Course Key

Conference participants: Sessions are divided into tracks – please make sure you review all tracks as MOST sessions could be offered in multiple tracks but presenters needed to choose a track they thought most pertained to their content.

All trainers have received the following message about our audience: Trainers, Please remember that if your session is not specific to EC, SA or Youth Development your audience will represent professionals who work with youth from infant to 18 years old. Please be prepared to make sure all are welcomed and covered in the training.

Early Childhood	Encouraging Healthy Living
School Age	Inclusion
Leadership/Administration	Intentional Learning
Culture	Youth Development

Course Descriptions: Friday

Click to go to Saturday.

Power Sessions 1 & 2: 7 to 7:45 a.m.

Power Session 1: NAEYC Accreditation: What we wished we had known
Join early child care directors, program staff and consultants as they share their NAEYC Accreditation journey. Topics to be discussed include portfolios, routines, administrative upgrades, environments and how to meet candidacy requirements. This is an opportunity to learn from each other and hopefully make some meaningful connections.
Amy Loechler, MnAEYC

Power Session 2: Keep on Reading and Writing
Preschool children develop reading and writing skills simultaneously, linked closely with social/emotional development. This hands-on participatory workshop will give ideas, tips, and activities on how to help children love books, reading, and writing.
Nancy Kaczrowski

Plenary Sessions: 8 to 9 a.m.

Plenary Session 1: Imagine That!
When we give children the space and encouragement to explore their own creativity, they become visionary problem-solvers with the potential to be the inspiring artists, the inquisitive scientists, the ingenious inventors the world needs. Given the creative nature of children, it is no coincidence that so many of us are led to seek a more creative life in their presence. We will explore how we can be sure our children’s creative spirits have all the room and tools they need to soar freely.
Mike Mann – Storymann.com

Plenary Session 2: Children, Youth and Families in a YouTube World
David Walsh combines the latest discoveries in brain science with a glimpse into our cyber-future to describe both the promise and the peril. He will explore the impact of the Digital Revolution on children’s health and development and will discuss topics including Internet safety, social networking, cyber-bullying, video game addiction, multi-tasking, and the future of the World Wide Web. He will also identify strategies to ensure that children and youth maximize the benefits of the new technology while minimizing the harm.
David Walsh, Ph.D. – President and Founder of National Institute on Media and the Family

Plenary Session 3: QRIS and You: How a QRIS Can be a Resource for You
How can you take advantage of resources that may be available for Minnesota providers to improve their quality? How will you make sure your voice is heard as a statewide quality rating and improvement system (QRIS) is launched? Come hear from legislators, advocacy organizations and experts on the QRIS, and learn how it can help your program.
Presented by: Ready 4 K; Child Care WORKS; Minnesota Legislative Early Childhood Caucus

Plenary Session 4: CICC Presents The Journey of Inclusion
Two families will share their poignant experiences of working to create a vision for their children that includes educational and social inclusion as they work toward leading independent lives!
Judy Swett and Cory Woosley

Friday Session A 9:45 a.m. to 12:15 p.m., break at 11 a.m.

A1. Can the Teachers Come Out and Play?
Discuss and practice using group participation, activities, and experiential learning opportunities — “play” — to support and enhance training outcomes while energizing, invigorating, and educating your training participant.
Staci Hitzke – The Aglet Group

A2. Inclusion of Children with Special Needs Part 1
This training will cover the theoretical basis for inclusion, why we should promote inclusion in our programs, our legal responsibilities to students with disabilities, disability language, working with the schools and families, program and staffing models, and inclusive marketing.
Tiffany Weeks – Anoka Hennepin Adventures Plus

Friday Session B 9:45 a.m. to 11 a.m.

B1. Simple Classroom Financial Analysis
In this economy, child care directors need tools to help make critical business decisions. Learn how to use a simple breakeven analysis tool to tell you if your classrooms are profitable.
Mara O’Neill – First Children’s Finance

B2. Nurturing the Next Generation: Tips, Tricks, and Tactics for New Employee Orientation
What’s new in new employee orientation? Lots! Participate in a fun look at the serious business of engaging and informing new employees. Simple, low-cost ideas help retain your next recruit.
Sharon Bergen – The Aglet Group

B3. Engaging Diversity in the Classroom
In this workshop we will discuss how children learn about diversity, and what it would look like to be actively engaging the children and their families into classroom activities.
Deby Ziesmer – YWCA of Minneapolis

B4. Say It Right and Say It Once - Keys to Memorable Communication
Imagine kids understanding, remembering and acting appropriately to every important thing you say. We will take three giant steps and a hop closer to this reality with kids, parents and co-workers.
Will Hale – Tadpole Parade

