 Welcome to the 10th ECIS Early Childhood Conference!
The “Changing Landscape in Early Childhood Education” is a hot topic for on-going discussions between many Early Childhood Educators, Administrators and Authors.
International Schools around the world have a variety of administrative expectations that guide teaching and learning program goals within Early Childhood programs. Some focus on standards and performance, others put more emphasis on documentation and data analysis, some prefer either depth or breadth in the subjects taught in Early Childhood education while others give priority to creativity, social interaction and play.
Where do we stand today and how is our teaching affected by these expectations?
In response to requests and suggestions made by Early Childhood Educators, The ECIS Early Childhood Education Committee has invited well known, thought provoking speakers to lead us in discussing and building knowledge around the latest practices in Early Childhood Education.
 Gunilla Dahlberg, the keynote speaker, is a professor, editor and author specialized in Early Childhood Education. She co-wrote ‘Beyond Quality in Early Education’ and co-edited the ‘Contesting Early Childhood’ series of books. She will walk us through the present situation in the field of Early Childhood Education while Ros Bayley will cover daily literacy issues. We will explore with Susan Ross the implementation of the “Café” concept to structure literacy lessons, used in some schools in the United States. Jan White, Roma Chumak-Horbatsch, Marc Levitt, Anne Goudvis and Deanna Margini (a Reggio Children School speaker) will respectively cover outdoor play, English as an Additional Language, third culture kids and behavior, making thinking visible and documentation of work in Early Childhood Education.
Check the biographies about all the above speakers and others who will cover additional subjects of interactive white boards, math, dance and music, speech and language, art, inquiry based teaching, assessment, listening to children, leadership, “Tribes” work and more.
Join other international school early childhood educators on this fun ride of learning and sharing.
Welcome to all! 
Lilly Khairallah
The Chairperson
ECIS, Early Childhood Education Committee
The Security "Non-Issue"
For those of you who are concerned about the political unrest and recent rioting here in Athens, please note the following:
Most of the disturbances have been confined to the central business/government area of the city (Constitution Square and east of the square).
Our conference hotels, are west of Constitution Square; and the historic sites around the Acropolis (including the museum) have been not been the scene of any violent protests. Downtown tourist areas have been unaffected by disturbances.
The conference venue (ACS Athens) is located far from the city center and any potential disturbances and transportation by public transport (metro, buses) as well by taxi or car are not affected by the disturbances. Don't forget that the media tend to exaggerate these events, and that the majority of protesters are peaceful therefore foreigners and tourists have never been at risk.
You can keep abreast of the situation by following the security bulletins from the Embassy of your nationality in Athens, or by visiting the English language newspaper sites, such as Kathimerini English Edition.
As always, please feel free to contact us with any questions you might have. Wishing you an enjoyable and productive stay in our city,
The Organizing Committee
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