An educational consultant and writer based in Columbia, MO, Willy Wood alerts elementary teachers to new technology and methods of enhancing learning. Willy Wood of Columbia, MO, has also served as a coordinator for the 2016 Missouri Early Learning Conference.
Intended for pre-kindergarten through third-grade teachers, the 2016 conference brought in educators to describe innovations in the field. Topics included:
- The use of wordless picture books to improve children’s mental imagery, information processing skills, and vocabulary. The books also enhance capabilities for comprehension, story structures, and sequencing.
- The Male Call workshop examined why males earn an overwhelming majority of failing grades and predominate the number of dropouts. Research shows that boys lag behind girls in reading and writing proficiency. The presenter proposed strategies to engage boys in developing language skills, discovering their favorite books, and encouraging them to write.
- Conferencing methodology comprised another workshop, built around the concept of conferring about books among students and between students and teachers. The presenter discussed ways to stimulate participation in text-based conversations and stretch students’ literacy development.
Intended for pre-kindergarten through third-grade teachers, the 2016 conference brought in educators to describe innovations in the field. Topics included:
- The use of wordless picture books to improve children’s mental imagery, information processing skills, and vocabulary. The books also enhance capabilities for comprehension, story structures, and sequencing.
- The Male Call workshop examined why males earn an overwhelming majority of failing grades and predominate the number of dropouts. Research shows that boys lag behind girls in reading and writing proficiency. The presenter proposed strategies to engage boys in developing language skills, discovering their favorite books, and encouraging them to write.
- Conferencing methodology comprised another workshop, built around the concept of conferring about books among students and between students and teachers. The presenter discussed ways to stimulate participation in text-based conversations and stretch students’ literacy development.