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Hear the latest and gratest topics presented by top notch Early Care Educators and Leaders in Child Development
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Registration (Convention Center)
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Registration (Convention Center)
Networking (Hyatt)
Welcome General Session
Facilitated by Steven Thaxton, CAEYC Board of Directors
Special appearance by Charlotte Diamond
Coaching for Excellence
Coaching is a powerful technique for helping others live from their values and strengths, and take action to enhance their lives. Useful in all aspects of life, managers can employ coaching techniques to share power, foster employee ownership, and bring out the best in their direct reports. Through observation and hands-on practice, workshop participants will learn the six steps to coaching for excellence, including deep-level listening and the use of powerful questions. By the end of this highly interactive workshop, participants will be ready to begin practicing coaching techniques with others and to further their study of coaching.
John Bouffard, Director of The Leadership Institute
Child Development Inc., Campbell, CA
Can't We All Get Along? Trust will Make Us or Break Us
The struggle of helping staff who don't get along is as common in child care environments as it is in other professions. Sometimes it's personality differences, sometimes it's a difference in values, sometimes it's a difference in generations and priorities. Addressing this takes a well rounded approach that puts a priority on helping faculty get to know each other and building trusting relationships. This team of presenters shares their journey and discoveries of what has worked and not worked in building trusting teams and staff morale.
Teresa Antonelli, Education Trainer
Bright Horizons Family Solutions, El Segundo, CA
Debbie Leaf, Director
Bright Horizons Family Solutions, Burbank, CA
Brendamarie Contreras, Director
Bright Horizons Family Solutions, Culver City, CA
12 Reasons People Love to Work for You
What is the secret to creating a work environment where employees will consistently go the extra mile? Is there something specific that a director can do to make the center a workplace of choice? As it happens, there are 12 specific things that can be done! An important lesson for directors to learn is that it is a mistake to expect people to work hard for you because they love you. Your goal should be to get people to work hard because they love to work for you. Twelve steps to building staff motivation and commitment will be shared in this workshop.
Roger Neugebauer, Publisher
Exchange - the early childhood leaders magazine, Redmond, WA
Building a Network of Outdoor Classroom Demonstration Centers
Worldwide, the importance of getting children outdoors is being emphasized by educators, the medical profession, environmentalists and mental health professionals. The field of early care and education is uniquely positioned to make a significant contribution to this new emphasis, but outdoor environments and programs have not traditionally been a focus of the field. For nearly five years, the Outdoor Classroom Project, funded by First 5 Los Angeles County, has been articulating and providing training and consultation in developing the Outdoor Classroom to increase the quantity, quality and benefit of outdoor activities for children in programs of early care and education. Participants dialogue about the value of the Outdoor Classroom and their possible participation in a statewide network.
Eric Nelson, Director - Outdoor Classroom Project
Child Educational Center, Caltech/JPL Community, Pasadena, CA
Judy Hightower, Director
Westminster Presbyterian Church Preschool, Westlake Village, CA
Excellence as the Standard: Creating a Program of Choice
This fast-paced, interactive training is designed to awaken the organizational passion for establishing Excellence as the Standard. This session will explore the necessity of establishing One Language within the organization as it fosters the development of individuals to strengthen the organization. Participants will create a prime directive for their organization that will serve as the roadmap to excellence. The importance of personal and professional growth and how professional development relates to the establishment of excellence as the standard in an organization will be reviewed. This workshop will also explore the components needed to become a Program of Choice, including: roles and responsibilities, essentials to creating employee loyalty, partnering for success, sustaining focus during adversity and customer-driven success. These components comprise what is needed for your organization to become a leader in your industry and a nationally recognized Program of Choice!
Jon Walker, Professional Registered Master Trainer
J Walker Enterprises, Fresno, CA
I'd Need 10 Heads to Wear All These Hats!
Program administrators often feel like their jobs take them beyond the normal description of multi-tasking. The feeling of needing extra heads to help carry off the extra hats is common. This workshop will look at approaches to becoming more effective and balanced while maintaining sanity!
Adrienne Schoen Gunn, Program Manager
University of Southern California - Administration, Los Angeles, CA
High-Risk to Success Before Grade One: We Have the Proof!
This session will review a very successful evidence and research-based literacy program for four & five year olds and is aimed at state, system level and site-based directors/administrators. The goal is to describe effective literacy practice for four and five year olds that will improve outcomes for all young children, including young children with disabilities and English Language Learners. The non-negotiables of an effective early literacy classroom will be clearly defined. An overview of the early literacy initiative in the 99 multicultural classrooms of 56 high-needs sites will be shared, including a description of the literacy program based on high expectations and standards, good first teaching and assessment/best practice and small group intervention for those students in need. Proven practices which enhance the home-school connection will also be included.
Miriam Trehearne
Author and Consultant, Vernon Hills, IL
Enrich your Emotional Development Curriculum by Emphasizing EQ (Emotional Intelligence) (Just Added!)
Description to be provided.
Learning Track: Leadership Day
California Department of Education's Learning & Development System: Birth to Five
The Child Development Division of the California Department of Education has a long history of developing quality resource materials and technical assistance activities to promote high-quality care for children, birth to five. In the past few years, California has joined a national trend in developing early childhood standards which California is calling foundations, program guidelines, and curriculum frameworks. In addition, California's system includes a teacher observation tool, the Desired Results Developmental Profile (DRDP-R), aligned with the foundations. The goal of this workshop is to emphasize the importance of the foundations and show how they have become the centerpiece of CDD's infant/toddler and preschool learning systems, and how they are linked to other major CDE/CDD initiatives.
Desi Soto, Education Programs Consultant
California Department of Education - Child Development Division
Sacramento, CA
Mary Smithberger, Child Development Consultant
California Department of Education - Child Development Division
Sacramento, CA
Networking Lunch
Optional event, advance purchase required
Keynote Presentation
Made to Stick: Why Some Ideas Survive While Others Die
Mark Twain once observed, "A lie can get halfway around the world before the truth can even get its boots on." Urban legends, conspiracy theories, and bogus public-health scares seem to circulate effortlessly. Meanwhile, people with important ideas - educators, businesspeople, journalists and others - struggle to make their ideas "stick." Why do some ideas thrive while others fade without impact? In his bestselling book, Made to Stick, co-author Chip Heath shares the vital principles of winning ideas - and how to apply the principles to make our own messages stick. The concepts will inspire ECE leaders to take a fresh look at how they communicate with staff, children and families.
Chip Heath, Professor
Graduate School of Business, Stanford University
Trust & Building Emotional Bank Accounts: Are You Making Regular Deposits?
Are you familiar with the 13 behaviors leading to trust as defined by author Stephen Covey? This workshop will focus on analyzing leadership truths and helping to define the trust relationship. Explore the economics of trust and define emotional bank accounts, as well as examine how relationships drive results in creating a great place to work. Be prepared to take a self-assessment on "How Trusted Are You?" and reflect on scoring results. This will lead into defining the behaviors that lead to trust and discussing tools that one may want to consider to measure trust at their own workplace.
Tammy Reich, Regional Manager
Bright Horizons Family Solutions, Moorpark, CA
Robin Ventimiglia
Bright Horizons Family Solutions
Transforming Preparation of California's ECE Professionals: Making the Pieces Fit
A transformation is underway in early care and education in California. It is widely recognized that meaningful transformation must include workforce preparation, capacity building, developmentally sound programming for children, and realistic compensation for ECE professionals. However, large-scale transformation cannot occur without the weight of public policy behind it. In this workshop, we will describe efforts underway within the California State University system as well as how this work complements numerous other efforts across the field. As part of this discussion we will identify points of collaboration, how various initiatives influence and are influenced by each other, topics in which dialogue is essential in order to secure positive outcomes for the field, and strategies to influence education policies that affect young children and their families.
Marianne Jones, Assistant Professor and Chair
Child, Family and Consumer Sciences Department
California State University Fresno , Fresno, CA
Rene Dahl, Professor and Coordinator
Child and Adolescent Development Program
San Francisco State University, San Francisco, CA
Nancy Hurlbut, Professor and Chair
Child Development Department
Humboldt State University, Arcata, CA
Sharon Seidman, Professor
Child and Adolescent Studies Department
California State University, Fullerton
Dr. Marlene Zepeda, Professor & Chair
Deptartment of Child and Family Studies
California State University Los Angeles
Facilitating Team, Growing Leaders: Building Collaborative Work Groups
All program administrators are responsible for building effective teams and/or work groups. This workshop explores techniques and demonstrates practices that support building collaboration which honors different styles through consensus building and reflection. Through interactive discussion and practice, participants will identify benefits, strengths and opportunities of facilitative supervision and consensus building.
Beth Coffman, Northern California Director of Program Operations
Child Development Inc., Sacramento, CA
Susan Dumars, Chief Program Officer
Child Development Inc., Sacramento, CA
Going Green: a panel discussion (Just Added!)
Description to be provided.
Balancing Professionalism, Sensitivity & Friendship as Boss & Colleague/Employee
Understanding dynamic issues in the supervisor-supervisee relationship is the focus of this discussion - the intrapersonal, the interpersonal, and the system issues that can lead to tension, stress, frustration, and eventually, morale problems, low productivity, and dysfunction in the workplace. Explored are the staff's emotional and psychological needs as part of the workplace family. Theories of personal & professional boundaries, role definitions, system theory, communication, temperamental differences, and psycho-emotional needs lead to practical strategies for a healthy work relationship.
Ronald Mah
Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist, San Leandro, CA
Teaching your Teachers to FISH! Strategies for Lasting Program Improvements
Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime. - Chinese Proverb. This proverb is the guiding theme for the workshop, which will support directors and site supervisors in enhancing their leadership skills. While the direct focus of this workshop will be on developing professional skills, the impact will be felt in the classroom and have a direct affect on children's environment. This workshop is designed for all levels of directors/supervisors and will include information, strategies, techniques and resources to improve interactions with staff. Presenters will use the model that Quality Support Coaches implement at Los Angeles Universal Preschool (LAUP) as they support centers in continuous program improvement and share strategies from LAUP Coaches that have been successful in guiding directors and teachers in making informed programmatic decisions.
Holly Condon, Quality Support Coach
Los Angeles Universal Preschool (LAUP), Los Angeles, CA
Jennifer Huen Chan, Quality Support Coach
Los Angeles Universal Preschool (LAUP), Los Angeles, CA
Managing Complex Change to Create the Program You've Always Wanted
Directors tend to become overburdened by never-ending paperwork and management tasks. Learn how to move beyond this and become one of the leaders who initiates big changes that result in an exemplary program. This participatory session will address the difference between management and leadership, the importance of vision, how to manage complex change, and the roles staff play in the change process.
John Gunnarson, Instructor
Napa Valley College, Child and Family Studies, Woodacre, CA
Understanding Preschool for All
This workshop will increase the knowledge of participants about Preschool for All efforts both statewide and locally, as well as link participants with local activities. There are several innovative, important programs throughout California that are currently helping to implement Preschool for All (PFA). Participants will learn about local initiatives that have creatively leveraged resources to make high quality early education available to preschoolers. In addition, participants will examine the best approaches to overcoming the many barriers providers may face in attempting to participate in PFA activities.
Gary J. Kinley, Ed.D.
The Children's Collabrium, San Francisco, CA
Wendy Wayne, Ed.D.
The Children's Collabrium, Bakersfield, CA
How to Go To Work and LOVE Your Work
Participants will benefit from this session by increasing their understanding and willingness to work with others. In addition, we will discuss how learning to have fun is one of the best ways to motivate and encourage staff. Children will benefit because when the staff works well together - children receive more appropriate and effective services. Participants will be out of their seats more than they are in them in this interactive workshop! The program will include a variety of activities that demonstrate to administrators how they can play a vital role in building a team while enjoying themselves and feeling more confident in their efforts. Administrative styles, obstacles, and personalities will be explored.
Laurie Prusso, Instructor
Modesto Junior College - Child Development, Livermore, CA
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Registration (Convention Center)
ECERS & NAEYC Accreditation - Partners in Quality Improvement
The Early Childhood Environmental Rating Scale (ECERS) is frequently used as a tool in Quality Rating Systems across the country. Discuss how the ECERS overlaps with NAEYC Accreditation Standards and Criteria and how ECERS can support your efforts to reach Accreditation. Clearly understand the areas in which ECERS and NAEYC Accreditation overlap and those in which they are different. Become familiar with the terminology in order to be better prepared for possible policy discussions about ECERS and Accreditation as components of a proposed future statewide Quality Rating System.
Learning Level: Beginning
Learning Track: Accreditation
This workshop will be repeated Saturday, 12:45pm
Laura Long, Director - Children & Youth Initiatives
Orange County United Way, Mission Viejo, CA
Grantwriting for Teachers and Administrators in ECE
Grantwriting made easy! Learn where to look for grants and develop strategies to see if those grants are right for you. Explore federal, state, and local grants as well as opportunities from foundations and other private sources. Gain practical application experience by developing ideas for possible grants and then utilizing resources to see if those grant ideas can be supported.
Learning Level: Beginning
Learning Track: Administration
This workshop will be repeated Saturday, 12:45pm
Christie Howell, Program Coordinator
California State University, Bakersfield, Bakersfield, CA
Kim Brown, Project Coordinator
California State University Bakersfield - Teacher Education, Bakersfield, CA
Amanda Tumblin, Project Advisor
California State University Bakersfield - Teacher Education, Bakersfield, CA
Early Education Collaboratives: Making Lasting Change For Children in Your City
Effect lasting change by working collaboratively with other child care providers and with local government in your community. Executive members of the Long Beach Early Care and Education Committee will present strategies for implementation of a truly broad based, self funded community focused plan of action. Participants will walk away with a template of a Five Year Child Care Strategic Plan for their city and clearly articulated step-by-step instructions on how to leverage resources to effect community change. This workshop is directed to attendees in leadership positions.
Learning Level: Advanced
Learning Track: Advocacy/Public Policy
Tracy Colunga Hollingsworth, Child Care Coordinator
City of Long Beach, Long Beach, CA
Luanne Mauro-Atkinson, Assistant Director
Long Beach Unified School District Head Start, Long Beach, CA
Pat Wong, Executive Director
Long Beach Day Nursery, Long Beach, CA
Sarah Soriano, Executive Director
Young Horizons Child Development Centers, Long Beach, CA
Creating a Diverse Board
The Center for Social Change hosts an open forum to strategize and gather information on how affiliates can encourage diversity on their governing board.
Learning Track: Center for Social Change
Cindy Santa Cruz-Reed
Grass Valley, CA
21 Tools for Avoiding Power Struggles While Empowering and Encouraging Children
Discipline or punishment? Research has shown that punishment may work in the short term but even short term is not worth the price a child can pay for it. Learn practical strategies that are all designed to foster a sense of belonging and significance and change behavior through connectivity and cooperation. These 21 non-punitive discipline strategies encourage children to improve their behavior and help them develop a sense of capability, social consciousness and character building. Discipline, done right, can not only be respectful and encouraging but can teach valuable social and life skills.
Learning Level: Beginning
Learning Track: Challenging Behaviors
This workshop will be repeated on Saturday, 12:45pm.
Dr. Jane Nelsen
Positive Discipline Associates, South Jordan, UT
Brain Appropriate Practices: Foundations of School Readiness and Literacy
An emerging body of knowledge and empirical research supports addressing learning from the brain's point-of-view. After all, the brain is the organ of school and life success, and to understand how this organ functions helps caregivers understand the appropriateness of their learning and teaching strategies. Become familiar with basic brain development and how the care/teaching environment supports school readiness and literacy. Attendees will participate in hands-on activities, including a demonstration of the power of touch and will create a fact sheet for parents highlighting one Brain Appropriate Practice and the classroom strategies that support it.
Learning Level: Beginning
Learning Track: Child Development - Brain
Regina Lamourelle, Department Chair
Santiago Canyon College - Human Development, Orange, CA
Chantal Lamourelle-Sims, Experience Manager
Pretend City of Orange County, Irvine, CA
Choice New Children's Books - Choosing Books Intentionally
With today's focus on literacy initiatives, it's important to remember that the best way to improve literacy is to read well-chosen books to young children. Books they can savor, books they can love, books they want to read again and again. Learn what makes a good children's book stand-out and how to ensure your selections are appropriate and engaging. Review the fundamentals of story time and how to incorporate different titles into your curriculum. Participants will preview the best of the new releases, plus the process of reading aloud will be modeled.
Learning Level: All
Learning Track: Child Development - Language/Literacy
Isabel Baker, President
The Book Vine for Children, McHenry, IL
Action-Packed Preschools
Action and movement stimulate the body, which in turn stimulates the brain and the ability to learn and retain information. Learn strategies and techniques founded on scientific research about the link between movement and cognition. Through an interactive presentation, participants will learn a variety of easy to implement activities that incorporate music and movement. These action packed activities and lesson ideas provide multiple learning opportunities for students in gross and fine motor development in addition to academics. Bringing music and movement to your classroom creates the optimal learning environment for all your students.
Learning Level: Intermediate
Learning Track: Child Development - Physical
Carrie Flint, Elementary & Adapted Physical Education Specialist
Fit 4 Learning, Apple Valley, CA
Getting Heart Smart
Are you emotionally intelligent? Are your students? Join Dr. Sheryl for this powerful workshop on Emotional Intelligence (EQ) in the classroom. Engage in fun and meaningful activities for directors, teachers, parents, and young learners. Learn easy EQ games and activities that can be used tomorrow in your classroom, home, or school. Take home great ideas for improving communication with parents. It's great to be book smart, but are you heart-smart too? Come find out!
Learning Level: All
Learning Track: Child Development - Social/Emotional Competence
Dr. Sheryl Cohen, Director
Stephen S. Wise Early Childhood Center, Los Angeles, CA
Teaching-Stories: Learning That Lasts - Using Multicultural Literature for Social/Emotional Competence
Gain hands-on, practical experience with five new research-based read-aloud techniques, as well as questioning and other strategies to help children develop oral language, higher-level thinking and social/emotional skills. Improve your read aloud skills and increase your understanding of the benefit and importance of reading aloud and rereading books to deepen understanding. Become familiar with the story genre Teaching-Stories from Afghanistan and learn how to use those techniques to help children integrate what they hear in the story into their own lives.
Learning Level: Beginning
Learning Track: Child Development - Social/Emotional Competence
Susan Josephs, Education Consultant
Inner Work, Bethel, CT
Those A-M-A-Z-I-N-G Young Children With Diverse Learning Needs
Are you puzzled and exasperated by the children you care for who have diverse learning needs? Learn how to identify with and understand those very different children in your classroom. Explore a variety of strategies and techniques to use with children who have diverse learning needs. A ‘difficult child' is often the simple result of the child's learning needs/styles clashing with the teacher's. Change begins with you and once you learn how to alter your own professional practice you may discover an entirely new world of solutions to meet the diverse learning needs of your many children with humor and grace.
Learning Level: Beginning
Learning Track: Children/Disabilities and Special Needs
Mary N. Wonderlick
EC/ECSE Consultant, Chicago, IL
Toys as Learning Tools: Supporting Children as They Work at Play
Overscheduled, overwhelmed children can greatly benefit from having adults promote children's constructive play through toys that enhance their healthy development and learning. Learn about the current research that indicates the benefits of play and discover how properly trained adults can help facilitate play with the proper toys that can engage and delight. Expand your awareness of toys that can promote learning across all developmental areas.
Learning Level: Beginning
Learning Track: Curriculum - General
Linda Armstrong, Consultant
Environments, Co., Winter Springs, FL
Mathematics in the Preschool: A Model Teacher Training Program
Examine the components of a preschool teacher training program in mathematics. Review the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics (NCTM) standards for Pre-K mathematics including: Number & Operations, Algebra, Geometry, Measurement, and Data Analysis & Probability. Learn how to incorporate mathematics into your formal and informal activities, how to involve families, and how the standards relate to DRDP-r, ECERS, and Accreditation.
Learning Level: Intermediate
Learning Track: Curriculum - Mathematics
Amy Bigelow, Program Director
Long Beach Day Nursery, Long Beach, CA
Linda Blackshire, Center Director
Long Beach Day Nursery, Long Beach, CA
Dianna Pyland, Lead Teacher
Long Beach Day Nursery, Long Beach, CA
Music & Movement: A Fun Way to Reach the Children
Get involved in songs, musical activities and games that are designed to encourage you to listen and respond, dance and move the way your students will in the classroom, on the playground and in their homes. The songs presented in the workshop are designed to teach basic skills, encourage language acquisition, as well as address social-emotional development through music.
Learning Level: All
Learning Track: Curriculum - Music/Movement
Greg & Steve
Greg & Steve Productions, Acton, CA
Science Creates Time for Learning!
Highlight the connection between science and the other curricular areas! Encourage the development of reading, writing, math, art, and music skills through science activities. Use everyday materials and readily available resources to make science fun! Children are natural scientists and are readily engaged in science-based activities that encourage exploration and experimentation. Learn how to introduce science to students in child-centered ways.
Learning Level: Beginning
Learning Track: Curriculum - Science/Technology
Stephanie Lester, Child & Family Education College Instructor and Author
Antelope Valley College/Lancaster School District - Child and Family Education, Lancaster, CA
Going Green in the Classroom
Create an eco-friendly environment! Participants will discover the importance of a green classroom environment for children, teachers, and the community. Learn how to select and use a variety of products, including paints, flooring, toys, cleaners and food, as well as the inclusion of green in curriculum. Examples of green products will be available for exploration.
Learning Level: Intermediate
Learning Track: Environments
Kathy Tama, Manager of Child Care Programs
Google - People Operations, Mountain View, CA
Kellee Nelson, Preschool Manager
Google's Children's Center at the Woods - People Operations, Mountain View, CA
Leslie Geathers, Architect
Dorman Associates, Mill Valley, CA
The Great Outdoors: Creating Inexpensive Environments for Healthy, Happy Learners
Rather than being places of joyful, harmonious expression and learning, the outdoor playgrounds of child care centers can often be unsafe and uninspired. It doesn't have to be that way. With an understanding of basic design concepts, it can be easy to create an environment that fosters more positive outcomes for children and teachers alike. This workshop provides an easy way to assess how well your outdoor environment and program are functioning and offers simple steps for making a big difference with both. Participants will utilize a tool to evaluate their environments and learn ten components of good playground design, as well as five common design flaws and how to fix them.
Learning Level: Intermediate
Learning Track: Environments - Outdoors
Eric Nelson, Director, Outdoor Classroom Project
Child Educational Center, Caltech/JPL Community, Pasadena, CA
Listen to Yourself: Reflective Teaching in a Diverse Society
How can you best promote greater cultural understanding and awareness? The answer begins with you. Come explore the reflective teaching process and become more effective by understanding how your feelings, reactions, and behavior influence your teaching style. Discuss the challenges of diversity in the classroom and analyze your own reactions to several case studies that will help you experience the reflective process. Find support and acceptance as you find common ground with others.
Learning Level: All
Learning Track: Equity and Diversity
Ann Gordon
Author and Consultant, Sonoma, CA
Kate Williams Browne, Faculty
Skyline College Early Childhood Education, San Bruno, CA
Preschool English Learners: Principles and Practices
The number of English Language Learners is growing exponentially. How can their needs best be met in the preschool classroom? This workshop will provide an overview of the ten research-based principles developed in “Preschool English Learners: Principles and Practices to Promote Language, Literacy and Learning” (California Department of Education, 2007). Explore the many ways to encourage appropriate practice and help ELL students achieve their educational goals.
Learning Track: Equity and Diversity
Faith Polk, Early Childhood Education Lead
Los Angeles County Office of Education, Downey, CA
Hot Topics In Health & Safety for Children in ECE Programs
Staying informed of emerging health and safety issues affecting children is vital for ECE professionals. Newly emerging illnesses, toxic products, respiratory infections, infant formula and fluoride, and safe transportation of young children with disabilities will be among the topics discussed. Participants will increase their knowledge of preventive health practices and resources available to help.
Learning Level: Beginning
Learning Track: Health
Rahman Zamani, Director of Programs
California Childcare Health Program, Berkeley, CA
Joy of Expressive Arts with Infants and Toddlers
Explore the joys of experiencing expressive arts with infants and toddlers. Through the use of clay and water colors, the presenters will share experiences and observations. The social, emotional, and cognitive benefits of expressive artwork with infants and toddler will be reviewed, as well as materials that best support infants'/toddlers' work. Participants will also learn how to provide expressive art experiences for infants and toddlers within the parameters of licensing, NAEYC, and ITERS guidelines.
