Summer 2004 Institute

Erikson Summer 2004 Institute

A Graduate School in Child Development Erikson Today Grand Victoria supports Bridging Erikson public forums invite community learning Fussy Baby Network expands Prism Ball 2004 raises the bar—again encourages them to If you build it… Bridging to become better observers, to slow Thanks to a $250,000 grant from the State of Illinois Capital the suburbs down, to realize Development Board, Erikson is turning dreams into reality. what they can do In September, we added our third cohort of master’s stu- two-year, $100,000 grant for their students dents and a schedule of morning courses, not to mention A from the Grand Victoria and how they can nearly 40 percent more space to accommodate the Foundation is bringing new skills do it. This isn’t a increase—a big first for the institute that started with a and professional development to kit. It’s a tool that Photo by David Schwartz single classroom. The expansion and renovation funded by 50 pre–K and first-grade teachers has meaning the grant included new classrooms, seminar rooms, and in southern Will County’s Special That’s where Grand Victoria because it helps lead to individual faculty offices as well as facilities for Erikson’s first foray Education Cooperative and the stepped in, enabling Mantia to offer answers about individual students.” deLacey Education Center in Kane one of Erikson’s most sought-after “It’s reflective practice at its into direct service with children and families. The Edward County. The grant has enabled the professional course offerings, best,” says Mantia. “Bridging, this Neisser Library and Learning Center, one of the institute’s teachers to take part in a two-year, Bridging, off site. The course, and professional development course, fastest-growing and best-used resources, also got some Erikson-led practicum focused on its namesake assessment tool, helps the grant—it’s all about giving much-needed additional space. improving the education of young teachers gather information about a students and teachers every oppor- So, now that we’ve built it, have they come? In droves. children with learning and behav- child’s cognitive development that tunity to achieve.” Two new faculty have been hired to handle the jump in ioral disabilities and other special might otherwise go unobserved, and For an in-depth look at Bridging, enrollments. Library use has doubled. And dozens of parents needs. The practicum is Erikson’s use that information in their teach- see Erikson Today, Fall 2003, avail- and their hard-to-comfort newborns are dropping in for sup- first to be based in the far south ing. Slots in two cohorts were quick- able online at www.erikson.edu. port and information from the Fussy Baby Network. and northwest suburbs. ly filled, with Erikson tapping one “I spend a lot of time talking to of its own, Peg Callaghan, M.S. ’73, teachers, and I hear the same thing former director of special education over and over,” says Deborah at Oakton Community College, Words to live by that sometimes are not “Did You Feed My Mantia, director of professional to take on the role of lead teacher. Erikson welcomed its immediately apparent.” Cow?” before family and development at Erikson. “They’re By all accounts, the experience 37th graduating class Grammy Award win- friends at Chicago’s eager to take advantage of thus far has been well worth the with a guest speaker rich ner Ella Jenkins, who Harold Washington Erikson’s course offerings. They effort. “Enriching,” “helpful,” with knowledge and along with Gandini was Library Center. want to bring their best to the “surprising,” “essential,” and experience in early child- awarded an classroom, and that means staying “creative” are just a few of the hood education. honorary doc- connected to learning themselves. one-word summaries the teachers Lella Gandini, whose torate at the They need to develop themselves as themselves use to describe their work in Reggio Emilia, ceremony, led professionals and develop real pro- experience as participants. Italy, has inspired early the class of fessional relationships with their “The teachers are really coming childhood teachers world- 2004, includ- peers. You just can’t do that in the to value Bridging,” says Callaghan, wide, reminded students ing 44 masters odd half-day inservice. But a who keeps in regular contact that by “looking, observ- and 2 newly two-hour commute to Erikson at with Professor Gillian McNamee, ing, and listening to chil- minted Ph.D.s,

