Workshops, Webinars and Keynotes!
"Miss Carole" Stephens does all kinds of in-service programs for teachers, librarians, parents - or anyone who works with children who fit under the Early Childhood umbrella! All seminars are custom-made for the audience being served, and include a handout with song lyrics, movement instruction and links to additional resources.
Call or email Carole for availability and a fee schedule.
What makes my workshops different?
Three things:
- WHAT – new songs that will be instant "hits" with children because they are developmentally appropriate, increase skills and are fun!
- HOW – classroom management techniques that really work with highly participatory songs - even if you're musically challenged!
- WHY – current brain and physical development research supporting the need for frequent musical exposure for young children.
Workshops are VERY participatory – we learn best and retain more by doing. I teach with enthusiasm – and participants learn with enthusiasm, just as their students do.
Workshops can be customized for 60, 75, 90 or 120 minute formats. Extended 1/2-Day (3 hours) and Full-day (5-hours instruction) seminars are wonderful opportunities to learn, practice and share music. With extended time a make’n’take and/or SongSwap can be included. Participants are guaranteed to return to their classrooms with easy-to-reproduce music and movement ideas.
All workshop titles may be stand-alone workshops or used as modules in a longer format. Since all workshops are customized for you, tell Carole what you would need and she'll try to include it!
NEW WEBINARS!
Singing and Dancing Toward Kindness!
Let's use music and movement to influence the behaviors we want from our students! From songs of caring to partner dances to encourage gentle hands, let's put lyrics in their heads that encourage positive interactions while providing needed exposure to rhythm, rhyme, steady beat and gross motor skills. Teach eye contact with a smile. Happiness is contagious. Friendship is the groundwork for acceptance. Music is the vehicle - hop on board!
Know Better, Do Better: Making Informed Music Choices for Your Classroom
Why do we sing, tap, march and dance with kids? It’s good for them! Do you find yourself piggybacking apples, pumpkins, or snowmen onto Ten Little Indians or Five Little Monkeys Jumping on the Bed? Let’s investigate the sources and histories of some of the songs and tunes used in children’s music. Suggestions for replacements that enrich learning, delight our littles but do no harm will be shared. Let’s teach smarter!
Easy Music for Tough Times!
Why promote music for EC distance learning? Because we need it - and it works well in this format! Making music lifts spirits, encourages engagement, and advances learning skills. This webinar includes songs, fingerplays and active music that work well for online platforms. Miss Carole shares her Zoom Rules of Engagement - great tips for teachers of all experience levels.
Music & Movement to Teach and Reach Early Childhood
Developmentally appropriate content doesn't have to be boring, preachy or canned videos. We'll share songs that engage, show flannelboard visuals that grab attention and pair books with music that extend physical skills AND cover curricular content. Miss Carole also shares her Zoom Rules of Engagement - great tips for teachers of all experience levels.
What teachers are saying about Carole's Webinars:
"It is clear that Carole knows her audience, both as students and teachers. I got morre than I expected!"
"Her demonstration is easy to follow and easy to remember"
"Well organized and executed. Glad that even during difficult times we can grow as educators"
"Very worthwhile. I would recommend to others!"
"Loved every minute - give her more time next time!" (and the sponsor did, 3 months later!)
Workshops and Keynotes
1. ACTIVE MUSIC for ACTIVE LEARNERS: Brain Food, Body Fuel!
Sing! Stamp! Clap! March! Is your classroom bursting with action verbs? Participation in active music promotes tip-top brain and body growth and provides opportunities for children of all abilities to work on social, emotional and physical skills. Singing and dancing also allows children to acquire early literacy skills fluidly - and they just think it’s fun! Easy-to-implement classroom management techniques make movement safe and accessible. Let’s transform Couch Potatoes into Dancing Sprouts!
2. Do-Re-Mi to A-B-C: the direct connection between music and early literacy
Humans are born with pitch and rhythm - Fred Rogers said so! Keeping those elements in good working order takes practice. Music gives children the opportunity to make the acquisition of early literacy skills fluid and fun! Rhyme, pattern, sequence, vocabulary, crossing the midline, rhythm, tracking - all these skills and concepts can be acquired through developmentally appropriate music! Let's make it accessible for teachers of all musical abilities.
3. Visual Literacy Through Music!
VISUAL LITERACY is the ability to interpret, negotiate and make meaning from information presented in the form of an image or printed text. We ask our EC learners to be able to demonstrate this skill prior to reading. Let’s use participatory music to teach children to follow verbal instructions and interpret visual images in relation to the topic in a song. Add easy-to-make visuals to provide a strong base for early literacy skill acquisition.