Learning Level: Intermediate
Learning Track: Infants and Toddlers
Sarah Maloney, Infant and Toddler Teacher
Carmelo Child Development Center, Carmel, CA
Colleen Green, Infant Master Teacher
Carmelo Child Development Center, Carmel, CA
Phonological Awareness: Sequence of Instructional Learning Experiences
Is there an instructional sequence for Phonological Awareness? Take an engaging walk with us along the beach where you will encounter learning experiences through each of the waves of Phonological Awareness. Tide pools of listening, rhyming, words and sentences, awareness of syllables, sound matching, initial and final sounds, blending, segmentation, and phonemic manipulation await you. Bask in the glow of engaging students through modeling and participating in hands-on learning experiences.
Learning Level: Intermediate
Learning Track: Kindergarten/Primary
Terrie Olstowski, School Support Coordinator - Early Reading First Literacy Coach
Imperial County Office of Education, El Centro, CA
Lori Campos, School Support Coordinator; Early Reading First Literacy Coach
Imperial County Office of Education, El Centro, CA
Jamie Sinclair, School Support Coordinator; Early Reading First, Director
Imperial County Office of Education, El Centro, CA
Families: Our Partners, Our Resources
Get families engaged! Learn about the training activities of the Family Partnership Initiative Project (FPI) funded by the California Department of Education and the tool kits that are available to assist in developing meaningful relationships with families. Explore different ideas to successfully engage families and credit them for the many ways they are already involved in their child's education.
Learning Level: Intermediate
Learning Track: Parent/Family Relationships and Support
Rebeca Valdivia, Senior Research Associate
WestEd, San Diego, CA
That Is Not My Name
Addressing children by calling them names other than their birth names can have a severe lasting effect. Repeated insults such as calling a child stupid, dumb, no good, or hopeless diminish a child's desire to succeed and/or have the self-esteem, confidence, endurance to feel worthy of success and can affect a child's ability to learn. Learn about meaningful knowledge and the depth of feeling created by what we do or say and a different way of communicating.
Learning Track: Parent/Family Relationships and Support
Michon E. Cherry, Administrative Assistant/Teacher
Inglewood Unified School District, Inglewood, CA
Andrea Bobbitt, Community Liaison
Inglewood Unified School District - Special Education, Inglewood, CA
Personal Professional Development: Labyrinth Walking
Self reflection is an integral, essential part of our development as early childhood educators. When we take time to reconnect with our inner selves, we nurture and rejuvenate ourselves. This enriches our ability to work with and support, in a healthy and constructive manner, our colleagues, and the children and families whom we serve. We offer a choice of hands-on sensory and reflective activities including a labyrinth to walk, sand trays to explore, clay monoliths to transform, seasonal collages to create collaboratively, plus experiences in the practice of everyday mindfulness. This is an on-going self-guided workshop with facilitators and is designed to nourish the self-reflective spirit, cultivate inner peace, strength, clarity and compassion.
Learning Level: All
Learning Track: Professional Development
Janet Gonzalez-Mena, ECE Consultant
Fairfield, CA
Effects of Childhood Trauma
Gain an understanding of how children react to traumatic events. Participants will learn about signs and symptoms that children who have experienced a traumatic event display. Learn how to talk to children about those events and how to help children heal from such experiences.
Learning Level: Advanced
Learning Track: Professional Development
Kayla Olvera, Child Care & Development Block Grant Coordinator
Inter-Tribal Council of California, Inc., Sacramento, CA
Angie Ramirez, Senior Victims Advocate
Inter-Tribal Council of California, Inc., Sacramento, CA
Ethics for Early Childhood Educators
The moral development theory of James Rest guides facilitated ethical dilemma discussion in this interactive workshop. The dilemmas themselves are the 'stuff' of daily practice in ECE settings. Four presenters and co-authors on Teacher Dispositions and Ethical Practice in ECE will facilitate activities. This professional development model has resulted in significant 'growth' in ethical maturity with student teachers and teachers in practice. Guided discussion will lead participants into consideration of ethical dilemmas caused by cultural, linguistic, gender and other contexts. Participants will become familiar with constructs: ethical sensitivity, ethical judgment, ethical motivation and ethical implementation.
Learning Level: Advanced
Learning Track: Professional Development
Pamela Lane-Garon, Associate Professor
California State University Fresno, Fresno, CA
Marilyn Shelton, Professor
California State University Fresno, Fresno, CA
Susan Macy
California State University Fresno, Fresno, CA
Shareen Abramson
California State University Fresno, Fresno, CA
Fact or Fiction: Multiple Intelligences and Temperaments Impact Staff Relationships
Participants in this workshop will have a greater understanding of how teachers (and parents) with varying learning styles and temperaments may approach things differently; while increasing their own understanding of their temperament. We will gain insight into why we have successes with some staff and challenges with others when we think that we are communicating effectively with everyone. Discussions will involve how to have an open dialogue and create a more collaborative, respectful environment.
Learning Level: Advanced
Learning Track: Professional Development - Leadership/Supervision
Adrienne Schoen Gunn, Program Manager
University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA
Teacher Portfolios: Reflections on Learning
Appropriate for college faculty and child care administrators, this workshop will review the knowledge and skills needed to assign or implement comprehensive portfolios for students in academic programs or staff as part of their professional development. Learn how to define a teacher portfolio, describe the purpose, and review the structure of portfolio organization. Discuss the role of self reflection in the portfolio process and introduce effective strategies to elicit reflective self evaluation.
Learning Level: Intermediate
Learning Track: Professional Development - Leadership/Supervision
Judy Bordin, Professor
California State University Chico - Child Development, Chico, CA
The Pursuit of Quality: A Philosophy More Than a Destination
High-quality preschool experiences can make the most of a child's formative years by providing the foundation to build social skills and self-confidence, and giving children the foundation of knowledge needed to succeed in Kindergarten and beyond. Los Angeles Universal Preschool (LAUP) is a leader in enhanced preschool quality and their focus on quality is not about creating additional measurements; it's about instilling the belief that quality is part of everyday practice. Learn how to measure quality beyond the standard proxies and explore ways to incorporate the pursuit of quality as a philosophy in both personal and professional lives. Quality and excellence must be mindsets under which we operate, not a destination.
Learning Level: Advanced
Learning Track: Quality/Evaluation - Program
Gary Mangiofico, Chief Executive Officer
Los Angeles Universal Preschool, Los Angeles, CA
Implementing an Effective Observation and Assessment System
Turn observations into results by implementing a systematic observation system that is easily understood by parents and teachers. Gain experience with a tool that has been successfully incorporated into child care centers and made a difference in the understanding of development for all involved in the teaching and nurturing of a child. Participants will receive a template for putting the system to use in their own center.
Learning Level: Beginning
Learning Track: Quality/Evaluation - Program
Raquel Espana, Center Manager
Wu Yee Children's Services - Child Development, San Francisco, CA
Maureen Sheveland, Center Manager
Wu Yee Children's Services - Child Development, San Francisco, CA
Kindergarten Readiness: The Role of Socio-emotional Development
(Workshop title and description in spanish to be proivded i.) Kindergarten readiness isn't just about pre-academic skills it is also about the development of the healthy socio-emotional foundation children need in order to learn, communicate, pay attention and regulate their behavior. Learn about how the brain develops and how cognitive development is connected to emotional centers in the brain. Learn how to truly prepare children for kindergarten by intentionally integrating socio-emotional development into every day interactions.
Learning Level: Advanced
Learning Track: Spanish Child Development - Social/Emotional Competence
This workshop offered in English on Saturday, 10:30am.
Patricia Lakatos
Psychologist and Early Childhood Consultant, Arcadia, CA
Exhibit Hall
Keynote Presentation: Last Child in the Woods [more information]
In his ground-breaking work about the staggering divide between children and the outdoors, journalist and child advocate Richard Louv directly links the absence of nature in the lives of today's wired generation to some of the most disturbing childhood trends: the rise in obesity, attention disorders, and depression. In his book Last Child in the Woods: Saving Our Children From Nature-Deficit Disorder, Louv brings together research indicating that direct exposure to nature is essential for healthy childhood development and for the physical and emotional health of children and adults. More than just raising an alarm, Louv offers practical solutions to heal the bond. Spanish translation will be available.
Richard Louv, Futurist, Journalist, Author and Chairman of The Children & Nature Network, San Diego, CA
Special performance by Banana Slug String Band
Child Care Providers and the Americans with Disabilities Act
This workshop will review the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and how it applies to child care providers. Providers have many concerns: Can I be sued if I decline to accept a disabled child? What are my legal responsibilities when a prospective employee is disabled? Must I make structural changes to my home or center? These and other related issues will be examined in light of both California and federal law.
Learning Track: Administration
Lucy Fitzpatrick, Staff Attorney
Public Counsel Law Center, Los Angeles, CA
Why Johnny Doesn't Listen & What You Can Do about It
Do you struggle with children who don't listen and hear yourself repeating the same things over and over? Would you like students to be more cooperative? If you answered yes to either of these questions, you are not alone. In this workshop, discover the five most common mistakes educators make in talking with children. Communicate in new ways to have more joyful, harmonious relationships with your students. Experience being heard and appreciated by children.
Learning Level: Intermediate
Learning Track: Challenging Behaviors
Connie Allen, Family and Education Consultant
Joy with Children Consulting, Mountain View, CA
Beyond Happy/Sad: Using Emotional Literacy to Manage Challenging Behavior
How can we decrease challenging behavior? One way is to provide children with the skills they need in order to self-manage by using a combination of friendship skills, emotional literacy, problem solving and anger management. Using materials from the Center on the Social and Emotional Foundations for Early Learning (CSEFEL), tools will be provided for teachers and caregivers of children birth to five that will help them to first prevent challenging behaviors and then to provide individualized intervention for the children who need additional support. Specific classroom activities will be presented to demonstrate how emotional literacy can be used in curriculum and participants will leave with the tools needed to assemble their own emotional literacy toolkit in order to allow for immediate implementation in the classroom.
Learning Level: Intermediate
Learning Track: Challenging Behaviors
Sandi Walters, Technical Assistance Specialist in Inclusive Practice
WestEd Center for Child and Family Studies, Ventura, CA
Linda Brault, Project Director
WestEd Center for Child and Family Studies, Ventura, CA
Strategic Literacy Support: Focus on Small Group Instruction in Reading
Can preschoolers benefit from small group reading instruction? Would you like to learn how to use little books for Reading Aloud and Shared Reading? This model uses a cycle of instruction that maximizes differentiation instruction for children grouped by similar need. Participants will learn how to consider individual learning needs when grouping preschool students for instruction. Learn how to address the Preschool Foundations for Language and Literacy by using this model for instruction and implement effective lessons using Read Aloud, Shared Reading and Guided Reading.
Learning Level: Advanced
Learning Track: Child Development - Language/Literacy
Dr. Stanley Swartz
California State University San Bernardino, Foundation for Comprehensive Early Literacy Learning, Redlands, CA
Kathy Pitchford, Literacy Coach and Staff Developer - Early Childhood and Family Education Department
Riverside Unified School District
Foundation for Comprehensive Early Literacy Learning, Redlands, CA
Home Language or English? How to Develop Both Using Concrete Teaching Strategies
Learn specific oral language interaction strategies that you can use with both English language learners and children whose home language is English. Learn how to use "differentiated instructional strategies"--different interaction techniques for different children based on their developmental levels. This participatory workshop will provide opportunities for participants to learn and practice using the oral language strategies of Information Talk, Expansion, and open-ended questions. Participants will learn techniques that they can immediately apply in their classrooms with infants, toddlers, preschoolers, or school-age children.
Learning Level: Intermediate
Learning Track: Child Development - Language/Literacy
John Gunnarson, Instructor
Napa Valley College, Child and Family Studies, Woodacre, CA
Quality Care and Emotional Regulation Development in Infants and Toddlers
Come for an in-depth examination of the key components of emotional regulatory development in infants and toddlers and the importance of this social-emotional skill set in later academic and social functioning. Discuss theoretical and research-based curricular elements considered significant in supporting emotional regulatory development and how the powerful impact of the teacher-child relationship goes beyond curriculum to be a vital force in the development of these important skills.
Learning Level: Advanced
Learning Track: Child Development - Social/Emotional Competence
Theresa Lozac'h, Teacher
Mills College Children's School, Oakland, CA
Natasha Von Deringer, MA
UC-Berkeley
Teaching in the Aftermath of Trauma: Increase Self-Regulation, Increase Achievement
A growing number of young children are experiencing stress and anxiety that interfere with academic achievement. Since 9/11, the advent of war in Iraq and the recent devastation of Hurricane Katrina, young children are viewing terrorist images and hearing gruesome stories that contribute to a sense that these are dangerous times. When such a global environmental context combines with students' own personal histories and living conditions, their abilities to learn and behave can be impacted in devastating ways. Realize that trauma is not just a large catastrophic event, but is much more common for young children than we ever imagined. A growing body of research demonstrates the impact of stress and trauma on the brain, learning, and behavior, as well as the positive effects of specific resources. Effective and easy-to-use tools that help our students decrease anxiety and increase achievement will be presented
Learning Level: Intermediate
Learning Track: Child Development - Social/Emotional Competence
*Note: this workshop is 90 minutes
Regalena Melrose, Psychologist
Las Vegas, NV
Identification, Referral, Services: Educating Infants & Toddlers with Disabilities
Serving babies and toddlers with special needs is both an ethical obligation as well as federal and state law. Participants will benefit from the most current information on the regulations, responsibilities and requirements of educating our youngest charges and their families. A portion of the workshop will be an in-service on two of the most relevant topics which are impacting the world of early childhood special needs today: premature babies and infant mental health. Participants will learn the requirements of the state and federal laws governing searching for and serving infants and toddlers with special needs and their families.
Learning Level: Intermediate
Learning Track: Children/Disabilities and Special Needs
Cyndi Ryan, Coordinator in Charge - Early Intervention Services
Los Angeles County Office of Education, Bellflower, CA
Connecting the Curriculum with Cooking
Get the recipe for integrating all areas of the curriculum through cooking activities! Practice math, science, literacy and social skills with hands-on experience using single serving recipes. Learn tips for creating a cooking center, managing cooking activities, and obtaining equipment, materials, and supplies. Handouts include recipes to put to immediate use.
Learning Level: Beginning
Learning Track: Curriculum
Dianne Young, Instructor
Fresno Pacific University, Visalia, CA
Jumpin' Numbers and Shakin' Shapes
Why do you need to use music and movement to teach mathematics? Basic brain research regarding long term and short term memory and how music and movement can improve retention of mathematical concepts will be presented. Use kinesthetic, visual, and musical techniques to teach numeral recognition and shapes through music and hand motions instead of "drill and kill" methods. Participants will learn a different song for each number 0-10 and each of the seven basic shapes (active participation encouraged!), and lots of fun activities designed to help teach numeral recognition as well as shapes.
Learning Level: Beginning
Learning Track: Curriculum - Mathematics
Heidi Butkus, Teacher
Bonita Unified School District, La Verne, CA
Songs, Games and Rhymes for Multicultural Classroom
Music can be an exceptional learning tool because it allows children to learn as they sing and play. Often, children learn faster and more effectively through games because, unlike formal teaching modalities, they are a non-threatening mode of learning. When children are singing and moving, they are more apt to enjoy, -and remember- what they learn. Learn traditional Latin American songs and original compositions in Spanish and English that teach elementary subjects such as the alphabet, vowels, numbers, colors and body parts. Use music as an activity and motivate children to learn to speak, read and write! Songs will be sung in English and Spanish. Learning Level: All
Learning Track: Curriculum - Music/Movement
This workshop will be repeated Saturday, 12:45pm Jose-Luis Orozco, Bilingual Educator, Recording Artist & Children's Author
Arcoiris Records, Los Angeles, CA
Research Based Strategies for Establishing & Nurturing Multicultural Classrooms
What is multiculturalism? Review the concept and its relationship to anti-bias and other diversity issues. Dispel myths about multiculturalism and discuss the contemporary perspective of a multicultural approach to early childhood education. Research- based evidence showing the value of this broad multicultural perspective for all groups of children, including mono-cultural ones, will be offered. Ways of developing and establishing both broad meaningful multicultural program goals and more specific ones for individual classrooms will be discussed.
Learning Level: Intermediate
Learning Track: Equity and Diversity
Maggie Jamison, Preschool Director
Fresno Interdenominational Refugee Ministries, Fresno, CA
Wrapping the Young Child: Wraparound with Birth to 6 Year Old Population
Families grieving over newly discovered developmental delays and/or mental health challenges in their young child require extra support. Learn how a Wraparound program can support your work with the birth to 6 year old population. Explore unique strategies used by Contra Costa County that integrate other systems to provide services to meet both the child's and caregiver's needs. Wraparound support services can work right from the start with pregnant/new mothers to promote bonding and provide the tools to cope with challenges that occur while also creating lifelong supports and partnerships.
Learning Level: Intermediate
Learning Track: Parent/Family Relationships and Support
Kim Stokem, Wraparound Coordinator/Facilitator
Lynn Center, Pittsburg, CA
Kathy Davison, Family Partner/Facilitator
Melinda Denhindger, Family Partner
Build it Together: How Collaborations Can Increase Childcare Quality
Hear the story of a successful community collaboration developed to increase early childhood literacy and prepare children for kindergarten. The Pasadena Collaborative Literacy Project (PCLP), funded by First 5 Los Angeles, is a partnership between six community agencies and higher education institutions to support literacy, increase early childhood education providers' knowledge, and provide on-site childcare quality support. Participants will learn about the program design and challenges/successes of implementing and sustaining a community-based collaborative. A group activity will get participants started on creating their own collaborative model.
Learning Level: Intermediate
Learning Track: Quality/Evaluation - Children
Fiona Stewart, Director - Pasadena Collaborative Literacy Project
Child Care Information Service, Pasadena, CA
Judy Cashell, Child Development Administrator
Center for Community & Family Services Head Start, Pasadena, CA
Roberta Goldberg, PhD, Director of the Community Outreach Department
Frostig Center, Pasadena, CA
Parent Perceptions of Classroom Program Quality
When parents understand the components of a high-quality early childhood environment, it results in a trusting partnership. Learn approaches to helping parents recognize and understand indicators of classroom program quality and how to use this understanding of quality as a springboard for increasing parent support and involvement. Examples of effective strategies for demonstrating quality will be provided, including: story boards, displays of children's work, parent-teacher conferences, informal coffee chats, social events, and parent leader education.
Learning Level: Intermediate
Learning Track: Quality/Evaluation - Program
Kathleen Pompey, Director of School, Parent and Community Services
Whittier College - The Broadoaks Children's School, Whittier, CA
Debra Solorzano, Madrid Parent Organization President
Whittier College - The Broadoaks Children's School, Whittier, CA
Mari Ruacho, Parent Organization Past President
Whittier College - The Broadoaks Children's School, Whittier, CA
Grounds For Play Tour of Playgrounds/Outdoor Classrooms
Advance purchase of ticket required
Supporting the Rights of Children through Legislation and Programs
How can we promote a more supportive social and legislative environment for all children? It took 40 nations 10 years to agree on the basic rights of all children regardless of their ethnicity, creed, physical or emotional abilities.In 1989 The UN Convention on the Rights of the Child was ratified providing ( or where they live and the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child provided) the framework for basic conditions all children need for healthy growth and development. Learn about the complex political issues involved and examine different ways to support the national movement for the United States Ratification of the Convention on the Rights of the Child. Gain exposure to important informational resources such as suggested books, websites, petitions and upcoming events. Learn about the 41 substantive rights and how to integrate those rights into curriculum with activities and games, as well as how to communicate those rights to parents and to children.
Learning Level: Intermediate
Learning Track: Advocacy/Public Policy
Dorothy Sailor, Professor Emeritus
Fullerton College, Fullerton, CA
Dorothy Hewes, Professor Emeritus
San Diego State University - Child Development, San Diego, CA
Head Start Today: Legislative and Program Update for 2008
Serving over 22 million children and families over the past 40 years Head Start and Early Head Start programs are vital partners in the provision of critical services to at-risk/high poverty communities. Receive the most up-to-date information on legislative and program changes with special focus on the impact of braided funding with State Child Development Programs.
Learning Level: Intermediate
Learning Track: Advocacy/Public Policy
Edward Condon, Executive Director
California Head Start Association, Sacramento, CA
Non-Violence Work: Following in Our Leaders’ Footsteps
Many important leaders led the way to a non-violent approach to learning through advocacy. Learn how we continue their work today.
Learning Track: Center for Social Change
Cindy Santa Cruz-Reed
Grass Valley, CA
Positive Discipline: The Way to a Caring Community
Positive Discipline is a research based program and philosophy designed to support teachers and parents in their work with children. The end goal is to encourage the development of responsible, capable, strong, happy, and courageous adults. Too many adults believe there are only two alternatives for dealing with challenging behaviors: punishment or permissiveness. In this workshop parents and teachers will learn many tools that are neither punitive nor permissive, but are kind and firm at the same time. Learn how to use discipline methods that contribute to life long success and gain knowledge of the "Four Criteria for Effective Discipline."
Learning Level: Intermediate
Learning Track: Challenging Behaviors
Laurie Prusso, Instructor
Modesto Junior College, Livermore, CA
Nurturing the Nature: Teaching Responsively to Boy and Girl Brains
In his new book, Nurture the Nature (2007), author Michael Gurian asserts that children are not merely blank slates to be shaped in accordance with parent/teacher preconceived ideas. A one-size-fits-all approach is not responsive to either boys or girls who are each born with a core nature that tends to be hardwired with specific needs, strengths, vulnerabilities, and learning styles. Other current research surmises that biological destiny determines the lenses through which boys and girls view, engage, and interpret the world. Brain scans demonstrate the effect that testosterone has on the developing brain and how it actually influences the topology of brain structure, affecting everything from communication to how objects are visualized. This interactive session will examine natural differences between male and female hardwiring and how to nurture the inherent nature of each
Learning Level: Intermediate
Learning Track: Child Development - Brain
Keith Pentz, National Education Advisor
Kaplan Early Learning Company, Lewisville, NC
Storytelling: A Prelude to Literacy
The capacity for imagination has far-reaching implications with respect to both creativity as well as all higher order thinking. It would be difficult to imagine a better means for the development of the imagination in young children than storytelling. Young children are naturally drawn to stories and that attraction is universal and fundamental with respect to the development of language, literacy and emotional well-being. Not the least of the benefits is that stories offer children the means to better understand themselves and to safely venture through the realm of human emotion and experience. It also grants them the occasion to visualize how people cope with the realities of everyday life. Receive instruction to improve your own storytelling abilities and techniques and benefit from hearing told stories during the presentation.
Learning Level: Beginning
Learning Track: Child Development - Language/Literacy
Michael Leeman, Educator/Musician
Roseville Community School & Preschool, Roseville, CA
Bev Bos, Teacher/Director
Roseville Community Preschool, Roseville, CA
Picture Books: Helping Kids Cope with Tough Moments and Strong Emotions
How can you help a young child deal with the strong feelings most children have and help them understand that those feelings are perfectly normal? How about with a great developmentally appropriate picture book that you can read together! Learn how books can address children's questions and concerns and also provide a framework for parents and caregivers to help children express feelings about the ups and downs of daily life. Learn how a story that rings true can foster conversations that help children better understand themselves and the world they live in.
Learning Level: Intermediate
Learning Track: Child Development - Social/Emotional Competence
Robie Harris, Children's Book Author
Raab Associates, Chappaqua, NY
Looking at the Big Picture: Setting the Stage for Social Competence
Stop trying to control the child and think about ways to control the early learning environment instead. Consider the environment as a support for pro-social development and learn how to plan your space more thoughtfully. Use a combination of physical layout and appropriate modeling to encourage play, responsibility, and community.
