Early Childhood Educators Conference At MCC November 14

McHenry County College will host the 2015 Early Childhood Educators’ Conference from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 14 at the college, located at 8900 U.S. Hwy. 14 in Crystal Lake. Doors open at 7:30 a.m.

This 27^th annual conference is open to early childhood educators, directors and childcare providers from northern Illinois and southern Wisconsin. The keynote speaker is musician and author Jim Gill. Following his morning address, he will present “Inspiring Music Play for the Classroom.”

Gill will lead everyone through more of his unique creations in music play and discuss how they inspire young children not only to move, but to regulate their movements—not only to sing, but to make connections between the words they sing and the printed word.  Participants will bring some inspiration, useful in the morning and afternoon, back to their work with young children.

Gill is a musician and author with unique credentials among children's artists: He is a child development specialist, completing his graduate studies in child development at the Erikson Institute of Chicago with a special emphasis on the study of play. Gill has released six award-winning CDs of music play for young children that are favorites in family rooms, classrooms and playrooms.  Gill also wrote two children's books.  His latest, “A Soup Opera,” is a sing-along opera inspired by concerts that Gill performs with symphony orchestras. The book received an American Library Association award in 2010. 

Over the years, Gill has shared his expertise and ideas on music, play and literacy with organizations such as Head Start, The National Association for the Education of Young Children, The National Association for Family Child Care and the Chicago Symphony Orchestra.

Two breakout sessions are geared to those who work with young children (infants through age eight) and feature topics on classroom management, special needs, and hands-on activities in science, math, art, language, and large motor areas.

Cost is $40 for the general public; $20 for MCC Early Childhood Education students through Nov. 6. After that date, admission is an additional $5. Staff Development certificates are awarded to conference participants. To download a registration form or to register as an exhibitor, visit www.mchenry.edu/childsworld. For more information, call Wendy Yemm at (815) 455-8764 or email conferencecenter@mchenry.edu.