the end of your teaching day isn’t who codeveloped the assessment dren” they would “see in a rousing Photo by Oscar Moresi always feasible.” with Professor Jie-Qi Chen. “It richness and potential rendition of Professor Barbara Bowman, Ella Jenkins, D.H.L., and board chair Susan Wislow celebrate in the wintergarden. Network adds new Chen awarded second Fulbright grant In April 2002, associate professor Jie-Qi Chen lecture for a month in Hong Kong and mainland members was awarded a Fulbright Senior Specialists China this summer. rikson Institute’s Fussy At the hospital’s invitation, Grant. The senior specialists pro- While abroad, Chen will be based at the EBaby Network contin- specialists from the net- gram was created to complement Hong Kong Baptist University Center for Child ues to grow, expanding its work are leading two par- presence through a new ent groups at Prentice, one the traditional Fulbright Scholar Development. “Educators in China are very partnership with Prentice for those whose infants program by giving leading U.S. hungry for new ideas,” Chen says, “but it is not Women’s Hospital, part of are in the neonatal inten- academics the opportunity to always clear to them what is appropriate or Northwestern Memorial sive care unit. All families Hospital in downtown at Prentice learn about support culture exchanges and applicable on Chinese soil. I will try to engage Chicago. Prentice joined the regular services the faculty development abroad. in a dialogue with Chinese educators and bring network offers; the hospi- Chen’s first grant took her to Taiwan in 2002. them an insider’s point of view on Western tal has already referred She will use the second to travel, teach, and early childhood education.” three families for the services. “The partnership with Prentice is Halpern in print approach to nurturing literacy has Winning ways a great way to Professor Robert Halpern’s paper, to be different—in some ways fun- Erikson master’s student Mildred reach more fami- Supporting the Literacy damentally different—from that Ebietomiye was one of five winners the network in 2003. The lies,” Gilkerson says. Development of Low-Income found in most urban schools,” of this year’s Kohl McCormick Early network, which provides “We want to be there for Children in Afterschool Programs, Halpern writes. Childhood Teaching Awards. She resources to parents whoever needs us.” has been published by the Robert The paper is available online at works at the Ounce of Prevention’s whose infant experiences The network also Bowne www.robertbownefoundation.org. Educare Center, where she has sleeping, feeding, and received a one-year, Foundation. implemented a care model that temperament issues dur- $45,500 grant from the Halpern, one Hail and farewell allows infants to remain with the ing the first year of life, Michael Reese Health of the best Samuel J. Meisels’s three-year same caregivers until the age of already includes LaRabida, Trust to work with known tenure as president of Zero to three. This allows the children time University of Chicago, and Healthy Families Illinois, a scholars in Three’s Board of Trustees ended in to develop secure attachments, Michael Reese Hospitals. program within the Illinois the field, December. At a Washington cere- essential for emotional and cogni- “Prentice wanted to be Department of Human draws on mony in his honor, Erikson’s presi- tive development. able to do more for fami- Services that works to pre- research he conducted during a dent stepped down from the top lies, for teen parents, and vent child abuse. Fussy national study of literacy practices spot. He remains an active member Not far from the tree for other challenging cases Baby Network will help in programs for school-aged chil- of the board. “Other than my work One of this year’s Golden Apple not eligible for [state-sup- Healthy Families apply the dren. Such research is increasingly at Erikson, there’s nothing I spend awards went to Oak Park River ported] early intervention resources and expertise of important. more time on professionally or gain Forest High School physics teacher services,” Erikson profes- the network to children “I argue that afterschool pro- more professional gratification Aaron Podolner. He’s the son of sor Linda Gilkerson says. and families in need. grams’ philosophy, purpose, and from than Zero to Three,” he said. Erikson alumni Mark Podolner, M.S. ’76, and Marion Sirefman, M.S. ’76. Alumni spotlight Parents welcomes Stott child development specialist, The masthead of the June edition of presented Life with Your Toddler: Angela Searcy, M.S. ’01 Access and Equity Project. She trains Parents magazine features a familiar Development, Growth, and administrators and early childhood An adjunct professor of early child- name. Dean and clinical psychologist Challenge. Both discussions were professionals on the importance of hood at Prairie State College in Fran Stott has part of Erikson’s “at home” series of inclusion. Chicago Heights, Angela Searcy been appoint- presentations hosted by community “In the last six months I have knows how to keep busy. In addition ed to Parents’s members in their homes. learned how to administer numerous to teaching, she is a therapist and board of Erikson’s public lecture series con- neuropsychological, memory, and education consultant with the advisers. In tinues on October 4 with Drs. Perri learning and achievement tests,” Neuropsychology Diagnostic Center that capacity, Klass and Eileen Costello, whose Searcy says. “I have also learned how in Orland Park, where she serves she’ll consult latest book, Quirky to relay this information to teachers children from birth through age 18. with editors Kids: Understanding and school administrators through Neuropsychology testing is a means and writers as they develop articles, and Helping Your educational reports and conferences, of evaluating the major functions of a task Stott, now in her 25th year of Child Who Doesn’t as well as provide treatment to all development: attention, perception, teaching, has had some preparation Fit In—When to ages of children. It has been an amaz- memory, speech and language, mood, for. And our sympathies to that first Worry and When ing process, one I could not have and motor abilities. Searcy also was writer, pressing for a definitive Not to Worry, has accomplished without an Erikson named by the Illinois State Board of answer where there is none, who been featured in point of view.” Education as a master trainer in its hears, “It depends.” the New York Times and Parents magazine and Expert advice praised by the likes of T. Berry Wonder why toddlers are shy with Brazelton and Harvard Medical NAEYC salutes five the babysitter one day and ready to School’s Margaret L. Bauman. If you Erikson cofounder, professor, and trustee Barbara T. Bowman was one of only wander off with a stranger the next? miss the opportunity to hear Klass, a Having trouble connecting to a practicing pediatrician and assistant five people—all connected to Erikson—honored in November at the National grandchild? Have a little one who professor of pediatrics at Boston Association for the Education of Young Children annual conference held in just doesn’t fit in? University School of Medicine, and Three Erikson events—two in Costello, a primary care pediatrician Chicago. “Honoring Chicago’s Contributions to Early Childhood Education” June and one in October—are pro- at Boston University, at the State paid tribute to Bowman, Erikson life trustee Bernice Weissbourd, Erikson viding Chicago-area parents and Street studios of ABC-7 in the morn- grandparents with the answers. ing, plan on joining us at North alumni Judy Bertacchi, M.S. ’71, and Carol Brunson Day, M.S. ’69, and On June 16, Erikson founder and Central College in Naperville that Judith Musick, an educator who over the years has delivered lectures to hun- professor Barbara T. Bowman pre- evening. For more information on all sented LUVU: Connecting with events, contact Jenifer Vargo, direc- dreds of Erikson students. Grandchildren, a discussion on the tor of development, at This year’s annual conference showcased Erikson faculty as well. President role a grandparent plays in children’s 312.893.7114. lives. On June 29, Erikson professor Samuel J. Meisels and faculty members Bowman, Jie-Qi Chen, Linda and infant/toddler expert Linda Gilkerson, Jon Korfmacher, Gillian McNamee, and Aisha Ray led a total Gilkerson, along with Karen Benson, M.S. ’74, Fussy Baby Network of 13 presentations. Former adjunct professor Marsha Hawley, M.S. ’89, and assistant clinical professor Patty Horsch, M.S. ’86, Ph.D. ’99, also contributed. Success and celebration Nonprofit Organization Erikson U.S. Postage A breath of magic and good will filled the Museum of P AID Science and Industry at Prism Ball 2004, as more than Erikson Institute Permit No. 2963 600 guests turned out to dine, dance, and bid. 420 North Wabash Avenue Chicago, Illinois