Learning Level: Beginning
Learning Track: Child Development - Social/Emotional Competence
Kelly Twibell, Instructor
Center for Excellence in Child Development - UC Davis Extension, Sacramento, CA
Jen Gonzalez, Instructor
Center for Excellence in Child Development - UC Davis Extension, Sacramento, CA
Clues to Identify Children with Sensory Processing Difficulties
Sensory processing is a part of typical development and especially crucial during the early years. Learn about the three particularly important sensory systems and how children with difficulties in processing sensory input often present with behaviors that limit their participation in child care settings. Some children react in an over or under responsive way to different sensory inputs. Learn about the ways these behaviors can manifest and what to do when sensory integration dysfunction affects many naturally developing skills. Discuss the potential effects of these experiences for children with sensory processing issues and learn the basic tenets of sensory integration theory and use them as a framework through which to view their children.
Learning Level: Intermediate
Learning Track: Children/Disabilities and Special Needs
Monica Mathur, Occupational Therapist
Pediatric Therapy Network, Torrance, CA
Multiple Intelligences Approach to Understanding Children and Individualizing Curriculum
Multiple Intelligences approach acknowledges the individuality of each child's dominant learning modalities. Based on the work of Howard Gardner, this workshop will review the nine intelligences and will give participants a chance to identify their own dominant intelligences. Participants will practice designing curriculum based on multiple intelligences and will practice identifying dominant intelligences from video clips.
Learning Level: Intermediate
Learning Track: Curriculum
Laura Bridges, Early Childhood Instructor
Bridges Transformation Network, Rio Linda, CA
Fun with a Paper Plate : Creative Art & Developmental Learning
Discuss art and learning outcomes while having fun with paint, collage, and simple paper plates. Paper plates are the perfect shape and weight for arts, crafts and creativity. They hold virtually any paint, glue or collage material without buckling or warping, and are thick enough for cutting into 3-D craft projects. Beyond being practical and affordable, paper plate artistry begins with a circle, the universal symbol for wholeness and life. Experiment with your own artistic expression in order to internalize the outcomes desired for each of the different projects.
Learning Level: All
Learning Track: Curriculum - Art
Anna Reyner, Director of Training
Excelligence Learning Corporation, Los Angeles, CA
Curriculum-based Finger Plays, Rhymes, Stories, Songs and Books Combined with Felt-board Puppets
A fast-paced, fun-filled workshop of curriculum-based finger plays, rhymes, stories, songs and books combined with felt-board finger and hand puppets and props. Learn how to effectively use these attention-getting-and-keeping props to help raise the level of engagement in teaching age appropriate math, science, language, literature, music, art and life lessons while meeting the needs of the visual, auditory and physical learners simultaneously. Receive a volume of fresh new materials and ideas that can be easily integrated into current lesson plans.
Learning Level: All
Learning Track: Curriculum - Circle Time
Judy Woodworth, CEO
Artfelt, San Fernando, CA
Intentional Teaching of Mathematics: The Creative Curriculum Approach
Children use mathematics including numbers, shapes, sizes, and patterns to make sense of their world. Learn how to support them within the context of a comprehensive curriculum that includes a mathematic component. Discuss mathematic concepts, see how you can plan a mathematics program that is tailored to the individual child, and explore how mathematics learning can be incorporated into the different interest areas of a classroom through careful selection and inclusion of materials and books and the intentional introduction of mathematics activities.
Learning Level: Intermediate
Learning Track: Curriculum - Mathematics
Hilary Parrish, Product Development Associate
Teaching Strategies, Inc., Washington DC
Ready! Set! Learn! Through Music
Music is the Key for Learning
Learn 18 easy-to-sing and easy-to-teach songs for 3 -to- 7 year olds in this exciting, energizing session. Music activities teach opposites, beginning sounds, numbers, letters, counting, colors, shapes, body parts, rhyming and much more. These proven, fun, successful activities teach more than curriculum, they also teach listening skills, taking turns, being a leader, social skills, relationships with other children and creating movements and motions to songs. See a variety of teaching techniques being demonstrated and actively participate in the process. Extensive handouts are provided.
Learning Level: Beginning
Learning Track: Curriculum - Music/Movement
Kathy Birk
Early Childhood Music Teacher and Trainer/College Education Professor/Composer/Consultant, Valparaiso, IN
Building a Better Community Song by Song
Community building songs enable children to learn together and to share community values such as respect for each other and the environment, cultural diversity and gender equity. Develop confidence and skill toward building learning communities in class and playrooms, and learn how to discern and select good children's music. Gain specific information on how important music is to children's social development, and how interactive songs can help children develop strong community skills from listening and active participation as they sing, sign, dance and move.
Learning Level: All
Learning Track: Curriculum - Music/Movement
Vincent, Composer & Musician
Lighthouse Records
Fairport, NY
Summertime Science: Fun Science Activities with Easily Obtained Materials
Science can be fun! Allowing children to predict and document a project allows them to create their own learning. Wouldn't it be fun to learn about projects like building rockets, building sailboats and rafts, or hot air balloons and kites out of common household items? It is! How about studying solar power or forensics? That can be done too! Time will be allotted for project building and a list of resources will be given to workshop participants. Learn how to make science fun for staff and students in a very down to earth way!
Learning Level: All
Learning Track: Curriculum - Science/Technology
Mary Kaye Stephens, Science Lab Teacher
Merriewood Children's Center, Lafayette, CA
Mim Bazzell, Assistant Director, Art Curriculum Director, Teacher
Merriewood Children's Center, Lafayette, CA
Sing, Dance, Laugh and Learn: Integrating Music in the Classroom
For over 20 years the Banana Slug String Band has shown how the learning and teaching of science can be enhanced through the use of content rich music. Learn music and activities that can be used in the classroom to teach a variety of life science themes. Music employs multiple learning modalities and it is particularly useful for kinesthetic and auditory learners as well as fostering a sense of community for all.
Learning Level: All
Learning Track: Curriculum - Science/Technology
Larry Graff, Banana Slug String Band
Santa Cruz, CA
Doug Greenfield, Banana Slug String Band
Santa Cruz, CA
English At The Beginning
Learn how preschool teachers can help English learners access curriculum by gaining increased knowledge of the four stages of preschool language acquisition and five important strategies to systematically support young children. Utilizing video examples, we observe and discuss best practices, where play and the asset of diversity are celebrated.
Learning Level: Beginning and Intermediate
Learning Track: Equity and Diversity
Sally Durbin, National Board Certified Teacher
Los Angeles Unified School District, Sherman Oaks, CA
Julie Espinoza, Family Literacy Coordinator
Mothers' Club Community Center, Los Angeles, CA
Creating Meaningful Jewish Celebrations
Enrich holiday celebrations through art, music, and stories that will hold the children's attention as they learn. Participants will increase their knowledge of Jewish holidays while learning how to compile all of the information into a file system that includes project ideas, websites for parents, and book and song lists for each holiday.
Learning Level: Beginning
Learning Track: Faith-based ECE
Tracy Rice, Children's Programming Coordinator
Congregation Kol Shofar, Tiburon, CA
Environmental Health in the Childcare Setting
The food children eat, the air they breathe, and the products in their surroundings are increasingly cause for health and safety concerns. Reduce children's exposure to common toxics by taking simple steps. Participants will gain knowledge of significant environmental health issues affecting young children and preventative actions to reduce risks. Resources available to assist childcare facilities in taking these steps will be provided and participants will learn how to self-evaluate their organization, as well as how to develop an action plan.
Learning Level: Intermediate
Learning Track: Health
Sara Leverette, Outreach Program Director
Oregon Environmental Council, Portland, OR
Hester Dooley, National Program Manager, Eco Healthy Childcare
Oregon Environmental Council, Portland OR
Infant/Toddler Primary Caregivers & Responsive Caregiving
Respond to infants and toddlers appropriately by learning observation and interaction skills. A brief overview of infant brain development will be provided with an emphasis on the infant's developmental capacity and need to build relationships with their caregivers.
Learning Level: Beginning
Learning Track: Infants and Toddlers
Cheryl Collins, Child Development Supervisor II
Stanislaus County Office of Education - Child & Family Services, Modesto, CA
Community Collaboration to Develop Kindergarten Readiness Festivals
Learn from a success story! The Long Beach Unified School District, City of Long Beach, Long Beach City College, CSULB private family child care, and the business community enjoy a successful collaborative that presents Kindergarten Readiness skills to parents. The group has developed a brochure on Kindergarten Readiness and prompted Kindergarten Readiness Festivals to help disseminate information regarding standards and the Kindergarten registration process, and provides backpacks filled with school supplies and books for pre-Kindergarteners, while their parents learn more about better preparing their children for school. Learn how to define Kindergarten Standards in a "parent friendly" way, involving hands-on activities parents can complete with their children.
Learning Level: Intermediate
Learning Track: Kindergarten/Primary
Nancy Manriquez-Dowell, District Parent Educator/Administrator
Long Beach Unified School District, Lakewood, CA
Luanne Mauro-Atkinson, Head Start Administrator
Long Beach Unified School District Head Start, Long Beach, CA
Tracy Colunga Hollingsworth, Child Care Coordinator
City of Long Beach Department of Health and Human Services, Long Beach, CA
Pursuing Happiness
African-American children continue to struggle with many issues. Learn about the criteria described in the State of Black America 2007 report from the Urban League. The current conditions of African-American males will be emphasized. This interactive workshop will explore issues related to assessments, learning styles, curriculum, quality teacher ratios, and foster care. Collectively learn new strategies to increase achievement of African-American male children and reach out to parents in order to improve the lives of children.
Learning Level: Intermediate
Learning Track: Parent/Family Relationships and Support
Rodney West, Site Development
San Diego Unified School District, San Diego, CA
Larry Brantley, Center Administrator
Neighborhood House Association, San Diego, CA
How to Take the Sting Out of Biting!
Learn one center's family education approach to helping children who bite. Explore proven strategies that reduce the angst of biting and also develop handouts to help families understand biting. Explore the different reasons children bite and learn how to create strategies to help the family, your staff and the children involved.
Learning Level: Intermediate
Learning Track: Parent/Family Relationships and Support
Beth Finney, Infant/Toddler Program Coordinator
ONEgeneration Childcare, Van Nuys, CA
Judy Hamilton, Sr. Director of Intergenerational Programming
ONEgeneration Childcare, Van Nuys, CA
You're Not in Kansas Anymore: Moving from Teaching to Directing
Designed specifically for those considering leaving the classroom and moving into the field of directing. Explore the role of directors and the skills necessary for the position. Examine the motives behind the decision for a career change. This is an interactive workshop where stories will be shared and voices heard. Participants will receive support and guidance as they transition from teacher to director or conversely, challenging themselves if they decide to remain in the classroom
Learning Level: Intermediate
Learning Track: Professional Development
Cathy Bell, Director of Infant and Toddler Programs
Child Educational Center
Sunland, CA
Abuse & Neglect: Impact on Children's Learning and Behavior
This workshop addresses the pivotal link between attachment and brain development in infancy and early childhood -what happens to the ‘building blocks' of the brain in a nurturing environment, and how is this compromised when there is ongoing trauma such as abuse or neglect, and how does this impact learning and behavior? The discussion will provide an understanding of these dynamics for caregivers and teachers, as well as practical tools for helping these children in group settings.
Learning Level: Beginning
Learning Track: Professional Development
Penny Davis, Director - Foster and Kinship Care Education Program / Certified Positive Discipline Associate
Riverside Community College, Riverside, CA
Caught Between a Rock and a Hard Place Ethical Dilemmas
After identifying and discussing what an ethical dilemma is, several scenarios will be presented for participants to analyze and work through in small groups. Participants will brainstorm possible solutions to the presented ethical dilemmas using the NAEYC Code of Ethics as a tool. The ethical dilemmas presented are drawn from our real life experiences in the early childhood education field.
Learning Level: Intermediate
Learning Track: Professional Development
Marilyn Shelton, Professor
California State University Fresno, Fresno, CA
Carolyn Tate, Family Child Care Provider
Sharon Davisson, Adjunct Faculty
Pacific Oaks College, Nevada City, CA
Barbara Price, Waldorf Early Childhood Educator
Grass Valley, CA
Natural Rhythms Collage: An Exploration in Personal Professional Development
Self reflection is an integral, essential part of our development as early childhood educators. When we take time to reconnect with our inner selves, we nurture and rejuvenate ourselves. This enriches our ability to work with and support, in a healthy and constructive manner, our colleagues, and the children and families whom we serve. You are invited to experience hands-on sensory and reflective activities as facilitators help you move through this self-guided workshop. The goal is to nourish the self-reflective spirit, cultivate inner peace, strength, clarity and compassion.
Learning Level: All
Learning Track: Professional Development
Lynne Doherty-Lyle, Master Teacher
Sonoma State University, Rohnert Park, CA
The Child Development Permit: Qualifications and How to Apply
Experience the A-Z of the Child Development Permit Matrix, including the options for meeting its qualifications and how to complete all application forms for the permit. The purpose of the Child Development Training Consortium will be discussed and a complete overview of the Child Development Permit Matrix will be given.
Learning Level: Beginning
Learning Track: Professional Development - Workforce Development
This workshop will presented in Spanish on Saturday, 10:30am.
Ofelia Gomez, Permit Processing Technician III
Child Development Training Consortium, Modesto, CA
Building a Foundation for Movement
Early childhood programs are an ideal setting for promoting physical activity and for laying the foundation for gross motor development. However, physical activity is rarely incorporated into early childhood settings. With the support of classroom teachers, physical educators, and health professionals, SPARK's Early Childhood program for children ages 3-5 was developed. The program is teacher friendly, progressive, and easy to implement. Children will not only be more active but also gain opportunities to enhance social and personal skills. Participants will learn creative ways to engage children in movement, as well as provide opportunities for growth and exploration. Come join in on this session and leave with creative and easy ways to move with your students!
Learning Level: Beginning
Learning Track: Quality/Evaluation - Program
Jill Lam, SPARK Trainer
San Diego, CA
Content Standards and Developmentally Appropriate Practice: Putting it All Together
Implementing curriculum in lower grades, including Pre-K, is a trend that has become a requirement. Participants will learn about preschool and kindergarten content standards and develop approaches to meet the standards using appropriate activities. The interactive workshop will include group development of a lesson which incorporates curriculum that reflects standards.
Learning Level: Beginning
Learning Track: Quality/Evaluation - Program
Alicia Davis, Child Development Specialist
Comprehensive Child Development Inc., Family Child Care/LAUP, Long Beach, CA
Dealing with Anger Compassionately: Teaching Healthy Expressions of Anger.
(Spanish language description to be provided.)
Learn how to value the power of the emotional information that is coded in anger. Increase your awareness that anger is an expression of unmet needs and feelings and receive guidance as to what self-empathy techniques can be used when you feel the impact of a child’s anger. Explore the concept of compassionate communication and learn strategies to help children self-regulate. Discuss creative and playful resolutions that validate the needs the children are seeking to fulfill.
Learning Level: Beginning
Learning Track: Spanish - Child Development - Social/Emotional Competence
This workshop offered in English on Saturday, 2:45pm.
Ruth Beaglehole, Executive Director
Center for Nonviolent Education and Parenting, Los Angeles, CA
Literacy Across Borders: Making Books in Tijuana
Spanish language workshop title and description to be provided.
Learning Track: Spanish -- Equity & Diversity
Cathy Deweese-Parkinson,
San Ysidro, CA and Tijuana, Mexico
Reynaldo Escoto
2008 Advocacy in the State Capitol
Are you inspired to advocate for children? This workshop will show you how the California Legislative and Budget Process works and offer practical tips you can immediately use to communicate with your legislators. The presentation will include a look at the current legislative session, as well as reflect on key issues surrounding the upcoming debate regarding the 2008-09 California State Budget.
Learning Level: Beginning
Learning Track: Advocacy/Public Policy
Alex Cooke, Publisher
On the Capitol Doorstep, Sacramento, CA
Lesson Learned: The Journey On Becoming An Anti-bias Educator
Two educators share strategies, challenges, and celebrations they have experienced in 15 years of teaching an anti-bias perspective seminar.
Learning Track: Center for Social Change
Chris Lamm, Professor
Fullerton College, Fullerton, CA
Adela Lopez, Professor and Department Chair
Fullerton College – Ethnics Studies, Fullerton, CA
Turning 'No' into 'Yes'
Turning NO into YES is a complex skill that requires patience, consistency, and creativity. A young child's world rapidly expands from the security of home to the unpredictability of the outside world. Toddlers are busy creating their own identities as they explore their budding independence and older children are experimenting with power and control as they begin to make choices, test limits, and gain confidence in their own abilities. Oftentimes, using NO is a child's first experiment with power either as an individual, within an adult/child interaction, or in a peer/peer relationship. To encourage cooperation in our classrooms, teachers need to be both developmentally-appropriate and culturally-responsive in teaching styles, build upon a child's individual strengths, set up positive feedback loops and environments, and offer suitable choices to nurture independent decision-making skills. NO decreases as children learn to express their needs and emotions in healthy ways. By understanding NO we make room for YES.
Learning Level: Beginning
Learning Track: Challenging Behaviors
Heidi Emberling, Early Childhood Educator
Parents Place, Palo Alto, CA
The Child Connection...Get It! How Attachment Affects Behavior
What if every parent could learn to develop a new way to connect with their children? What if every parenting style included the ability to make sense out of behavior and resolve issues with confidence and compassion? They can! By using evidence based research from Dr. Daniel Siegal, Joseph LeDoux and John Bowlby & Beverly James on attachment theory, the brain and behavior and emotional education “The Child Connection” teaches you to help parents understand what their family’s patterns of behavior are and what to logically do when conflict arises. This dramatically different way of looking at literally any childhood behavior is based upon parents understanding their own intuition when it comes to raising their children and then developing a new intuition about how they connect with their children.
Learning Track: Challenging Behaviors
Ann Corwin, PhD
The Parenting Doctor, Laguna Niguel, CA
The How's and Why's of Teaching Critical Thinking Skills To Young Children
Why do children need to develop critical thinking and problem solving skills? This will be discussed, as well as ways to promote these skills in everyday classroom and playtime situations. Enjoy the opportunity to also work in dyads or small groups exploring and discovering ways to use these skills in the classroom learning environment. See how these ideas fit with teaching early literacy, science, social and emotional, and math skills.
Learning Level: Beginning to Intermediate
Learning Track: Child Development - Brain
Susan Ferguson, College Instructor/Early Childhood Education Consultant
National University, San Diego Community College District, UC Davis Extension, San Diego, CA
Dog! Cat! Mouse! Rat! Feel the Rhythm in Language
Hands-on activities enjoyed with 3-5 year olds (and older) are demonstrated to help classroom teachers see and understand the natural connections between rhythm, language, and stories. Participate in fun, simple activities that demonstrate how to use familiar rhythm instruments (drums, maracas, tambourines, etc.) in specific ways that link rhythm and language. Explore how poems, songs, and stories become vehicles for promoting interdisciplinary learning. Evaluate support for constructivist theories with obvious socio-cultural implications and learn how teachers and students can share in collaborative creativity.
Learning Level: Beginning
Learning Track: Child Development - Language/Literacy
Paul Morehouse, Early Childhood Music Specialist
Child Development Consortium Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA
Play and Literacy: Teaching Foundational Reading Skills through Games
Play while exploring the pedagogical foundation for literacy games! Games can help fulfill one of a teacher's greatest responsibilities which is to lay the foundation for the development of the skills necessary to learn to read. Children love to play, and teachers can take advantage of this natural inclination in children and teach through games. Participants will explore the literacy function of various games and then play them in order to duplicate them in the classroom with simple, inexpensive materials. Receive handouts with detailed instructions on how to construct the games, and explore ways of applying these games in different thematic units and with children of varying ages and skill levels.
Learning Level: Intermediate
Learning Track: Child Development - Language/Literacy
Dr. Enid Acosta-Tello
National University - School of Education, Orange, CA
Family Reading: How to Start the Habit
Success and failure depend on our habits. When we choose to develop and maintain healthy habits, we cannot help but live and grow in all areas of our lives. This includes physical progress as well as academic and emotional development. Various techniques will be explored which can motivate children to make daily reading an enjoyable, fascinating, and adventurous experience.
Learning Level:
Learning Track: Child Development - Language/Literacy
Seth Sherwood, Executive Director
Family Reading Inc., Ladera Ranch, CA
Mental Health Activities for the Preschool Classroom
A child's mental health can affect their ability to learn, follow classroom expectations, and get along with others? At this training you will learn about activities that you can use in the classroom to promote positive mental health? Come share actual experiences and discuss possible solutions and gain tools and activities that can easily be added to a daily schedule. Learn the multitude of benefits that providing mental health activities will bring to the children and to you!
Learning Level: Beginning
Learning Track: Child Development - Social/Emotional Competence
Denise Cavner, Director
San Jacinto Unified School District, San Jacinto, CA
Elizabeth Zaragosa, Teacher
San Jacinto Unified School District Head Start, San Jacinto, CA
Conflict Resolution
Children need to find internal courage and strength to overcome conflicts on their own and you can help! Discuss different techniques to use to help children read social cues, narrate actions, describe feelings, take care of and listen to their friends and develop a sense of empathy. Learn to model empathy and assist children learn those ever-important negotiation skills in order to resolve conflicts.
Learning Level: Beginning
Learning Track: Child Development - Social/Emotional Competence
Gilda Moshir, Director/Teacher
Cottage Co-Op Nursery School, Pasadena, CA
Kira Solomotova, Assistant Director/Teacher
Cottage Co-Op Nursery School, Pasadena, CA
Arthur Arellanes, Lead Teacher
Cottage Co-Op Nursery School, Pasadena, CA
Angelina Guerrero, Lead Teacher
Cottage Co-Op Nursery School, Pasadena, CA
Zeyda Loera, Lead Teacher
Cottage Co-Op Nursery School, Pasadena, CA
Inclusion Programming for Young Children with Autistic Spectrum Disorders
While research suggests that children with autistic spectrum disorders (ASD) benefit from inclusive programming, inclusive early intervention programs that include outcome data are rare. Come review a detailed case study done at the Children's Toddler School (CTS), a naturalistic, inclusion model integrating toddlers with autism and typically developing 18 to 36 month olds attending for full time day care. Review new data that suggests that inclusive programming for children with autism under three is a successful method for increasing children's developmental level, communication, play, and social skills as well as benefiting typically developing preschool and elementary age children by increasing social skills and sensitivity to differences. New follow-up data will also be presented. Additionally, methods of moving inclusion programming beyond age three will be discussed. Specific examples of program development, funding challenges, personnel support and parent education will be provided.
Learning Level:
Learning Track: Children/Disabilities and Special Needs
Aubyn Stahmer, Psychologist/Research Scientist
Rady Children's Hospital, San Diego, CA
Gina Miller, Inclusion Specialist
Rady Children's Hospital, San Diego, CA
Lara Padrigon, Preschool Teacher
Rady Children's Hospital, San Diego, CA
You (Yes, You!) CAN Serve Children with Special Needs
Working with children with special needs and their families comes with its own set of challenges and rewards. Learn best practices for successfully incorporating children with special needs in a preschool setting. This workshop is designed to give teachers without a great deal of experience the confidence to respond to children with special needs. Discuss a list of challenges that typically trained preschool teachers face when a child with special needs joins their class (such as not having a low enough ratio, limited or no access to specialized equipment and no specialized experience) and learn to recognize your own existing strengths and skills and leave ready to apply them with renewed confidence.
Learning Level: Beginning
Learning Track: Children/Disabilities and Special Needs
Cassie Britton, Program Director
The Little School, San Francisco, CA
Todd Wanerman, Head Teacher
The Little School, San Francisco, CA
Nurture the Imagination: Table Top Dramatic Play
What is table top dramatic play and why is it important? View examples of table top play and participate in hands-on experimentation in small groups. Learn both theory and practical application for this important learning tool. Gain knowledge of the five basic strategies for connecting table top dramatic play into other parts of curriculum and the importance of doing so.
Learning Level:
Learning Track: Curriculum
Debra Pourroy, Professor
Los Angeles Community College District, Santa Monica, CA
Back to Basics: How to Tell a Felt Story
Felt and flannel-boards can be used in every area of the classroom. Explore what's new, how to use felt and how to make the perfect felt board, as well as the best resources for materials and ideas. Participants will gain tips for creating an open-ended felt center in the classroom, making felt figures, and how to tell the perfect felt story. Handouts include songs, fingerplays, stories, rhymes, patterns and more!
