Profile photo of Dr. Josh Thompson (he/him)

Dr. Josh Thompson (he/him)

Professor Early Childhood Education

Department of Curriculum & Instruction

Office Location: EdSouth 204

Office Hours: By appointment

Phone: 903-886-5537

Email: josh.thompson@tamuc.edu

Professional Vita



Deeper Learning: Lessons from Early Childhood

We are live.

http://panelpicker.sxsw.com/vote/50688

South by Southwest EDU SXSWedu is one of the hallmarks of the innovative SXSW activities, mostly in Austin, mostly in March http://sxswedu.com/. “SXSWedu fosters innovation in learning by hosting a diverse and energetic community of stakeholders across a variety of backgrounds in education!”

Josh Thompson and Karen Walker submitted a presentation proposal for you to review, DEEPER LEARNING: LESSONS FROM EARLY CHILDHOOD, examining the impact that innovations in early childhood may have to inform and propel changes in schooling in 21st Century classrooms. More information is available here: http://faculty.tamuc.edu/jthompson/delJardin.

The SXSWedu PanelPicker process is designed to promote public interest around the proposed topics.

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Search for us: by name: Deeper Learning: Lessons from Early Childhood; id# 50688; key words early learning, deeper learning, transforming education

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Comment: Let all know what you see and hear and read and think about this presentation proposal, DEEPER LEARNING: LESSONS FROM EARLY CHILDHOOD

Tweet about this: #delJardinSXSW

Keep in touch:

Josh Thompson     214-663-6102     josh.thompson@tamuc.edu

Karen Walker     972-741-9994     kwaltex1@msn.com

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SXSWedu http://panelpicker.sxsw.com/ideas/50688

Format: Core Conversation, One hour, 1-2 presenters A speaker led open conversation with attendees around a particular topic.

Co-Presenter: Karen Walker, with thanks to Mark Reid, Debra Lee, and Tami Morton, all of Texas A&M University-Commerce

Background knowledge required: Deep Understanding

Tags: #earlyLearning, #deeper Learning, #transforming education

Hashtag: #delJardin

Theme: Early Learning

Intended audience: Early Childcare teachers and Directors; Administrators, Infant, Toddler, PK "del Jardin"-2nd Grade; Teachers, Infant, Toddler, PK "del Jardin"-2nd Grade; Professors, Higher Ed; Students, Higher Ed; Non-Profits; Government Agencies

Description

Transformation in education is upon us. Children learning in 21st Century classrooms and schools need innovators and intellectual thought leaders (Sid Richardson Foundation, 2009) to accompany them on their journey of inquiry, not technocrats or test prep. Infusing deeper learning into lessons and activities requires flexible teachers, full of insight into student learning, human development, and the powers of language and literacies to create learners competent to inquire, investigate, and innovate. These characteristics exemplify Early Childhood educators. We've been following the child for more than a century. It makes one wonder: What deeper learning occurs when school innovation takes lessons from Early Childhood?

Three learning objectives

1. Explore child centered principles of early learning (e.g., Montessori, Reggio Emilia, developmentally appropriate practice, family regard, language acquisition, respect for infants)

2. Identify possible terms to rename/reframe Early Learning to better capture the powerful opportunity to transform all of education: introducing the term 'del Jardin' to frame a discussion around eliminating the deficit terms 'PreSchool' or 'PreKindergarten' and replacing them with descriptive terms that signify the power of early learning. The lives and learning of 3 and 4 year olds is not 'Pre' anything, but rich, robust experience in and of itself.

3. Align principles of early learning with robust transformation efforts (e.g., Deeper Learning, Expeditionary Learning, Challenge-based, Character Education)

Resources

YouTube

Vimeo

Slideshare or Slidedeck

Other: http://faculty.tamuc.edu/jthompson/deljardin/

Speakers' Bios

Josh Thompson plays well with others. His life with children and teachers focuses on fun because children learn best with joy. His Oak Cliff classroom of 3-6 year olds included many animals living semi-harmoniously in the same space for 14 years. All four of his children were students there. Now some are teachers themselves.

