song in your heart. This interactive show is not for the sedentary. Mr. AL
involves the audience in every part of the show. Never a dull moment!! If you
aren’t clapping or stomping your feet, you’re singing along to his up-beat,
rock-and-roll style music for both kids and adults! The added bonus is that Mr.
AL has mixed educational aspects into his songs. The kids can fine-tune gross
and fine motor skills and build language at the same time. If your little ones
can’t sit still for most shows, bring them to see Mr. AL where sitting is not an
option!! Fun for all ages!!
A Good Beginning with Mr. AL
Join Mr. Al for a fun-filled,
music-filled hour to celebrate the importance of your work and rejuvenate your
creative side. After all, you hold the future in you’re your hands!
A “Rockin” Evening with Mr.
Al
Let
down your hair and bring your dancing shoes to join Mr. Al for an evening of
fun, songs and movements that will help you get in touch with the child inside
you!! Mr. Al will share songs everyone will remember from the 50's, 60's 70's,
80's and of course today! Sing-a-long, dance, sway or just sit back and enjoy
the show. This is your time to feel special and appreciated. Come join the fun
... you might even pick up a few ideas to use in the classroom!
Mr. Al’s Workshop Descriptions
Activity Boxes for Infants and Toddlers
Learning centers
have been a main-stay in early childhood education for some time. Infants and
toddlers, however, have different needs. They need lots of room for those
developing large muscles and can’t handle too many learning centers. Activity
boxes are portable centers that are developmentally appropriate for this age and
are fun too! Come learn how to make them.
A Child’s Time Line
This is a wonderful
time in history to be working with young children. More is known about their
development than ever before. Separating the fact from myth, however, is
sometimes a difficult and frustrating process. Children all develop at different
rates.
This workshop will
help educators put the young child’s growth in perspective. What are the things
we must do to help enhance their development and what must we avoid to hinder
it? These are the questions that will be answered during this presentation. Come
share in this interactive and hands-on workshop.
Building Themes Around Books
Thematic teaching
gives children a well-rounded, hands-on view of the topics they are learning
about by incorporating all the areas of the curriculum into the study of one
central theme. This helps to provide cohesiveness to the program. Children can
choose experiences that are open-ended, and that stimulate and motivate them.
That is why thematic teaching works so well in a cooperative learning
environment. In this session, Mr. Al will help you discover easy ways to develop
units based on books, to integrate all of your curriculum areas, to generate new
ideas and to make them work for you in your classroom.
Cooperative Learning: Playing &
Working Together
Cooperative
learning can be successful in any learning environment. It may be childhood
learning at its best. The children share information and actual experiences with
each other as they work together for a common goal. Each child in a cooperative
environment feels a warm sense of belonging by helping and being helped by the
group. Each group member is unique and is valued. The teacher’s role is to help
clarify goals, provide open-ended activities and encourage the children. The
children thrive and have a love for learning and the teachers are able to be
facilitators instead of constantly trying to manage behaviors. In this session,
Mr. Al will help you to understand more about cooperative learning, and to come
up with ideas, activities and a plan to foster it’s growth in your classroom.
Discipline & Classroom Management “Building
Relationships with Children”
With all the
information available to us today about the discipline and management of
children, it almost seems as though being a teacher is becoming more difficult.
The reason: we are getting too many mixed messages about what to do. Many of us
grew up in homes where discipline was carried out with an iron hand; others grew
up with practically no limits. This workshop is designed to give realistic and
common sense information that will help teachers to teach the children the
skills they need to foster positive relationships with the people around them.
“Do Wah Diddy” and Other Diddy’s To Do With Kids
Music is a very
important part of any early childhood program. It’s ability to nurture all
aspects of the developing child make it one of the most important play
experiences that children have. Children are drawn to the rhythm, repetition and
melody that music offers. They are also drawn to the dynamics of the singing
voice. Any and all kinds of music can work in the classroom, even your favorites
can find their place in the hearts of the kids! This is an enjoyable workshop
full of music and movement that will help attendees discover new ways to use
music with the children throughout their day.
The Four “R’s” of Classroom Management
Do the children
make you a little bit crazy some days? This session will explore techniques to
help you manage your classroom by setting up a system that works including
routines, rules and consequences, rewards, and the proper room arrangement to
avoid some of the most common problems.
The Future in Our Hands
Mr. Al will lead
you in a magical musical hour that will help you to remember why you love your
work with children. This motivational keynote will not only give you new ideas
for the classroom, it will help you to find the child inside you!!
