Education Speaker Series The Power of Play: The Impact of Play and Creativity on Education

Hosted by the West Los Angeles College Child Development Department

In Collaboration with the Creativity PL Hub

Open to West Faculty, Staff, and Students

Tuesday, October 16th, 1-2:30 pm, GC 110

Maja Watkins: “Zip Zap Zop: Improvisation Games to Engage and Empower”

Session Description: This workshop will be an interactive experience allowing the providers to explore connection activities which are the improv games that work on self-awareness, social awareness, responsible decision making, relationship skills, and self-management. Zip Zap Zop takes improvisation to the next level creating opportunities to collaborate and practice social skills in an engaging and innovative way. This workshop will get you thinking on your feet, experiencing a unique approach to working with individuals, give you hands-on tools, and of course let you laugh and play!

October 16 @ 1 pm | “Zip Zap Zop: Improvisation Games to Engage and Empower”

October 23 @ 1 pm | “Young Storytellers: To Play or Not to Play? That is the Question”

October 26 @ 2 pm | “Effective Communication Techniques: Fostering Cohesiveness and Creating “The Fun” in the Classroom”

October 30 @ 1 pm | “Teach, Play, and Inspire with Discovery Toys’”

November 1 @ 1 pm | “Play and Creativity in Reggio Emilia-Inspired Schools”

November 6 @ 1 pm | “Playworks: Transformation Through Play”

Bio: Maja Watkins, Founder of Zip Zap Zop Enrichment

Maja has worked with children on many levels. Having a brother on the autism spectrum has given Maja an understanding of how powerful communication is for ALL people. Maja’s education includes a B.A. in Child Development and she is also a graduate of The Second City where she studied improv and sketch comedy. Maja has worked for years as a teacher and behaviorist where she practiced an emergent curriculum. Maja’s focus is on inclusive classrooms where the curriculum is designed to allow children and young adults to reach their highest potential in whichever way they feel most comfortable. Maja has recently partnered up with TiaMarie Harrison, a college professor, in writing the upcoming book "The Brain's Playground: Using Improv Games To Teach Social Emotional Learning (SEL)."

Tuesday, October 23rd, 1-2:30 pm, GC 110

Curtis Baxter: “Young Storytellers: To Play or Not to Play? That is the Question!”

Session Description: In this session, participants will learn how to strengthen educational engagement with students by modeling practical strategies accompanied by the timeless technique of play. The presentation will include tips for working with different kinds of learners, the role we play as adults, and interactive games guaranteed to win over any child in the classroom!

Bio: Curtis first volunteered with Young Storytellers in 2014 as part of the flagship College Chapter program at UCLA. He fell in love with the organization after witnessing first-hand the positive impact the program has on our youth.

He’s a two-time graduate of UCLA (Bachelors/African American Studies and MFA/Film). After his MFA, Curtis became more involved with Young Storytellers having taught several master classes, served as Movie Maker head mentor at Palms Middle School, and as a POV head mentor at Hamilton High School.  Since then, Curtis has become a full-time staff member and continues to volunteer as both a mentor and actor as much as he can. In addition to his passion for the arts, Curtis believes in education and continues to volunteer for Communities in Schools as a college essay mentor.

As a writer, he’s written for the Pretty Little Liar’s mobile gaming app. As an actor, he has been in several commercials, had a few television appearances, and created his own web-series. He loves traveling the world, learning about other cultures, and eating all the food.

Friday, October 26th, 2-3:30 pm, GC 110

Kalonji Saterfield: “Effective Communication Techniques: Fostering Cohesiveness and Creating

“The Fun” in the Classroom” Session Description: This workshop will provide attendees with communication strategies used in creating a sense of community in the classroom. Through an interactive format, learn methods for establishing and enhancing student-student and student-teacher relationships in a manner that makes class time both educational and entertaining for students AND teachers!

Bio: Kalonji Saterfield began working for the Rancho Santiago Community College District in 2004 as a staff employee. He became a part-time instructor for the district in 2008 and since that time has taught for both Santiago Canyon College and Santa Ana College. In the fall of 2016, Professor Saterfield became a full-time professor at Santa Ana College and teaches transfer-level coursework that include: Interpersonal Communication, Public Speaking, and Intercultural Communication.

Additionally, through his work with school districts and community-based organizations, Kalonji spends time as a workshop facilitator and motivational speaker. His message is aimed at raising awareness about the amazing opportunities available through higher education and informing his audience about the power of communication towards obtaining success. Mr. Saterfield earned his Master’s Degree from CSU Fullerton in Mass Communications and an undergraduate degree in Organizational Communication from CSU Stanislaus.

Tuesday, October 30th, 1-2:30 pm, GC 110

Eileen Orth: “Teach, Play, and Inspire with Discovery Toys”

Session Description: Sadly, children are playing less than previous generations.  Open play time is being cut from schools, replaced with screen time and usurped by organized sports. This Crisis in Play has resulted in an increased rate of mental illness, a reduction in creative thinking and poor social skills in our children.

Join Eileen as she introduces Discovery Toys' award winning educational resources and gives you the opportunity to create ways to use these toys with the children you teach.  Together,  let's learn how we can change the world one child at a time.

Bio: Eileen Orth is an Independent Educational Team Manager with Discovery Toys.  We believe play is essential for children's healthy development and learning.  Children use play to try out new ideas, actively construct knowledge, learn new skills, and grow socially and emotionally. Through creative play, a child lays the foundation for later academic learning.

Thursday, November 1st, 1-2:30pm, GC 110

Roleen Heimann: “Play and Creativity in Reggio Emilia-Inspired Schools”

Session Description: What does Play and Creativity look like in schools inspired by the Reggio approach to Education?Loris Malaguzzi, founder of Reggio Emilia’s educational philosophy, based his very first explorations and experiences with children on play with a

purpose and said very clearly that nothing in the school should happen without joy.  This session will explore how the preschools in Reggio Emilia, Italy, have inspired us to think differently about our role as teachers in the ECE classroom and what it means to shift our practices and engage more authentically and creatively with children in a playful environment.

Bio: Roleen Heimann has a Masters in Human Development from Pacific Oaks College and has been teaching ECE classes at Santa Monica College since 1998.  She is the co-founder and co-director of The New School West Preschool established in 1987 in the Mar Vista area of Los Angeles.  As a California Director Mentor, she is passionate about building relationships to create and support connections with teachers, children, parents, and community and consults with families, schools, and businesses.  

Tuesday, November 6th, 1-2:30 pm, GC 110

Roderick Burnley: “Playworks: Transformation Through Play”

Session Description: Power of Play Speaker Series participants will develop an understanding of the barriers to play, how to overcome these barriers, and utilizing play to transform the learning environment. Understanding that students are more receptive to learning when they feel physically and emotionally safe, providing inclusive environments where positive behaviors are modeled by teachers, staff and fellow students empower early learners to be actively engaged in the education process. Through selected activities, participants will experience group management and facilitation techniques to achieve social and emotional learning objectives.

Bio: Roderick Burnley is the Regional Operations Manager for Playworks Southern California and manages operational and capacity building functions to scale Playworks’ community impact. He has 20+ years of community development experience and, before joining Playworks, administered programs promoting healthier communities. Roderick served as a Los Angeles Fellow for Jumpstart for Young Children and is currently a member of the Los Angeles Generation to Generation Steering Committee - a campaign to mobilize adults over 50 to help young people thrive and create a better future.

For additional information, contact Marini Hamilton Smith, Ed.D. | (310) 287- 4353