Saturday Sessions
9:30 – 10:45 AM | ORANGE COUNTY CONVENTION CENTER
505 Seeing the Science and Engineering in Children’ s Play: Using Video Examples to Identify and Support the Science and Engineering Practices Children Naturally Engage with in Their Play Rachel Larimore, Samara Early Learning Alison Miller, Bowdoin College
W312AB Preschoolers Science
506 Teaching P. L. A. Y.: Engagement and Fun to Support Autistic Students in the Classroom Katie Scott, The P. L. A. Y. Project
W307AB Preschoolers Social and Emotional Development
507 Emotional Intelligence: The Role of the Early Childhood Educator Tara Dickerson, Mississippi State University Mary Thorne, Mississippi State University
W307CD Adults Social and Emotional Development
508 Empowering Every Learner: Inclusive Practices for Neurodivergent Children Kathy Gilbert, KMG Research LLC
W312C Preschoolers Teaching and Instructional Practices
509 Using AI to Spice Up Your Curriculum Development: How AI Can Help You Reach Developmental Targets and Be Developmentally Appropriate
Lisa Ranfos, UNH Child Study and Development Center
W108A All Children Technology and Digital Media
11:00 AM – 12:15 PM | ORANGE COUNTY CONVENTION CENTER
FEATURED SESSION
510 The Intentional Teacher: Cultivating Child-Centered Discovery, Content-Rich Learning, and Joy
The debate between content-rich learning and open-ended exploration has long influenced early childhood education, but what if we didn’ t have to choose? This session celebrates the joy of teaching and learning by showcasing how intentional teaching offers a“ both / and” approach— bringing together the structure of adult-guided teaching experiences and the wonder of child-guided inquiry to create content-rich, deeply engaging learning opportunities across multiple domains.
Through examples inspired by The Intentional Teacher, we’ ll explore how intentional teaching embraces developmentally appropriate practices, advances equity, and supports professional competencies, all while centering young learners’ curiosity and interests. Participants will discover how literacy, mathematics, science, and other content areas can be enriched through a thoughtful blend of purposeful instruction and opportunities for children to explore, experiment, and lead their own learning.
Together, we’ ll unpack real-life scenarios that illustrate how teachers can balance achieving instructional objectives with honoring children’ s ideas and questions. This session will equip educators with practical strategies to embed direct teaching alongside openended exploration, empowering children to meet measurable goals while nurturing their creativity, critical thinking, and love of discovery. Let’ s dive into the joy of intentional teaching and the profound impact it has on fostering deep, meaningful learning for every child.
Amy Schmidtke, Buffett Early Childhood Institute at the University of Nebraska W109A Preschoolers
Earn 0.1 CEUs for this session.
SPONSORED BY 2025 NAEYC Annual Conference: In this Place, We Learn. For Every Child, We Lead.
129