Child Care Virtual Conference Agenda 24

 Presentation List

 

Sitting Down with Sydney Gurewitz Clemens: Lessons from a Role Model, Advocate and Author

Join us for an inspiring and insightful session featuring a distinguished leader in early childhood education with over fifty years of dedication to advocacy and children's rights. In this engaging interview, she will share her vast experience as an internationally renowned speaker, author, and educator, touching on pivotal topics such as child centered care, Ashton-Warner’s Key Vocabulary, Reggio Emilia philosophies, and support for children of prisoners. Attendees will have the opportunity to interact directly, ask questions, and gain valuable insights from her remarkable career.~Sydney Gurewitz Clemens

 

Why is it Important to Support Staff Relationships in Early Learning Programs?

High staff turnover has been a growing problem in early learning programs nationwide. Children are negatively impacted by the loss of relationships and continuity of learning resulting from this disruption. This presentation will cover effective communication strategies, team building, morale-enhancing activities, and incentives for boosting staff rapport, job satisfaction and retention at early learning programs. Participants will acquire tools to utilize in their programs to increase staff morale and have opportunities to apply the strategies to “‘real world” situations. ~Amy Josephson

 

Finally ... A School Leaders' Guide To Working With The Grownups Without Losing Your Mind

In this interactive workshop school leaders will discover highly effective steps to take when adults in their school behave in frustratingly un-grown-up-like ways. This includes responding to those dreaded call outs, dips in morale, complaints, and unreasonable demands. Leaders will walk away with a highly actionable plan to solve their most pressing challenges working with the adults in their schools~Shira Leibowitz

 

Play Matters

This training emphasizes the critical role of play in fostering children's physical, cognitive, social, and emotional development. Participants will gain insights into the benefits of various types of play, strategies for integrating play into the curriculum, and solutions to common challenges associated with play-based learning.~Re'Shaun Webb

 

Decoding the Unspoken: Understanding Nonverbal Cues in Infant Toddler Behavior to Cultivate Nurturing Relationships and Language Skills

This session delves into the significance of nonverbal communication in understanding children's emotions and thoughts. Emphasizing the idea that actions can convey more than spoken words, participants will identify various nonverbal cues children exhibit, such as body language, facial expressions, and gestures. By keenly observing these signals, parents, educators, and caregivers can gain valuable insights into a child's emotional state, needs, and reactions to different situations. The presentation encourages a holistic approach to communication, highlighting the importance of being attuned to nonverbal cues to foster better understanding and connection with children. Overall, it underscores the role of nonverbal communication in deciphering the unspoken language of children, promoting more effective and empathetic interactions. ~Juelie Perry

 

Building Brains with Music

Repeatedly, research has shown that music is the only activity that utilizes the entire brain. Combining that with knowing that the early years are the ones where we make the most difference, this workshop demonstrates through movement and activity how to use music to build brains to create children that are competent, capable and confident.~Maryann “Mar” Harman

 

Inspiring The Creative in Children

Get ready for a very nontraditional, interactive keynote presentation filled with dancing, singing, playing, laughter and lots of thought-provoking ideas about creativity, imagination and wonder. We’ll look at what’s happening in our brains and spirits as we create. We’ll explore how to encourage young children’s creative thinking and problem-solving. We’ll take a look at inspiring early childhood environments and activities and consider how to implement these ideas in our own spaces. Richard Cohen

 

Designing a Learning Environment that Supports the Developing Brain – It’s more than where to put the furniture

Across the world early childhood teachers spend time carefully arranging the furniture using inspiration from Pinterest, social media, or colleagues. But what if we designed learning environments that supported the needs of the developing brain? This presentation will introduce you to the Brain-SET Environments Formula. Understand the Survival, Emotional and Thinking (S.E.T.) Pillars of Design and the 16 Design Elements that are woven into the classroom environment to support brain development, playful learning, wellbeing and children’s behavior. Come away with an understanding of why we need to consider the brain and practical strategies to implement in your classroom. Have your understanding supported by photos of Brain-SET classrooms across the world that reflect our mantra of “A Calm Brain is a Thinking Brain”.~Dr Kathryn Murray

 

Transforming Your Relationship with Money for Program Success

This training will explore how a child care leader’s relationship with money directly impacts crucial financial decisions, from handling collections and setting proper tuition rates to managing late payments and letting go of non-paying families. A director’s mindset around money can create challenges when spending, budgeting, and the program's future. or financial boundaries or discomfort with money can lead to undercharging, overspending, or inconsistent policies. Understanding your money mindset is essential to creating a sustainable, thriving child care center. Learn how to manage finances effectively for long-term success.~Evelyn Knight

 

The Empowered Educator

Ever try to communicate one suggestion or instruction and the resulting response isn't what you hoped or expected, maybe even the complete opposite? Come laugh and learn the many different ways that we as educators miscommunicate with the children and adults in our lives unknowingly and how there is a better way. You will learn 3 secrets to being much more empowered both inside the classroom and at home in areas like to behavior modification, self-regulation and overall general health. I promise you will leave excited, invigorated and full of a new eagerness to be in your school or classroom.

 

Gossip Be Gone! Building Strengths-Based Teams When adults build relationships rooted in trust and respect, they create a learning community where everyone, including children, can grow and succeed. This workshop provides practical strategies to reduce gossip and enhance your professional communication skills with colleagues and administrators. We will explore the principles of Appreciative Inquiry and the NAEYC Code of Ethical Conduct, focusing on how to apply these frameworks to foster a positive and collaborative work culture. The workshop also includes reflective exercises, empowering questions, and a team assessment form—all designed to help you cultivate the skills needed to build resilient relationships and a respectful learning community. You will leave with fresh, actionable ideas for creating an environment where educators and children can truly thrive!~Susan McDonald

 

Leadership in Action: Empowering Childcare Directors and Providers for Success

"Leadership in Action: Empowering Childcare Directors and Providers for Success" is designed to equip both childcare directors and providers with essential leadership skills and inspiration to excel in their roles. This interactive session will explore the unique challenges of leadership in the childcare industry and offer practical strategies to foster growth, collaboration,and confidence. Participants will leave with actionable insights to lead their centers and classrooms more effectively, improve teamwork, and maintain motivation, even during tough times.~Joyia Henry

 

The Empowered Educator (pre-recorded)
Ever try to communicate one suggestion or instruction and the resulting response isn't what you hoped or expected, maybe even the complete opposite? Come laugh and learn the many different ways that we as educators miscommunicate with the children and adults in our lives unknowingly and how there is a better way. You will learn 3 secrets to being much more empowered both inside the classroom and at home in areas like to behavior modification, self-regulation and overall general health. I promise you will leave excited, invigorated and full of a new eagerness to be in your school or classroom.~Ron Shuali

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