4. I’m Singing, I’m Dancing, I’m LEARNING!
Children learn by moving through their environment, and music helps them MOVE! How do you identify the properties of developmentally appropriate music? What props and manipulatives can be used to facilitate learning through music? Come ready to participate!
5. We’ve Got Rhythm: Getting a Bang Out of A Child’s Innate Abilities
Children who can find and keep a steady beat become better readers. That takes practice. Drumming, tapping and clapping gives children the opportunity to make the acquisition of early literacy skills fluid and fun. Miss Carole's got the beat - you can get it, too!
6. Singable Songs and Fingerplays for Developing Early Literacy Skills, Attention and Community
In order to learn, children must be engaged. In order to be engaged, you must get their attention. In order to get their attention the instructor must present material that is developmentally appropriate, interesting and fun! We'll learn songs, use flannelboards and practice fingerplays. Come ready to sing!
7. Tiny Tunes for Terrific Toddlers!
Toddlers develop critical skills by moving through their environment, exploring their bodies and vocal capabilities, and finding ways to interact with others. Developmentally appropriate music and movement activities provide just what a toddler needs to promote brain growth, language skills, early socialization and coordination. Tap into a toddler’s brain and you’ll come out singing. Understand the toddler body and you’ll start to dance! Miss Carole has music and movement activities that will delight children from early walkers to early 3’s. Come prepared to move!
NOTE: This workshop may also include material for infants if desired.
8. Dancing Feet!
Organized dancing promotes pattern, rhythm and sequence – early literacy skills made easy! Tired of The Hokey Pokey and ready to mix it up with individual, circle and partner style dances? How do you use manipulatives safely? How do you encourage children to jump and twirl without “losing control?” Miss Carole has answers! Twinkle Toes and Stumble Bunnies are welcome!
9. Sing-a-Book!
The relationship between the written word, oral language and singing literary text is unique. For young readers, emerging readers and pre-readers you may notice increased attention and retention when a musical element is added to the enjoyment of a book. Rhythm activities that re-enforce the rhyme and pattern of text also add to the delight children find in books.
There are many ways to partner music and books. We’ll sing a book word-for-word, pair books with songs about the same topic, add a musical phrase to a book for emphasis, and learn how to illustrate a book from a favorite song. We’ll explore how to make a multi-medium unit with a book, songs, art, science and physical exploration.
10. Early Childhood SongSwap
Miss Carole will kick off the Song Swap with one of her own favorite songs – THEN IT’S YOUR TURN! Bring 1 or 2 of your most successful songs/movement activities to share. Bring props or a recording (boombox available) to teach your song or movement activity! Bring a recording device – you’ll remember what was shared better that way. We’re not looking for the next American Idol! Want to just come and listen to what other teachers share? That’s ok, too! Come learn from experts - our fellow teachers.
11. Sing Your Way Home! Closing
After a wonderful day of learning, sharing and engagement, let’s join together in music and movement that will lift our spirits, provide new ideas for your work and re-visit some favorites.
Three, Four and Six Hour Trainings:
The more time allowed, the more modules that can be included. All such workshops begin with an introductory “Active Music for Active Learners” segment. Depending upon the amount of time, segments often include Singable Songs, Dancing Feet and Visual Literacy or Tiny Tunes.
During a Six Hour Training (5 hours training, one hour for lunch) a SongSwap and/or Make’n’Take can be included.
ALL WORKSHOPS are custom-made for each audience’s needs, experience, goals and the time of year.
"Best workshop in the 16 years I've been coming to this conference!"
– Chicago Metro AEYC Conference attendee
"Carole Stephens is a FANTASTIC presenter! The information that she shares is very user friendly. She has many practical ideas that teachers can use in their classrooms immediately! The props that she uses are mostly free or cheap, so you don't have to spend a lot of money to implement the ideas you learn. Participants will leave the workshop knowing how and WHY they need to use music in their classrooms. In addition, conference planning committees will find Carole pleasant and easy to work with! She's a joy all around!"
– Denise Henry, ISBE STARnet, Region IV
"Bring her back!" "WOW!" Best part of presentation? "Carole's enthusiasm, hands-on participation, handouts, CAROLE!"
– Concordia University ECE Conference attendees
"I just wanted to share that I came back from the conference with your two cds and immediately began a 2 times per week 15-minute music session. My students (mostly preschoolers with autism and other high need difficulties) are so excited they now ask to sing the songs we have tried out. Music is the only time I can engage all 10 students without the help of the 2 assistants in my room. This has truely been a blessing for my class and I will be sharing their success with your program with the other preschool teachers in my district."
– Kathy Roustio, Mt Vernon Starnet full-day inservice