Learning Level: Beginning
Learning Track: Curriculum - Circle Time
Robin Suitt, Owner / CDE Adjunct Professor
Learning Wonders, Inc. / Mt. San Jacinto College, Canyon Lake, CA
Developmentally Appropriate Sequences of Mathematics Skills in Early Childhood
Description to be provided.
Learning Level:
Learning Track: Curriculum - Mathematics
John Funk, Clinical Instructor/Education Manager
University of Utah/Excelligence Learning Corp., Salt Lake City, UT
Mrs. Flutterbee's Wacky Music, Dance and Story Adventure
Description to be provided.
Learning Level:
Learning Track: Curriculum - Music/Movement
Kati Butcher, Teacher and Founder
Kati Bee And Friends, Riverside, CA
Ocean Animals: Jellies and Octopi - Oh My!
How do ocean animals move or find food and protection? Discover fascinating facts about the body parts and behaviors of jellies and octopus, and create simple models that students can also make. With this art, participants will do fun math and literacy activities while experimenting with new vocabulary, observe and examine natural phenomena through senses.
Learning Level: Beginning
Learning Track: Curriculum - Science/Technology
Kathy McElroy, Senior Education Specialist
Monterey Bay Aquarium, Monterey, CA
Appropriate Technology and Resources for Young Children
Finding appropriate software, technology, and resources for young children can be a challenge. Children need to be provided with the ability to find appropriate, educationally sound resources. Explore research-based strategies for finding and using various types of technology, software, and web-based resources. Participants will gain knowledge of how to review and evaluate some of the material on their own.
Learning Level: Intermediate
Learning Track: Curriculum - Science/Technology
Mike Menchaca, Assistant Professor
University of Hawaii, Honolulu, HI
The Endangered Garden: Reconnecting to Nature in the Early Childhood Environment
The denatured childhood is an epidemic of our time - many children are more familiar with cartoon characters than they are with the plants and animals that can be found outdoors. This workshop will look at a creative gardening curriculum for the preschool environment which can be implemented regardless of the space, climate and resources available. Learn how gardening spans the curriculum to include math, literacy, cooking, art, and music. Information will be provided about various types of gardens and how to work them into spaces in the environment.
Learning Level: Beginning
Learning Track: Environments - Outdoors
Lytha Roddy, Early Childhood Educator
Hill & Dale Family Learning Center, Santa Monica, CA
Reggio Beginnings: Starting the Journey Together at a New Center
Many educators are inspired by the Reggio Emilia approach to education, but may lack the support, resources, or understandings to embark upon the study of it in their centers. Often, there are misrepresentations about what Reggio Emilia is about and how it is adapted to the American context in individual schools. In addition, many educators feel overwhelmed by the Reggio ideas and do not attempt the journey of study and change. The purpose of this presentation is to educate and inform participants about how to begin the process of studying and reflecting about Reggio Emilia. By sharing many concrete experiences which included bringing Reggio ideas to different centers, participants will learn steps to take in beginning their own journey.
Learning Level:
Learning Track: Environments - Reggio Emilia
This workshop will be repeated Saturday, 12:45pm
Lisa Hinshelwood, Curriculum Development Specialist
Google , Mountain View, CA
Cultural Diversity in the Classroom: Is it Possible?
An open and accepting environment is essential in order to model diversity. Learn techniques designed to encourage getting to know families, boost parent involvement and plan curriculum that includes different cultures. Gain knowledge of setting up an environment and materials that can be used to support learning about diverse cultures.
Learning Level: Intermediate
Learning Track: Equity and Diversity
Tammy Alvidrez, Child Development Consultant
Natural Instincts Developmental Resources, Hanford, CA
Mark Alvidrez, Family Resource Center Director
Armona Family Resource Center, Armona Union Elementary School District, Hanford, CA
Make a Joyful Noise: Creative Chapel Ideas
Create memorable chapel time for children with creative, innovative ideas that can be used with small or large groups. Simple props, songs, stories and flannel boards will be demonstrated. Participants will be encouraged to use all five senses and address various learning styles while presenting chapel stories. Take a fresh look at how chapel time is structured and gain confidence in presenting religious topics.
Learning Level: Beginning
Learning Track: Faith-based ECE
Joyce Jones, Director-St. Paul's Preschool
Orange Coast College, Tustin, CA
Peggy Bradford, Teacher- St. Paul's Preschool
Orange Coast College, Tustin, CA
Yes! I Can Get a Handle on Hand Washing!
What is the big deal about germs and hand washing in the ECERS-R? Find out at this interactive workshop that will engage participants in learning effective strategies for introducing health and sanitation practices to children. Practices successfully implemented in quality preschool programs that score high on the ECERS-R Personal Care Routines sub-scale will be shared.
Learning Level: Beginning
Learning Track: Health
Rachel Johnson, Starting Points 4 Preschool Coach
Los Angeles Universal Preschool, Los Angeles, CA
Jennifer Huen-Chan, Starting Points 4 Preschool Coach
Los Angeles Universal Preschool, Los Angeles, CA
Facilitating Infant/Toddler Discoveries and Learning
Based on the principles and philosophy of the Program for Infant Toddler Care (PITC) and Beginning Together Inclusive Practice, this workshop encompasses six primary discoveries of infancy: the use of tools, cause and effect, object permanence, understanding space, imitation, and learning schemes. Emphasis will be placed on the importance of infants and toddlers having the freedom to make learning choices and to experience the world on their own terms. Examples will include infants and toddlers with disabilities and other special needs, demonstrating how the six discoveries are of equal importance for children with disabilities and special needs.
Learning Level: Intermediate
Learning Track: Infants and Toddlers
Cecilia Thay, Infant Toddler Specialist Coordinator
WestEd Program for Infant Toddler Care, Upland, CA
Sandi Walters, Inclusion Specialist
WestEd Center for Child and Family Studies, Ventura, CA
A Fair Start: Bringing Montessori into the Public System
How do you mesh a traditional educational system with an alternative curriculum approach? Learn about the pitfalls and successes of converting an existing ECE program into an entirely different curriculum. Gain insight into the three aspects of bringing Montessori into a Public System: defining the radically different role of the Montessori adult, the importance of designing and preparing a Montessori children's space and environment, and the critical philosophical underpinnings needed to create an authentic program. Explore the inclusive nature of the project - pulling low income, working, middle class and upper middle class families into a program previously found only in private settings in San Francisco.
Learning Level: Intermediate
Learning Track: Kindergarten/Primary
Emily Green, Montessori Implementer - SFUSD Model Montessori Project
San Francisco Unified School District Child Development Program, San Francisco, CA
Carol Husbands, Site Manager
Dr. William Cobb CDC - San Francisco Unified School District Child Development Program
Tara Ryan, Teacher on Special Assignment
San Francisco Unified School District Child Development Program
Beth Wieger, Lead Teacher
Ready for School: A Team Approach by the Freedom School PreK Transition Team Approach
Professional partnerships between early care and elementary educators can help improve future school success for young children and members of the Freedom School PreK Transition Team will discuss characteristics of an effective transition plan. Learn the components of a successful transition plan as identified by First 5, including continuity of services, parent/family/community involvement, and preparation of children and collaboration among educators. Coherent transition plans address the needs of the whole child, involve families, and bring together early care and elementary educators. Review a detailed case study centered on the Freedom School in Watsonville, CA and the formal collaboration structures used to produce a strong inter-agency partnership.
Learning Level: Advanced
Learning Track: Kindergarten/Primary
This workshop offered in Spanish on Saturday, 8:30am.
Alma Martinez
First 5 Santa Cruz County - Readiness Programs, Capitola, CA
More than Cookies and Hugs: Grandparents Raising Young Grandchildren
Almost 6% of children live in homes where grandparents are the head of households (U.S. Census, 2001). California has the highest number of children living in a grandparent headed households in the country- 625,934 (U.S. Census, 2000). Examine the many societal conditions that contribute to the situation. Teachers must be in a position to help grandparents, parents and the children themselves cope with the stresses and challenging family dynamics. Participants will learn five specific strategies for responding to those challenges in ways that are culturally responsive and respectful, as well as resources available to grandparents raising a second family.
Learning Level: Intermediate
Learning Track: Parent/Family Relationships and Support
Lucinda Kramer, Ph.D
National University, Laguna Niguel, CA
You Don't Understand! You Don't Have Children!
Have you ever heard that you can't know or understand because you don't have children of your own? Learn about strategies, techniques, and skills to respond to parents and family members who make this statement with considerate confidence. Explore different communication styles, types of parents and families, cultures and values, and how all of these relate to the work we do each day with children and families.
Learning Level: Beginning
Learning Track: Parent/Family Relationships and Support
Stacey Smith, Site Supervisor
Long Beach City College Child Development Center, Long Beach, CA
Jalene Ellis Weigand, Assistant Site Supervisor
Child Development, Inc., Buena Park, CA
Personal Professional Development: Thinking and Feeling with Clay
Self reflection is an integral, essential part of our development as early childhood educators. When we take time to reconnect with our inner selves, we nurture and rejuvenate ourselves. This enriches our ability to work with and support, in a healthy and constructive manner, our colleagues, and the children and families whom we serve. The focus of this part (part 2) of personal professional development is on clay and the potential of clay to connect our thoughts and feelings. By offering a choice of hands-on sensory and reflective activities including a labyrinth to walk, sand trays to explore, clay monoliths to transform, seasonal collages to create collaboratively, plus experiences in the practice of everyday mindfulness, we encourage educators to reconnect with themselves through the senses and through play.
Learning Level: All
Learning Track: Professional Development
Enid Elliot
Victoria, British Columbia
Janet Gonzalez-Mena, ECE Consultant
Fairfield, CA
Lynne Doherty-Lyle, Master Teacher
Sonoma State University Children's School, Rohnert Park, CA
Lisa Lee, Technical Assistance Coordinator
Preschool for All San Francisco, Suisun City, CA
Become a Professional Growth Advisor!
Open to all attendees that are interested in becoming advisors! Come experience a comprehensive review of the process from the requirements and documentation, to the opportunity to be added to the CDTC registry if qualified. This interactive session will benefit all attendees that want to learn more about the qualifications of becoming a professional growth advisor.
Learning Level: Advanced
Learning Track: Professional Development - Workforce Development
Gail Brovont, CDTC Project Manager
Child Development Training Consortium, Modesto, CA
Creating a User Friendly Portfolio System
Portfolios are an intricate part of the current NAEYC Accreditation process. Explore organizational tools that teachers and administrators can use to create a portfolio system that is both easily accessible and more manageable to upkeep on an ongoing basis.Participants will acquire a greater understanding of the guidelines for NAEYC required portfolios and will review the ten standards as they relate to classroom and program portfolios.
Learning Level: Beginning
Learning Track: Quality/Evaluation - Program
Paul Ramey, Curriculum Coordinator
Glendale Adventist Medical Center - Children's Center Services, La Crescenta, CA
Jenny Hueter, Site Director
Glendale Adventist Medical Center Community Children's Center - Children's Center Services, La Crescenta, CA
How to Help Children and Their Families When Experiencing Divorce? / Como Ayudar a los Ninos y sus Familias Cuando Atraviesan por el Proceso de un Divorcio?
Spanish language description to be provided.
Divorce is a process, not an event. In order to have a better understanding of family dynamics, we will discuss the Family Stress Theory. Consider different perspectives for thinking about divorce and challenge your own assumptions, attitudes, and beliefs about how families are affected by divorce. Learn about some of the interventions that can help facilitate a families adjustment. Explore different ways to help children understand divorce in terms of the classroom setting.
Learning Level: Intermediate
Learning Track: Spanish - Parent/Family Relationships and Support
Janice Velazquez, Professor
Los Angeles Community College District, Granada Hills, CA
Character Education through Picture Books and their Songs
Spanish language description and title to be provided.
Learning Track: Spanish – Child Development – Language/Literacy
Cherie Greene Moraga, Coordinator – Children’s Bookmobile
Oxnard School District, Oxnard, CA
Paola Moraga, Kindergarten Volunteer
Oxnard, CA
The Many Faces of Accreditation
All interested affiliate Accreditation chairs and other ECE professionals are invited to hear a panel presentation focused on analyzing and discussing the many stages, phases, and outcomes of the Accreditation process. The panel has experience in each stage of the Accreditation process so bring your questions, comments and concerns, as we navigate the process and changes to the system.
Learning Level: Intermediate
Learning Track: Accreditation
Carolyn Kori Sanders, Administrative Director
Bright Horizons/Universal Studios CCC, Los Angeles, CA
Phyllis Schneider, Director
St. Mel's Preschool, Chatsworth, CA
Reducing Teacher Turnover in Child Care
Teacher turnover is a problem that plagues most early childhood programs. Yet, we know teacher continuity is more likely to provide quality early care and education. Reflect on your own work climate and explore new strategies for retaining quality teachers that don’t involve large monetary investments. Discuss the role training and wages play in teacher retention and creative ways to use other techniques such as facilitating co-worker relations¸ the supervisor/teacher relationship¸ shared decision-making¸ and clarifying assigned tasks and roles in order to improve retention.
Learning Level: Intermediate
Learning Track: Administration
Holly Lopez Stevens, Preschool Coach
Los Angeles Universal Preschool
Los Angeles, CA
Revolution! Moving Hearts of Policy-makers and Parents towards Valuing Play
Play is valuable! We know that, but we also need to know how to clearly demonstrate the value of play to both policy makers and parents. Examine contemporary factors that combine to devalue play today and identify some of the tools that can help early childhood staff become fluent in describing how young children learn. A panel of experts and participants will collaboratively explore ways to clearly communicate that play is the primary way young children meet the world.
Learning Level:
Learning Track: Advocacy/Public Policy
Su Livingston, Play Matters Consultant and Community College Instructor
Santa Monica College, UCLA Extension, Manhattan Beach, CA
Elizabeth Jones, Professor
Pacific Oaks College - Early Childhood Education & Distance Education
Janice Minton, Executive Director
The Atlas Family Foundation
Meet Your CAEYC State Public Policy Committee
Attendees are invited to meet members of CAEYC's Public Policy Committee. This is a great opportunity to have an open dialogue with the committee and hear about CAEYC's recent activity in the public policy arena. You will also learn how the committee operates and how you can participate to make a difference.
Learning Level: All
Learning Track: Advocacy/Public Policy
Fran Chasen, CAEYC Public Policy Chair
Santa Monica, CA
Communication Tips for Teachers: Say Less and Encourage More Cooperation
Wouldn't it be great to change behavior just by the way you speak? You can! Experiment with linguistic tools used to minimize typical behavioral challenges around routines and transitions. Learn more effective ways to give directions, reinforce appropriate behavior, and redirect negative behavior, just by changing the language you use. Recognizing typical "teacher talk" and changing what you say will bring positive results.
Learning Level: Beginning
Learning Track: Challenging Behaviors
Francesca Gallozzi, Director
Center for Children and Families, California State University San Marcos
The Joy of Kamishibai: Discover Japanese Paper Theater" Storytelling"
What is kamishibai? Experience how the visual storytelling format called kamishibai can help children develop literacy and enable teachers to tell stories rather than simply reading them. This format is especially effective for young children, special-needs and English learners. Discuss kamishibai lesson plans, learn how to make kamishibai decks, and acquire insider performance techniques from experienced storytellers.
Learning Level: Intermediate
Learning Track: Child Development - Language/Literacy
Hazuki Kataoka, Author and Publisher
Leaf Moon Arts, Cupertino, CA
David Battino, Author
Leaf Moon Arts, Cupertino, CA
Implementing a Read-Aloud Program to Ensure Academic Success
Do you know which books are most effective for the stages of language and physical development from birth to three? Did you know that reading to babies and toddlers is different than reading to older children? Do you have information to give to parents on the importance of reading to their children starting from birth? Explore what the current research says about reading to children before the age of 3. Learn about the fundamentals of vocabulary development and how to use "parent-ese" when reading to children to hold attention and aid in early phonetic perception. Hear about the six stages of Baby Read-Aloud development from birth to two and beyond and the ten benefits of reading to children before three. A parent's desire to raise a bilingual child and how to read to children with mixed language backgrounds will also be explored.
Learning Level: Beginning
Learning Track: Child Development - Language/Literacy
Caroline Blakemore, Reading Specialist and Author / Literacy Consultant
Valley Center Union School District (Retired), Ventura, CA
Barbara Weston-Ramirez, Bilingual Reading Specialist and Author
Valley Center-Pauma Unified School District
Helping Children Cope with Stress in Their Daily Lives
How can educators help children cope with stress? In this hands-on and movement workshop educators will gain experience in helping children develop proven and effective stress relief techniques. Come away empowered with ideas for developing positive classroom management skills and discover how providing developmentally appropriate activities in the proper environmental classroom arrangement can relieve children's stress and promote effective learning.
Learning Level: All
Learning Track: Child Development - Social/Emotional Competence
Cherida Gruenfeldt, ECE Mentor and Consultant
Oakland, CA
Relationship Based Education: Using Relationships to Maximize Children's Development
Relationships form the foundation of effective early childhood education. Brain based research shows that the optimal learning environment for young children occurs within the context of meaningful relationships. This workshop explores how to develop strong teacher to child, child to child and child to community relationships in the classroom. Participants will learn practical strategies for building trust and self-esteem, as well as how to foster social skills through relationships with teachers and peers.
Learning Level: Intermediate
Learning Track: Child Development - Social/Emotional Competence
Leslie Roffman, Executive Director
The Little School, San Francisco, CA
Todd Wanerman, Head Teacher
The Little School, San Francisco, CA
Early Start Family Resource Centers: California's Best Kept Secret
What do you know about Early Start Family Resource Centers? Probably not enough! Learn how Early Start supports families of young children with special health care needs and developmental delays and about the professionals who serve them. Review the array of services available at California's 47 Early Start Family Resource Centers and their benefits, who can benefit and when and why a family should be referred. Hear from parents of children with special health care needs, receive encouragement and consider new models of working with parents of children with special needs.
Learning Level: Beginning
Learning Track: Children/Disabilities and Special Needs
Debra Sarmento, Coordinator
Family Resource Centers Network of California, Fair Oaks, CA
Linda Joy Landry, Chair
Family Resource Centers Network of California, Fair Oaks, CA
Sherry Torok, Director
Exceptional Family Resource Center, San Diego, CA
But We're Not Set Up to Care for Children with Special Needs!
Are you feeling nervous about welcoming children with special needs into your program? Explore those feelings and receive some very practical ideas for you to use in your classroom. Research supports the notion that all children benefit when inclusion is successful. Learn about more than 20 different adaptations of ECE materials you can use for children with special needs as well as other resources and supports that exist for you as you begin to successfully serve families and children with special needs.
Learning Level: Intermediate
Learning Track: Children/Disabilities and Special Needs
Michelle Ventimiglia, Owner/Director
The Family Nurturing Center Preschool, Northridge, CA
Think INSIDE The Box: Creating Treasures from Trash
A little creativity with everyday items goes a long way! Discover great ideas to help you use recyclables and 'trash' as classroom materials. From the dozens of uses for an empty tissue box to the list of things a preschool teacher should never throw away, this workshop is designed to be fun and informative. This highly interactive workshop will include brainstorming from participants and allow time for participant input, as well as Q & A. Today's trash is tomorrow's treasure!
Learning Level: All
Learning Track: Curriculum
Gaile Gonzales, Director
Quality Children's Services, Winchester, CA
Art N Me: A Child's Journey into the World of Art
Children are capable of learning about the masters of the art world if introduced in an engaging and developmentally appropriate way. Preschool children can begin their journey through art history with songs, stories and art activities. Learn how to support the child's natural curiosity through various resources and materials. Review books and materials as well as handouts with resources and information on how to introduce an appropriate art history program to young children.
Learning Level: Beginning
Learning Track: Curriculum - Art
Regina Martin, Director
BFUMC Nursery School, Burbank, CA
Tamara Brown, Director
Burbank YMCA, Burbank, CA
Math Standards + Early Childhood Classroom = Fun!
Explore each of the five National Council of Teachers of Mathematics (NCTM) standards for Pre-K through grade 2 students. Those standards are Number and Operations, Algebra, Geometry, Measurement, and Data Analysis and Probability. Take a look at how these standards actually work in the pre-K through grade 2 classroom and how to meet the expectations of each standard. Also learn hands-on activities that can be used to make meeting the standards fun for both young students and teachers!
Learning Level: Beginning
Learning Track: Curriculum - Mathematics
Carolyn Cook, Kindergarten Teacher and Adjunct Faculty
Bonita Unified School District and University of LaVerne - Child Development
Glendora, CA
Marki Magno, Kindergarten Teacher and Adjunct Faculty
Bonita Unified School District and University of LaVerne - Child Development
Glendora, CA
How Do Montessori Teachers Do That? Practical Applications with Pedigogy
A concise overview of the Montessori Primary classroom (preschool, ages 2.5-6 years) will be presented. This multi-media session will give a clear description and explanation of the role of the teacher in the classroom, introductory songs and lessons, demonstrations of materials, examples of the normalized classroom at work, and resource information. Gain a working understanding of the possibility of creating a progressively academic yet joyful self-sustaining classroom.
Learning Level: Beginning
Learning Track: Curriculum - Montessori
Ronnie Binczewski, Owner/Admininstator/Teacher
Nautilus Montessori School, Roseville, CA
Rock & Roll Them Like Dough! Music, Movement and Healthy Living
Learn how to combine music, movement, and healthy choices to teach the whole child (Preschool - Kindergarten). Acquire the basic facts about introducing children to a healthy lifestyle while exploring basic math, motor skills, and cognitive skills. Pick themes and create songs, design a finger play, move through the farmer's garden, pour, whip, chop, toss, and boost your creativity. Learn the value of using music to promote a healthy, active lifestyle.
Learning Level: All
Learning Track: Curriculum - Music/Movement
Angela Russ, Recording Artist and Music Specialist
Russ InVision Company, Long Beach, CA
Bringing Educational Standards Alive Through Engaging Music, Active Movement, and Creative Self-expression
Music has long been lauded as a key educational tool particularly for young children. Combining music with movement, visual aids, manipulatives and interactive dialogue stimulates critical development for children in all developmental domains - cognitive, social, emotional and physical, while at the same time addressing diversity among learners and learning styles. Participate in musical activities that will nurture acquisition of core concepts in literacy, math, science, health, safety and community. Learn strategies that develop basic skills across the curriculum.
Learning Level: Intermediate
Learning Track: Curriculum - Music/Movement
Lisa Campbell, MMM President
Alice Burba, MMM Vice-President and Child Welfare Training Consultant
Annette Campbell, MMM Vice-President and No. CA Curriculum Coordinator
Music, Movement & Magination, Inc., Chandler, AZ
From Garden to Table to Compost: Building a Whole Food Curriculum
Learn how to support children's growth as environmental stewards by using a food program that enables children to witness and participate in every aspect of food preparation from seed to compost. Explore ways that gardening, harvesting, cooking, eating, cleaning-up and composting can contribute to children's awareness of the world around them. Share ideas and accomplishments in re-connecting children to this essential cycle of nature.
Learning Level: Intermediate
Learning Track: Curriculum - Science/Technology
Gail Solit, Director
Google Children's Center at the Woods, Mountain View, CA
Katrina Morkner, Chef
Google Children's Center, Mountain View, CA
Teaching Respect for Native Peoples
Are you confident teaching young children about Native Americans? Are you able to discern the myth from the truth about Native Americans? This workshop provides an opportunity to learn how to recognize the negative and positive ways of teaching children and staff respect for Native Peoples. Discuss societal stereotypes and how to avoid them as well as the do's and don'ts of teaching respect for Native Peoples.
Learning Level: Beginning
Learning Track: Equity and Diversity
Rick Crowley
(Chukchansi, Yokut)
Family Literacy Specialist
CAEYC Diversity in Action Committee Chair, Redding, CA
A Place of Our Own/Los Ninos en Su Casa: Web Tools for Early Childhood Educators
A Place of Our Own and its Spanish-language companion, Los Ninos en Su Casa, are exciting, groundbreaking television series broadcast on PBS stations nationwide. Explore the website and online resources that series creators have launched in order to reinforce the educational messages of the programs by providing easy to use tools for adults who care for young children. As with the TV shows, the bilingual companion website addresses all aspects of early childhood education. View the hundreds of available videos, activities, on-line workshops and community engagement areas, such as the message boards, the websites offer parents and child care providers, all designed with the child's development in mind.