Games, Games, Songs & Games
Play is an
important part of learning for young children. And they love to play games. Not
all games have to be win or lose. Mr. Al will share lots of games and activities
that will be fun to do with children of all ages and promote cooperation and
team building. He will also throw in a few new fun songs to get the kids moving
and singing between GAMES!!
Helping Parents to Parent
Much new
information is now available on how children grow and develop. Unfortunately,
parents are not the recipients of much of this information and how to use it.
This presentation will help parents understand their children better and show
them how to use this new knowledge to their advantage.
Hey, Hey, Let’s Sing & Play!!
Everyone loves to
sing and play. It just so happens that this is a fun and easy way to teach
children many skills that they will need in everyday life. Mr. Al will show you
tons of ways to teach children through songs, games and play activities.
Children are active learners making hands-on play and physical involvement an
important (and fun) part of your everyday curriculum. So come spend the morning
“playing” and singing with Mr. Al.
Integrating Math Into Everything You Do
Teaching math to
young children can be difficult for teachers and care givers. Children are often
on different developmental levels and are not ready for the symbols associated
with traditional math. Since research points to the importance of play, teaching
children mathematical concepts can become easy and fun. Using math in every day
relevant situations becomes a logical step in teaching children. Music, games,
finger plays and literature that children enjoy so much can help them experience
language and concepts they need to foster positive attitudes about mathematics.
Teaching math can be as easy as 1, 2, 3. . .
All Stressed Out and No Where to Go! !
Teaching young
children has changed dramatically in recent years. Teachers have been forced to
play more of a role in the care and nurturing of children, while still being
held accountable for their academic growth. This emotional investment coupled
with added responsibilities has made an already difficult job even more
stressful. This interactive keynote will give teachers strategies that will help
them cope with teaching in the nineties and beyond.
Language Experience: Experience
It!
The most important
gift we can give young children is the gift of language. Children with good
vocabularies simply do better in school. This session will share techniques that
will help develop language for all your children.
Learning Through Play - It’s the Only Way!
Play is the most
important way that children learn. It is the only experience that can help
children develop physically, emotionally, socially and intellectually while
keeping their full attention and giving them joy. Mr. Al will teach you
techniques that will help you create play experiences from any appropriate
activity in your curriculum..
A Literature Based Day in the Life
The average child
is not ready to read until about the age of seven or eight, but that doesn’t
mean that children of all ages can’t enjoy literature and experience it’s magic.
Find out how you can give young children successful literature experiences every
day.
Come join Mr. Al
for an enlightening day of literature-based activities designed to introduce
and/or enhance your reading-writing classroom. This conference will take you
through all the steps necessary to transform your classroom into an environment
where children learn to read by reading and learn to write by writing.Research
has shown that children need to make the connection between the language they
use and the processes of reading and writing. It is difficult for them to make
this connection when basic skills are taught out of context. Learning to read
and write can be a motivating
and relevant experience for children if we know how to meet the needs of
children.
The Magic of Music in Learning
Music has a magical
way of helping preschool and early elementary children to learn social,
emotional, physical and intellectual skills while having a great time. Mr. Al
will help even the least musical teacher bring music successfully into the
classroom as an important part of the curriculum.
Making and Using Big Books in the Classroom: A Make
& Take
Big books and mini
books play an important role in the whole language classroom. Children love to
make their own books and they will read them over and over again. It can be a
wonderful hands-on experience for both adults and children. Mr. Al will share
some of his home-made big books and the ways they can be incorporated into the
classroom. Then, you will get a chance to make big books of your own to use in
YOUR classroom on Monday!
Making Math Magical through Games, Literature and
Music
Children not only
need to learn math, they need to EXPERIENCE IT! Mathematical concepts and skills
are truly understood only when they are related in some way to the child’s
experience. This session will focus on practical ways to use math everyday in
conjunction with games, literature and musical extensions.
Mr
Al’s Three “R’s”: “Rocking, Reading, and Rhyming”Combining Music, Literature,
and Poetry
in the Early Childhood Classroom
Children need to
have positive early language experiences. Music, poetry and stories are all fun
ways to experience language both orally and in print. Music and poetry provide
the rhythm and repetition that help build natural language patterns in children.
