Eastern Washington Association for the Education of Young Children and
Washington Association for the Education of Young Children (EWAEYC)
Presents
The 28th Annual GIFT OF CHILDHOOD Conference
Saturday, February 21st, 2015 at Spokane Falls Community College (SFCC)
With the generous support of the Community Colleges of Spokane, SFCC Early Childhood Programs,
And Spokane County Head Start/ECEAP/Early Head Start
Early Care & Education Professionals: School-Age Professionals:
Child Growth & Development Child and Adolescent Growth Development
Curriculum & Learning Environment Learning Environment & Curriculum
Ongoing Measurement of Child Progress Child and Adolescent Observation Assessment
Families & Community Partnerships Families, Communities & Schools
Health, Safety & Nutrition Safety & Wellness
Interactions Interactions with Children & Youth
Program Planning & Development Program Planning & Development
Professional Planning & Leadership Professional Development & Leadership
Cultural Competency & Responsiveness
Youth Empowerment
PARTICIPANTS CAN RECEIVE SIX WASHINGTON STATE STARS/MERIT HOURS BY ATTENDING THE KEYNOTE ADDRESS AND THREE ADDITIONAL WORKSHOP SESSIONS!!
Levels: / 1 = / Awareness (Beginning) 2 = Professional (Intermediate)
3 = / Leadership (Advanced) ALL = All Audiences
Questions: Laurie Walsh 509 768-1457 or
Questions? Contact Laurie Walsh, Conference Coordinator at
(509) 768-1457 or email:
No person shall, on the grounds of race, creed, color, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, marital status, or the presence of any handicap, unlawfully be excluded from participation in, be denied benefits of, or otherwise be subjected to discrimination under any activity performed pursuant to workshop. While EWAEYC entertains and accepts differences of opinion, we do not necessarily endorse the products or views presented.
To receive STARS/Merit Training hours:
SIGN-IN at your SESSION workshops
List the Session # (for example, B4) and title of the Workshop on
Official STARS/Merit certificate that is in your conference packet.
DON’T FORGET TO SIGN IN
SESSION A WORKSHOPS
9:45 -11:15 a.m. (1.5 hours)
A1: / Inspiring Music Play for the Classroom / ALL; CurThis session is a great follow-up to Jim’s morning keynote address. It is filled with the musical inspiration you’ll need to keep energized! Jim will lead everyone through more of his unique creations in music play and discuss how they inspire young children not only to move, but to regulate their movements….not only to sing, but to make connections between the words they sing and the printed word. You’ll bring some inspiration, useful in the morning and afternoon, back to your work with young children! Reading with babies and toddlers is a fun and easy way to build early literacy skills. Discover what makes a great book for these ages and how to select books to read aloud.
Jim Gill—Music Auditorium Building 15
A2: / Storytelling Fun with Preschoolers / 1; Cur
Storytelling has been a tradition in many cultures and is fun to share with children. Learn how to incorporate storytelling into your daily routine and emphasize early literacy skills.
Gwendolyn Haley and Mary Ellen Braks, Library Services Managers at Spokane County Library District
A3: / Have Concerns about a Child’s Development and Don’t Know What To Do? / 2; Fam
Come learn about the Infant Toddler Early Intervention Program in Spokane County. We will learn how referrals are made, the eligibility process, and role of the Family Resource Coordinator and how an Individual Family Plan is created. With information from PAVE, workshop participants will learn the basics of Early Intervention of IDEA, Part C, in Washington State.
Michelle Baker, Child & Family Program Specialist, Spokane County
A4: / Difficult Conversations / 3; Interactions
This workshop will provide information and insights for planning and participating in difficult conversations that happen in our daily work with parents, in our work with multiple staff in childcare settings and classrooms, and with community partners. Learn about different types of conversations and how to use active listening and problem-solving skills to keep communication open and productive.
Stephanie Lynch, Center Manager, Community Colleges of Spokane Head Start/Early Head Start
A5: The Natural Born Scientist - Turn Your Classroom into a Laboratory EVERY DAY ALL;Cur
25 QUICK and EASY (but maybe a little messy) ways to make your classroom/outdoor space a LABORATORY for young scientists every day. Dr. Laura Martin, Director of Science Interpretation at the Arizona Science Center says “When you nurture children’s natural desire to investigate you are helping them to develop scientific minds. We create environments that engage the senses of young children and allow them to sort and classify, handle, observe, and build and ask questions, which are how they construct ideas about the physical and natural world.”
