Leslie Layman, M.S.

Leslie Layman, M.S., is currently the Child Development Lab coordinator for Truman College, one of the City Colleges of Chicago. In this role, she teaches child development courses; creates, maintains and supervises the college’s Child Development Lab spaces, resources and materials; and collaborates with faculty and students to create unique learning experiences in the early childhood education laboratory spaces at the college. She also facilitates partnerships with community agencies to promote the development of innovative early childhood programming throughout Chicago’s communities. A motivated and energetic educator, Layman has worked in respite, child care, in-home, therapeutic day school and clinical settings to help people of all ages and abilities achieve their full potential and lead rich, fulfilling lives. Prior to her tenure at Truman College, Layman supervised and trained volunteers on Leslie Layman best practices for assisting passengers with special needs as a social service supervisor for Travelers Aid Chicago and served as an educator and program assistant for Giant Steps, a therapeutic day school in Lisle for children with autism spectrum disorders. She holds a bachelor’s degree in psychology from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and a master of science degree in child development, with a focus on children with special needs, from the Erikson Institute in Chicago. She has a special interest in equity and inclusion in early childhood education and is passionate about all things related to play.

Posts by Leslie Layman, M.S.

Creative Activities Go Outside

In preparation for Summer, Leslie Layman, coordinator of the Truman College Child Development Program, will discuss her favorite ideas for taking Math and and other STEAM ideas outside. Parents often bring their young children into our professional care because they want better for their child in future. They hope for their child to become more […]

Real Outdoor Free Play

In preparation for Summer, Leslie Layman, coordinator of the Truman College Child Development Program, will discuss her favorite ideas for taking Math and and other STEAM ideas outside. “When I think of these experiences and interactions, I wonder why we, as teachers, feel the need to intervene and explain so often.” –Nora Thompson I love […]

Outdoor Scientific Inquiry in Urban Spaces

In preparation for Summer, Leslie Layman, coordinator of the Truman College Child Development Program, will discuss her favorite ideas for taking Math and and other STEAM ideas outside. When thinking about using a scientific inquiry approach with young children, I often refer back to one of the guiding principles of the Reggio Emilia Approach: “Research […]

Taking Tech Outside

In preparation for Summer in this series, Leslie Layman, coordinator of the Truman College Child Development Program, will discuss her favorite ideas for taking Math and and other STEAM ideas outside. http://lapisdemae.com/7-formas-de-mostrar-as-criancas-sobre-a-criacao-de-deus/ When I teach Truman College’s Science and Math for Young Children course, I have the students break into groups, do research about, and […]

Joyous Math

posted by Leslie Layman What’s your favorite childhood math memory? It might sound like an odd question, but you can probably think of your favorite book or your favorite school experience. Math should be just a fun and joyful as the telling of a good story or a scientific inquiry activity. I often find that […]

Diversity and Math

posted by Leslie Layman I think one of the most exciting and hopeful things about working in early childhood is knowing that both young learners and early childhood professionals are some of the most diverse populations in our country. You can literally see the beginnings of a more equitable and integrated future in the making. […]

Tinkering-Practical Strategies for Hands-On Math Learning

posted by Leslie Layman At Harry S Truman College, where I serve as coordinator and adjunct faculty in the Child Development Department, we recently had the opportunity to create Early Childhood Education lab spaces. The most unique of our labs is the ECE Tinkering Lab. T lab serves as part woodshop, part methods lab, and […]

Confessions of a Math-Phobic Educator

posted by Leslie Layman It’s probably not a great start for my first Math at Home Blog entry to tell you all that used to dislike math. Like, really dislike it. I can still feel tears of frustration welling up while my face got hot when I couldn’t finish all the questions on a math […]