Program: Cabinet of Wonder: The Value of Nursery Rhymes Professional Development
Description: Why should traditional nursery rhymes still be used in early learning classrooms? While these rhymes are sometimes seen as outdated, research shows that these classic texts can be valuable teaching tools for young children. When early childhood educators facilitate thoughtful, structured discussions around them, these rhymes help create engaging and meaningful learning experiences for children.
Learning Objective: In this webinar, we’ll explore how to select historical poems and rhymes that work well in early learning environments, using research-based criteria.
The Value of Nursery Rhymes Presenters:
Dana Suskind, MD, is Founder and Co-Director of the TMW Center for Early Learning + Public Health, Founding Director of the Pediatric Cochlear Implant Program, and Professor of Surgery, Pediatrics, and Public Policy (affiliated) at the University of Chicago.
Over her 40-year career, Natalie Merchant has attained a place among America’s most respected recording artists. She has earned a reputation for being a songwriter of quality and a captivating stage performer. Merchant has also distinguished herself as a social justice and environmental activist through her work with a wide-variety of non-profit organizations, performing countless benefit concerts and creating documentary films and large-scale community arts projects.
Dr. Deborah Bergeron
Best known as Dr. B, she served as director of the Office of Head Start from 2018-21. From 2019-21 she broadened her leadership as director of the Office of Early Childhood Development in the Administration for Children and Families. Known as “Dr. B” to former students and teachers, she spent three decades in pre-K–12 public education as a classroom teacher and school administrator and currently serves as deputy director for Community Engagement and Innovation at NHSA.