Learning Level:
Learning Track: Family Child Care
Juan Devis, New Media Producer
KCET-TV/PBS, Los Angeles, CA
Ann Barbour, Professor
California State University Los Angeles (CSULA) Education, Los Angeles, CA
Caring for the Child with Food Allergies in the ECE Setting
The number of children under five being diagnosed with food allergies is increasing. Learn essential information for minimizing the risks of food allergies in the ECE environment, including what a food allergy is, common foods that cause allergic reaction, and how to provide a safe environment that minimizes liability. Symptoms of allergic reactions, instructions for using an EpiPen, and knowing when to call 911 will be covered as part of learning how to create a Food Allergy Action/Emergency Plan.
Learning
Level: Intermediate
Learning Track: Health
Victoria Leonard, RN/FNP/Child Care Health Consultant
UCSF Childcare Health Program, Berkeley, CA
Bobbie Rose, RN and Child Care Health Consultant
UCSF Childcare Health Program, Berkeley, CA
A Space for Us
Children's first experiences with the world of things that could be seen, touched, and felt provide them with the firm foundation for the powerful leaps in thought from the concrete to the conceptual. Consequently, the correspondence between the environment and the well-being of children cannot be underestimated. Creating environments that are conducive to providing high quality care, support relationship-based care, and that support whole child development are the focus of this workshop. Discuss environment's dramatic effect on the quality of our everyday lives - how it impacts daily interactions between teachers and children, children and children, and parents and children. Participants will learn how to create an adult and child friendly and respectful space using materials that are developmentally appropriate for the infant/ toddler age group.
Learning Level: Beginning
Learning Track: Infants and Toddlers
Ani Shabazian, Academic Coordinator/Executive Director, UCLA
Los Angeles, CA
Marisa Duran, Child Development Teacher
UCLA - Psychology, Los Angeles, CA
Beyond Preschool: To Boldly Go Where You've Never Gone Before
School readiness transition planning is more than a good idea, it is a necessity. Learn about preparing children for school by studying a plan implemented by First 5 El Dorado and their partners including early care and education providers, kindergarten teachers, elementary administrators and parents. These collaborative efforts have resulted in district level school readiness plans with activities to address the unique characteristics of each school: early childhood and kindergarten staff articulation meetings, family literacy activities, summer transition camps, and early intervention activities. Highlighted throughout the presentation will be the importance of key partners, their role in planning and implementation, and the cost effectiveness of developing a system of school readiness based upon these relationships
Learning Level: Intermediate
Learning Track: Kindergarten/Primary
Steven M. Thaxton, PhD, Executive Director
First 5 El Dorado Commission, Shingle Springs, CA
Kathleen Walker, School Readiness Coordinator
First 5 El Dorado Commission, Vancouver, WA
Rick Alford, Community Program Coordinator
First 5 El Dorado Commission, Shingle Springs, CA
Bev Korsen, Administrative Assistance
First 5 El Dorado Commission, Shingle Springs, CA
Parental Involvement: Does It Matter?
No matter how many other adults interact with children parents (if present) are still the most powerful influence in the lives of their children. It is extremely important for child care providers and parents to work together. Explore effective tips on how to communicate with your parents and encourage them to become more involved with their children. Learn how to clearly communicate even the most sensitive of issues with parents and receive lists of resources for further exploration on your own.
Learning Level: Intermediate
Learning Track: Parent/Family Relationships and Support
Ansina Green, Owner
Green Tree Learning Childcare, Moreno Valley, CA
Meeting the Needs of Military Kids During and After War
Extraordinary situations cause extraordinary needs in children. Children are certainly affected by parents who are away at war or who may have returned from war emotionally or physically damaged. Learn how to understand how these events affect military families and their young children and discover strategies for supporting the families and children throughout the entire process. Also, learn about important resources that exist for families within the military system.
Learning Level: Intermediate
Learning Track: Parent/Family Relationships and Support
Kathy Flynn, Navy Child & Youth Program Administrator
Navy Region Southwest - Child Development, Coronado, CA
Phyllis Williams, Navy Child & Youth Program Administrator
Navy Region Southwest - Child Development, Coronado, CA
Cathy Austin, Navy Child & Youth Program Administrator
Navy Region Southwest - Child Development, Coronado, CA
Practitioner to Researcher
What needs to happen in order to produce relevant and ethical research? Early childhood education is a field that involves complex and unique relationships that evolve over time. It is critical that educators are able to engage in research that comes out of their practical experience and reflects this kind of complexity. Take part in this advanced workshop and explore how we can combine the roles of practitioner and researcher as we develop research ideas that make use of storytelling narrative practices.
Learning Level: Advanced
Learning Track: Professional Development
Susan Bernheimer, Professor
Pacific Oaks College, Pasadena, CA
Enid Elliot, Post-doctoral Fellow
University of Victoria, Victoria, BC
Creating Resilience through Strength Based Learning
By accessing the child's main learning style (seven styles of learning intelligence), together with the developmental age of the child, you can choose words and behaviors that model what you want the child to learn. This workshop will increase your awareness of the importance of the role that each person plays in the learning process of a child. Times are changing and our children need us to focus on their strengths to create healthy environments for all of us to live, work, love, and grow in. This workshop offers the knowledge of how to use energy to create an optimum learning environment.
Learning Level: Beginning
Learning Track: Professional Development
Janet Moore, Consultant
Relationship Solutions, Inc, San Jose, CA
Ranjana Bhatnagar, Workshop Facilitator/Presenter
Saratoga, CA
Personal Professional Development: Explorations of Everyday Mindfulness in Early Childhood Programs
Description to be provided.
Learning Level:
Learning Track: Professional Development
Lisa Lee, Technical Assistance Coordinator
Preschool for All San Francisco, Suisun City, CA
Frederico Ramirez, Mental Health Therapist
Gardner Family Corporation
What Does PLAY Look Like?
Play is the most important medium for development and learning for young children. But for many reasons, children have fewer opportunities to experience it. Research will be presented supporting practical, playful activities that are directly tied to content standards for the Preschool - First Grade classrooms. This is an interactive presentation with lots of great activities to implement in your classroom! Experiences that build foundations for the growth and development of the young child socially, physically, and cognitively through play will be explored. Participants will engage in activities that address content areas in early literacy and mathematics using activities which are in line with the CA Preschool Learning Foundations as well as approved best practices by NAEYC and the CA Content Standards for K-1. Be ready to Play!
Learning Level: Beginning
Learning Track: Quality/Evaluation - Program
Carol Gossett, Director - Early Childhood Development Program
Fresno Pacific University - School of Education
Fresno, CA
ECERS Workshop - NEW!
Learning Level:
Learning Track: Quality/Evaluation - Program
Susie Valdez, Professor
Santa Ana College, Santa Ana, CA
Singing and Reading: The Ultimate Literacy Experience
(Spanish language description to be provided.)
Make the singing/reading connection! Be introduced to new methodologies and strategies that promote early literacy skills through the use of music. Learn how to incorporate activities where the children sing along while following the texts and the variety of benefits that can be achieved such as helping students learn alphabet knowledge, practice expression and phrasing while introducing basic reading concepts, and most important of all, nurturing a natural love for reading early in life. Participants will also learn how teacher-made and student-made books can be used in music. In addition to the benefit music plays in literacy, music allows the young child's brain to develop across both hemispheres while promoting other important areas of development.
Learning Level: All
Learning Track: Spanish - Child Development - Language/Literacy
This workshop offered in English on Saturday, 8:30am.
Dr. Mike Longoria, Early Childhood Professor
University of Texas - El Paso, El Paso, TX
It's April 2008: Do You Know Who Your Parents Are?
Education is a family affair! Strategies for making the home-school connection are at your fingertips! Join a discussion about the importance of parent involvement in their child's education. Learn techniques and strategies to enhance children's learning both at school and at home. Increase your understanding of the importance of and strategies for extending/enhancing learning from and to the home and examine your own parent/teacher relationships.
Learning Level: Intermediate
Learning Track: Parent/Family Relationships and Support
This workshop offered in English on Saturday, 10:30am.
Laura Arzave, Family Literacy Resource Teacher
National Even Start Association, San Diego, CA
Lourdes Razo
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Registration (Convention Center)
Tours of Centers
Advance purchase of ticket required
So You Want to Provide Funded Child Care?
How do you go about contracting with the California Department of Education (CDE)? This interactive workshop will address questions about becoming a Child Development contractor. Receive tips for writing successful Child Development applications to CDE and discuss Desired Results and how they can be useful in both the private sector as well as funded child development programs. Examine the expectations for CDE contractors including education requirements of staff, child-staff ratios, reporting requirements, and contract monitoring reviews.
Learning Level: Advanced
Learning Track: Administration
Carolyn Loveridge, Child Development Consultant
California Department of Education, Sacramento, CA
Norma Lorenz, Child Development Consultant
California Department of Education - Child Development Division
Sacramento, CA
Steps to Excellence: A Los Angeles Child Care Quality Rating System
Take a detailed look at the development and implementation of a three year pilot program to institute a child care quality rating system known as the Steps to Excellence Program (STEP) in Los Angeles County from the initial implementation team who know it best. Learn about the foundational purposes of the STEP program including such goals as providing parents with clear, concise information on the quality of individual licensed child care centers and family child care homes, providing child care operators with incentives and supports so they can achieve and maintain higher program standards and providing stakeholders with benchmarks to determine if the quality of care in individual programs and/or communities is improving over time. Examine efforts to align STEP with local universal preschool initiatives, address state child care licensing and Child Development Department issues and incorporate NAEYC & NAFCC accreditation systems. Discuss the innovative efforts underway to promote inclusion of children with special needs into child care programs and to promote empowerment of families while, at the same time, improving reimbursement rates for high quality services.
Learning Level: Intermediate
Learning Track: Advocacy/Public Policy
Arlene Rhine, Commissioner
Los Angeles County Policy Roundtable for Child Care
Helen E. Chavez, Program Specialist III
Los Angeles County Office of Child Care
Julie Taren, Child & Family Resource Coordinator
City of Santa Monica, Santa Monica, CA
How Diversity and Equity are Related to Best Practice in ECE Programs
Celebrating diversity is easy when it comes to food, music and customs. That is different from honoring diversity when someone does something that doesn't fit with best practice. This session will explore issues that can arise in ECE programs and look at ways to approach them.
Learning Track: Center for Social Change
Janet Gonzales-Mena
Fairfield, CA
A Spoonful of Sugar = Compassionate Discipline
Discipline is something we do for children not to them. Compassionate adults send messages of help and understanding to children and correctly applied discipline technique should contribute to the development of healthy self-esteem. Understand the purpose and goals for discipline in early childhood settings and learn how you impact the development of self-discipline by the modeling of appropriate discipline techniques. Attendees will learn the essential need for compassion in every discipline interaction and gain the insight that how they feel about the children's behavior strongly impacts the message they send to children about both the behavior and the child.
Learning Level: All
Learning Track: Challenging Behaviors
Deborah Paselk, Director
Cornerstone Preschool and Extended Care, San Jose, CA
Starting Smart: Encouraging Good Early Experiences that Help Brain Development
How does a young child's brain develop and become wired for learning? Become familiar with how the infant brain develops and hear about the most current research on infant brain development. Discover how those early experiences can directly foster brain development and plan appropriate activities to stimulate brain development in a hands-on and interactive workshop environment.
Learning Level: Advanced
Learning Track: Child Development - Brain
Chris Sciarrino, Curriculum Director
HighReach Learning, Charlotte, NC
Building Early Literacy Collaboratives: An Early Literacy Program Model
Research has demonstrated that parental involvement is a key factor in children's literacy achievement. Unfortunately, far too few parents know how to nurture this development. Every child needs the experiences of being read to daily, participating in language building activities, and the opportunity to enter school with the necessary pre-reading skills to succeed in life. Explore the mission and the work of The Children and Families Commission of Orange County through its Early Literacy Program to provide children, 0-5 years, with services that support early literacy through community-based outreach. Learn about three of ELP's unique replicable programs: the Gently Used Book Program, the volunteer reader program housed at the Social Services Agency and its community-based literacy programs and training model. Other ideas such as how to host literacy events will be discussed as well as providing participants with statewide resources to support the development of community literacy models.
Learning Level: Advanced
Learning Track: Child Development - Language/Literacy
Ingrid Anderson, MEd, Adjunct Faculty/Consultant
Irvine Valley College/ Early Literacy Program, Aliso Viejo, CA
Stages of Writing Development
What does developmental writing look like and how can it be supported in the preschool years? Examaine the latest research-based key indicators and terms for each stage, how teachers can respond to children's requests and use explicit instructional strategies that are purposeful and playful to successfully move children through each stage. Learn how the stages of writing are related to the Desired Results Developmental Profile measures, gain a quick overview of kindergarten standards and consider different strategies for children with special needs and English language learners. Explore intentional teaching practices used to support children in each stage of writing development and how to expand writing centers and integrate writing opportunities around the classroom.
Learning Level: Intermediate
Learning Track: Child Development - Language/Literacy
Lorraine Weatherspoon, Project Specialist
Sacramento County Office of Education/California Preschool Instruction Network - School Readiness, Mather, CA
Singing and Reading: The Ultimate Literacy Experience
Make the singing/reading connection! Be introduced to new methodologies and strategies that promote early literacy skills through the use of music. Learn how to incorporate activities where the children sing along while following the texts and the variety of benefits that can be achieved such as helping students learn alphabet knowledge, practice expression and phrasing while introducing basic reading concepts, and most important of all, nurturing a natural love for reading early in life. Participants will also learn how teacher-made and student-made books can be used in music. In addition to the benefit music plays in literacy, music allows the young child's brain to develop across both hemispheres while promoting other important areas of development.
Learning Level: All
Learning Track: Child Development - Language/Literacy
This workshop offered on Friday, 4:45pm.
Dr. Mike Longoria, Early Childhood Professor
University of Texas - El Paso, El Paso, TX
New Tools to Boost Children's Social and Emotional Skills
There is no more powerful way to teach social emotional skills than through the use of music! Let's learn some hands-on, fun and effective ways to help young children build social and emotional skills. Hear what the latest research has to say about how the development of social and emotional skills are a prerequisite to cognitive learning and how a teacher can be an effective facilitator of that development.
Learning Level: Intermediate
Learning Track: Child Development - Social/Emotional Competence
Dr. Don MacMannis
Child Psychologist and Songwriter, Santa Barbara, CA
Pathway to Learning: Helping Children with Sensorimotor Integration Dysfunction
Recent brain research indicates that thinking and moving are very closely linked. When children struggle in their ability to maintain focus, to retain information, or to even interact and play with others, brain research also indicates that children have not had enough appropriate movement and vestibular activities to turn on those areas of the brain. Through sensory motor activities, connections are made that provide the framework for cognition and more advanced brain development. Brain research also indicates that when a child's motor skills are highly developed, the level of self-esteem increases dramatically. These children can become confident movers and learners. Participate in practical hands-on activities that will promote healthier, happier, more successful learning for young children.
Learning Level: Beginning
Learning Track: Children/Disabilities and Special Needs
Nicki Geigert, Consultant
Edu-Fit Consulting Services, Carlsbad, CA
The Healing Cycle: Infants in Recovery
Infants pre-natally affected by drugs need specialized assistance in regulating their systems. Gain strategies to identify stress behaviors exhibited by infants in this situation and help them maintain self-regulation and develop secure relationships with significant adults in their lives. Learn how to support families in the early stages of reunification. Infants and parents separated during the first year of life require individualized and developmentally appropriate support for nurturing the critical infant/parent relationship. Learn how you can assist with early intervention strategies to help families in this critical first stage of life.
Learning Level:
Learning Track: Children/Disabilities and Special Needs
Sister Fran Kearney, Program Coordinator
Mt. St. Joseph/St. Elizabeth, San Francisco, CA
Playgroups Curriculum: Moving Beyond Freeplay - Outcome-Based Activities
Do you want to move beyond free play in your playgroups? Discover strategies to integrate development, parent education, literacy and early intervention into your program in the form of budget-friendly activities designed to increase child development and parent participation. This session will provide participants with information on the components of building a playgroup program that incorporates activities that enhance child development, promote parent participation, and build community.
Learning Level: Beginning
Learning Track: Curriculum
Kelly Barnhart, Educational Instructor
Sign 2 Connect, Fresno, CA
Nickie Gael, Early Childhood Interventionist
Hands 4 Learning, Fresno, California & Lisbon, Iowa
Art Outside of the Lines: Creative Expressions for the Young
Art is in our everyday lives. It has it's beginnings in the young child and it is our responsibility as adults to encourage the development of that child and his/her art. Artistic expression is a vital way to communicate for both verbal and non-verbal children and can help them make sense of their feelings and the world they live in. Learn how simple activities, many in tune with our relationship to nature, can help you become a more effective Teacher or Mentor. Explore such vehicles as clay, sand-play, movement, music, dramatic play and fibers as opposed to coloring books and play dough.
Learning Level: Beginning and Advanced
Learning Track: Curriculum - Art
Dorothea Nolan, Master Teacher in Early Education, Trained in Expressive Arts Therapy, and Art Outreach Educator
Mingei International Museum, Valley Center, CA
Making & Presenting Felt Board Stories
Experience creative ways in which to actively engage students in the learning process of storytelling. Participants will be guided in the story making process through a comprehensive approach which includes: exposure to age appropriate engagement strategies, modeling, guided practice, and a culminating product - a make-and-take felt packet complemented with sing-along handouts, chants and poems. Gain an understanding of how felt stories, which encompass interactive and student-friendly strategies, can be used to address the learning modalities of diverse students.
Learning Level: Beginning
Learning Track: Curriculum - Circle Time
Nora Sanchez, Teacher/Storyteller
Smiling Faces, Long Beach, CA
New & Exciting Montessori Ideas to Use in Your Classroom
How do you get the kids to clean up? How do you keep them interested in materials and make learning fun? There are many simple things you can do to empower children to clean up, get their attention as well as have some fun! Discover ways to integrate a theme throughout your whole environment - math, language, art, music, science, and more. Explore Montessori!
Learning Level: All
Learning Track: Curriculum - Montessori
Joanne Adan, Owner/Director/Head Teacher
Bright Beginnings Montessori Preschool, San Mateo, CA
Music and Movement... Where do I Begin?
Develop an awareness of the role that music has played (or not played) in your own life and break down fears you may have about doing music and movement with children. Learn what your role entails, build an understanding of why music is important in children's development and get some tips for successful music and movement experiences. Acquire skills to accurately assess your own knowledge base in order to build on what you already know.
Learning Level: Beginning
Learning Track: Curriculum - Music/Movement
Brenda Plascencia-Carrizosa, Master Teacher
California State University Fullerton Children's Center, Fullerton, CA
Yesenia Beltran, Master Teacher
California State University Fullerton Children's Center, Fullerton, CA
Protecting and Facilitating Play in Early Learning Environments
Going against the nature of children, play is increasingly replaced by academic learning, organized sports and more recently by the push to have children meet standards. There is a grave misconception that children at play are not learning and that they will not meet developmentally appropriate standards though play. Participants will explore play and its role in cognitive and social developments. Ideas for articulating the importance of play to other educators and parents will be shared and a greater understanding of adults' role in children's play will be learned. Participants will also learn to use the observation of children's play as a tool for assessment.
Learning Level: Beginning
Learning Track: Environments
Judith Brunk, Executive/Program Director
Hill & Dale Family Learning Center, Santa Monica, CA
Lytha Roddy, Curriculum Specialist/Administrative Director
Hill & Dale Family Learning Center, Santa Monica, CA
Wild? Wacky? Inspirational Ideas for Enhancing the Outdoor Classroom
Make the case for taking children outdoors! Learn fun facts about children's health and learning benefits that result from outdoor play while being inspired to be creative in setting up the outdoor environment for children. Gain an understanding of how developmental goals for children can be met in a rich outdoor environment. Pictures showing children engaged in a variety of activities will be shared and group dialogue will uncover additional strategies and activities used by others in the profession.
Learning Level: All
Learning Track: Environments - Outdoors
Lisa Cain-Chang, Program Director
Child Educational Center, Caltech/JPL Community, La Canada, CA
Ellen Veselack, Preschool Director
Child Educational Center, Caltech/JPL Community, La Canada, CA
Promoting Respect: Peace and Tolerance
Early childhood is the time we develop life long values and dispositions that affect how we view the world, how we relate and ultimately behave. Just as prejudice and stereotyping are learned behaviors, so are tolerance and acceptance. Gain insight into your own values and explore your own attitudes towards issues of bias. Learn teacher interactions and activities that support children in developing a healthy sense of self, a strong identity, inclusive attitudes and the ability to grow to be accepting, culturally competent beings.
Learning Level: Intermediate
Learning Track: Equity and Diversity
Barbara Levinson, Manager - Education and Training
Bright Horizons Family Solutions/Marin Day Schools, Mill Valley, CA
Multi-Lingual Classroom: How to Support Home Language and Facilitate English Learning
Research shows a solid foundation in a child's first language has a positive impact on the acquisition of a second language. Discuss how essential it is for ECE professionals to identify the importance of their role in supporting children's home language and facilitating English learning. Explore ideas to help establish a multilingual classroom and use adult-child interactions to promote language acquisition. Learn approaches to training staff and parents that will also result in increased involvement.
Learning Level:
Learning Track: Equity and Diversity
This workshop offered in both English and Mandarin/Cantonese.
Chih-Ying Cynthia Chang, Center Manager/Curriculum Specialist
Wu Yee Children's Services, San Francisco, CA
Raquel Espana, Center Manager
Wu Yee Children's Services - New Generation Child Development Center,
San Francisco, CA
Leticia Huey, Center Manager
Wu Yee Children's Services - Chinatown Infant/Toddler Center, San Francisco, CA
Linda Lim, Center Manager
Wu Yee Children's Services - Lok Yuen Child Development Center,
San Francisco, CA
Are You Ready to Start Your Family Childcare?
Considering starting your own family childcare? Come get practical suggestions on how to get started. Learn about appropriate floor plans layouts, room setups and needed materials. Participants will receive information about community care licensing expectations for family child care and also be informed about resources that may exist in local communities for learning, mentoring or other types of support.
Learning Level: Beginning
Learning Track: Family Child Care
Pamela Baker
Baker Family Childcare/Daisy Childcare, Inglewood, CA
A Place of Our Own / Los Ninos En Su Casa: Fun Activities that Support Children's Learning
'A Place of Our Own' and its Spanish-language companion, 'Los Ninos en Su Casa' are exciting, groundbreaking television series broadcast on PBS stations nationwide and are the only programs of their kind that specifically address the unique needs of adults who care for young children. Covering all aspects of early childhood from health and nutrition to developmental milestones, language to literacy, and early identification of special needs, parents and childcare providers are offered a variety of resources and concrete strategies to help enhance children's social, emotional, and cognitive skills, and help prepare children for formal school settings. Participants will engage in a variety of hands-on activities that reinforce and supplement existing curriculum. Complimentary learning materials will be provided for participants.
Learning Level: Beginning
Learning Track: Family Child Care
Lynne Christian, Education & Outreach Director
KCET-TV/PBS, Los Angeles, CA
Disasters! Are you Emotionally Prepared?
When disaster strikes, preparedness is key to dealing with the emotional stress. Preparedness begins at home - a significant part of being emotionally prepared for an emergency is empowering staff to have their own family plan in place. With a plan for their family to follow, staff will have a stronger mental capability to focus on the needs of the children in their care. Participants will also learn how to implement site specific disaster planning strategies.
Learning Level: Intermediate
Learning Track: Health
Judy Hamilton, Senior Director of Intergenerational Programming
ONEgeneration, Van Nuys, CA
The Happiest Baby: Calming Fussy Babies and Improving
Sleep Fast
The two main tasks facing new parents are feeding and soothing their babies. Those who succeed feel competent, while those who fail feel desolate. Doctors routinely say nothing can be done for the millions of babies who fuss or cry for two to three hours each day. Yet, in several cultures around the world this type of continued crying is unknown. In a radical paradigm shift learn how, in many ways, newborns are not ready for the world at birth; they need a fourth trimester. Discuss and explore the reasons why the “missing fourth trimester” is the main cause of colic in infancy.
