The University of Reading is hosting its second Early Years conference on 2 March 2016.

After an extremely successful conference last March, the University of Reading is hosting its second  Early Years conference on 2 March 2016. The Institute of Education is delighted to be presenting this specially designed conference for those working with Early Years children.

TICKETS FOR EYFS CONFERENCE 2016 (see below for full details)

This year’s conference will see us turning our attention to how to build resilience in the adults. We will be focusing on  ensuring they feel confident in all they do. Delegates should go away feeling reinvigorated and refreshed.

The programme will include a keynote speech and six workshops. There will be opportunities to network and browse the market. To tempt you, here is some feedback from last year:

‘The day was thought provoking, inspiring, great resources, friendly teachers’                                 

‘I liked the mixture of keynote speech + workshops, and the opportunity to share ideas and network’                                               

‘The talk was inspiring, the workshops were useful, all great ideas’.

toddler time at The Hub

Focusing on the adult: building resilience and confidence

Institute of Education, University of Reading, London Road campus

Wednesday 2 March 2016 from 9.30am- 3.00pm

PROGRAMME

9.00 Refreshments, networking, workshop sign-up and welcome

9.30 Introduction

9.45 Keynote speech – Focusing on the adult: building resilience and confidence

10.45 Break

11.15 Workshops*

12.30 Lunch with discussion group (bookshop)

1. 30 Workshops* (repeated sessions from morning)

2.45 Evaluation

3.00 End – you are welcome to stay and mingle with other delegates.

*The same six workshops will be offered both morning and afternoon. Delegates will be required to select two workshops at time of booking from the drop-down menu – one for the morning and one for the afternoon. Remember, you can choose the workshops in either order so if your morning choice is full, simply book that workshop in the afternoon instead, and your other choice for the morning. See below for workshop titles, synopses and speaker biographies.

Cost, which includes refreshments and lunch:

£95 if you book and pay on-line by credit/debit card: TICKETS FOR EYFS CONFERENCE 2016

£120 if you require an invoice

education-events@reading.ac.uk

don't you dare, dragon

How to turn your dog into a dinosaur: poignant children’s poem wins prestigious prize

This autumn saw the University of Reading presenting its annual children’s poetry competition in honour of the brilliant educationalist Raymond Wilson (1925-1995), former Emeritus Professor of Education at the University. Sam Hazle, who is on the School Direct Primary programme with the Institute of Education, won the competition with his delightfully tongue in cheek poem; “How to turn your dog into a dinosaur”.

Judged by a discerning panel consisting of primary school children, an academic and a poet, the prize poem closely examines the dog-osaur transition. In a nod to health and safety, the first lines contain this brisk warning:

“This one’s a fun one but you have to get it right
If you don’t follow my instructions you’ll get an awful fright.”

The poem then goes on to explain the dino-evolution:

“Then we’ll need some spikes as all good dinos do
Use ice cream cones and tape them on or you can always use some glue”

The goofy charm and warmth of Sam’s poem was a hit with the distinguished judges. Comments from the younger ones included:

“It is comical.”

“They are like real instructions.”

“It rhymes and almost has a tune.”

“It’s playful, younger children than year 6 might like it too.”

Alongside their primary school collaborators were two other notable judges; Stephanie Sharp, BA Education (English) Course Leader at Reading’s Institute of Education and James Carter, the award-winning children’s poet, guitarist and writer-in-schools.

Stephanie Sharp said: “It is fitting that pupils from a local primary school chose this winning entry from our final selection and the children were thrilled to be working alongside the University as well as a real poet. This is a lively poem which would work very well as a piece of performance poetry. It is important that we celebrate poetry making, so many congratulations Sam.”

Sam’s prize poem is in the Raymond Wilson tradition of education, inclusion and humanity. Wilson was an exceptional educationalist, as well as an inspired editor who introduced new editions of Samuel Taylor Coleridge’s poetry and Jane Austen’s novels. Wilson was also well-known as an intuitive, sensitive critic and a prolific anthologist.

Sam’s prize winning poem:

How to turn your dog into a dinosaur

This one’s a fun one but you have to get it right

If you don’t follow my instructions you’ll get an awful fright

First you need a dog, this part is vital

But I’m sure you guessed that, just look up at the title

Next get some paint, green is what I recommend

It’s a much more dinosaur colour and keeps up with the trend

Find the biggest paintbrush, cover the whole dog in green

Make sure you put a blanket down to keep the carpet clean

Then we’ll need some spikes as all good dinos do

Use ice-cream cones and tape them on or you can always use some glue

Now your dino dog should be starting to transform

You’ll need a roar, so that then your animal can perform

Depending on the dog the growl and roar will vary

But each animal’s noise is so unique, we just need to make it scary

If the roar is too quiet then you need to change this quick

Attach a microphone to its collar and that should do the trick

Now you should have a dogasaurus of your very own

Take him with you everywhere and you’ll never be alone

 

 

dinosaur dog small