Presentations

  • Cohen, L.E., Grim, S. (May 2022).  “Engineering Design Play” in Higher Education.  The Association for the Study of Play. Virtual Conference.

  • Campanelli, C., & Cohen, L.E. (2022). Birth to three language acquisition: Influences of Ambient language in the Montessori Setting. Paper for Annual Meeting of the American Educational Research Association (AERA), San Diego, CA., April 2022.

  • Cohen, L.E. & Kalthoff, A. (2021). Coding/computational thinking in the early years. 2021 Bright Start International Conference, November 2021.
  • Schwartz, M. & Cohen, L.E. (2021). An intertextual analysis of narrative picture books: English & New Language Learner’s intertextual analysis. In Sara C. Michael-Luna (Chair), Refining curriculums, literacy and language. Paper accepted for virtual conference at the Annual Meeting of the American Educational Research Association (AERA), April 2021.
  • Cohen, L.E. et al. (2021). Accepting educational responsibility in research: Reimagining community-driven methods and mentoring for a new decade. Workshop session accepted for Language and Social Processes special interest group at the virtual Annual Meeting of the American Educational Research Association (AERA), April 2021.
  • Cohen, L.E. et al. (2021, March) The Role of Toy Play in Promoting Children’s Development in a Time of Crisis. The Association for the Study of Play (TASP) – Virtual Conference
  • Cohen, L.E., Carvalho, G., Gallo, M. & Guma, O. (2021, March). Enhancing early childhood dramatic play centers with prop boxes. The Association for the Study of Play (TASP) – Virtual Conference. See video: https://vzaar.com/videos/22706657
  • Strawhacker, A., Berens, A. & Cohen, L.E. (2020). Early Childhood Maker Spaces. Webinar guest speaker for Tufts University.
  • Cohen, L.E. (2020). The value of block play. Invited guest speaker for Fordham University Graduate School of Education.
  • Cohen, L.E.; Koerner, L.M., Parrott, H. (2020). Advocating for recess: The Social and academic benefits of recess in public schools. Inquiry, Transformation, and Communities. Paper accepted at the Annual Meeting of the American Educational Research Association (AERA). San Francisco, CA. (Conference Cancelled due to COVID-19).
  • Hines, D., Cohen, L.E. & Zusho, A. (2020). Does medium matter? Calibration and comprehension of narrative and expository texts in print and digital. Cognitive and Motivational Processes. Paper accepted at the Annual Meeting of the American Educational Research Association (AERA). San Francisco, CA. (Conference Cancelled due to COVID-19).
  • Cohen, L.E. (2019, November). I-Pad Apps for Early Childhood Programs. Research presentation at the 2019 National Association of Early Childhood Teacher Educators. Nashville, TN.
  • Schwartz, M., Cohen, L.E. (2019, April). Multimodal approach to ENL’s oral language with literacy and dialogue. Paper presented at American Educational Research Association. Toronto, CA.
  • Cohen, L.E., Koerner, L., Laskowski, M. (2019, March). Mixed Age Play for Elementary Students. Symposium presentation of The 45th Association for the Study of Play & International Play Association U.S.A. Harrisonburg, VA.
  • Campanelli, C. & Cohen, L.E. (2018, June). An exploratory study in mixed age family childcare using the LENA System. Paper presented at the National Association of Early Childhood Teacher Educators. Austin, TX.
  • Cohen, L.E. (2018, February). Socioeconomic Differences between Play in Two Preschool Contexts. Paper presentation of the Association for the 44th International conference for the study of play. Melbourne, FL.
  • Cohen, L.E. & Emmons, J. (2017, April). Metacognition and Talk in Block Play: In-school and out-of-school playful contexts. Paper presentation of the Association for the 43rd International Conference for the study of Play. Rochester, NY: The Strong Museum of Play.
  • Cohen, L.E. (2016, April). Block Play: Spatial language and symbolism with preschool and school-aged children. Symposium paper for American Education Research Association. Washington, DC.
  • Sullivan, M. & Cohen, L.E. (2016, April). Reconceptualizing teacher-student dialogue to support dual language learners oral and written responses to questions. Paper presentation for American Education Research Association. Washington, DC.