Learning Level:
Learning Track: Infants and Toddlers
Harvey Karp, Assistant Professor of Pediatrics
UCLA School of Medicine, Los Angeles, CA
Whole Baby Care: The Respectful Touch that Imparts Awareness
Explore a model of infant care that demonstrates optimum respect for the infant's point of view and teaches important lessons of body awareness and self-help skill building. The RIE/Pikler approach for diapering and bathing will be viewed, analyzed and discussed. Inherent in the content is the subject of touch and how vital it is for early development of trust and security for infants and toddlers. Participants will increase awareness of infant and toddler authentic psychomotor development and embodiment, learn about respectful interaction and human touch during care-giving, and appreciate the potential for relationship-building through care-giving.
Learning Level: Intermediate
Learning Track: Infants and Toddlers
Elizabeth Memel, RIE Associate
Resources for Infant Educarers, Los Angeles, CA
Sue Ann Chilcote, RIE Associate
Resources for Infant Educarers, Los Angeles, CA
Cooking With Children: Math, Science & Nutrition
Cooking activities are a fun approach to to lessons on math, science and nutrition. Learn how to set up a kitchen in an after-school program, including the equipment and supplies needed. Safety procedures for children in the kitchen will be reviewed, including the seven rules of safety for heat and the seven rules of safety for sharp objects. Obtain a list of resources including books and Web sites that aid in developing a cooking program, as well as school age child-tested receipes that are both tasty and easy to prepare.
Learning Level: Beginning
Learning Track: Kindergarten/Primary
Marlene A. Bumgarner, Author and Consultant
Gavilan College, Gilroy, CA
Parent Education through Classroom Participation
Ready or not, all early childhood teachers are parent educators. Parents look to teachers for help, advice, and guidance every day through incidental contact and day-to-day interactions. Research clearly shows us that the cognitive and emotional growth of children is enhanced when parents are involved in school from an early age, and stay involved as they get older. Raise your own awareness regarding your role as parent educators and examine issues such as teacher role modeling, developmentally appropriate practice, professional development, varied family structures, multi-cultural classrooms, overly-involved and under-involved families, positive guidance and discipline, and respect for individual differences. Learn at least three ways to use everyday interactions with parents and families as opportunities to educate them about their child, child development, or about parenting.
Learning Level: Intermediate
Learning Track: Parent/Family Relationships and Support
Annie Castle Deckert
Explorer Preschool and San Jose City College, San Jose, CA
Konne Ainsworth
Explorer Preschool, San Jose, CA
Learning to Identify and Enjoy the Colors of Children's Personalities
The usage of colors is proven effective in today's world to successfully define components of our daily lives -- from crayons to school mascots, from rainbows to traffic lights. Research done to analyze the physiological benefits of using color more effectively has shown that the usage of colors can truly improve the quality of life in surprisingly simple ways. This program provides an easy-to-remember way for people of all ages to discover their greatest strengths and understand the strengths of others especially children. True Colors is a simple way of 'colorizing' personalities to help gain an understanding of personality types.
Learning Level: Beginning
Learning Track: Parent/Family Relationships and Support
Anita Hermesch, Executive Director
Local Choices for Global Harmony, Newport Beach, CA
Career Development for Early Childhood Educators
The implementation of CARES (Compensation and Retention Programs) for Early Childhood Educators has been a catalyst for interest in the field. How will you stand out in the crowd and land the ideal job? Learn how to prepare for interviews, showcase your skills, education and experience. Build your confidence by identifying a suitable work environment, preparing for difficult questions, discussing common fears and blunders. Learn the importance of networking and portraying a professional image. This workshop will ensure that you are completely prepared for the interview process.
Learning Level: Beginning
Learning Track: Professional Development
Jamie Beck, Owner
Impression Management, San Bernardino, CA
Mentoring For Directors: Share Your Expertise!
The California Early Childhood Mentor Program (CECMP), funded through the Child Development Division, works with 95 community colleges throughout the state. The mission of the program is to provide financial rewards and professional development opportunities to early childhood educators in return for their services mentoring ECE students. The purpose of this session is to describe the process, the challenges, and the rewards of being a Director Mentor in hopes of increasing participation in this exceptional program. The target audience for this workshop consists of early childhood educators in administrative roles who may be interested in mentoring or in becoming a Director Mentor.
Learning Level: Advanced
Learning Track: Professional Development - Leadership/Supervision
Linda Olivenbaum, Director
California Early Childhood Mentor Program, San Francisco, CA
Ellen Morrison, Program Manager
California Early Childhood Mentor Program, San Francisco, CA
ECE Lower Division 8: Will it Change Degree Requirements?
California's community college faculty have been working on a new concept for teachers and are recommending this set of 8 lower-division courses for all teachers. Contribute your thoughts and opinions to the discussion on this exciting project. Help make headway toward the goal of creating a transferable core of 24 units toward B.A. Degrees and gain insight into how this curriculum may affect permits, licensing, teacher qualifications and preparedness.
Learning Level: All
Learning Track: Professional Development - Workforce Development
Nancy Brown, Community College Instructor
Cabrillo College, Santa Cruz, CA
Caroline Carney, Catalyst
Monterey Peninsula College, Cerritos, CA
Program Quality Begins with Self Reflection
In Contra Costa County, early care providers are going back to school, completing training, and embracing quality improvement like never before. Contra Costa's Early Learning Demonstration Project (ELDP) has refined a successful formula for program quality improvement: combine (a) guided self-reflection and objective self assessment + (b) in-program learning communities and on-campus cohort enrollment + (c) opportunities for networking and peer mentor support = providers who are mentally and emotionally ready to embark on the difficult process of quality improvement and, for some, accreditation. Over the past 3 years, 52 centers and family child care sites have improved quality, half of which attained NAEYC or NAFCC accreditation. Hear from a family childcare provider about her professional and personal journey toward accreditation. Experience the transformation of one center from the perspective of its Director, who received support from ELDP facilitators, and, in turn, created a learning community amongst her staff.
Learning Level: Advanced
Learning Track: Quality/Evaluation - Program
Rossnina Ruggieri, ELDP Program Coordinator
Contra Costa Child Care Council - Learning Institute, Concord, CA
Debra Silverman, Early Childhood Education Program Officer
First 5 Contra Costa Early Childhood, Martinez, CA
Nancy Cuny, ELDP Center Facilitator
Contra Costa Child Care Council - Learning Institute, Concord, CA
Linda Luna, ELDP Family Child Care Facilitator
Contra Costa Child Care Council - Learning Institute, Concord, CA
How to Open and Operate a Family Day Care Business
Spanish language description to be provided.
Learn how to open a family day care in Los Angeles County. Licensing regulations will be reviewed and tips will be shared for setting up the environment, managing the business, and requesting grants and other monetary assistance from the state of California. Review some of the common challenges and obstacles experienced on the path towards ownership and the most expedient solutions. Learn about the resources and support systems that exist to help you be a success!
Learning Level:
Learning Track: Spanish - Family Child Care
Graciela Montes-Ceja
Montes-Ceja Family Day Care, Los Angeles, CA
Elsa A. Leal, Community Development Lead
Los Angeles Universal Preschool, Los Angeles, CA
Ready for School: A Team Approach by the Freedom School PreK Transition Team Approach
(Spanish language description to be provided.)
Professional partnerships between early care and elementary educators can help improve future school success for young children and members of the Freedom School PreK Transition Team will discuss characteristics of an effective transition plan. Learn the components of a successful transition plan as identified by First 5, including continuity of services, parent/family/community involvement, and preparation of children and collaboration among educators. Coherent transition plans address the needs of the whole child, involve families, and bring together early care and elementary educators. Review a detailed case study centered on the Freedom School in Watsonville, CA and the formal collaboration structures used to produce a strong inter-agency partnership.
Learning Level: Advanced
Learning Track: Spanish - Kindergarten/Primary
This workshop offered in English on Friday, 2:45pm.
Alma Martinez
First 5 Santa Cruz County - Readiness Programs, Capitola, CA
Both Sides of the Validation Visit
What do you do to prepare for a validation visit? Come hear from a validator (assessor) as to what to expect from the point of view of the assessor as well as how to best prepare. Explore the new changes to the system and how schools can get through the process as smoothly as possible. Tips will be given as to how to make it through the process and the actual day. This is an interactive workshop and participants will be able to share their experiences and ideas as well.
Learning Level:
Learning Track: Accreditation
Lara Morales, Early Childhood Consultant
Alhambra, CA
NAEYC Code of Ethical Conduct: Supplement for Early Childhood Program Administrators
Gain a bird's eye view of the NAEYC Code of Ethics Supplement for Early Childhood Programs Administrators. Learn how consistent application of ethical principles can assist in developing and guiding programs. Explore common dilemmas faced when balancing obligations to support and nurture children with the responsibilities to address the needs and safeguard the rights of families and staff, as well as responding to boards and sponsoring agencies. Explore the meaning of ethics both through personal reflection and open discussion on how ethics can enhance the professionalism of the ECE field.
Learning Track: Administration
Learning Level: Beginning
Ellie Kaucher, Academic Coordinator/Faculty
Cambridge College, Apple Valley, CA
Description to be provided.
Learning Level:
Learning Track: Administration
Eve-Marie Arce
Redding, CA
Legal and Ethical Issues for Young Children in Our Schools
How do you define ethics and how do you incorporate ethics into every aspect of your career? Develop skills in identifying and analyzing ethical dilemmas in a way that relates to your values and beliefs. Discuss ethics in early childhood education and explore the NAEYC Code of Ethical conduct. Delve into the differences between laws, regulations, recommendations, guidelines, and standards. Ethical issues in regards to other legal tenets such as licensing and the role ethics plays in such varied topics as equipment, infectious diseases, nutrition, and community action will also be explored. Learn how ethics provide the roadmap to achieving the best learning communities for young children.
Learning Level: Intermediate
Learning Track: Advocacy/Public Policy
Dr. Linda Gresik
National University - School of Education, Los Angeles, CA
Using The Environment To Guide Behavior
Often called the third teacher - the environment can be effective in minimizing troublesome behavior. More than just classroom setup, participants will learn the various components used to identify and understand the "guiding environment" and how it applies to their own program.
Learning Level:
Learning Track: Challenging Behaviors
Don Norton, Divison Chair Human Development
Cuesta Community College, San Luis Obispo, CA
Designing with the Brain in Mind
Good design matters in how a child learns. Most of us can remember our preschool experience with fond memories. The sensory experience of an early childhood environment can leave lasting memories on children and convey messages regarding their safety, self-worth and freedom for exploration and discovery. Children in each stage of development utilize space differently and those spaces should be appropriately designed to support each stage so children can interact with adults and peers in ways that reflect their developmental needs. We will review basic design elements such as sound, color, light, lighting, windows, doors and furnishings and show how research-based evidence recognizes the importance of brain-based environmental design.
Learning Level: Advanced
Learning Track: Child Development - Brain
Jean Barbre, EdD, Coordinator - Early Childhood Education
Orange County Department of Education - Instruction Services, Costa Mesa, CA
Ingrid Anderson, Adjunct Faculty
Irvine Valley College - Human Development Department, Irvine, CA
Pre-K English Learner "Teachniques" for Building Language Opportunities
Support language development in children whose first language is not English by implementing field-tested tools and strategies. This interactive workshop is a collaborative effort between the Los Angeles Universal Preschool (LAUP) preschool teachers, coaches, and California Preschool Instructional Network (CPIN) and focuses on research highlights. Gain strategic planning tools and instructional strategies to implement in your classroom. Examples of curricular adaptations, modifications and activities and instructional practices will be presented to amplify the concepts and ideas being discussed. Instructional and assessment implications from research will also be discussed.
Learning Level: Advanced
Learning Track: Child Development - Language/Literacy
Therese Snyder, Curriculum and Instruction Consultant
Los Angeles Universal Preschool, Los Angeles, CA
Faith Polk, PhD, Early Childhood Lead
Los Angeles County Office of Education - CPIN Region 11, Los Angeles, CA
Christine Wilson, Coach
Los Angeles Universal Preschool - Provider Network Operations, Los Angeles, CA
Get Your Motor Running! Promoting Physical Activity & Movement Every Day
Get ready, get set, and have fun as you join in cooperative group games and learn how to provide physical education for all children. Using upbeat music, inexpensive equipment and homemade play props, this session will engage you in “moving experiences” that increase moderate to vigorous physical activity in limited space. Discover the power of play in building the foundation for children's learning!
Learning Level: Beginning
Learning Track: Child Development - Physical
Sharron Krull, College Instructor
Modesto Junior College & Las Positas College, Livermore, CA
Opening a Dialogue of Death with Families and Children
El Dia del los Muertos - a Mexican holiday celebrating loved ones who have died - became the centerpiece for one center's efforts to assist several children who experienced the death of family members, pets and friends. In order to develop a dialogue with the families and children, the staff focused on the cultural perspectives and framework for El Dia del los Muertos which culminated in a cross-cultural center-wide celebration where the family members told individual stories of the significant people who have died in their lives. A parent education packet on how to talk to children about death and dying was developed as part of the two-month emergent curriculum project. The recommended audience for this workshop is anyone willing to explore the sensitive issue of death and dying, especially those who may need to talk to young children about death.
Learning Level: All
Learning Track: Child Development - Social/Emotional
Karen Wiggins-Dowler, Master Teacher
College of San Mateo - Mary Meta Lazarus Child Development Center,
San Mateo, CA
Teresa Campbell, President - SMAEYC
Director - Kidink Preschool, LLC, San Mateo, CA
Kindergarten Readiness: The Role of Socio-emotional Development
Kindergarten readiness isn’t just about pre-academic skills it is also about the development of the healthy socio-emotional foundation children need in order to learn, communicate, pay attention and regulate their behavior. Learn about how the brain develops and how cognitive development is connected to emotional centers in the brain. Learn how to truly prepare children for kindergarten by intentionally integrating socio-emotional development into every day interactions.
Learning Level: Advanced
Learning Track: Child Development - Social/Emotional Competence
This workshop offered in Spanish on Friday, 8:30am.
Patricia Lakatos
Psychologist and Early Childhood Consultant, Arcadia, CA
Competent and Peaceable Children: How Peace Education Enhances Social/Emotional Development
Peace education is inextricably linked to the development of social and emotional skills. Explore the fundamentals of peace education such as developing meaningful relationships, building a sense of genuine community, developing peaceful conflict resolution skills and nurturing the child's self regard and love of learning. Learn how to develop a sense of community. Learn how to create an environment that supports children's sense of competence and at the same time support children's peaceful and healthy interactions.
Learning Level: Intermediate
Learning Track: Child Development - Social/Emotional Competence
Sharon Davisson, Adjunct Faculty
Pacific Oaks College - Human Development, Nevada City, CA
Wilma Gold, MSW, Adjunct Faculty
Cabrillo College, NonViolence in the Lives of Children Project
Can't We All Just Get Along? Conflict Resolution for Preschoolers
Wouldn't you like to have a classroom where children are able to solve conflicts on their own with little or no teacher involvement? You bet you would! Come learn the skills to help children to better their conflict resolution skills with other children as well as adults. Examine how to model appropriate conflict resolution for the children by using it yourself with other adults and children in the environment. This interactive session will use media and real world situations to demonstrate the techniques in action.
Learning Level: Beginning
Learning Track: Child Development - Social/Emotional Competence
Jennifer Ryan, Site Supervisor
North County Community Services, Lakeside, CA
Enhancing Curriculum with Flannelboard and Puppets to Include ALL Children
Gain fifty practical ideas for using finger plays, flannelboard stories and puppets to adapt core curricula and supplementing literacy activities for children with diverse special needs ages 2 to 5! Get hands-on and involved with the many ideas you can immediately implement in the classroom. All of the methods shared have been research-based and/or field-tested with children with and without diverse special needs ages 2 to 5. Share various strategies that have been used with students from various cultural, socioeconomic, and linguistic backgrounds as well as students with disabilities and explore how all of these tactics can be tied to early literacy standards.
Learning Level: Beginning
Learning Track: Children/Disabilities and Special Needs
Belinda Dunnick Karge, College Professor/Coordinator Early Childhood SpEd Program
California State University, Fullerton - Special Education, Fullerton, CA
Marian Dunnick Privett, Retired Director
Associated Student Campus Children Center - San Diego State University, San Diego, CA
A Journey through Documentation
Documentation is key in making learning visible! A variety of strategies, simple to technological, will be outlined. Appropriate documentation techniques can capture developmental milestones and enrich the classroom environment and curriculum. Participants will learn how to make learning visible in classrooms by using photography, children's achievements, words and art projects. Documentation strategies that facilitate parent participation and partnership will be explored and participants are encouraged to share their own best practices.
Learning Level: Intermediate
Learning Track: Curriculum
Kristin Beeve, Adjunct Professor-ECE Department
College of the Canyons, La Canada, CA
Elisha Gonzalez, Program Coordinator
Bright Horizons, Burbank, CA
What To Do When There Is Nothing To Do
Nothing to do? One fresh look around the classroom brings about dozens of new activities spurred by existing materials. Put your imagination to work to discover recyclable materials that can be used for projects that are both educational and fun. Learn how to use formative assessment techniques for the activities and see how each child's work reflects creativity and understanding of the subject. Have fun exploring activities that will help children learn about their environment and encourage them to explore the world around them. Consider how the use of art contributes to how a child processes, analyzes, and responds to sensory information. This program meets the California Educational Standards in artistic perception.
Learning Level: Beginning
Learning Track: Curriculum - Art
Eileen Cross, Master Teacher/Consultant
Cool, CA
Michael Cross, Consultant
Cool, CA
What's in Your Cupboard? How to Create Multi-Purpose Manipulatives
Everyone is short on storage space - stretch the space (and the budget!) with new, exciting ideas for multi-purposing common items found in most preschool curriculum cupboards. Creating center and circle time activites with an emphasis on "Spring Time", we'll use bugs and flowers as our theme. Discover new ways to use Duplos, color tiles, blocks, unifix cubes, foam shapes, magazines, etc. Find out how easy it is to create your own center activities, theme related or not! Activities created in the workshop will provide open-ended discovery for children, allowing for developing skill levels. Take home patterns for six easy center and circle time activites will be provided to each participant. Not only will classroom items be used, but common recyclable items will become a variety of center activities. Teachers both new and experienced will find creative ideas to multi-purpose and organize any classroom.
Learning Level: All
Learning Track: Curriculum - General
Karine Masterson, Program Director
Trinity Lutheran Church, Ventura, CA
If You Can Walk - You Can Dance. If You Can Talk - You Can Sing
Get in touch with the music in you! Discuss the significance of music in our lives, and the natural inclination to make music. Explore the concept that music is a universal language. Start with speaking chants and work your way into basic rhythms and naturally ease into singing and accompaniment of simple songs with Orff style instruments. Construct and participate in a developmentally appropriate creative movement activity to quality recorded music.
Learning Level:
Learning Track: Curriculum - Music/Movement
Melanie Duka, Early Childhood Specialist
Saddleback College
Laguna Beach, CA
The Joy of Singing Leads to a Love of Language
Songs are stories and poetry. Learn how to use the PRIZE Method of teaching in order to make words and phrases come alive! See how songs and rhythmic word play build comprehension, speech fluency and communication skills. By using sign language and gesture, movement and visual props the lyrics become more meaningful and are retained in the memory though several stimuli - visual, auditory, kinesthetic, and emotional involvement. Songs will be sung in English and Spanish.
Learning Level: All
Learning Track: Curriculum - Music/Movement
Charlotte Diamond, Educator, Author, Composer and Recording Artist
Hug Bug Music, Richmond, British Columbia, Canada
A Head Start on Science
Developing activities and workshops to prepare Head Start teachers to bring science to 4-year olds is the focus of a national project taking place at California State University, Long Beach. The approach is appropriate for both pre-school and elementary school teachers and children. Learn how to use science activities that engage both yourself and your youngsters in exploring the science possibilities of the everyday world.
Learning Level: Beginning
Learning Track: Curriculum - Science/Technology
William Ritz, Professor Emeritus/Project Director
California State University, Long Beach, Long Beach, CA
Connecting Children and Families with Nature in an Urban Environment
A sense of wonder and joy describes a child's exploration of the world around them. The natural world and outdoor learning experiences play a critical role in children's well being and overall development - yet many young children spend large amounts of time in environments that are isolated from the natural world. Learn how two NAEYC Accredited urban early education centers are involving staff, children, families, and community agencies to design, educate, act and sustain natural environments for children to celebrate and foster a love of nature. Participants will develop a framework for connecting children and families with nature, learning strategies for integrating curriculum, Desired Results, and standards in natural environments, and learn strategies to incorporate nature into existing environments. Be the model for changing the way children experience the natural world!
Learning Level: Intermediate
Learning Track: Environments - Outdoors
Michael Lopez Breaux, Early Childhood Special Education Teacher
Los Angeles Unified School District, San Gabriel, CA
Mary McLennan
Child Health Works
April Pernell, Manager, School Programs
Descanso Gardens, La Canada, CA
Phil Schultz, Early Childhood Special Education Teacher and Lead Teacher
EEC
Welcoming Diversity in Our Schools: Acknowledging and Supporting Students of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Parents
Lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) parented families are an increasingly visible part of our schools and communities. This interactive workshop will address the unique issues facing children with LGBT parents, outline specific strategies and best practices for creating safe and welcoming classrooms and schools for all students, and provide space for educators to explore their own fears, challenges and concerns about incorporating LGBT families into existing diversity curriculum. Participants will leave with tools, strategies and resources as well as an advanced understanding of LGBT families.
Learning Level: Intermediate
Learning Track: Equity and Diversity
Arielle Rosen, Family Services Program Manager
L.A. Gay & Lesbian Center, Los Angeles, CA
Jennifer Durham, Family Advocate
L.A. Gay & Lesbian Center, Los Angeles, CA
Planting Seeds of Faith in Young Children
Based on the faith development work of James Fowler, the focus of this workshop is on the intuitive projective stage of faith (2-7 year olds), the importance of what is presented to the child in the early years, and the impact it can have in later faith development. The following concepts will be presented with appropriate children's literature and video clips of PLNU laboratory preschool classroom: understanding age appropriate Christian curriculum, criteria for evaluation of age-appropriate curriculum, helping teachers to use language that builds a healthy basis for faith development, and updating research.
Learning Level: Beginning
Learning Track: Faith-based ECE
Susan Rogers, Academic Director of the Early Childhood Learning Center
Point Loma Nazarene University, San Diego, CA
Aleta Slater, Site Director of the Early Childhood Learning Center
Point Loma Nazarene University - Family and Consumer Sciences, San Diego, CA
Why I Should be Nationally Accredited!
Explore the benefits to you, the children in your care and their families when you become nationally accredited through the National Association of Family Child Care (NAFCC). Promoting and improving programs and providing a more enriched learning atmosphere for children is always the first priority. Gain an understanding of the definition of Quality for Family Childcare Providers and learn how to self-assess your programs. Also, explore the opportunities available to educate both parents and policy makers on how to recognize quality family childcare facilities.
Learning Level: Beginning
Learning Track: Family Child Care
Tamara Williams-Dobson, President - Riverside County Family Childcare Association / Accredited Provider
Dobson Christian Preschool and Childcare, Corona, CA
Enhancing Learning through Multi-age Grouping
Multi-age grouping emphasizes the goal of maximizing interaction and cooperation among children of various ages through teaching and curriculum practices. In multi-age classes, teachers encourage children with different experiences and stages of development to turn to each other for help with all aspects of development. Explore the benefits and risks of this methodology while also reviewing the theories that support it.
Learning Level: Intermediate
Learning Track: Infants and Toddlers
Caroline Li, Child Development Teacher
UCLA Infant Development Program, Los Angeles, CA
Grizel Lopez, Child Development Teacher
UCLA Infant Development Program, Los Angeles, CA
Ani Shabazian, Executive Director
UCLA Infant Development Program - Psychology, Los Angeles, CA
Reducing the Risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome in Child Care
Designed for early childhood educators who provide care for infants in both family child care and center base settings, this workshop provides information on what SIDS is and the alarming statistics associated with it. Participants will learn important strategies to reduce the risks of SIDS in child care and will receive guidance to develop a Safe Sleep Policy. The training materials used in this workshop were developed by the American Academy of Pediatrics and were piloted in four states during a national research project.