Alisa Gergawy,Director and Program Supervisor, Advent Lutheran Child Center
A6: / Thinking about ECE at SFCC / 1;Prof
Everything you have ever wanted to know about taking ECED classes at SFCC. Come meet the ECED faculty and find out more about admissions, the financial aid process, scholarships and degree options.
Leigh Anna Drake and Cathy Meier, Faculty, ECED, Spokane Falls Community College
A7: / Men & Children-How Fathers Give Children a Head Start / 2; Partnerships
This session will look at weaving attachment and bonding research and what is a secure father/child relationship. I will address myths and facts of fatherhood and provide tools for creating a father-friendly environment at your center or school.
Julie Bostwick-Cosby, Lead Teacher, Early Head Start, Community Colleges of Spokane
SESSION B WORKSHOPS
12:30 p.m. – 2:00 p.m. (1.5 hours)
B1: Inspiring Music Play for the Classroom ALL: Cur
This session is a great follow-up to Jim’s morning keynote address. It is filled with the musical inspiration you’ll need to keep energized! Jim will lead everyone through more of his unique creations in music play and discuss how they inspire young children not only to move, but to regulate their movements….mot only to sing, but to make connections between the words they sing and the printed word. You’ll bring some inspiration, useful in the morning and afternoon, back to your work with young children! Reading with babies and toddlers is a fun and easy way to build early literacy skills. Discover what makes a great book for these ages and how to select books to read aloud. Note: This is a repeat of Session A1.
Jim Gill—Music Auditorium Building 15
B2: Understanding Autism ALL; Ch Gr and Dev
We are pleased to present Dana Stevens as a featured speaker. Dana is the Clinical Director of the Northwest Autism Center in Spokane. She will present an overview of autism that includes criteria, signs, differences, and most importantly, strategies that can support children, families, and providers. Participants will learn of resources and benefits available at the local and state level.
Dana Stevens, Clinical Director, Northwest Autism Center, Bldg. 17, SUB Lounges
B3: Touring the New Early Learning Center at SFCC ALL; Pro Plan&Dev
The new Early Learning Center, Head Start/Early Head Start licensed childcare facility just opened up fall of 2014. If you are thinking of building a new facility or remodeling an existing one, or if you just want lots of great ideas about learning environments, join ELC staff on a guided tour. Feel free to take pictures and notes and ask questions.
Stephanie Zappone, Lead Teacher, Head Start, Community Colleges of Spokane, BLDG. 29, Room 101, ELC
B4: Working with Families in Poverty ALL; Interactions
We often serve families that come from the culture of poverty. As a certified Donna Beegle coach, I will help participants understand different types of poverty, poverty in the US, and how we can better work with families experiencing poverty. (Dr. Donna Beegle grew up in a very poor migrant family and has fought to defeat poverty all her life.)
Nicole Lor, ECEAP Family Services Specialist, Community Colleges of Spokane
B5: Building Children through Art 1; Cur
This is a hands-on - interactive workshop where you will learn why “process” focused art is beneficial to the social, cognitive and physical development of young children. Participants will learn the difference between process and product art while gaining skills on how to support a child’s healthy development through daily art experiences.
Dena Chappell, Center Manager, Spokane County Head Start/ECEAP/EHS
B6: Learning and Connection through Music 1; Cur
Learn how music supports all learning and creates beautiful bonding between parents/caregivers and children. This is Part 1 of a two-part session. (See session C4)
Melinda Sauder, B.A. in Music Therapy, SRHD, Guild School
B7: Introduction to Pre K Class ALL; Interactions
The purpose of this training is to provide participants working with preschool and pre-k children a clear understanding of the Pre-K Class tool and its role in the Early Achievers process. Participants will learn the value in increasing quality in their interactions with children.
Becky Zaleski, ECEAP Children’s Services Specialist, Kristin Monson, ECEAP Specialist, Community Colleges of Spokane
B8: Healthy Eating Policies 2, 3; Nutrition
Review Let’s Move Childcare nutrition standards and samples of nutrition policies from child care centers in Washington. Practice simple steps to writing healthy policies for your child care facility. Learn to write policies that are culturally relevant, inclusive of all ethnicities and medical needs.
