Join the author of Little Big Minds, Marietta McCarty, in Charlottesville in July, to learn more about her approach as she models her teaching style in sharing philosophy with children.
McCarty is the author of national bestseller Little Big Minds: Sharing Philosophy with Kids, Nautilus Award winner, How Philosophy Can Save Your Life: Ten Ideas That Matter Most and, The Philosopher’s Table: How to Start Your Philosophy Dinner Club – Monthly Conversation, Music, and Recipes.
You can take a look at www.mariettamccarty.com.
McCarty’s conviction that child philosophers will grow up to work lovingly for peace is the inspiration for her ongoing work with educators. She has brought philosophy to children in rural, suburban, and city schools in the central Virginia area for over twenty years as well as schools around the country.
A Phi Beta Kappa, Summa Cum Laude graduate in philosophy from Hollins College, she was inducted into the Hollins Athletic Hall of Fame in 1999. She received her Master’s in Philosophy from the University of Virginia.
Her teaching rings with laughter and enthusiasm.
Dates & Topics:
o Monday & Tuesday, July 7th & 8th: Friendship, Justice, Death, Nature, Love
o Wednesday & Thursday, July 9th & 10th: Happiness, Courage, God, Compassion, Freedom
Each day’s activities begin at 9am and end at 4:30pm. To best benefit, a 2-day combination is highly recommended but we accept applications for a one-day workshop.
Who should attend the workshops?
– Any and all teachers – Responsive Classroom Practitioners
– Parents – Counselors
– Superintendents – School Board Members
– Club Sponsors – Members of non-profit agencies
– Heads of School – Librarians / Media Specialists
– Educators in Alternative Settings
Why attend?
– Create a dynamic learning environment for children and adults, imparting a service learning ethic.
– Invigorate adult wonder and reflection.
– Give children tools for fully appreciating the meaning and power of kindness.
– Weave literature, art, poetry, and music into philosophical discussions
– Enrich each child’s unique humanity to its fullest extent.
– Develop critical thinking skills about essential questions.
– Nurture a willingness to listen and a hunger for respectful conversation.
– Expose the bullying mentality in its many forms and instill the desire and ability to end it.
Registration Details:
– You will be sent a confirmation email within 48 hours of receipt of your application.
– A brief itinerary for the days you have chosen will be sent as well.
– Lunch will be provided as well as your very own philosophy journal.
– The workshop will be held in the Forest Lakes South Community, a convenient setting on the outskirts of Charlottesville
For further information, details, or questions, please visit www.littlebigminds.com and click on the “contact us” link, or send an email to [email protected].
Enthusiasm for the Book and Workshops
“I loved the opportunity with the Little Big Minds conference to set aside time to talk about empowering children to have their own thoughts and to ask questions. As teachers we are developing clear thinking skills when we reflect with children about these big ideas. I have found giving children time to be quiet and to develop a mindfulness practice gives them an early life skill to clear their head and be calm and peaceful. Children are then able to give their best efforts in the school day and start at an early age to listen and be quiet inside. Little Big Minds works hand in hand with this concept, giving children time to think and explore big ideas through conversation, art, literature, poetry and music. I was inspired and energized by this experience with Marietta McCarty and found myself as a teacher recommitting myself to give quality time first thing in the day to explore themes in Little Big Minds like time, responsibility, humanity and prejudice. As a person, I promised myself that I would take more time to listen and be quiet in my daily life.”
– Trish Callard: Teacher, Writing Coach, Seeker. Washington, D.C.
“A breath of fresh air…Marietta McCarty has come up with what I would like to have had as I was raising my own children—an approach to understanding them and being able to communicate with them about things that really, really matter.” – Diane Rehm, NPR’s The Diane Rehm Show
“Attending one of the summer workshops presented by Marietta McCarty is a time to re-center. You will be inspired to look into your heart and mind to examine and re-examine your beliefs on topics that are important to us as parents, educators, and a member of the human race.
“You have the time to reflect on how you can make your life better but also the lives of the children you touch. Whether a parent, classroom teacher or a person who likes to be inspired to be the best person you can be, even one day is well worth the time to enhance your life.
“Educators will leave with a resource to touch all your work with the students. Learning how to address topics such as prejudice, justice, death with your students gives you avenues to connect with the literature, history, art, and music you already teach by providing lesson plans to help you integrate your curriculum. The more our children can experience being curious, asking questions, discussing their thoughts and beliefs, the more we have empowered and enriched them to be able to deal better with what they may experience throughout their lives.”
– Susan Johnson, Instructional Coach with Albemarle County Public Schools, Virginia.
“As a teacher at a therapeutic wilderness school for girls, I have been blessed by Professor McCarty’s books. The Discovery School serves teenage girls who are experiencing emotional, behavioral and learning problems. In particular, I find the discussion questions at the end of each chapter to be most helpful. The girls are challenged, encouraged, and asked to take a look at questions that assist in personal growth. I could hope for nothing more, and I highly recommend these books for every classroom.
“After attending the workshops, I was both encouraged and challenged as a teacher. The workshops were very beneficial in giving me tools to take to the classroom. Specifically, after examining some of the major themes from Little Big Minds, I was able to transform the knowledge I learned at the workshops into the classroom environment. The workshops were a wonderful experience, and I would recommend them to anyone who is on a quest for knowledge, fun and intellectual stimulation.”
– Chip Case. Lead Teacher, The Discovery School of Virginia For Girls. Dillwyn, Virginia.
“Simply wanted to say thank you to Marietta for a book stimulating to the way I approach parenting, the way I personally will approach a philosophical quest, and the ways I can’t wait to explore all the wonderful resources of poetry, music and literature that are shared in this book. Well done and inspiring. I couldn’t wait to say thank you and work well done.”
– Lisa Nichols Hickman: Pastor, Teacher, Author. New Wilmington, Pennsylvania.
“Thank you for Little Big Minds! I have been having Philosophy Club with the 6th grade students every Thursday for this school year and they are really enjoying it.… Your book is so highlighted and underlined and dog-eared I may have to buy a new one! I also wanted to share with you that I have a few of my students with learning disabilities in the group – one from a severely economically depressed family, and they are really doing beautifully – it gives me hope. Thank you again for contributing such a valuable tool to education – philosophy is NEVER taught in public schools and is, in my opinion, one of the most important things to teach (and is as therapeutic for me as it is for the children). We may have hope for the future yet!”
– Amy Hunsaker, Intervention Specialist, North Baltimore, Ohio
“I had such a wonderful, wonderful visit to Charlottesville for Marietta’s conference last summer. We met and chatted. We created art and wrote poetry. We wondered and contemplated. We laughed and we dug deep… and then we went even deeper. It was magnificently exhilarating, yet strangely relaxing at the very same time. I learned so much, and was left wanting more and more. I use her ideas and books in my middle school classes almost every day.”
– Tracy Alexander. St. Martin’s in the Field Day School. Severna Park, Maryland
“I love philosophy because happiness is finding your center peace. I think it’s great.”
-Tessa Moore, 3rd Grade Child Philosopher, Locust Grove, Virginia
“I like philosophy because you can learn things like justice, happiness and courage. You can imagine things you never imagined before.”
-Lanija Brown, 3rd Grade Child Philosopher, Unionville, Virginia
“What’s cool about philosophy is you find what nobody knows about.”
-Nick Nammack, 3rd Grade Child Philosopher, Locust Grove, Virginia
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