Learning Level: Beginning
Learning Track: Infants and Toddlers
Jenifer Lipman, Pediatric Nurse Practitioner and Child Care Health Consultant
JL Lipman Child Care Health Consulting, Lakewood, CA
Infants and Toddlers Need Small Group Care: What Does It Mean? How Can We Do It?
Research has demonstrated the importance of children under three being cared for in small groups. Given physical and financial constraints, how can programs implement small group experiences for their infants and toddlers? This interactive workshop will combine video clips, hands-on experiences, handouts, and discussion to explore the topic. Infant Care Teachers will understand the definition of small groups and will understand how the environment can be set up to encourage small group experiences.
Learning Level: Beginning
Learning Track: Infants and Toddlers
Taylor Barrington, Infant Toddler Specialist
WestEd Program for Infant Toddler Care, Pasadena, CA
Bobbie Edwards, Infant Toddler Specialist Coordinator
WestEd Partners for Quality/Program for Infant Toddler Care, La Crescenta, CA
Center to School Transitions: Creating a Continuum of Support for Children
Ensuring program continuity and seamless transitions helps children become more successful in school. Examine the effects of transitions on families, children, kindergarten teachers and learn transition strategies. This interactive workshop will provide participants with transition resources, activities, and a plan unique to their needs that includes activities which support continuity and seamless transitions for children and families.
Learning Level: Intermediate
Learning Track: Kindergarten/Primary
Andrea Molarius, Executive Director
Northern California Child Development, Tehama County Head Start, Corning, CA
Rosie Flores-Wilfong, Education & Disabilities Manager
Northern California Child Development, Tehama County Head Start, Corning, CA
Marriage Education: When Parents Get Along, Children Thrive
Mom and Dad yell and scream every night and their children are traumatized. Many serious emotional and behavioral problems can be traced back to the inability of two parents to model a positive relationship. Learn about evidence-based curricula that can help parents improve and strengthen their relationship at the earliest possible time in the lives of their children. Review four benefits of healthy parental relationships for children and learn how to provide relationship education programs in your community.
Learning Level: Beginning
Learning Track: Parent/Family Relationships and Support
Carolyn Curtis, Executive Director
California Healthy Marriages Coalition, Sacramento, CA
Dennis Stoica, President
California Healthy Marriages Coalition, Sacramento, CA
It's April 2008: Do You Know Who Your Parents Are?
Education is a family affair! Strategies for making the home-school connection are at your fingertips! Join a discussion about the importance of parent involvement in their child's education. Learn techniques and strategies to enhance children's learning both at school and at home. Increase your understanding of the importance of and strategies for extending/enhancing learning from and to the home and examine your own parent/teacher relationships.
Learning Level: Intermediate
Learning Track: Parent/Family Relationships and Support
This workshop offered in Spanish on Friday, 4:45pm.
Laura Arzave, Family Literacy Resource Teacher
National Even Start Association, San Diego, CA
Lourdes Razo
California Early Childhood Mentor Program Caucus Meeting
The Mentor Program provides financial support and professional development opportunities to more than 600 outstanding educators throughout California. Mentors work with other educators and ECE students in their communities, but have limited opportunities to interact with Mentors in other parts of the state. This meeting provides an opportunity for Mentors to network, as well as share experiences and ideas about mentoring and the program in general. It also provides an opportunity for Mentors to learn about the latest developments in the California Early Childhood Mentor Program, share issues or concerns with the Program Director and staff, and learn about early childhood education policy issues.
Learning Level: Advanced
Learning Track: Professional Development - Teaching Adults
Geraldine Sutton, Teacher
Coyote Run Head Start, Palm Springs, CA
Dayna Turner
Panther Valley Montessori School
LAUP Workforce Initiative: Forging Collaborations, Removing Barriers, and Creating Pathways to Professional Growth
Los Angeles Universal Preschool (LAUP) awarded Workforce Initiative grants in August 2007 to six collaborations of community colleges, 4-year colleges, and feeder high schools. The grants are intended to encourage professional development and promote recruitment and retention in the field of early care and education. This advanced workshop will showcase these projects. Randi Wolfe, LAUP Director of Workforce Development, will moderate the panel of representatives from the projects. The overarching goals of the Workforce Initiative are to identify and remove barriers to academic success and professional growth of ECE workforce members, and to create pathways toward degree completion and increased staff quality and retention.
Learning Level: Advanced
Learning Track: Professional Development - Workforce Development
Randi Wolfe, Director of Workforce Development
Los Angeles Universal Preschool (LAUP), Los Angeles, CA
Panelists to be announced
Standards and Expectations vs. Developmentally Appropriate Practice: We CAN Have Both!
In a state where standards are becoming a priority and parents are expecting drill and practice, how do we implement developmentally appropriate curriculum that meets the individual needs of children. How do we maintain the integrity of ECE? Learn how to create an awesome environment, manage the classroom, and create a curriculum that encourages active learning, while also meeting funder's guidelines or program goals. Participants will explore new approaches to communicating with parents about the curriculum and importance of play, as well as receive new research information that can be shared in a family-friendly format.
Learning Level: Beginning
Learning Track: Quality/Evaluation - Program
Susie Valdez, Professor
Santa Ana College - Human Development, Santa Ana, CA
The Child Development Permit: Qualifications and How to Apply
(Workshop title and description in Spanish to be provided.) Experience the A-Z of the Child Development Permit Matrix, including the options for meeting its qualifications and how to complete all application forms for the permit. The purpose of the Child Development Training Consortium will be discussed and a complete overview of the Child Development Permit Matrix will be given.
Learning Level: Beginning
Learning Track: Spanish - Professional Development - Workforce Development
This workshop will be presented in English on Friday at 12:45pm.
Ofelia Gomez, Permit Processing Technician III
Child Development Training Consortium, Modesto, CA
(In Mandarin Only)
Speech/Language, Hearing and Swallowing in Preschoolers
The first few years in life are critical for children in developing their hearing, speech/language and swallowing abilities. This presentation will introduce you to these developmental stages and their related issues such as how swallowing abilities would impact young children’s language development. In addition, signs for children who may be at risk of developing communication disorders and/or swallowing problems will be discussed.
Dr. Ying-Chiao, Tsao
California State University, Fullerton
Download Chinese version [click here]
The Early Childhood Environmental Rating Scale (ECERS)
ECERS is frequently used as a tool in Quality Rating Systems across the country. Discuss how the ECERS overlaps with NAEYC Accreditation Standards and Criteria and how ECERS can support your efforts to reach Accreditation. Clearly understand the areas in which ECERS and NAEYC Accreditation overlap and those in which they are different. Become familiar with the terminology in order to be better prepared for possible policy discussions about ECERS and Accreditation as components of a proposed future statewide Quality Rating System.
Learning Level: Beginning
Learning Track: Accreditation
This workshop also offered Friday, 8:30am
Laura Long, Director - Children & Youth Initiatives
Orange County United Way, Mission Viejo, CA
Grantwriting for Teachers and Administrators in ECE
Grantwriting made easy! Learn where to look for grants and develop strategies to see if those grants are right for you. Explore federal, state, and local grants as well as opportunities from foundations and other private sources. Gain practical application experience by developing ideas for possible grants and then utilizing resources to see if those grant ideas can be supported.
Learning Level: Beginning
Learning Track: Administration
This workshop also offered Friday, 8:30am
Christie Howell, Program Coordinator
California State University, Bakersfield, Bakersfield, CA
Kim Brown, Project Coordinator
California State University Bakersfield - Teacher Education, Bakersfield, CA
Amanda Tumblin, Project Advisor
California State University Bakersfield - Teacher Education, Bakersfield, CA
Bringing Diversity, Peace and Advocacy to Children through Song
Description to be provided.
Learning Track: Center for Social Change
Betsy Rose, Singer/Songwriter/Educator
Children's Music Network, Spirit Rock Meditation Center, Berkeley, CA
21 Tools for Avoiding Power Struggles While Empowering and Encouraging Children
Discipline or punishment? Research has shown that punishment may work in the short term but even short term is not worth the price a child can pay for it. Learn practical strategies that are all designed to foster a sense of belonging and significance and change behavior through connectivity and cooperation. These 21 non-punitive discipline strategies encourage children to improve their behavior and help them develop a sense of capability, social consciousness and character building. Discipline, done right, can not only be respectful and encouraging but can teach valuable social and life skills.
Learning Level: Beginning
Learning Track: Challenging Behaviors
This workshop was also offered Friday, 8:30am.
Dr. Jane Nelsen
Positive Discipline Associates, South Jordan, UT
JUST Playing is JUST Great! Self-esteem and Developmentally Appropriate Practice
Ignorance of developmentally appropriate practice with children, especially play leads to destruction of their self-esteem. Learn to use developmental and psychological theory to create a nurturing esteem-building learning and play environment for children. Learn what self-esteem is composed of and how it is gained and lost. Examine what is so important about it and how to positively affect the students in your care.
Learning Level: Intermediate
Learning Track: Child Development - Social/Emotional Competence
Ronald Mah
Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist, San Leandro, CA
Bag of Tricks! Transition Tools & Tips
You don’t have to be a magician to create transitions that help young children move smoothly and joyfully from one activity to the next. Add to your collection of quick and amusing learning activities to facilitate transitions with children. These "in-between-activity" times are valuable teachable moments.
Learning Level:
Learning Track: Curriculum - Music/Movement
Sharron Krull, College Instructor - Child Development
Modesto Junior College & Las Positas College, Livermore, CA
Songs, Games and Rhymes for Multicultural Classroom
Music can be an exceptional learning tool because it allows children to learn as they sing and play. Often, children learn faster and more effectively through games because, unlike formal teaching modalities, they are a non-threatening mode of learning. When children are singing and moving, they are more apt to enjoy, -and remember- what they learn. Learn traditional Latin American songs and original compositions in Spanish and English that teach elementary subjects such as the alphabet, vowels, numbers, colors and body parts. Use music as an activity and motivate children to learn to speak, read and write! Songs will be sung in English and Spanish.
Learning Level: All
Learning Track: Curriculum - Music/Movement
This workshop also offered Friday, 10:30am.
Jose-Luis Orozco, Bilingual Educator, Recording Artist & Children's Author
Arcoiris Record, Los Angeles, CA
Starting in a Corner: Making Changes
Each year educators face the challenge that a new group of children and their diverse needs present. Meeting this challenge requires early childhood educators, and the environment in which they practice, to be inherently flexible. To help educators appreciate both the need and to identify the opportunities to affect change participants will explore personal roadblocks to change, learn how to recognize and overcome the hurdles presented by a limited or limiting environment, and receive suggestions for establishing a multi-disciplinary environment. Practical suggestions designed to touch on many areas of ECE curriculum along with a variety of classroom layouts and designs will be shared.
Learning Level: All
Learning Track: Environments
Bev Bos, Director/Teacher
Roseville Community Preschool, Roseville, CA
Michael Leeman, Music Teacher
Roseville Community Preschool and Roseville Community School, Roseville, CA
Reggio Beginnings: Starting the Journey Together at a New Center
Many educators are inspired by the Reggio Emilia approach to education, but may lack the support, resources, or understandings to embark upon the study of it in their centers. Often, there are misrepresentations about what Reggio Emilia is about and how it is adapted to the American context in individual schools. In addition, many educators feel overwhelmed by the Reggio ideas and do not attempt the journey of study and change. The purpose of this presentation is to educate and inform participants about how to begin the process of studying and reflecting about Reggio Emilia. By sharing many concrete experiences which included bringing Reggio ideas to different centers, participants will learn steps to take in beginning their own journey.
Learning Track: Environments - Reggio Emilia
This workshop also offered Friday, 2:45pm.
Lisa Hinshelwood, Curriculum Development Specialist
Google, Mountain View, CA
The Happiest Toddler on the Block: Soothe Tantrums and Promote Cooperation
Toddlers... so adorable and fun one minute...so stubborn and demanding the next! Yet, as unbelievable as it sounds, there is a way to turn the daily stream of "nos" and "don'ts" into "yeses" and hugs if you know how to speak a toddler's language - Toddler-ese. The author of bestseller "The Happiest Toddler on the Block" will share a remarkable approach to communicating with children ages 9 months to five years. Mastering this novel approach will result in fewer, shorter tantrums...more patient children...and happier teachers and families.
Learning Level: All
Learning Track: Infants and Toddlers
Harvey Karp, Assistant Professor of Pediatrics
UCLA School of Medicine, Los Angeles, CA
Creando Entendimiento Emocional: Para Ayudar a los Padres a Reducir la Tension en sus Niños
Los niños pequeños necesitan sentirse bien conectados a sus padres y a las personas que les cuidan. Pero los sucesos de la vida diaria pueden hacer que los niños pierdan esa conexión. Venga y aprenda un conjunto de Herramientas para Escuchar que son sencillas pero muy efectivas para fortalecer y reparar la sensación de conexión en su niño. Explore técnicas diseñadas para solucionar los comportamientos surgidos de la tensión y aprenda maneras de intervenir que ayudan a los niños a funcionar bien social y emocionalmente tanto en la escuela como en la guardería.
Learning Level: Principiante/Beginning
Learning Track: Spanish - Child Development - Social/Emotional Competence
This workshop offered in English on Saturday, 4:30pm.
Patricia Wipfler, Executive Director
Hand in Hand Parenting, Palo Alto, CA
Ferramientas para Facilitar Circle Time Sencillo y Entretenido / Tools that Facilitate Circle
Time - Simple and Enjoyable!
Workshop description to be provided.
Learning Track: Spanish - Curriculum - Music/Movement
Norma Loera, Teacher
California State University Northridge - Associated Students Children's Center, Northridge, CA
(In Mandarin Only)
Understanding Young Children's Temperament
Temperament is the constellation of inborn traits that determine a child’s unique behavioral style and the way he/she experiences and reacts to the people around him/her. The purpose of this workshop is to train child care providers to recognize each individual child’s temperament and plan a developmentally appropriate environment for children age 0-5.
Dr. Shu-Chen, Jenny Yen
California State University, Fullerton
Download Chinese version [click here]
Creating a Classroom Portfolio for NAEYC Accreditation & Beyond
Are you new to the Accreditation process or going through Re-accreditation? Join us as we discuss the components of a Classroom Portfolio and the NAEYC Accreditation criteria for Classroom Portfolios. This workshop will cover the process of creating with photos and observations to get the product of a Classroom Portfolio. Together we will create a Mock-folio with examples to take back to Early Education programs.
Learning Track: Accreditation
Ijumaa Jordan, ECE Specialist
Crystal Stairs Inc., Los Angeles, CA
Simple Ways to Make More Money with a Childcare Web site
How can the internet be used as an effective tool for building and maintaining business? Learn the benefits of building an effective Web site for your childcare business. Return to work with information on the importance of having a Web site, online trends, key components of an effective Web site, current options available in the market, and basic marketing ideas to effectively promote an early care and education organization to the community.
Learning Level: Intermediate
Learning Track: Administration
LuShawna Romeo, President/Co-Founder
Childcare Bridge International, Inc., Murrieta, CA
Rhonda Anderson, CEO/President
Childcare Bridge International, Inc., Murrieta, CA
Are You Herding Cats? The AEYC Membership Round-Up
Managing your membership shouldn't be like herding cats! Building and maintaining your affiliate membership roll takes thoughtful planning, community understanding and a commitment to follow through and meet expectations! Come learn what membership means and how to maximize the benefits for your members. Learn how NAEYC, CAEYC and the local affiliates work together and how to be inclusive. Explore membership recruitment and retention strategies and group facilitation techniques in order to maximize your members' experience.
Learning Level: All
Learning Track: Affiliate Development
Ginger Hartnett, Membership Chair, CAEYC
San Diego, CA
Managing Aggressive Behaviors in the Preschool Classroom
Ever increasing issues regarding children that act out violently in the preschool classroom demand our attention and intervention. Come discuss aggressive behavior in general, define the different types of aggression and some of the underlying causes for it. Both Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs and the six core strengths children need to feel successful (based on Dr. Bruce Perry's theories) will be used to develop strategies for management of aggressive behaviors in the classroom. Learn how to distinguish between different behaviors such as teasing and bullying and how to develop relationships with children, correctly document behavior issues and help children develop their social and emotional skills through the use of literature.
Learning Level: Beginning
Learning Track: Challenging Behaviors
Jean Alexander-Booth, Project Director
The Carolyn E. Wylie Center, Riverside, CA
Different Brains: Gender Differences in Play, Communication and Learning Strategies
Boys and girls are more alike than they are different; however, there are a number of interesting differences that have come to light through recent brain-based research. Learn about these findings as well as socio-cultural research to explore gender differences in play, communication and preferred learning strategies. Create learning environments that best support all children in their classroom or childcare setting and provide opportunities for children to explore, gain experience, AND a level of mastery in areas of both typical and atypical strength, thereby addressing the whole child.
Learning Level: Intermediate
Learning Track: Child Development - Brain
Christine Griswold, Adjunct Instructor
Citrus College Child Development, Glendora, CA
It's in the Bag! Take Home Story Bags for Families
Get beyond the usual "send a book home to read with your parents in a ziplock bag" routine! Let's explore other creative ways to get the students' attention and the parents' as well. Learn how to use reusable cloth bags decorated with pictures depicting something from the book that is contained in the bag. Children love them and can't wait to get their turns to take various ones home. Even better, the bags catch the interest of parents who may not be that interested in reading with their children. Learn to expand beyond literature to using tote bags to help with math, writing, and science. Get the learning from the classroom into the home with these creative (and easy!) approaches.
Helen Pitton, Early Childhood Specialist
Learning Level:
Learning Track: Child Development - Language/Literacy
Fresno Unified School District - Early Childhood Education
Fresno, CA
Our Brains are Thinking: Creating Highly Engaging Read Aloud Sessions
Please join us as we explore strategies to enhance your read alouds sessions and increase children's engagement levels at storytime. Learn to create collaborative spaces where all children can take intellectual risks. Support your students in making meaning of text through partner talk and observe young children participate in highly engaging peer conversations as they think about and analyze text. Specific techniques will be modeled and discussed in order to create effective and developmentally appropriate literacy classrooms where all learners access the world of print.
Learning Level: All
Learning Track: Child Development - Language/Literacy
Jennifer Palma, Education Coordinator
NLMUSD Head Start/State Preschool, Norwalk, CA
Olga Andrade, Head Start/State Preschool Teacher
NLMUSD Head Start/State Preschool, Norwalk, CA
Adriana Ramos, Head Start Teacher
NLMUSD Head Start/State Preschool, Norwalk, CA
From Chaos to Comfort: Creating a Safe Haven for Stressed-out Children
Is it Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder or Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder? Learn how many challenging children are actually suffering from the ways their brains were wired in infancy. Discuss how the brain develops, and how to work with children who have low impulse control, short attention spans, and few social skills. Examine the importance of attachment and how the fear continuum keeps children from learning. Find new ways to teach impulse control through games and music/movement.
Learning Level: Intermediate
Learning Track: Child Development - Social/Emotional Competence
Pam Deyell-Gingold
Child Development Specialist/Trainer/Consultant, Mariposa, CA
Dealing with Anger Compassionately: Teaching Healthy Expressions of Anger.
Learn how to value the power of the emotional information that is coded in anger. Increase your awareness that anger is an expression of unmet needs and feelings and receive guidance as to what self-empathy techniques can be used when you feel the impact of a child's anger. Explore the concept of compassionate communication and learn strategies to help children self-regulate. Discuss creative and playful resolutions that validate the needs the children are seeking to fulfill.
Learning Level: Beginning
Learning Track: Child Development - Social/Emotional Competence
This workshop offered in Spanish on Friday, 12:45pm.
Ruth Beaglehole, Executive Director
Center for Nonviolent Education and Parenting, Los Angeles, CA
The Emotional Journey of Early Childhood Teachers and Special Needs Parents
Early childhood teachers are on the ground floor of the assessment process and with proper training can consistently recognize when a child is not following a 'typical' pattern of development. But how do you communicate with the parents and handle their emotional needs as well as your own? Learn how to be prepared to handle the journey that the parents, the child and you will go through in a professional and helpful way. Explore ways to be comfortable with inclusion and feel confident in interactions with families of children with special needs. Participants will be shown observation tools to help begin those difficult conversations with parents and will be asked to share personal anecdotes of how they have handled parent/teacher interactions.
Learning Level: Intermediate
Learning Track: Children/Disabilities and Special Needs
Michelle Arant, Child Development Specialist
Orange Coast College, Costa Mesa, CA
Early Education in Museums: The Freedom to Explore
Museums tend to be an untapped resource for learning, both in the classroom and in the community. With hands-on exploration, cultural learning, and arts education, museum experiences can enrich and complement any classroom curriculum. Embark on a visual journey of interactive museum settings, experiences, and programs by viewing a slide show of children interacting in the galleries. Learn about the Kidspace Children's Museum and the Skirball Cultural Center as well as other museums in the southern California area and how these experiences can be integrated into the classroom.
Learning Level: Intermediate
Learning Track: Curriculum
Carol Coleman, Head Teacher
Early Education Extended Learning Program -Glendale Unified School District, Glendale, CA
Molly Porter, Associate Educator - Family Programs
Skirlball Cultural Center and Museum, Los Angeles, CA
Monica Rollins, Early Childhood Coordinator
Kidspace Children's Museum Education, Pasadena, CA
Designing an Art Show: Seeing Through the Eyes of Children
Showcase your art program by designing an art show! Learn how to create an art program that focuses on children's developmental skills, interests, and how to scaffold them to the next level of development. Then discuss the specifics of organizing an art show from beginning to end including proper selection of what to include, proper presentation and how to use documentation as a tool to further demonstrate the learning that occurred during the children's creative process.
Learning Level: Intermediate
Learning Track: Curriculum - Art
Jiyoung Lee, ECE Apprentice III
MiraCosta College, Oceanside, CA
Yi-Cheng Hu, ECE Instructional Specialist
MiraCosta College Child Development Center, Oceanside, CA
Laura Paciorek, ECE Instructional Specialist
MiraCosta College Child Development Center, Oceanside, CA
Scaffolding Mathematical Thinking In Young Children with Hands-On Math
Experience fun, practical strategies to help students move among the languages of two sets of math standards: 1) numbers and operations; algebra; geometry, measurement, data analysis and probability and 2) processes of problem solving, reasoning and proof, connections, communication, and representation. Use manipulatives and the children's own conversations to build on what they already know and capture an interest in mathematics.
Learning Level: Beginning
Learning Track: Curriculum - Mathematics
Dr. Diana Carry
Cuisenaire/Educational Publishing - Professional Development, Chicago, IL
Calm Down Boogie: Bringing Calm, Connection and Mindfulness to the Classroom
Stress, physical or emotional un-ease and over stimulation from media and a fast-paced lifestyle are the roots of many behavioral problems in children. As a result of the stressed, disruptive mannerisms exhibited by some children, educators often struggle to maintain calm and bring children into a harmonious group. Music is a tool that can used to help children to calm, to connect, to be emotionally present and part of a cohesive group. Learn how to use various songs and activities in order to create a more harmonious and productive learning environment.
Learning Level:
Learning Track: Curriculum - Music/Movement
Betsy Rose, Singer/Songwriter/Educator
Children's Music Network, Spirit Rock Meditation Center, Berkeley, CA
Rhythm and Rhyme Time: Move and Groove into Reading
This workshop is guaranteed to get everyone moving, grooving and rhyming with original singable and danceable songs that engage children in developing phonemic awareness skills, promote active listening skills, build new vocabulary, enhance basic skills, as well as teaching colors, numbers, and body concepts. With leader response songs, echoes, choruses, catchy chants and tongue-twisters, all participants will be totally involved in a cooperative learning experience. Great for ESL. Handouts with lyrics will be provided.
Learning Level: Beginning
Learning Track: Curriculum - Music/Movement
Fran Avni
Singer/Songwriter/Musician/Producer, Oakland, CA
Interactive Performance: Sing, Sign and Learn
Interactive original and traditional songs will be performed with the addition of prop ideas and American Sign Language. Participants will see simple instruments they can make themselves. Resources and ideas on how to bring music into the classroom in a full enriching way to open up language will be shared.
