Conference’s workshops (Continued)

APE Discussions

The Sunday morning workshop was reserved for discussions
among parents associations within a same region regarding
various issues of specific interest. Among other items, talks
centred on implementing plans for academic success at the school

Preschool conference
and workshop

By Josyane TESTA, EDUCATOR

BC Francophone preschool teachers have received training on
the educational program! The FPFCB provided 20 hours of
workshop instruction, divided into 6 periods. The training
increased participants’ awareness of the benefits of the
educational program on the child’s overall development. We
developed new planning techniques that will make our task
considerably simpler. Instructor Martin Liberio also suggested
how to implement the pedagogical activities, which the children
love, and offered concrete examples.
Martin Liberio is a young Italo-Quebecker who, in 2001,
developed Le Programme éducatif, un outil créatif (Educational
Program, a Creative Tool) for the Quebec organization, Vision
Enfance et Famille. He travels to preschools (mainly in Quebec)
to observe and advise and develop new ideas for teaching young
children.
During the first workshop session, on Friday evening, he literally
took control of the group, which included some 14 preschool
educators from across the province. This type of session had
never been offered before, especially by a man—a rare being
indeed in the preschool world. And what a man! Martin is not
only driven by the uncompromising passion that he
communicates so well, he is also a magician worthy of David
Copperfield (whom he refers to as his “brother’’), a comic, and
an outstanding leader. He talked to us about his educational
program—a value-centred program that places priority on the
family.
He reminded us of the following basic principles, so vital to an
educator’s effective interaction with parents and students:

¢ every child is a unique human being

¢ children learn through play

¢ the child is the prime mover in his development

¢ achild’s development is a global, comprehensive process

¢ parent-teacher cooperation is vital

level, APE projects and events, and challenges facing the APEs.
For the first time, parents from the preschool parents
associations also met to discuss issues affecting their schools.

Martin led us in role-playing games, for example, the hat game.
He placed a special hat on each teacher’s head and asked us to
make specific movements (swing our hands from left to right or
in a circular motion, jump, etc.) while we walked around the
room. The purpose of the exercise was to “get the energy
flowing” in the room. It was certainly a fun game and the children
will surely love it, too!
During the three Saturday sessions, the instructor gave us some
imaginative ideas for interacting with the children:
¢ in groups of 3, we created “collection boxes,” which we
decorated with some of the trinkets Martin provided;
using a large cardboard die decorated with song titles, the
children throw the die to find out what song to sing;
taking roll call using the children’s photos glued to some
sort of form, for example, a bear, bird, or beetle, depending
upon the name of the preschool;
¢ using “work corners” (with blocks, playhouse, sandbox,
water, arts, etc.) and planning strategies to get the children
to decide which corner to explore.
Martin kept us all laughing with his imitations—the teacher
who is exhausted, frustrated, complaining or mother hen type,
the teacher who rushes around the room, the teachers who is
too “cool” and the all-seeing teacher with eyes in the back of
her head. His antics were all too accurate!
We gathered at the [le-aux-enfants daycare in Vancouver for the
two Sunday sessions. There we rearranged the room, labelling
all of the bookshelves and storage boxes to help the children
find what they need and put things away by themselves. We
took digital photos of all of the toys. Then we reorganized the
classroom to make it more effective for the children.
I am speaking on behalf of all 14 workshop participants when I
say that this was the best FPFCB workshop. Thanks to the
entire team!

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Jufo-Parents