Reading is simply and en extension of these experiences. The more success
children have with literature, the more natural the transition to the written
word is when readiness occurs. The beginning reader will be motivated to
practice his skills if he has fun doing it. In this session, Mr. Al will help
you discover how to combine music, stories and poetry in your early childhood
classroom (preschool through elementary level) to improve your children’s verbal
skills, creativity, imagination, and language experiences. Not only will you be
motivated to try it ... so will the children.Music
and Language: The Bridge to Literacy
One of the key
factors in reading readiness is a good vocabulary. Unless children have had
appropriate and meaningful language experiences, they will not have the skills
they need to learn to read. One of the most important and meaningful language
experiences is music. Much research has proven that music helps to build
connections in young children’s developing brains. This workshop will show
teachers the value of early and continuing musical experiences and how they can
use it in the journey towards literacy.
Music For The Mind (and soul)
It is known that a
child is born with all the brain cells he/she will ever use. What has recently
been proven is that it is the interactions during the first decade of life that
hold the key to the potential that each child will develop. Stimulation is the
key to brain growth and child development. Music plays a very important role in
the process. Child love music and research has now proven that using music in
the classroom and at home aides in the development of the whole child. Come join
Mr. Al for a poignant look at how music and movement can help unlock the brain’s
potential for each and every child. Gain practical ideas for choosing and
incorporating music and movement into your classroom in a fun, easy and
educational way.
Parent Involvement: Sparing the Rod Won’t Spoil the
Child Effective Discipline Techniques
The more that we
know about children, the better decisions we can make regarding their welfare.
Much of the information parents receive about parenting has come from secondary
sources such as ones own parents. Much of this information is outdated. Parents,
care givers and teachers are often surprised by the latest knowledge we have
about children. This workshop is designed to bring the latest findings in child
development to everyone concerned about children’s well-being. You will learn
tips and techniques that will help you manage the children you deal with
everyday. Mr. Al will help you understand the reasons for discipline problems
and give you some surprising revelations as to how to handle these problems in a
positive way.
Process Writing: Even Mikey
Likes It!
One of the biggest
weaknesses in traditional approaches to teaching writing has been the relevance
to the child. Children are much more motivated when learning is somehow related
to their own experience. This is especially true in the writing process. When
writing becomes a natural extension of children’s enthusiasm to communicate,
their progress can be astounding. It is easier for them to see writing as a
whole process rather than parts to a whole. This workshop will give teachers all
the strategies they need to make writing the fun part of each day.
Rock the Baby - Songs to Soothe, Stimulate &
Educate the Young Child
Interaction and
stimulation are the most important experiences for young children. It is these
experiences that trigger the development of the nervous system making the
learning easier and more efficient for the child. In this session, Mr. Al will
share music & activities that will help you provide the positive experiences
that all young children need.
Self Esteem and Staff Support
Working together in
this society can be extremely difficult today.. The state of the economy and
other stress-related conditions make the working place a potential hot bed of
problems for employers, supervisors and co-workers. The symptoms of stress have
far reaching effects on everyone. Positive interactions between people in the
work place do not take place by accident. There are building blocks of
self-esteem and basic needs that must be met if people are to be able to work
together effectively. Staff morale and productivity can be enhanced when esteem
is high and needs are met. Achieving this in the workplace is simply a matter of
putting staff relations at a high priority and realizing and utilizing positive
techniques that help a staff grow together. This workshop will give you the
techniques and awareness necessary to begin immediately the process of building
an effective team in your workplace. A supportive and motivated staff is within
reach for everyone.
Seven Secrets to a Successful Circle Time!
Circle time is a
very important part of the day in any early childhood classroom. So much can be
explored and learned during circle time. Circle time can happen several times a
day. This session will give you fresh ideas and techniques to use in the coming
year. Learn how to incorporate all of the areas of your curriculum into this
sharing time. Songs, games, finger plays, stories, poetry, discussions ...
everything is fun in a circle!!
If You Sing It, They Will Come!! Circle Time Songs
& Activities
Children respond to
music. If you sing something or play a tune, you will usually get their
attention. This workshop will help you feel more comfortable incorporating music
and movement into your curriculum with easy to implement techniques and ideas
for how and when to use music during the day. Special attention will be given to
circle time to show you ways to incorporate all the areas of your curriculum and
keep the kids tuned in. You’ll have lots of fun while learning new songs and
finger plays to use on Monday morning.