Learning Level: All
Learning Track: Curriculum - Music/Movement
Juliette McDonald, Children's Performer
Juliette's Music, Cupertino, CA
Alainah McDonald, Music Composer, Performer, Director
Juliette's Music, Cupertino, CA
Yvette McDonald, Musician/Performer
Juliette's Music, Cupertino, CA
Early Explorations in Science with Tree Homes
Bring science to life in your classroom! A background in science isn't needed in order to learn activities that promote caring attitudes towards the environment. The session will demonstrate strategies that integrate science with math, literacy, sensory explorations and dramatic play in developmentally appropriate ways for children ages 3-6. Use your senses to observe natural objects, make models, watch dramas about animals living in trees, and role play animal behavior. Presenters will discuss the relevant scientific content and pedagogy supporting each component.
Learning Level: Beginning
Learning Track: Curriculum - Scienc/Technology
Vicki Starcevic, ECE Master Teacher & Trainer
Shasta College Lab School, Redding, CA
When the Vision Meets the Toy Store
What do classroom materials say about your program's philosophy and goals? Share in the experiences of one program's journey in choosing learning materials that are environmentally sound, open-ended, natural, recycled, creative, safe and fun. Participants will learn realistic ways to incorporate natural materials and products into their programs.
Learning Level: Intermediate
Learning Track: Environments
Kellee Nelson, Preschool Program Manager
Google Children's Center, Mountain View, CA
Free Range Childhood: How to Nurture Nature in Young Children
Explore the international movement to increase children's connections with nature! Inspired by Richard Louv's book Last Child in the Woods, children are reconnecting with the outdoors. Participants will learn about the recently formed Nature Action Collaborative, discuss the importance of connecting children with the natural world, and how to implement the connection at the program level. Share ideas, both big and small, on how to increase experiences with nature!
Learning Level: Intermediate
Learning Track: Environments - Outdoors
Denise Wessels, Director
CSUS Child Development - Children's Center, Sacramento, CA
Heidi Thumlert, Consultant
Stockton, CA
Curriculum Activities within the Context of Multi-cultural, Diversity and Equity
Great ideas for implementing multi-cultural activities, diversity, and equity in the preschool and toddler classroom will be shared in this program. Experience how developmentally appropriate activities addressing these important issues support language, cognitive, creative, sensory and dramatic play developmental domains. Delve into how the Learning Foundations/Pre-k guidelines correlate with written multi-cultural, diversity, and equity activities.
Learning Level: Beginning
Learning Track: Equity and Diversity
Nancy Ottinger, Director/Faculty
California State University Long Beach - Family and Consumer Science, Long Beach, CA
Leslie Melton, Toddler Faulty Coordinator and FCS Faculty
Organization to be provided., Orange, CA
Jodi Matteucci, Assistant Director
Organization to be provided., Anaheim, CA
Jamie Apostol, Lead Teacher
Garden Grove, CA
Amanda Kapko
California State University Long Beach - Child and Family Center , Whittier, CA
'Music In Action' in a Family Child Care Setting
Circle time is one of the few ways in a family child care setting that children are attentive through music. With the use of flannel boards and puppets, circle time becomes a tool for a fun and relaxing setting. Through songs and movement this workshop will inspire attendees to go back to their child care settings, ready for circle time.
Learning Level: All
Learning Track: Family Child Care
Marva Lyons
Marva's Happy Town Family Child Care Home, Alameda, CA
Environments: Designing Home Care Spaces for Infants & Toddlers
How do you make your home maintaining your personal family space? See how the use of furniture and typical home items, as well as use of recycled materials, can be integrated into a home care setting that meets the environmental needs of both infants and toddlers. Discuss the appropriate display of toys and materials in both indoor and outdoor spaces.
Learning Level: Beginning
Learning Track: Family Child Care
Kathy Czaykowski, Family Child Care Provider
Orange, CA
Judie Fouquette, Infant Toddler Specialist
WestED Program for Infant Toddler Care, Orange, CA
Mental Health Curriculum in Early Childhood Programs: A Temperament Approach
Children's behavior can be affected by a teacher or parent's proactive temperament approach to mental health prevention and intervention. Principles of mental health and temperament, assessment and scoring procedures, modifications of environments based on temperament components, and guidelines for discussing a temperament approach to development with staff and parents will be covered. There will be discussion in the areas of school adjustment, curriculum planning, classroom environment, social interactions with children and adults, behavior management, program transitions, and parent education. Skills will be gained that aid in relating child temperament findings to family and professionals working with the child with the goal of improving the child's mental health.
Learning Level: Intermediate
Learning Track: Health
Cindy Ratekin, Professor
California State University Chico, Chico, CA
Infant and Toddler Exploration and Discovery: Foundations for School Readiness
Drawing from the teachings of Magda Gerber, this workshop will focus on how the quality of the adult/child relationship contributes to the child's sense of security and supports the child's ability to explore freely. Participants will learn how the adult's vision of the child influences social and emotional development, as well as the impact a prepared environment and uninterrupted exploration have on future learning. A respectful approach to being with infants and toddlers provides a foundation that fosters competencies, self-confidence and a curiosity to support learning.
Learning Level:
Learning Track: Infants and Toddlers
Polly Elam, Infant Specialist
Resources for Infant Educarers, Paso Robles, CA
Joseph Amanzio, Professor Emeritus
Cal Poly University - Architecture, San Luis Obispo, CA
Effective Transitioning Approaches for Pre-K to Kindergarten Students and Families
Transitioning from pre-kindergarten to kindergarten is most smoothly accomplished when facilitated by educators. Learn instructional supports designed to create a seamless, predictable transition. Explore evidence-based, developmentally appropriate and culturally sensitive activities that can be used to support children and families at this important stage. Develop ways for early education administrators and teachers to ensure they achieve articulation with the kindergarten staff to ensure vertical alignment throughout the students' educational journey. Specialized strategies for ELL students as well as parents who are beginning to navigate their school system will also be discussed.
Learning Level: Intermediate
Learning Track: Kindergarten/Primary
Renee Amezquita, Early Education Principal
Los Angeles Unified School District, Los Angeles, CA
Edward Mendez, SRLDP Adviser
Los Angeles Unified School District Early Childhood Education Division -Instructional Unit, Los Angeles, CA
Strengthening Family/Teacher Partnerships: Effective Communication for Challenging Conversations
Strengthening partnerships between teachers and families and developing skills to turn difficult conversations into effective two-way communication is the focus of a new training available through NAEYC. Excerpts of the training will be shared, including segments on the evolution of family-centered care, preparing to partner with families, and understanding the contexts that families and teachers bring to the partnership. Specific communication skills needed for common teacher/parent challenging conversations will be explored.
Learning Level: Advanced
Learning Track: Parent/Family Relationships and Support
Janis Keyser, Family and Program Support Manager
Google Children's Center, Mountain View, CA
Janet Gonzalez-Mena, ECE Consultant
Fairfield, CA
The Art of Teaching & Supervising Self Reflective Practices
Come prepared to slow down and discover the power of reflection as a tool to promote
respectful, responsive, relationship based early childhood programs appropriate to a variety of settings. Explore and share real life examples of reflection from three specific views: self-reflection, reflective supervision and reflective teaching and learning with adults as well as together with young children. Learn how reflective practices can become a real part of the culture of your program and reflect these values and philosophies made visible to others through action. Ideas important to the success of reflective practice such as building and supporting relationships, welcoming diversity and individual uniqueness, active listening and communication strategies, and collaboration will be incorporated throughout.
Learning Level: Advanced
Learning Track: Professional Development - Leadership/Supervision
Christine Carducci, MA, Child Development Instructor / PITC Trainer
Foothill-DeAnza Community College, Burlingame, CA
Gayle Mayekawa, MA Early Childhood Special Educator
Pediatric Interventions, Inc. , San Jose, CA
Joy Sarraga, MSW MPA, Health Services Manager
San Mateo County Health Department, San Mateo, CA
The California Early Childhood Mentor Program: Out of the Mouths of Mentors
Research findings indicate that there is a positive relationship between the level of training of early childhood educators and the intellectual, emotional, and physical development of the children in their care. The Mentor Program offers incentives for both educators and those aspiring to be teachers. Learn how to increase training thereby increasing the quality of child care. Panel members will describe the challenges and rewards of mentoring followed by an interactive group discussion.
Learning Level: Intermediate
Learning Track: Professional Development - Teaching Adults
Donna Blanchard, Director
Hoag Memorial Hospital - Kathryn C Fishback Childcare Center, Newport Beach, CA
Kathie McCrea, Lead Teacher/Site Supervisor/Mentor/Professional Growth Advisor
Child's World Preschool, Irvine, CA
Experiential Learning: Collaborating with Campus Child Care Centers
This advanced workshop will expand on the importance, process and benefit of collaborating and building partnerships with college programs or departments and campus early childhood education centers. The need for high quality experiences within the early childhood education field before entering the workforce is imperative for all students and care providers within the discipline. This workshop is designed to share with a professional audience the need, process and beneficial outcomes of forming meaningful partnerships with the shared mission of supporting the next generation of ECE professionals to be innovative, well educated and immersed within the standards of quality in early childhood education.
Learning Level: Advanced
Learning Track: Professional Development - Teaching Adults
Julie Law, Assistant Professor
San Francisco State University - Child and Adolescent Development Program, San Francisco, CA
Sarah Johnson, Director ASI Early Childhood Education Center
San Francisco State University, San Francisco, CA
Achieving Enhanced Program Quality through Ongoing Professional Development
New staff orientation and ongoing professional development is critical to effectively operate a high quality program for children and families. Learn how to develop and sustain a professional development and evaluation system that is responsive to both individual staff needs as well as programmatic goals. The opportunities, barriers and supports for staff development will be explored, as well as how to effectively develop and assess a staff evaluation plan. A program's experience in developing a staff evaluation system based on the NAEYC standards will be the focus.
Learning Level: Advanced
Learning Track: Quality/Evaluation - Program
Melissa Groves, Associate Professor
CSU Chico - Child Development, Chico, CA
Susan Toussaint, Director
CSU Chico Associated Students Child Development Lab, Chico, CA
The Importance of Storytelling: Tips from "A Place of Our Own/Los Ninos en Su Casa"
Spanish language description to be provided.
As one of KCET's Community Outreach partners, the Abram Friedman Occupational Center (AFOC) shares resources that are support the Peabody Award-winning educational program A Place of Our Own (Los Ninos en Su Casa). This daily program for family childcare providers and parents offers programming to increase the skills of children's caregivers throughout California and the nation. Learn about special learning modules, active listening techniques to use during the show, the use of age-appropriate oral techniques and reading materials, as well as tips to use to make storytelling a daily practice.
Learning Level: Intermediate
Learning Track: Spanish - Child Development - Language/Literacy
Danette Roe, Assistant Principal
Abram Friedman Occupational Center, Los Angeles, CA
Superheroes and Play Fighting in the Classroom
Is Spiderman running around your classroom? Follow our journey from reluctantly accepting superhero play and play fighting to facilitating it in the classroom. Through the use of storytelling, explore personal and cultural beliefs and how a new vision helped us embrace superhero play and play fighting in a developmentally appropriate way and embed it in curriculum. Learn about the limitations and constraints we created to support the non-participatory children and maintain safety in our classroom and hear the input we received from families whose children attended our school and their thoughts about superhero play and its benefits when incorporated in a thoughtful, safe, and supportive environment.
Learning Level: Beginning
Learning Track: Challenging Behaviors
Allison Gill, Lead Teacher
Google Children's Center, Mountain View, CA
Ashley Eglian, Lead Teacher
Carol West, Lecturer
Humboldt State University - Child Development, Arcata, CA
Books & Beyond: The Best of Books, Flannel Stories, Music & Storytelling
Learn techniques for reading quality literature that create interest and involve children in the reading process. Discover the power of flannel stories, music, drama and storytelling in developing a literacy program that compliments literature and prepares children to read, write, and present their ideas. Participants will also learn how puppets read books and tell stories. Tools for evaluating and finding high quality multi-ethnic literature will also be explored.
Learning Level: Beginning
Learning Track: Child Development - Language/Literacy
Ed Lewis, ECE Professor & School Age Site Supervisor
Sacramento City College and CDICDC, Woodland, CA
John Carter
Children's Recording Artist
Beyond the Worksheets: Teaching and Learning Language Arts Through Play
Play with a purpose! Learn what the latest research says about play and its significance for all learning styles. Discover what we know about play and how it allows for a sharing of roles between teacher and student that can foster closer relationships. Play is academic, developmentally appropriate, motivating and engaging for teachers and students, alike. Play can be used to teach early reading skills such as the alphabetic principle and phonemic awareness. Discover how scientific inquiry and artistic expression (which are also forms of play) can be used to develop all areas of the language arts. See the value of play as an inclusive learning tool that allows all students, including English language learners, GATE students, and those with special needs to be significant and contribute.
Learning Level: Interemediate
Learning Track: Child Development - Language/Literacy
Judy Ross, Kindergarten Teacher
Norwalk-La Mirada Unified School District - Glazier Elementary School, Norwalk, CA
Creating the Optimal Environment for Developing Social/Emotional Competance
Learn skills and strategies that will enable children to easily learn appropriate behaviors. These behaviors will be of great value to children throughout their lives. Experience practical, interactive learning opportunities to help you internalize the importance of and value of being live models rather than lecturer to children about what they should have done. Learn to watch for, reinforce and continuously model the appropriate behaviors children should learn to become good citizens and valued neighbors at school, in their homes and communities.
Learning Level: Intermediate
Learning Track: Child Development - Social/Emotional Competence
Claudette Powers, Peace Ambassador/Inspirational Speaker
PeacePartners, Inc., Long Beach, CA
Building Emotional Understanding: Helping Parents Reduce Children's Stress
Young children need a sense of close connection to both parents and caregivers, but simple everyday events can break that sense of connection. Learn a set of simple but highly effective Listening Tools that both strengthen and repair a child's sense of connectedness. Explore techniques designed to relieve the behavioral signs of stress in children and learn interventions that help a child function well socially and emotionally in the preschool or home day care environment.
Learning Level: Beginning
Learning Track: Child Development - Social/Emotional Competence
This workshop offered in Spanish on Saturday, 12:45pm.
Patricia Wipfler, Executive Director
Hand in Hand Parenting, Palo Alto, CA
Inclusion at your Fingertips: Training Tools, Resources & Strategies
Explore many of the practical training tools, resources, strategies, and Web site links available through the California Map To Inclusive Child Care (MAP) Project. The MAP Project is committed to fostering the vision for improving access to quality child care for children with disabilities or other special needs and their families, which includes support, education, and training for providers and the families they serve. Each participant will receive a CD-Rom of PowerPoint presentations with training notes on a variety of inclusion topics along with an introduction to the training tools. Participants will also have an opportunity to explore inclusive practice checklists, guidelines, resources for challenging behavior, and other links available on the Web site.
Learning Level: Intermediate
Learning Track: Children/Disabilities and Special Needs
Linda Brault, Project Director
WestEd Center for Child and Family Studies, San Marcos, CA
Cindy Arstein-Kerslake, Research Associate
WestEd Center for Child and Family Studies, San Marcos, CA
Laurie Clark, Technical Assistance Specialist
WestEd Center for Child and Family Studies, San Marcos, CA
Sandi Walters, Technical Assistance Specialist
WestEd Center for Child and Family Studies, San Marcos, CA
Early Intervention with the Parent-Child Home Program
Delve into recent evaluation research on the influence of the Parent-Child Home Program on the home visitors working with high-risk families. Learn about early intervention strategies and specifically about the Parent-Child Home Program. Review the research based strategies for working with high-risk families and come to more fully understand the role of home visiting in early care and education programs.
Learning Level: Advanced
Learning Track: Parent/Family Relationships and Support
Jennifer Henk, Assistant Professor
California State University, Stanislaus, Turlock, CA
Storytelling in the Preschool Classroom
Get their attention in circle time! Storytelling doesn't have to be boring! Exciting stories can be told by using lots of different tactics including: chants, flannel boards, stories with or without a book, prop stories, fingerplays, puppets and attention grabbers just to name a few. This highly interactive session is focused on giving you ideas to immediately implement in your programs.
Learning Level: Beginning
Learning Track: Curriculum - Circle Time
Judy Krause, Teacher - Child Development Center, Instructor - Child Development
Cerritos College, Norwalk, CA
Debra Gonzalez, Teacher
Cerritos College Child Development Center, Norwalk, CA
From Sound to Song: Creative Musical Experiences from the Child's Point of View
Explore music from sound and rhythm to melody! Participants will learn to appreciate how children discover sound in many forms and create developmentally appropriate musical experiences with children 0-5. Explore the beginnings and progression of rhythm, melody and song. Discover ways teachers can facilitate child-initiated music, and offer musical experiences that can be used throughout the day for communication, transition, expression, and cultural connection.
Learning Level: Beginning
Learning Track: Curriculum - Music/Movement
Vicki Coffis, Infant Toddler Coordinator
Google Children's Center at the Woods, Mountain View, CA
Making Music a Part of Your Day Every Day!
Learn how to effectively teach a new song, beginning with chanting lyrics only, adding movement, and finally adding melody. Review five activities incorporating song and movement for circle time. By using instruments, movement, songs, and chants, you will have an opportunity to be musical and will gain useable ideas for the classroom. Explore the elements of music, learning about steady beat, rhythm, tempo, dynamics, and form using such activities as circle time songs and movement activities, steady beat games, instrument activities, transition songs, playing musical games with regular classroom toys such as Mr. Potato Head, musical storytelling and books to make music with. The ideas presented in this workshop will incorporate the Orff Schulwerk approach.
Learning Level: Beginning
Learning Track: Curriculum - Music/Movement
Kira Rappaport, Early Childhood Music Specialist
Pressman Academy Early Childhood Center and Temple Isaiah Preschool, Los Angeles, CA
Ready, Set, Science! A Model for Implementing Science in Pre-K to 2nd Grade Classrooms
Just added! Workshop description to be provided.
Learning Track: Curriculum – Science/Technology
Andrea Tompkins, Director of Educational Outreach
ZULA USA, Burbank, CA
Respect, Responsibility, and Resourcefulness: An Exploration of Outdoor Environments
How do we acquire the information, skills and attitudes pertaining to the infinite relationships between living things on a finite planet? Reflect on how environments support children's self-respect as well as respect for others and for nature. Learn ways to create an outdoor environment that is filled with learning opportunities about the natural world: eco-literacy is the curriculum; resourcefulness the outcome.Explore the emerging pedagogy for the 21st century that has sustainability as a core value; learn about your role and how to model it for children.
Learning Level: Intermediate
Learning Track: Environments
Lia Thompson-Clark, Director
Sonoma State University, Rohnert Park, CA
Lynne Doherty-Lyle, Master Teacher
Sonoma State University Children's School, Rohnert Park, CA
Cath Wyatt, Director
Esalen Institute - Gazebo School Park, Big Sur, CA
Sarah Onion, Master Teacher
Gazebo School, York, Maine
Beyond Babysitting: Introducing Preschool Learning to your Family Childcare Home
Looking for simple, inexpensive ways to incorporate preschool learning into your home environment? Setting up a learning environment, finding materials, creating recipes for sensory experiences, and creative ideas for age appropriate play will be covered in this workshop. Examples will be given for both child directed and provider directed learning activities. Explore exciting new lesson plans in all areas of development to be used either on their own or to be integrated into current curriculum.
Learning Level: Beginning
Learning Track: Family Child Care
Karen Vose, Director
Li'l Blessings Daycare, Atascadero, CA
Diana Sommers, Owner
Li'l Blessings Daycare, Atascadero, CA
Creating a Healthy Environment
Wellness policies need a prominent place in the child care center. The basics of nutrition and physical activity are important to children's health and their ability to learn. Working as a group, participants will sketch a blueprint of what a healthy environment would look like for staff and children, resulting in ideas and action plans to begin implementing immediately. Learn how to support staff and parents in creating a healthy environment for the children, as well as how to begin creating wellness policies for your organization.
Learning Level: Intermediate
Learning Track: Health
Stephanie Collett, Nutritionist
CDI/CDC, Irvine, CA
Kelly Simmons, Nutritionist
CDI/CDC CCFP, Irvine, CA
Understanding Temperament in Infant Toddler Development
Children come into the world with their temperament already in place. This workshop will explore the impact of temperaments in group care for infants and toddlers. Participants will assess their own temperament while learning how to do the same for young children and will gain an understanding of the importance of recognizing and adapting to each child's individual style and needs.
Learning Level: Intermediate
Learning Track: Infants and Toddlers
Barbara Best, Trainer/Coordinator
WestEd Program for Infant Toddler Care, Sausalito, CA
What Does it REALLY Mean to be School Ready?
'School Readiness' is a hot topic for debate among ECE providers and K-3 teachers. For the past 7 years, First 5 has invested significant dollars in bridging the transition gap between services for children and families 0-5 and the K-12 public school system. With Early Learning and Preschool Foundations being implemented, it is imperative that ECE providers understand what the term 'school ready' means in order to articulate their philosophy and curriculum planning with Kindergarten standards. Examine school readiness criteria, introduce the Preschool Foundations, and review strategies ECE providers can implement to support children entering Kindergarten.
Learning Level: Intermediate
Learning Track: Kindergarten/Primary
Michelle Robertson, School Readiness Coordinator
First 5 Santa Barbara County, Santa Barbara, CA
Building a Child Care Program with Strong Parental Involvement
How do I get parents to respect my words? Learn about the importance of clear communication and how to use the many opportunities you have to build trust (or break it) with parents on a daily basis. Discuss ways to provide parent education and talk about ways to get and keep parents involved and active. Participants are invited to share their ideas on positive approaches to increasing involvement with parents. Focus on ways to provide excellent customer service and lay the groundwork for positive future interactions with parents.
Learning Level: Beginning
Learning Track: Parent/Family Relationships and Support
Tondra Gardner, Family Child Care Provider
Gardner Family Child Care - A Place for Little Hands, Carson, CA
The Early Childhood Teacher: Challenges and Opportunities
Join in a discussion of how the relationship between the teacher and the child may be overshadowed by the academic parameters that are becoming an integral part of the preschool experience. How do teachers find the balance that is necessary to build a relationship with the children, while focusing on current academic reform? Discuss everything from research regarding the power of the relationship for academic success to your personal observations in the classroom.
Learning Level: Intermediate
Learning Track: Professional Development
Susan Gilbert, Assistant Professor
National University, Los Angeles, CA
Learning Communities: Being a Culturally Responsive Teacher
Preschool education has emerged as a prominent issue among policy-makers, researchers, early education advocates, and educators in this country. This discussion is especially important in California with our diverse culture. The objective of this presentation is to share the lessons learned from the development of a culturally responsive teacher professional program focused on school readiness and early literacy instruction. The workshop will share the essential components of this university-partnered School Readiness Initiative and how it served to enhance the professional identities, the emergent voices, and the early literacy instruction of participating early childhood educators.
Learning Level: Advanced
Learning Track: Professional Development - Teaching Adults
Rosario Ordonez-Jasis, Associate Professor
California State University Fullerton, Whittier, CA
Susana Flores, Assistant Professor
California State University Fullerton, Fullerton, CA
Amalia Gutierrez, Teacher
El Rancho Unified School District, Pico Rivera, CA
Bruni Sirias, Teacher
El Rancho Unified School, Pico Rivera, CA
Documentation as a Roadmap for Alignment of Assessment, Curriculum, and Standards
Participate in active learning strategies designed to develop techniques for using authentic assessment to align curriculum goals and methods with standards. In interactive exercises, participants will practice aligning assessment documents with standards and developing lesson plans driving from assessment.
Learning Level: Beginning
Learning Track: Quality/Evaluation - Program
Donna Greene, Child Development Program Director
Mt. San Jacinto Community College - Child Development and Education, San Jacinto, CA
Linda Middleton, Assistant Professor
Mt. San Jacinto Community College - Child Development and Education, San Jacinto, CA
Time Management
Workshop title and description to be provided in Spanish.
Learning Track: Spanish - Professional Development
Mattie Gadsby, Children’s Services Director
Community Action Commission of Santa Barbara County, Goleta, CA
(In Mandarin Only)
Providing Age-Appropriate Math Activities for Young Children.
Teaching mathematics to children does not need strategies such as rote learning and worksheets. Young children learn math concepts through play and other daily activities. In this workshop, we will discuss age-appropriate math concept learning, and how to create a math-rich environment for young children. We will explore the types of activities to facilitate math learning in young children.
Ms. Caroline Jen, Instructor
East LA College
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