Good teaching involves asking questions. Josh’s questions about language use led him into academia. He now pursues his questions as Midlothian Field Coordinator for Texas A&M University-Commerce, where he works with Mentors to create engaging environments for Teaching Interns and Residents. He is a trainer, advocate, and organizer. He hosts the annual Bill Martin Jr Symposium at TAMU-Commerce. He was named Advocate of the Year for 2011 by Dallas AEYC and Texas AEYC. He participates with other teachers in MenTeach in exploring why more men don't teach. As Co-Editor of Early Years: Journal of Texas AEYC with David Brown and Vivien Geneser, he manages publication of this state level journal with a circulation of more than 2000 readers. For 2015-2016, he is Co-President with Karen Walker of Dallas AEYC.

His greatest joy comes in celebrating with his wife of 35 years in the lives of their children's families, seven grandchildren under 7 years.

Josh Thompson Hea Sook Thompson

Dr. Thompson has traveled on five continents, and has presented his research on indigenous language acquisition in international academic conferences (Newcastle, Grenoble, Nairobi). An articulate spokesperson for humanistic, child-centered education, he has become an ardent advocate for the transformation of public education for all. A white guy, already in his 60s, Josh lives in a bi-racial household, seeking the best for all.

Karen Walker's experience as an educator includes teaching students from three to sixty-three, with an equally diverse range of abilities and disabilities. Following a brief career in corporate banking, she followed her passion for working with children with special needs and began a career in teaching. She taught in preschools, elementary schools, colleges, and universities. Now, she uses these experiences to share stories with pre-service and in-service teachers; she is committed to teacher training and is a frequent presenter at local, state, and international conferences. In 2014, she was honored as National AEYC Lasting Legacy Scholarship Recipient and Texas AEYC Teacher Educator of the Year. She has served on the Dallas AEYC board since 2011, currently as Co-President. Karen and her husband, Rick, are the proud parents of two teen-age boys, Chris and Charlie.  She is active in her local church and enjoys spending time boating, traveling, and seeking high adventure.

With careers in both finance and education, Karen has experience in fields generally considered male or female influenced. Though sometimes subtle, this capacity to have an effect lead Dr. Walker toward research grounded in critical theories, recognizing that teachers have not been included in policies and instructional practices concerning early reading. A natural risk-taker and curious observer, she has travelled to London, Dubai, and Nairobi. Unlike many parents her age, she encourages her sons to also take risks and experience life to its fullest. Never intentionally putting them in harm's way, she allows her "boys to be boys" in an effort to support healthy self-confidence, happiness, and independence.

Drs. Karen Walker, Kenya Wolf, and Josh Thompson in Kenya, November 2013

Early Childhood Education professors, Dr. Karen Walker, Dr. Kenya Wolf, and Dr. Josh Thompson in Kenya, November 2013

http://faculty.tamuc.edu/jthompson/rece/

http://receinternational.org Reconeptualizing Early Childhood Education

Resources

Sir Kenneth Robinson (2010) Changing Education Paradigms https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zDZFcDGpL4U

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“Although there are plenty of reasons why it serves to prepare children for later academic success, constructive play should be encouraged and supported simply because it lets children do what children do best.”

Community Playthings (2015) The Importance of Constructive Play  www.communityplaythings.com/resources/articles/2015/constructive-play

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The Heckman equation evaluates the economic advantage of investing in early education.

References

Partnership for 21st Century Learning (2009) Framework for 21st Century Learning. Washington, DC: Partnership for 21st Century Learning.

Sid W. Richardson (2009) Delivering a High-Quality Teacher Workforce for Texas: Reconsidering University-Based Teacher Preparation in Texas, Renewing Commitments, and Improving Practice in the Twenty-First Century. Fort Worth, Texas: Sid W. Richardson Foundation.

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