B5. Interactive Metronome (IM)
Interactive Metronome (IM) is a brain based rehabilitation program developed to improve the processing abilities that affect attention, motor planning and sequencing.
LeeAnn Mateffy-Horn – Courage Center

B6. What Are Your Personal Power Tools?
Children come to us with all different temperaments and experiences, and we deal with these on a daily basis. In this workshop we will explore how knowing yourself and your own Personal Power Tools can empower you to care for children as you both reach your full potential.
Cory Woosley – MNCCRR Network

B7. The Minnesota Registry and You
We will introduce participants to the Registry and the Resources of the Minnesota Center for Professional Development. Participants can bring their training certificates and begin the application process during this session. We will provide applications and discuss the importance of verified training.
Dan Wielinski and Michael Earhart – Minnesota Center for Professional Development

B8. Navigating the NAEYC Accreditation Process
Bring about program improvement and quality in your child care program through national accreditation. Introductory session will provide participants with tips and tidbits on what it takes to become a nationally accredited program through NAEYC.
Amy Loechler – MN Association for the Education of Young Children

B9. Beyond Stranger Danger
Information on the problem of missing and exploited children and practical answers about a non-threatening, age appropriate approach to teaching children how to avoid abduction and sexual abuse and exploitation.
Carol Watson – Missing Children Minnesota

B10. Curriculum Planning Around Prop Boxes
Learn how to design a curriculum based on the NAEYC core competencies using a prop box. Practice generating ideas and learn ways to develop monthly lesson plans.
Nicolle Rockhold and Andrea Kist – Lake Harriet United Methodist Preschool

Friday Session C 11:15 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

C1. Quality - Once We Know It, We Can Grow It
Quality is a dynamic process with multiple dimensions. Quality is not neutral, rather it influences the participation of young people, the satisfaction and retention of youth workers and the impact programs have on young people, families and the community. A Framework for Quality Non-formal Learning Opportunities and Youth Work Practice was created to define quality practice and to promote quality as the driver for systems level investment and support for non-formal learning experiences in the out-of-school time.
Laura LaCroix-Dalluhn – Youth Community Connections

C2. Sharing Stories, Changing Lives: Strategies for Helping Children Respect Diversity, Value Themselves and Develop Life Skills for Living in a Biased World
Learn about how to use adult/child interactions, books, dolls and activities to help children develop confident self-identities, interact confidently and empathically with others, and stand up for themselves and others in the face of bias.
Meg Thomas and Lyn Mitchell– aMaze/Families All Matter book project

C3. Staff Empowerment through Supportive Supervision
One of the greatest difficulties a SAC Administrator faces is the task of training, supporting, and empowering their workforce. Join us for an investigation into ways you can create an on-the-job staff development program utilizing the Core Competencies.
Annette Sallman – Stillwater Adventure Club; Jason Anderson – Adventure Club and Spin/Stillwater Schools

C4. Pre-Teens and Beyond: Getting Ready for the Teen Years
Elementary age children challenge parents early with what were once thought of as teen issues. This session will help professionals prepare parents for the teen years. Resources will be shared.
Colleen Gengler and Kathleen Olson – University of Minnesota Extension

C5. Developing Youth Leaders of Today
Youth aren’t just “leaders of tomorrow;” they can be leaders today. This workshop applies leadership and civic engagement research and positive youth development principles to working in afterschool youth programs.
Heidi Haugen and Becky Harrington – University of Minnesota Extension

C6. Greening Up Today’s Generation
Green issues are among today’s hot topics. This session will provide hands-on green activities and projects to engage youth to make informed decisions about our planet.
Louise Miller – Kids & Company

C7. Creating a NAEYC Portfolio: A Director’s and Teacher’s Approach
Learn how one preschool program approached reaccreditation under the new NAEYC standards. We’ll show you how to assemble program and classroom portfolios that streamlined the process for staff, while creating uniformity that makes it easy to be evaluated.
Andrea Kist and Nicolle Rockhold – Lake Harriet United Methodist Preschool

C8. I Want to Play!: How to Help Children Gain the Most From Play Experiences
Have you heard these words as children try to join play? Learn how to set up play environments and use your role to help children succeed in their interactions during play.
Sandy Heidemann – The Saint Paul Foundation/Words Work!

