Conferences & Institutes

Teaching Kindergarten Conference: Where Did the Garden Go?

2023: Thinking, Exploring & Rebuilding Together

Online
Friday, March 3 from 5:30 PM – 8:30 PM ET
Saturday, March 4 from 10:30 AM – 3:30 PM ET

Find your spark and collaborate with a community of educators focused on kindergarten! Think together about how children learn. Explore how to create a rich curriculum that reflects the interests of the children, meets academic expectations, and plants the seeds of social justice. Rebuild your practice with tools and resources that will inspire you and remind you why you do this work and that it’s worth it!

“There is nothing like seeing children’s eyes spark when they make new connections and discover something for themselves.” — M. Martinez, kindergarten teacher in an urban public school

“Kindergarteners are the best of humanity! They keep me hopeful about the future of our world.”— M. Walker, kindergarten teacher in a rural public school

Join Our Mailing List

* indicates required
Children's drawing

2023 Keynote Speakers

  • The Art and Craft of Teaching Kindergarten: “Neuro-sculpturing” with Play | Catherine Steiner-Adair
  • Sparking Joy: Dance & Music in the Kindergarten Classroom | Emily Meisner
  • Centering Freedom Through Play: Free to Develop, Free to Learn, Free to Teach | Dr. Denisha Jones
  • Inventing Stories & Connecting with Young Children: An Author’s Perspective | Matt de la Peña

Deborah Meier

2023 Honoree

Deborah Meier
Deborah Meier is a highly acclaimed leader of school reform and the small schools movement in American education. A prolific author, speaker, and advocate for the educational needs of teachers, families, and children, her work supports democratic values and emphasizes the power of building strong school communities. Recognized for her visionary work, Meier received the MacArthur Fellow “genius” Award in 1987, as well as honorary degrees from many universities. She began her career as a Kindergarten teacher and has always been a proponent of project-based learning. We are proud to have her join us as this year’s Honoree.

Conference Founders

Betsy Grob is an early childhood specialist who served on the faculty of Bank Street College for over 20 years. She currently advises students in the Graduate Program in Early Childhood Education at City College and at City College’s Center for Worker Education, both in New York City. In addition, Grob facilitates professional development for early childhood educators in the New York metropolitan area as well as in many countries around the world including Sierra Leone, Chile, Romania, Mongolia, and Azerbaijan. She has taught kindergarten, first grade, and early childhood Spanish in New York City and Colorado. Grob is co-author of Teaching Kindergarten: Learner-Centered Classrooms for the 21st Century (Teachers College Press, 2015) and is co-author of The Right to Learn: Preparing Early Childhood Teachers to Work in High-Needs Schools (Bank Street College’s Occasional Paper Series, Number 25, 2010). She holds an MS in and an EdM in education, both from Bank Street College.

 

Fretta Reitzes

Fretta Reitzes has been a classroom teacher, educational therapist, teaching artist, parent educator, and author. During her thirty-five year tenure at the 92nd Street Y, she was the founder and director of the annual Wonderplay Conference, director of the Y’s Goldman Center for Youth & Family, and director of the Parenting Center. Presently, she consults with early childhood teachers, administrators, and school leadership. In 2016, Reitzes developed On-Kindness, a project that provides tools and perspectives about creating a culture of kindness and presents lectures/ workshops at schools, universities and community centers. She is adjunct faculty at City College’s Center for Worker Education in New York City. Reitzes is co-author of Teaching Kindergarten: Learner-Centered Classrooms for the 21st Century (Teachers College Press, 2015); WonderPlay, and WonderPlay Too! (Running Press, 1995 and 2005), and The Right to Learn: Preparing Early Childhood Teachers to Work in High-Needs Schools (Bank Street College’s Occasional Paper Series, Number 25, 2010). She holds an MSEd in Early Childhood Education from Bank Street College.

Conference Sponsor

Community Playthings logoWe wish to thank Community Playthings for their support.

Testimonial
This conference fuels, informs, and inspires me. Thank you.
Teaching Kindergarten Conference 2022 Attendee
Testimonial
Loved the conference—simple to attend, such practical information, and a ton of resources that were shared. Thank you!
Teaching Kindergarten Conference 2021 Attendee
Testimonial
This conference was inspiring, thought provoking, and full of content that I will use with the children.
Teaching Kindergarten Conference 2021 Attendee
Testimonial
We always look forward to attending this conference series! Thank you so much for your time and energy! It was wonderful!
Teaching Kindergarten Conference 2022 Attendee