Dr. Rebecca Isbell
Director of the Center of Excellence in Early Childhood Learning and
Development
Professor of Early Childhood Education
Distinguished Faculty Award for Teaching 1994
Dr. Isbell has a wide variety of teaching experiences that have
influenced her thinking about young children and their families.
These range from being a Music teacher K-5, to teaching three-year-olds,
to supervising early childhood student teachers, to teaching graduate
courses in early childhood education. These experiences have greatly
expanded her understanding of the development, interest, and potential
of young children and adults.
Her many publications have inspired early childhood teachers to
create environments that work, are aesthetically pleasing and include
Centers to match the unique interest of the children of the classroom.
Instructors in college classes throughout the United States and Canada
have used her two textbooks; enriching students understanding of
Children’s Literature and Creativity and the Arts. The Complete
Learning Center Book is a classic in the field and continues to be
a major source for center design. Her newest book, The Learning Spaces
for Infants and Toddlers, provides this same usable framework to
spaces for infants and toddlers.
Dr. Isbell is an enthusiastic presenter who travels all over the
World to spread the word about the importance of young children’s
early years, the value of a knowledgeable teacher, and meaningful
ways to create joyful places to nurture children’s development.
She continues to conduct research to identify new and effective ways
to improve programs that serve young children during a critical stage
of their development.
Isbell lives with her husband Dr. Ben Parrish in Jonesborough, Tennessee.
the storytelling capital of the world. This is a great place for
a storyteller to live and create stories. She has two children, both
of whom have their doctoral degrees.
Special interest:
- Learning Centers
- Reggio Emilia
- Early Literacy
- Creativity in Young Children
- Environments for Young Children
Education:
- Ed.D., University of Tennessee. Major: Early Childhood Education/Collateral
in Child and Family Studies
- M.S., East Tennessee State University. Major: Early Childhood
Education and Supervision
- B.S., University of Tennessee. Major: Elementary
Education
Selected Publications: Books
- Isbell, R. & Isbell, C. (2003). The Complete Learning Spaces For
Infants and Toddlers. Beltsville, MD: Gryphon House.
- Isbell, R. & Raines, S. (2003). Creativity and the Arts With
Young Children.Albany, NY: Delmar.
- Isbell, R. & Exelby, B. (2001). Learning Environments That
Work.
Beltsville, MD: Gryphon House.
- Isbell, R. & Raines, S. (2000). Tell it Again 2: Stories to
Tell Young Children. Beltsville, MD: Gryphon House.
- Raines, S. & Isbell, R.(1999). Tell it Again: Stories to Tell
Young Children. Beltsville, MD: Gryphon House.
- Isbell, R. (1995). The handbook of learning centers. Beltsville,
MD: Gryphon House.
- Raines, S., & Isbell, R. (1994). Stories: Children's literature
in early education. Albany, NY: Delmar.
Articles
- Isbell, R. Telling and Retelling Stories: Learning, Language, and
Literacy. Young Children 57,2,26-30.
- Raines, S., & Isbell, R. (1994).
The child's connections to the universal power of story. Childhood
Education, 70(3), 164-167.
- Isbell, R. T., & Raines, S. (1991).
Young children's oral language productions in three types of play
centers. Journal of Research in
Childhood Education, 5(2), 140-146.
- Isbell, R. T., & Dwyer, E. (1990).
Reading aloud to students. The Education Digest, 56(1), 70-71.
Recent International/National Presentations:
- 2003 The Power of Stories Told. World Forum, Acapulco, Mexico
- 2003 Association for Childhood Educators Conference, Phoenix, AZ
- 2002 Environments That Work for Young Children and Teachers, November,
New York.
- Tell it Again: Stories to Tell Again and Again
National Association for the Education of Young Children
New Orleans, November 1999
Numerous presentations to professional groups, state conference,
and regional meetings.
- The Reggio Emilia Principles
- Learning Centers in Early Childhood Classrooms
- Appropriate Storytelling for Young Children
- Making the Literacy Connection in Early Childhood Classrooms
- Creating Beautiful Environments for Young Children
- Infant and Toddler Spaces
- Creativity and the Arts with Young Children
isbell@etsu.edu
drisbell@drisbell.com |
