FUNdamentals of Early Childhood Literacy

Date: Friday, October 16, 2026

Time: 8:30 am - 4:00 pm

Location: Hanahau'oli School Professional Development Center, located at 1922 Makiki Street, Honolulu, HI 96822

Cost: $200 per participant

This workshop is designed for early childhood educators working with students from birth to age six, who are interested in exploring some fundamentals of “early literacy.” This will include both theory and examples of strategies in practice. More specifically, the facilitators will focus on two progressive education approaches to phonological and phonemic awareness. Phonological awareness is the broad ability to recognize and manipulate the sound structure of spoken language, including words, syllables, and rhymes. Phonemic awareness relates to a specific, more advanced subset of this skill, focusing only on manipulating individual sounds (phonemes) within words.

The facilitators will draw from their progressive education and Montessori backgrounds to demonstrate a number of approaches to language and literacy for young learners, as well as methods for building phonological awareness through games and hands-on activities. Participants will get to see samples of student work and video recordings of the practices in action, then will engage in some of the strategies during their time in the workshop. This workshop is ideal for not only early childhood teachers, but also curriculum and reading specialists as well.

WORKSHOP OBJECTIVES

Participants will be able to:

understand the basics of early literacy,
understand strategies to reach all learners relating to phonics and reading, and
easily incorporate new methods to better support all students.

WORKSHOP AGENDA

8:30-9:00 Introduction and Ice Breaker
9:00-9:20 What is Early Literacy?
9:20-10:00 What Happens First?
10:00-10:10 Break
10:10-10:30 Circle Time
10:30-12:00 Infants and Toddler Language Development
12:00- 12:45 Lunch
12:45- 2:45 Preschool and Pre-Writing/Pre-Reading
2:45-3:45 Kindergarten and 1st Grade
3:45-4:00 Reflection

ABOUT THE FACILITATORS

Pamela Strode has been the Owner and Director of Strode Montessori for the past 15 years, serving children ages 0–6. She also serves as an adjunct professor and age-level coordinator for the Montessori Certificate Program at Chaminade University. Pamela holds a Master’s in Education, Curriculum Studies from the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa. She is Montessori credentialed through the American Montessori Society (AMS) in Infant & Toddler and Teacher Education and is a regular presenter at The Montessori Event, AMS’s national conference.

Carla Matsui holds a Master's degree from the University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa in Education and Teaching, along with credentials in Early Childhood Education from Chaminade University. She has previously taught at KCAA Preschools and in the Hawaii Department of Education, and is now in her fourteenth year as a Kukunaokala (multiage grades K-1) teacher at Hanahau’oli School, a JK-6th grade progressive school in Honolulu, Hawai‘i. Carla is dedicated to supporting the growth of her colleagues and peers in education through the mentorship of undergraduate teacher candidates and the facilitation of professional development workshops. Carla has presented at numerous education conferences, including Schools of the Future and the Progressive Education Network National Conference.

Mollie Taylor is a Junior Kindergarten Teacher at Hanahau'oli School. She holds a Master's degree from the University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa in Curriculum Studies for Pre-K through grade 3. She also holds a Bachelor's degree in Early Childhood and Elementary Education. Mollie attended Hanahau'oli School as a child and enjoys the full-circle process of continuing her learning there now, where she teaches, inspires, and continues to discover with Hanahau‘oli’s youngest learners. Mollie is a co-facilitator of the Hanahau‘oli School Professional Development Center’s annual Natural Scientists: Children in Charge workshop, contributes to the Progressive Philosophy & Pedagogy: A Blog For Progressive Educators, and has provided professional presentations at Schools of the Future. In the summer, Mollie is the director of KAʻI Keiki, which provides early childhood education to children living in Pālolo and is a partnership between ‘Iolani School and Pālolo Homes.

THIS WORKSHOP IS INTENDED FOR

Early Childhood (birth to age 6) Educators, Curriculum Specialists, and Reading Specialists

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