  • Cohen, L.E. & Emmons, J. (2016, March). Unit block play with elementary students: Skills for the future. Paper presentation of the Association for the Study of Play and the American Association for the Child’s Right to Play (IPA/USA). Rutgers, NJ.
  • Cohen, L.E. (2015, November). Multidisciplinary perspectives on children’s play: A synthesis of current research. National Association for the Education of Young Children. Orlando, FLA.
  • Cohen, L.E. (2015, April). Preschool discourse interactions: Playful meaning making from a carnival lens. Symposium paper for American Education Research Association. Chicago, Ill.
  • Cohen, L.E. (2015, March). Block Play: Spatial Language and Vocabulary. Research presentation for The Association for the Study of Play. San Antonio, Texas.
  • Cohen, L.E. (2014, July). Interlanguage learning: Social pretend play to educate hearts and minds. International academic paper presentation for 15th International Mikhail Bakhtin Conference. Södertörn University, Sweden.
  • Cohen, L.E. & Waite-Stupiansky, S. (2014, April). An intergenerational look at play. Research presentation for The Association for the Study of Play. Rochester, New York.
  • Cohen, L.E. & Kramer, Vida, L. (2014, April). The effects of bilingual instruction and play on preschoolers’ English proficiency. Paper presentation for American Educational Research Association. Philadelphia, PA.
  • Cohen, L.E. (2014, March). Guided Reading Instruction: A component of a balanced literacy program. Presentation for teacher assistants of the Wyandanch Union Free School District.
  • Cohen, L.E. & Waite-Stupiansky, S. (2013, November). An intergenerational look at play. Featured paper session for the National Association for the Education of Young Children, Washington, DC.
  • Cohen, L.E. (2013, November). Weaving together the golden strands of play and research. Round table research session for the National Association for the Education of Young Children. Washington, DC.
  • Cohen, L.E. & Kramer-Vida, L. (2013, April). Using dialogic reading as professional development to improve students’ English and Spanish vocabulary. Research presentation for Institute for Global Education Diplomacy, Georgetown University, Washington, D.C.
  • Cohen, L.E. & Waite-Stupiansky, S. (2013, March). Play: A Polyphony of Research, Theories, and Issues: A Panel of Authors from Play and Culture Studies. A symposium highlighting the voices of children, parents and play advocates. Newark: DE
  • Cohen, L.E. (2012, December). Discourses in Early Childlhood: A conceptual understanding of bilingualism. Invited presenter for Conference of Elementary-Secondary Teaching & Learning (CESTL).
  • Cohen, L.E. (2012, November). Bakhtin’s Dialogic Process in Play: Dual Language Learners’ Dramatic Play. Peer reviewed presentation for 20th International Reconceptualizing Early Childhood Education Conference. Penn State College.
  • Cohen, L.E. & Johnson, J.E. (2012, April). A Dialectical Conception of Play Theory: Cultural-Historical Views. Peer reviewed research presentation for American Educational Research Association. Vancouver, Canada.
  • Cohen, L.E. (2012, April). Bakhtin’s Dialogic Process in Play. Peer review symposium presentation for The Association for the Study of Play. Albuquerque, New Mexico.
  • Cohen, L.E. (2011, November). Children’s Animal Performances: A Shift from Ages to Stages to Ideological Becoming. Peer reviewed research presentation for National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC). Orlando, FL.
  • Cohen, L.E. (2011, July). The Carnivalesque World of Social Pretend Play. Peer reviewed presentation for the 14th International Bakhtin conference. (University of Bologna, Italy).
  • Cohen, L.E. & Johnson, J.E. (2011,April). Critical play theory: A review of critical literature on play and play research. Peer reviewed research presentation for American Educational Research Association. New Orleans, Louisiana.
  • Cohen, L.E. (2010, May). Purposeful play to support oral language. Invited key note presentation for Stamford Public Schools. Stamford, CT.
  • Cohen, L.E. (2010, November). Clearing away the rubble from the offspring: Making room for play in the lives of children. Peer reviewed research presentation for National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC).
