Sessions: Saturday, April 25
Keynote: Steve Gross
10:45am-11:45am
Keynote
1:00pm-2:30pm con't
Art That’s From the
Heart!- Activities That Promote
Creativity and Thinking
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Featu s re
Session Code: S21
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The Power of Optimism
Session Code: Keynote4
Optimism matters. An optimistic
disposition enables us—through every
day and extraordinary struggles—to
look for the goodness in ourselves, in
others, and in the world around us. For
educators working with our most
valuable resource, children and youth,
optimism is a critical tool and a
pathway to healing. This inspiring
keynote helps educators
discover the power of optimism to
create safe, joyful, engaging
environments where kids can grow,
heal and learn.
1:00pm-2:30pm
Bouncing Back: How
Resilient Are You?
Session Code: S22
In this interactive session, you will learn
the meaning of resilience, calculate your
own resiliency score and understand
why self-awareness is vital to your role
as an early childhood educator! You will
also explore five ways to nurture your
resilience to improve yourself
personally and professionally.
Presenter: Maria Spencer
Age Focus: ALL
Main Topic: Social/Emotional
Development
Are you tired of doing the same art
projects every year? Learn the many
uses of paper, paint, crayons, tools,
hands, feet, and partners to inspire
engagement in young children.
Participants will participate in activities
and apply principles to determine the
thinking skills involved. This workshop will
explore the relevancy of ‘thinking outside
the box’ and how art activities can be
used in every academic domain.
12:00-2:00pm
Student Poster Sessions
Non-Credit
Every Teacher’s Best
Friend: MUSIC!
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Featu s re
Session Code: S24
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In this session Red Grammer will
engage teachers in discovering how
music can joyfully uplift and improve
the functioning of most every aspect of
their classrooms: Setting classroom
standards of behavior; building
classroom community; adding
excitement to curriculum; aiding
content retention; building vocabulary;
helping challenged readers; offering
brain breaks/transitions; reducing
stress; deepening relationships with
parents. No musical talent required.
Presenter: John Funk
Presenter: Red Grammer
Age Focus: PRE, SA
Main Topic: Child Development and
Learning Through Play
But First Do No Harm -
Songs and Stories to Create (And
Maintain) Compassionate, Inclusive
Classrooms
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Session Code: S23
s ion
Age Focus: I/T, PRE, SA
Main Topic: Music and Movement
Family Engagement: A Five
Protective Factor Approach
Session Code: S25
Inclusive classrooms require educators to
meet an ever-broadening range of
instructional, social and emotional needs.
Educator and parent of a child with
autism herself, Joanie Calem uses
original songs, games and practical tips
to facilitate conversation that supports
teachers in building a community of
diverse learners. Take back hands on
tools to help children with special needs
integrate into general classrooms and
support the other children to become
compassionate classmates. The Strengthening Families framework
is a research-informed approach to
increase family strengths, enhance
child development, and reduce
the likelihood of child abuse and
neglect. This session explores the
protective factors of the framework and
how to implement them in an early
childhood program. We know family
engagement is important but how do
we do it? Participants will discover how
to build meaningful family engagement
and how to ensure each family event
aligns to the five protective factors
from the framework.
Presenter: Joanie Calem Presenter: Brittany Kinstler
Age Focus: T, PRE
Main Topic: Children with
Disabilities/Early Intervention/Inclusion Age Focus: ALL
Main Topic: Family Engagement and
Support
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