Dr. Lilian Katz

1

• Dr. Lilian Katz

2
Biography

• Born in London, England 1932
• Twin sister Anita, older sister Ellen
• Evacuated to country during World War II
• We were treated with healthy neglect during
  those years.
• Sister Ellen married an American soldier family
  emigrated to USA in 1947
• Lived with Susan Harrison Johnson while attending
  Whittier Academy met future husband Boris Katz
• 3 children, Daniel, Stephen and Miriam
• Returned to Stanford University for Bachelors and
  PhD (there was no Masters program at the time)

3
Impact on Early Childhood Education

• Frequent contributor to the early childhood
  literature
• Talks with Teachers of Young Children (1995)
• Engaging Childrens Minds The Project Approach
  (1989)
• Founded Early Childhood Research Quarterly
  served as editor-in-chief for first 6 years
• Currently chair of the editorial board of the
  International Journal of the Early Years
• Editor of Early Childhood Research Practice
  1st peer-reviewed, internet only, journal in
  early education

4
Impact, continued

• Founded the Illinois Association for the
  Education Of Young Children
• President of NAEYC 1992-1994 Vice-President
  1986-1990
• Has guided the ERIC Clearinghouse of Elementary
  and Early Childhood Education (ERIC/EECE) for
  more than 30 years.
• The Developmental Stages of Teachers
• PROJECT APPROACH

5
The Project Approach

• Teaching strategies that guide students through
  in-depth studies of real-world topics
• Complex but flexible framework
• Teaching and learning is interactive
• May be used with the whole class or in small
  groups
• Students feel highly motivated and actively
  involved in their own learning
• www.projectapproach.com

6
Teacher Stages

• STAGE 1
• Survival Will I make it through the day?
  Until the next school holiday? Can I really do
  this kind of work day after day?
• STAGE 2
• Consolidation Begin to focus on individual
  children
• How can I help a clinging child? How can I
  help a particular child who does not seem to be
  learning
• STAGE 3
• Renewal What are some new approaches to
  helping childrens language development? What
  are some of the new approaches, materials,
  techniques and ideas being developed?

7
Honors

• Include
• 2 Fulbright Awards India and New Zealand
• Honorary Doctor of Letters Degree form Whittier
  College
• Honorary Doctors of Letters Degree from Göteborg
  University in Sweden
• Well known around the world as an early childhood
  leader and role model.

8
What the people say

• Colleagues
• She literally wrote the book on professionalism
  in early childhood education.
• Teachers
• I left that seminar feeling wounded, but
  energized, knowing my teaching would never be the
  same.
• Children A picture speaks 1000 words

9
Resources

• Educating Young Children, Laverne Warner and
  Judith Sower, Pearson Education, Inc. 2005
• Clearinghouse on Early Childhood Education
  http//ceep.uiuc.edu
• Ask Lilian Katz http//illinoisearlylearning.org/
  ask-dr-katz.html
• Project Approach www.projectapproach.org