  • Cohen, L.E. (2010, October). Researching with children. Collecting data in the classroom. Presentation for Long Island University doctoral students.
  • Cohen, L.E. (2010, July). Preschoolers learn Words: Storybooks, pictures, and play. Invited presentation at Lighting Pathways to Literacy conference.
  • Cohen, L.E. (2010, July). Interactive read-alouds/Shared Reading . Invited presentation at Lighting Pathways to Literacy conference.
  • Cohen, L.E. (2010, June). Early language and literacy in pre-kindergarten. Presentation for Trinity Lutheran Pre-K.
  • Cohen, L.E. (2010, April). The carnivalesque world of social pretend play. Peer reviewed research presentation for American Educational Research Association. Denver, Colorado.
  • Cohen, L.E. (2010, April). Purposeful play to support oral language. Invited presentation for state funded Early Reading First teachers.
  • Cohen, L.E.  (2010, May).  Purposeful play to support oral language. Invited presentation for state funded Early Reading First teachers.
  • Cohen, L.E. (2010, March). Popular culture enters the block area. Peer reviewed research presentation for The Association for the Study of Play (TASP) and International Play Association (IPA). Atlanta, GA.
  • Cohen, L.E. (2010, January). ELLCO Pre-K. Early language and literacy classroom assessment. Invited training for literacy coaches on the use of classroom assessment in Pre-kindergarten. Eastern Suffolk BOCES.
  • Cohen, L.E. (2009, Nov.) Literacy throughout the day. Workshop presented for East End Kids. Manorville, New York. (Invited to present best literacy practices for preschool teachers. This workshop was funded by a grant from the Down Syndrome Advocacy Foundation – Project Director, Kathleen Feeley)
  • Cohen, L.E. (2009, Nov.)  Creating synergies among play, education, and development. Peer reviewed research presentation for the National Association for the Education of Young Children.  Washington, D.C.
  • Cohen, L.E., Bragin, D., Edwards, E., Thompson, Y., Kramer, L. (2009, Oct). Preschoolers learn words: Storybooks, pictures, and play. Peer reviewed presentation for the Suffolk Association for the Education of Young Children. Islandia, New York.
  • Cohen, L.E. (2009, October).  Play and academics: The bridge between pre-school and kindergarten: What parents need to know.  Invited speaker for a parent presentation for Universal Pre-Kindergarten parents of the Harborfields Central School District.
  • Cohen, L.E. (2009, June).  Connecting Home Cultural Knowledge in Children’s Play. Featured session for over 450 members of the National Association for the Education of Young Children, Professional Development and Leadership Institute, Charlotte, N.C.
  • Cohen, L.E. (April, 2009). More than scribbles and lines. Looking closely at Kindergarten writing. Hempstead Public Schools, Hempstead, New York.
  • Cohen, L.E. (March, 2009). Helping parents understand the role of play in young children’s development. Harborfields Central School District, Greenlawn, New York.
  • Cohen, L.E. (March, 2009). Dialogic reading for preschoolers. Wyandanch Union Free School District, Wyandanch, New York.
  • Cohen, L.E. (March, 2009). Peer reviewed paper presentation for the Association for the Study of Play.  Whose words are these anyway?  A Bakhtinian framework for analyzing young children’s conflict talk in carnival. Brownsville, Texas.
  • Cohen, L.E. (March, 2009). Peer reviewed presentation at the Association for Childhood Education International Annual Conference & Exhibition. Where have all the blocks gone?  Chicago, Ill.
  • Cohen, L.E. (2008, November).  Play Dialetics: Teasing out tension points in the research and application of play. Peer reviewed presentation for the National Association for the Education of Young Children. Dallas, Texas.
  • Cohen, L.E. (2008, October).  Creating language and literacy experiences with recycled, reusable materials.  Peer reviewed presentation for the Suffolk Association for the Education of Young Children. Islandia, New York.
  • Cohen, L.E., & Byrnes, K. (2008, September).  Bridging Theory to Practice – Effective vocabulary development for grades K-2.  Invited to speak at a faculty meeting  at South Street School, Manorville, New York.
