More than 300 Jewish early-childhood educators gathered this month for a conference designed to advance their skills and strengthen their network. “Who is This Child? Teaching Towards Each Learner in our Classroom” was hosted by The Jewish Education Project, in coordination with the Jewish Early Childhood Association, focused on personalized learning in early-childhood education.
“Each child is an individual and learns in their own unique way,” said Dena Klein, CEO of The Jewish Education Project. “The conference’s workshops and experiences help early childhood educators learn how to support each child in their classroom’s needs and interests.”
Dr. Lydia Soifer, a language pathologist with more than 50 years of experience in clinical and private practice, as well as university teaching, delivered the keynote address, “Learning to answer this crucial question, ‘Who is this child?’” Soifer was the founder and director of the Soifer Center for Learning and Child Development, which was the first multidisciplinary private diagnostic and remedial setting established in Westchester County, N.Y.
Other workshops at the conference addressed how to talk to children about death, support families through stressful moments, bring a Jewish lens to more early-childhood education experiences and more.
