SDE's I Teach K! Conference Welcomes Popular Speakers Marc Brown and Dr. Jean

PETERBOROUGH, N.H., April 9, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Staff Development for Educators (SDE), one of the nation's leading providers of professional development for K-12 educators, is pleased to announce its line-up of expert presenters at the I Teach K! National Conference for Kindergarten Teachers, taking place July 7-10, 2014 in Las Vegas.

Kicking off the conference will be inspiring keynote speaker Marc Brown who is the best-selling author and illustrator and executive producer of ARTHUR on PBS. In his session entitled "We All Have Stories to Tell", he will take attendees through the history of his adventures with the beloved aardvark, Arthur. He will share how this cherished children's character came to be, how he got published, and where he gets his inspiration. He also will remind the audience of the importance of literacy in children's lives while he reinforces the connection between literacy and great children's books. Brown will be on hand to sign copies of beloved books he has authored.

"The new Common Core standards mean tougher literacy demands on kindergarten students. And teachers are wondering how they can meet them in an atmosphere that is fun and developmentally appropriate. Marc fills his session with wonderful ideas for making great children's books a staple in your literacy instruction," says Kymra Kurinskas, who planned and programmed the event.

Best-selling author and teacher favorite Dr. Jean Feldman will lead an immersive, full-day learning experience on July 10 entitled Camp Common Core.  "Campers" who attend will learn how to tackle the Common Core State Standards through music, movement, interaction, and make & takes. Due to limited space, educators are encouraged to register for Camp Common Core early.

Dr. Jean will help kindergarten teachers address the new K-12 Common Core State Standards and how to align their instruction with rigorous new demands. "Many educators feel anxious about the new standards and the significant changes in classroom teaching and learning. Camp Common Core helps kindergarten teachers identify new tools, confidently teach to the standards, and make the CCSS fun," says Kurinskas.     

Dr. Jean will share fun and kid-friendly games that provide purposeful practice, non-worksheet strategies, open-ended activities for all skill levels, and more. "She'll send each attendee home with a complete toolkit of creative ideas to use in their classrooms right away, from engaging brain breaks to questioning strategies," explains Kurinskas.  

A former elementary classroom teacher, Dr. Jean's career spans over 40 years. Today she is a nationally known consultant author, and singer who inspires teachers with her many books and lively CDs.

"The opportunity to spend a full day with the beloved Dr. Jean is a huge draw. She is an inspiration to kindergarten teachers everywhere. She makes teaching and learning so much more fun, thanks to her upbeat and creative reading and math strategies. Don't expect a boring lecture. Dr. Jean is very high energy. She will have attendees moving and learning, and enjoying every minute of it," declares Kurinskas.  

Brown and Dr. Jean headline a distinguished team of 40+ classroom experts presenting at the 2014 I Teach K! conference. They are the most respected educational leaders—seasoned classroom teachers, renowned speakers, and award-winning authors. "You can't find educational presenters who are better qualified to show kindergarten teachers how to energize their teaching through new, effective strategies. And every one of them is passionate about preparing children during this crucial year to be successful in school—and in life."

Now in its 14^th year, the increasingly popular professional development event offers kindergarten teachers practical and ready-to-use strategies, techniques, tips, and ideas for becoming more effective educators—all in an environment that is upbeat, fun, and full of excitement. All sessions are designed to meet the biggest challenges teachers experience in the kindergarten classroom, including fitting it all in, emergent writing, behavior and classroom management, sight words, guided reading, and more. The 2014 program features not only academic, but emotional, social, cognitive, and physical development topics to meet every need for developmentally appropriate education.

About SDE

SDE is one of America's leading providers of professional development for PreK through Grade 12 educators. Through Onsite PD, PD Events, Web-based PD, and PD Resources, the company empowers teachers and administrators across the country with ongoing professional development that is not only research-based, innovative, and rigorous, but also practical, motivating, and fun. All SDE training is presented by the nation's top authors and educational experts, with the goal of creating extraordinary classrooms that prepare students for the evolving demands of the 21st century.

For more information about SDE, educators are encouraged to visit www.sde.com, or to call 1-800-462-1478.

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SOURCE Staff Development for Educators