  • Cohen, L.E. (2008, July).  The heteroglossic world of preschoolers pretend play. Peer reviewed presentation at The Thirteenth International Mikhail Bakhtin Conference.  London, Ontario. (Paper was revised and accepted for publication in Contemporary Issues in Early Childhood).
  • Cohen, L.E., & Waite-Stupiansky, S. (2008, March).  A Vygotskian framework for observing and teaching reluctant players.  Peer reviewed presentation for the Association for the Study of Play. Tempe, Arizona.
  • Cohen, L.E., & Vidal, C. (2008, March).  WebQuests: Weaving the Internet and literacy into Teacher Education. Peer reviewed presentation at the Association for Childhood Education International Annual Conference & Exhibition, Atlanta, Georgia.
  • Cohen, L.E., Byrnes, K. (February, 2008).  Bringing words to life: Bridging theory to practice.  South Country Public Schools. Keynote speaker for Superintendent’s Conference Day.
  • Cohen, L.E. (2007, April). Creating Classroom Environments that Support Language and Literacy. Long Island Pre-K Initiative. Nassau BOCES, Uniondale, N.Y.
  • Cohen, L.E. (2007, January). Literacy: The bridge between pre-school and kindergarten: What parents need to know. Invited speaker for a parent presentation for North Shore Nursery School.
  • Waite, Stupiansky, S., Klugman, E., Drew, W. Rosen, M. & Cohen, L.E. (2007, November). Create a statewide interest forum: Using the Play, Policy, and Practice forum as a case in point. Peer-reviewed presentation at the Annual Meeting of the National Association for the Education of Young Children. Chicago, Ill.
  • Cohen, L.E., Denon, D., Astuto, J. & Russo, L.  (2007, November).  Play: No kindergarten child left behind.  Presentation at the Annual Meeting of the National Association for the Education of Young Children.  Chicago, Ill.
  • Cohen, L.E. & Byrnes, Katherine.  (2007, May).  Bringing words to life: An action research project.  Highlighted research session presented at Association for Childhood Education International Conference. Tampa, FL.
  • Cohen, L.E. (2007, April). Young children’s discourse strategies during block play: A Bakhtinian Approach.  Paper presented at International Play Association & The Association for the Study of Play. Play Matters Conference.
  • Cohen, L.E. (2007, March). Play, language, and culture. Peer-reviewed workshop presented at Suffolk Association for the Education of Young Children annual conference.
  • Cohen, L.E. (2007, March). Teaching the reluctant player to play. Invited speaker to present workshop for staff at Great Neck Community Nursery School (Verbal invitation from Barbara Breslow, Director).
  • Cohen, L.E. (2007, August).  Literacy throughout the day.  Workshop presented for All About Me Preschool.  Selden, New York. (Invited to present best literacy practices for preschool literacy teachers. This workshop was funded by a grant from the Down Syndrome Advocacy Foundation – Project Director, Kathleen Feeley).
  • Cohen, L.E. (2007, December).  Literacy throughout the day.  Workshop presented for University Preschool.  Stony Brook, New York. (Invited to present best literacy practices for preschool teachers. This workshop was funded by a grant from the Down Syndrome Advocacy Foundation – Project Director, Kathleen Feeley)
  • Cohen, L.E., Waite, Stupiansky, S. (2006, November).  Facilitating the play of reluctant players: Strategies for children who have not learned how to play. Paper presented at the Annual Meeting of the National Association for the Education of Young Children. Atlanta, Georgia.
  • Cohen, L.E. (October 2006).  Play, language and culture. Invited speaker for Child Care Resource & Referral Council of New Jersey.
  • Rasheed, S, Cohen, L.E., Shenker, S.S., Levitt, R., Piro, J. (2006, October).  Power, knowledge and discourse: Interdisciplinary approaches to educational reform within a Foucault framework. G. Levine, Chair, N. Amin, Discussant. Foucault and the early childhood classroom. Symposium conducted at the annual meeting of the Northeastern Educational Research Association, Kerhonkson, NY.
  • Cohen, L., Byrnes, K. (2006, March). Bringing Words to Life – An action research project. Paper presented at the Celebration of Teaching and Learning Institute, Channel 13.