C9. Supporting Stressed and Traumatized Young Children in the Early Childhood Classroom
The emotions and behavior of stressed children can feel overwhelming: an angry child throwing toys, a frightened child running away. This workshop explores the development of hurting children, and presents practical strategies for support & intervention.
Julie Nelson and Jill Barrow – Families Together Program of Lifetrack Resources

C10. The Creative Learning Environment
Participants will learn through demonstration and hands-on activities what is needed to plan and implement creative experiences for young children in all curriculum areas and explore ways to enhance children’s social, emotional, cognitive, language, and physical development.
Nancy Kaczrowski – KinderPrep/Family School/MRC Coordinator; Rebecca Sonnek

Friday Session D 1:30 to 4 p.m., break at 3 p.m.

D1. Inclusion of Children with Special Needs Part 2 (Continued from A1)
This training will cover creating inclusive policies and procedures, setting up an intake process, staff training and accountability for inclusion, creating plans for specific children, best practices, disability resources, sample forms, suspension and termination, and common interventions and accommodations.
Tiffany Weeks – Adventures Plus

Friday Session E 1:30 to 3 p.m.

E1. Severe Allergies and Asthma – Meeting Children’s Health Needs
The number of children diagnosed with asthma, chronic respiratory disease and severe allergies continues to grow. Learn how to meet their needs, how to protect yourself from liability issues, and DHS requirements. Hands-on EpiPen training.
Barbara Stoll – Health Consultants for Child Care

E2. Maximize Your Marketing
Learn how to design documents for maximum impact, professionalism and communication of information. We’ll discuss ways to engage, educate, and motivate our customers by appealing to their needs, wants and emotions. We’ll also cover ways to organize and display information in a manner that is clear, credible and compelling. Whether you create one publication or 100, you will leave with a greater understanding of how to reach your customers, and create support for your organization.
Beth Holsen

E3. Predatory Offenders: Protecting Yourself and Those in Your Care
Predatory offenders have always been among us. This workshop focuses on clarifying misconceptions about the dangers posed by predatory offenders. Proactive safety measures will be taught through role-playing and discussion.
Michele Murphy – Minnesota Department of Corrections

E4. Working with Today’s Young People
The presentation will center around four key concepts for adults who work with young people: support, opportunities, space, and resources. Participants will be directly engaged in both reflection and action. It is about the investment that adults make to engage youth as equals to help them grow in leadership, discover their talents, and learn to express them.
Marlys C. Johnson – Self-Employed

E5. The Go Green Rating Scale: Defining and Achieving Green
Green is a critical element of quality, but what exactly is it, and how do you know you’re there? Learn how to improve the environmental health of your facility.
Kyra Ostendorf and David Heath – Redleaf Press

E6. Improving Learning Ability by Training the Brain
Drawing upon current brain research and real-life examples, this workshop will explain how cognitive skills impact learning and demonstrate procedures that can be used to strengthen attention and learning skills.
Baird Johnson and Rich Frieder – LearningRx

E7. Prove It! Achieving Quality Recognition for Your Early Childhood Program
Join us for a look at the strategies and approaches most likely to lead to quality endorsement success (i.e. accreditation or ITERS/ECERS). Walk away with practical tips and tools for all program staff!
Rachel Robertson – The Aglet Group

E8. Behavior and Beyond: Good Kids, Great Days
Formulate your own “plan of action” and philosophy on behavior guidance using practical examples to create an environment where children thrive and teachers teach, giving your child a priceless gift.
Natalie Marose, M.A. Ed. ECE – Cross View Early Childhood Center

E9. Playing in Nature With Children and Families - Benefits, Barriers and Strategies
Recent research and initiatives in early childhood challenge us to “leave no child indoors.” Discover what children and families can learn outdoors, and discuss barriers and benefits to this approach. Participants will be provided resource lists, playing with nature ideas and other materials.
Charlee Parsons and Sheryl Wennermark – Booz Allen Hamilton/ASE

E10. Promoting Peace
The Pikler Institute in Budapest tells us “Peace begins with babies.” Join us to explore what is meant by this. How we bring peace to babies and to the world.
Phyllis Porter – Mt. Olivet Day Services

E11. The Great Body Shop: A Pre-K Comprehensive Health and Anti-Drug Abuse, Anti- Violence Curriculum
Using fun activities, students develop socially and emotionally, while increasing skills in problem solving, math, reading readiness and communication, gross and fine motor skills, and creativity.
Nancy Neufeld – The Children’s Health Market

Friday Session F 3:15 to 4:45 p.m.

