Early Childhood Education Students
Present at Renowned Conference
By Rebekah Fassler, Ed.D
Martha Mancini and Yezebel Manaloto, students
in the Early Childhood Masters Program in the School of Education’s
Department of Curriculum & Instruction, presented in two
different venues at the Annual Conference of the New York State
Association for the Education of Young Children (NYSAEYC) on April 29-30, 2011 in
Rye Brook, New York. NYSAEYC is the State Affiliate of NAEYC,
a major national player in policy, practice and standard-setting
for early childhood education, and in advocacy for young children
and their families. 
Ms. Mancini and Ms. Manaloto’s participation
in a Poster Session and in a Graduate Student Panel Presentation
stemmed from their work on inquiry projects with 3 and 4 year olds
in an Integrated Curriculum course taught by their University
Sponsor, Dr. Rebekah Fassler.
“The Project Approach implemented by students
Mancini and Manaloto in 2009 and 2010 respectively,” explained Dr.
Fassler, “envisions young children as active thinkers and
communicators who are capable of discussing ideas, wondering,
investigating, representing and reflecting on their
experiences.”
The posters documented all of these processes.
The graduate students’ Saturday panel presentation explored
qualities that made Mancini’s 3 year old classroom a hospitable
environment for project implementation both for herself and
Manaloto, who developed her project in Mancini’s class a year
later. Mancini felt that attendance at a conference with such an
amazing array of high quality workshops gave her the opportunity to
“bring back many new ideas” to her colleagues at Our Lady of
Fatima School in Jackson Heights.
Career Change student Manaloto commented that
she has done many presentations as a staff member in Human
Resources, but this opportunity broke the ice for presentations in
her newly chosen field.
“We in the School of Education take special
pride,” Dr. Fassler emphasized, “in providing our graduate students
with hospitable field sites and expanded roles as they explore and
advance in the teaching profession.”
_______________________________________________________________________
Students Seek Solutions to Bullying and
its Consequences
Interactive Mural entitled “Youth Voices: Visions of What Our
Schools Could Look LIke” grew out of conversations between Graduate
teacher education students and youth ages 11-16. Youth were asked
to talk about their views on schooling on a range of issues related
to life in schools.
These youth-generated ideas connect to themes and conversations
of today’s conference Bullying and its consequences: In search of
solutions. As you can see, youth speak about their desire to be a
part of a community where they are known and respected. A place
where bullying, of course, would not exist, and where all children
are accepted and seen as unique and vital members of their
community.
This mural is “interactive” as we hope you will use the arts
materials provided to add your “visions” of what great schools look
like. Feel free to use words, pictures, or symbols of your
“ideal visions of schools.”
We thank you for helping us complete this “interactive” work of
art.