Natalie Tauzin, RD, MPH Spokane Regional Health District Healthy Communities Specialist
B9: BAE in ECE, P- 3 Certification Why? How? 1; Prof
Early Childhood Education is growing right into a Bachelor’s Degree. Come learn and discuss the pros and cons of Eastern Washington University’s BAE in ECE P-3. Learn about the benefits of higher education and what it will do for you, while working with our youngest children and their families. Hear about our great new options for weekend class options in Spokane!
Chris Booth, Faculty, Eastern Washington University
B10: Early Achievers Orientation for Licensed Center and Family Child Cares ALL; Prog Plan & Leader
If you are a licensed child care provider and want to learn more about Early Achievers, please join me! There are many free supports being offered in Early Achievers that can benefit your program.
Kathy Blair, Regional Coordinator for Early Achievers in Eastern Washington
B11: DEL Executive Function and Preschool 2; Child Grow & Dev
What interferes with preschoolers learning? How is brain architecture strengthened by our instruction and activities? Join us for an overview of the Department of Early Learning curriculum that integrates EF-working memory, inhibition control, and cognitive flexibility-into our day-to-day approach. Learn the relationship between stress and trauma and brain development, and how we can intervene for our children.
Dr. Renee Rinderknecht, Educational Specialist Mead School District, DEL
B12: Universal Developmental Screening ALL; Child Grow & Dev
Spokane Regional Health District has developed a FREE multi-media campaign for the early childhood community, parents and physicians. Learn about the state website: Within Reach/Parenthelp 1-2-3 and the Ages and Stages screening tool to help parents learn about typical child development and identify needs for further evaluation. The identification and referral process will also be discussed. Come learn what the “buzz” is about!
Heather Wallace, Public Health Educator, Spokane Regional Health District
B13: Language and Literacy for Early Learners ALL; Cur
This presentation will focus on early literacy skills and how pre-reading/pre-writing materials can be made with free or existing items. Materials will be provided to demonstrate how to promote early literacy and language in young learners, including those with developmental delays. Several samples will be available for participants to see, and resources will be provided.
Shelly Greybeck, Center Manager, NECC Head Start, CCS
Session C Workshops
2:15p.m. - 3:45 p.m. (1.5 hours)
C1: Understanding Autism ALL; Gr and Dev
We are pleased to present Dana Stevens as a featured speaker. Dana is the Clinical Director of the Northwest Autism Center in Spokane. She will present an overview of autism that includes criteria, signs, differences, and most importantly, strategies that can support children, families and providers. Participants will learn of resources and benefits available at the local and state level.
Dana Stevens, Clinical Director, Northwest Autism Center, Bldg. 17, Sub Lounges
C2: Wondrous World of Puppets ALL; Cur
Learn about the important role that puppets play on early development while building confidence in introducing puppets in your work. Participants will learn how to incorporate puppets into their daily routine for use with communicating and teaching different skills to children, as well as learning an easy technique for giving puppets their own personality.
Dena Chappell, Center Manager, Spokane County Head Start/ECEAP/EHS
C3: Touring the new Early Learning Center at SFCC ALL: Pr. Plan Dev
The new Early Learning Center, Head Start/Early Head Start licensed childcare facility just opened up fall of 2014. If you are thinking of building a new facility or remodeling an existing one, or if you just want lots of great ideas about learning environments, join ELC staff on a guided tour. Feel free to take pictures and notes and ask questions. BLDG. 29
Bobbi Woodral, Center Manager, Early Learning Center, Head Start/Early Head Start, SFCC, CCS
C4: Learning and Connection Through Music (Part 2) 1; Cur
Learn more about how music supports all learning and creates beautiful bonding between parents/caregivers and children. This is Part 2 of a two-part session. (See session B6)
Melinda Sauder, B.A. in Music Therapy, SRHD, Guild School
C5: Getting Preschoolers Kindergarten Math Ready ALL; Cur
EVERY MINUTE counts! Teacher’s job is to move kid’s informal understanding of math to more formal, school-based concepts. Spokane Public Schools uses New York Engaged which aligns with national common core standards. Learn the WHAT, WHEN, and HOW of supporting school readiness.
Denise Wright, Education and Disabilities Specialist, Spokane County Head Start
C6: TRICKS of the TRADE; Ideas and Systems of Organizing Classroom Daily Tasks ALL; Pr. Plan Dev
Come to this workshop to learn some easy tracking systems such as: turn taking on the computer, visual pictures to help with transitions, attendance sheet and safety tracking. Explore my classroom environment and tour the classroom too! NOTE: This session will be in the new ELC childcare building # 29, Room 101