“Sing Me A Color” Thematic Teaching with Mr. Al
Thematic teaching
gives children a well-rounded hands-on view of the concept they are learning
about by incorporating all the areas of the curriculum into the study of one
central theme. This helps to provide a cohesiveness to the program. In this
session, Mr. Al will help you discover easy ways to develop a unit based on the
theme of colors. Learn to integrate all areas of your curriculum and to generate
new ideas that will work for you in your classroom. Once you grasp the concept
of a “colors” theme, you can easily apply it to any theme you want!
Sing Me Some Sanity, Please
Do the children
make you a little bit crazy some days? This session will explore techniques to
help you move through your day smoothly. Children through the ages have listened
to and enjoyed music. That is why it is so useful in the classroom. Learn how to
use music (and you don’t have to sing) throughout your day (not just at circle
time) to create a successful, manageable and sane classroom!!
Songs to Read, Stories to Sing:The Music Literacy
Connection
Children do not
need to read early, but they do need to have positive early literature
experiences. One of the most important of these literature experiences is music.
Music provides the rhyme, rhythm and repetition that helps build natural
language learning processes in children. Reading is simply an extension of these
processes. The more success children have with literature, the more natural the
transition to the written word will be for them later on when readiness occurs.
Music and movement are natural play experiences for young children. Therefore,
it is natural for children to be introduced to literature through their music
and movement. The use of big books, pictures, charts and props along with music
and movement provides a holistic, as well as, a different slant to early
literature experiences. It’s fun for children to move and sing while they
observe incidently the printed word. They are interacting in the way they
interact best . . . actively!! This presentation will give teachers and care
givers practical and usable ideas that they can try on Monday, as well as, a
long range plan they can slowly build up to. There are many songs to read and
stories to sing!!!
Storytelling 101
Storytelling is a
great experience for everyone. Who doesn’t get drawn into a good story? Kids
love to hear stories whether it is from a book or something you make up as you
go along. This is a terrific way to develop language and promote reading while
fostering important skills and concepts! Children will enjoy a story even more
when they are actively involved. Mr. Al will show you how to involve the
children in your storytelling using their five senses: sight, sound, smell,
taste and touch. Enjoy the morning of listening to, and becoming involved in,
Mr. Al’s favorite books & funny stories and then creating your own.
Support Your Staff: You Can’t Afford Not To!!
Staff morale and
productivity can be enhanced when self-esteem is high and needs are met. This
workshop will give you techniques and awareness necessary to begin the process
of building an effective team in your workplace.
Thematic Units in a Cooperative Classroom
Thematic teaching
gives children a well-rounded, hands-on view of the topics they are learning
about by incorporating all the areas of the curriculum into the study of one
central theme. This helps to provide cohesiveness to the program. Children can
choose experiences that are open-ended, and that stimulate and motivate them.
That is why thematic teaching works so well in a cooperative learning
environment. In this session, Mr. Al will help you discover easy ways to develop
units based on themes, to integrate all of your curriculum areas, to generate
new ideas and to make them work for you in your
classroom.
The
Toddler Tango
Many care givers
and parents believe that the year called toddlerhood is one of the most
difficult in early childhood. These children are growing physically and
cognitively at an incredible rate and yet have not acquired the ability to
express themselves verbally. They have become more independent and yet are still
very dependent on their care givers. It can be a very frustrating time for both
children and care givers. This presentation will show how a little bit of
knowledge and understanding can completely change the way adults view this age.
Toddlerhood is a terrifically exciting age. Attendees will find out why!!
United We Learn, Divided We Brawl: Tips, Tools and
Techniques for Building a Community of Learners
Cooperative
learning is not a new idea, it’s just a good, solid one! Children learn by
sharing information and actual experiences with each other as they work together
for a common goal. It can start as early as preschool and create a lifetime
learner & cooperator. The teacher as facilitator, can watch the children bloom
while having less management
problems. The workshop introduces the use of cooperative games and activities.
Participants will discover that the combination of teaching social skills and
academics is a great way to foster effective learning in a cooperative
environment. This year don’t just have a good class, have a great team! Mr. Al
will share proven tips, techniques and tools so you can do it!
United We Stand: Working Together for the Future of
Our Children
The saying goes:
“It takes a whole village to raise a child.” But it seems that more and more
responsibility is left up to the teachers these days. Mr. Al will lead you in a
musical hour that will remind you why you love your work with young children and
will give you tips for involving the families and community in a cooperative
effort to educate and raise them.
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