Dressed to the nines and surrounded by the muse- 1 Chicago, Illinois 60611-5627 um’s captivating exhibits, gala attendees celebrated Tel: (312) 755-2250 their way through an evening that raised more than Fax: (312) 755-0928 $700,000 to support Erikson’s academic and research Email: [email protected] programs, then danced the night away in the rotunda www.erikson.edu to the sounds of Gentlemen of Leisure. Supported by spirited fashion, elegant ice sculptures, and the chance to bid on a cutting-edge Lexus hybrid, the RX400h, Prism Ball showed why it remains a benchmark for Chicago’s spring 2 gala season. The highlight of the evening 1. Board chair Susan Wislow with Michelle was the presentation of the Spirit Obama, director of community affairs at the of Erikson Institute award to University of Chicago Hospitals, and president Samuel J. Meisels. Harrison Steans, whose sustained 2. Trustee Virginia Bobins, center, who served efforts and contributions are help- on the gala’s sponsorship and silent auction ing to revive Chicago’s North committees, with trustee Richard Kiphart and 3 Lawndale community. He was pre- his wife, Susan, an Erikson alum. sented the award by the gala cochairs—his daughter, 3. 2004 Spirit of Erikson Institute award Heather Steans, and Kate Neisser. winner Harrison Steans chats with 2003 winner Michael Krasny. “Dad passionately believes that by demonstrating a 4. President Samuel J. Meisels joins trustees long-term commitment, developing trusting relation- and gala cochairs Heather Steans and Kate ships, and making connections,” Heather Steans said, Neisser, and Harrison Steans. “we can help to empower the people and organizations 5. Trustee and gala master of ceremonies in the neighborhood.” Kathy Brock with Harrison Steans.

45 On the cover Regan Kelly, ’02, and Rebecca Paulson, ’04, help children and families cope with illness and hospitalization at University of Chicago Children’s Hospital. Photo by Kathy Richland.

Erikson Today is published for the donors, alumni, and friends of Erikson Institute. Comments and suggestions, as well as changes of address, may be mailed to the Department of Institutional Advancement , Erikson Institute, 420 North Wabash Avenue, Chicago, Illinois 60611. Contributing writers: Emily Hilligoss, Pat Nedeau, David Schwartz; Editors: Pat Nedeau, David Schwartz; Design: Sorensen London Design; Photography: Oscar Moresi, Kathy Richland, Eileen Ryan, David Schwartz.