  • Cohen, L. (May, 2006).  Emergent Literacy: Home-School Connections. Invited speaker for a parent presentation for Southampton Prekindergarten.  titled, An invited presentation at the Reading First Summer.
  • Cohen, L. (March, 2006). Building Blocks of Learning. Invited speaker for Fordham University Graduate School of Education on the topic of play.
  • Bodrova, E., Leong, D., Cohen, L., Kincaid, S., Van Thiel, L. (2005, November). Building the case for play and academics in the kindergarten curriculum. Paper presented the Annual Meeting of the National Association for the Education of Young Children.
  • Drew, W., Christie, J., Cohen, L., Sharapan, H. Plaster, L. & Quan Ong, N. & Blandford, S,  (2005, November). Block building: Fostering cognitive, linguistic, and social competence. Paper presented at the Annual Meeting of the National Association for the Education of Young Children.
  • Cohen, L. (2005, March). Adapting Reading Recovery for small groups of emergent English Language Learners.  Paper will be presented at the Association for Childhood Education International, Washington, D.C.
  • Cohen, L., Kurstedt, R., May, M..  (2005, March). FFF-luency and comp-re-hension: “Making sense of the reading process. Research will be presented at the Association for Childhood Education International, Washington, D.C.
  • Cohen, L. (2004, November). Building portfolios for preschool and school age children. Invited speaker for the Suffolk Association for the Education of Young Children at Computer Associates, Islandia, New York.
  • Christie, J., Cohen, L., Drew, W., & Quan Ong, N. (2004, November). Promoting language and literacy and oral language through block play: Five effective strategies for linking literacy and block construction. Paper presented at the Annual Meeting of the National Association for the Education of Young Children.
  • Cohen, L., Oliver, S., Waite-Stupiansky, S., & Linder, T. (2004, November). Assessment of play, assessment by play: Strategies for play-based evaluation of children’s progress. The view from the frontlines: Real life play-based assessment in the classroom. Paper presented at the Annual Meeting of the National Association for the Education of Young Children.
  • Cohen, L., Oliver, S., Waite-Stupiansky, S., & Taylor, J. (2004, June). Assessment of play: Strategies for play-based evaluation. Presentation at the National Association for the Education of Young Children 13th National Institute for Early Childhood Professional Development conference, Baltimore, MD.
  • Cohen, L. (2004, April). Portfolio assessment for our youngest. Presentation at the New York State Association for the Education of Young Children conference, New York, New York.
  • Cohen, L. (2004, March). Matching children & books. Presentation at the Eastern Suffolk BOCES 14th & New York State Education Department’s Annual Literacy & Learning Institute, Huntington, New York.
  • Butman, S., Cohen, L., Drew, W., Waite-Stupiansky, S. (2003, November) The wonder of block play and the wisdom of  Froebel.  Presentation at the Annual Meeting of the National Association for the Education of Young Children, Chicago, IL.
  • Cohen, L. (2003, November). Portfolio assessment for our youngest.  Presentation at the Suffolk Association for the Education of Young Children conference, Islandia, New York.
  • Cohen, L. (2002, October).The full day kindergarten. Invited speaker for Islip Public Schools, Islip, NY.
  • Cohen, L. (2002, March). Adapting reading recovery techniques for small groups of emergent readers. Presentation at the Eastern Suffolk BOCES & New York State Education Department’s 13th  Annual Literacy & Learning Institute, Huntington, New York.
  • Cohen, L. (2002, November). Meet the players. Presentation at the Annual Meeting of the National Association for the Education of Young Children, New York, NY.
  • Cohen, L. (2001, January). Emergent literacy throughout the day. Invited speaker for Middle Country Teacher’s Center, Centereach, NY.
  • Cohen, L. (2001, March). Literacy centers. Invited speaker for Oceanside Public Schools. Oceanside, NY.
  • Cohen, L. (2001, March). Emergent literacy throughout the day. Presentation at the Eastern Suffolk BOCES & New York State Education Department’s 12th  Annual Literacy & Learning Institute, Huntington, New York.
  • Cohen, L. (2001, May). Building blocks of learning. Presentation at Hofstra University for the American Association for the Child’s Right to Play (IPA/USA), Hempstead, NY.
  • Cohen, L. (2001, June). Communicating play and learning to parents. Invited presenter  for Catholic Charities Diocese of Metuchen, Perth Amboy, NJ.
  • Cohen, L. (2001, July). Interactive writing. Presentation at the Adelphi University Summer Literacy Institute, Garden City, NY.
  • Cohen, L. (2001, October). Sharing the power of play. Presentation  at the Nassau Association for the Education of Young Children conference , Huntington,  New York.
  • Cohen, L., Waite- Stupiansky, S. (2001, November). Play and Standards. Presentation at the Annual Meeting of the National Association for the Education of Young Children, Anaheim, CA.
  • Cohen, L. (2000, March).The project approach. Presentation at the New York State Association for the Education of Young Children conference, New York, New York.
  • Cohen, L. (2000, April). The project approach. Presentation at the annual conference of the Association for Childhood International, Baltimore, MD.
  • Cohen, L. (2000, October). Emergent literacy throughout the day. Presentation at the Nassau Association for the Education of Young Children conference , Huntington, New York.
  • Cohen, L., Jamsek, M. (2000, November). Playing at advocacy and advocating play. Documenting play and learning to parents. Presentation at the Annual Meeting of the National Association for the Education of Young Children, Atlanta, GA.
  • Cohen, L. (1999, October).Observation, Assessment and Documentation. Sharing what you know with parents. Keynote address at regional conference for Bright Horizons Childcare, Scarsdale, NY.
  • Cohen, L. (1999, May). The project approach. Presentation for Suffolk Childcare Council, Commack, NY.
  • Cohen, L. (1999, June). Nonfiction reading and writing.  Keynote address at Eastern Suffolk County Reading Council, Riverhead, NY.
  • Cohen, L. (1998, October). Field trips that teach. Presentation at the Nassau Association for the Education of Young Children conference , Freeport,  New York.
  • Cohen, L., Jamsek, M., Van theil, L.  (1998, November). Past, present, and future perspectives on valuing play. Panel discussion at the Annual Meeting of the National Association for the Education of Young Children, Toronto, Canada.
  • Cohen, L. (1998, April). Literacy throughout the day. Presentation at the annual conference of the Association for Childhood International, Tampa, FL.
  • Cohen, L. (1997, April). Adapting Reggio Emilia principles to early childhood classrooms in the United States. Presentation at the Suffolk Association for the Education of Young Children annual conference , Selden, New York.
  • Cohen, L. (1997, July). Organizing and managing a whole language classroom for primary classrooms. Presentation at the Adelphi University Summer Literacy Institute, Garden City, NY.
  • Alstrom, B., Cohen, L., Cooney, M., Drew, W., Klugman, E., & Van Thiel, L.  (1997, November). Share the power: Ways to observe, record, and communicate about play. Panelist at Annual Meeting of the National Association for the Education of Young Children, Anaheim, CA.
  • Cohen, L. (1996, October).Portfolio assessment. Invited speaker for Patchogue-Medford Public Schools, Patchogue, NY.
  • Cohen, L. (1996, October). Building blocks of learning. Presentation  at the Nassau Association for the Education of Young Children annual conference , Freeport, New York.
  • Cohen, L. (1996, April). Organizing and managing a whole language classroom for primary classrooms. Presentation at the Eastern Suffolk BOCES & New York State Education Department’s 7th  Annual Literacy & Learning Institute, Huntington, New York.
  • Cohen, L. (1996, November). Play: A Multicultural Perspective. Moderator for panel discussion for a preconference session at the Annual Meeting of the National Association for the Education of Young Children, Dallas, TX.

NATIONAL LEADERSHIP

1994 – Present – Founding governing board member of the Play, Policy, Practice Interest Forum for the National Association for the Education of Young Children.
Facilitate all annual conference proposals for Interest Forum Members
Facilitate annual business meeting

2010 – Present – The Association for the Study of Play (TASP)
Executive board member

 

 

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