F1. Monitoring Personal and Professional Boundaries
Forging strong relationships with families and peers is one of the joys of our work! Yet these connections can challenge our best efforts to maintain appropriate boundaries. This workshop will help you identify strategies to maintain healthy boundaries with families and with peers.
Karen Kellar – District 196/Rosemount, Apple Valley, Eagan

F2. Partnering for School Success
What can parents do to help children be the best students they can be? Six factors were found to help children learn. The six factors will be reviewed, using practical, everyday suggestions and ideas on how to help parents of children from various cultures.
Kathleen Olson and Colleen Gengler – University of Minnesota Extension

F3. Emotional Intelligence: Why SAC Programs are Great Places to Increase EQ
Explore ways you can increase EQ by teaching, coaching and practicing social-emotional skills in your SAC program, leading to improvement in children’s personal, social and academic lives.
Jacalin Sall – Discovery Club, St. Paul Public Schools; Emily Holder – Discovery Club

F4. Moving from Either/Or to Both/And Thinking in Early Childhood Practice
Academics vs. socio-emotional? Child- or adult-directed? These dichotomies come alive in our daily work with children and families. How can we resolve them to benefit all? Join this important discussion!
Beth Menninga and Sandra Heidemann – The Saint Paul Foundation/Words Work!

F5. Parent Involvement: Why Not?
Positive parent-educator relationships are beneficial to children. Learn to identify and be sensitive to relationship barriers. Gather practical ideas and activities that support parent involvement.
Natalie Marose – Cross View Early Childhood Center

F6. Keep on Reading and Writing
Preschool children develop reading and writing skills simultaneously. linked closely with social/emotional development. This hands-on participatory workshop will give ideas, tips, and activities on how to help children love books, reading, and writing.
Nancy Kaczrowski

F7. Math Everywhere
Discover the joy of mathematics in early childhood and how easily it applies to everyday life. Learn to recognize math concepts already happening throughout the day and how to create inviting math activities using simple materials.
Nicole Polifka – Minnesota Children’s Museum

F8. Spanish Language Learning for Preschoolers
Learn how to build Spanish into your curriculum with fun activities, songs, games, poems, dramatic play, and stories. No Spanish background required. This curriculum is easy for beginners!
Amy Timm – Excelsior Covenant Preschool

F9. Present Moment Caregiving
Apply the latest brain science to create holistic individual and program-wide behavior guidance strategies that transform challenging behavior and open the door for children to grow into their greatness.
Joshua Koepp

F10. Minnesota Afterschool Accreditation Project
National school-age accreditation is going through changes. This session will update you on those changes and walk you through Minnesota’s new state accreditation system that is now in pilot phase. Come and learn how to navigate this web-based system that will provide you with a choice of self-study tools for program improvement.
Lisa Walker, MnSACA

F11. Storytelling and Global Games
Storytelling is the imagination of the mind. Toys and games are an exploration of the body. We relearn ourselves through the process and have fun.
Mr. Fun and Hypnotic Heather – Funtime Funktions

Course Descriptions: Saturday

Power Sessions 3, 4 & 5 7 to 7:45 a.m.

Power Session 3: Drop In Delights!
Fun ideas for simple art, games, songs and learning activities for drop-in care programs. Learn techniques that assist with transitions and the unique needs of working with mixed age groups. Make the most of the time you have with the children and turn your drop-in care dilemmas into learning delights!
Gloria Deziel – WOW! Training & Consulting

Power Session 4: Learn Rugby Minnesota!
Learn Rugby Minnesota! provides a co-ed, non-contact rugby introduction designed for ages 5 – 14. We introduce the basic rugby skills of catching, passing, evading, and tag, along with rugby-specific terminology and history of the game.
Chad Augeson – Learn Rugby Minnesota!

Power Session 5: Incredible Make and Takes!
Ideas for infants through school-age including special needs. This is a hands-on experience. Come and have some FUN!
Jane Marnholtz – IDS 278, Elk River

Saturday Session G: 9:45 to 11:15 a.m.

G1. Overcoming Adultitis Amid the Stress of Everyday
Jason Kotecki will share applicable stories and anecdotes, practical steps, and tangible techniques with attendees directly taken from his book, “The Escape Plan: A 40-Day Guide to Annihilate the Adultitis in Your Life.” A variety of examples of daily challenges and possible outcomes will be given to provide the learner with strategies that will help manage stress and create a healthier life balance, amid the busyness.
Jason Kotecki

G2. Hiring the Best of Today’s Generation and Beyond
Did the last few people you hired look great on paper? How did they work out? Learn more about proven tools to take the guesswork out of the hiring process.
Sarah Stoever and Laura Pendergrass – Martin McAllister Consulting Psychologists, Inc.

G3. Storytelling and Global Games
Storytelling is the imagination of the mind. Toys and games are an exploration of the body. We relearn ourselves through the process and have fun.
Mr. Fun and Hypnotic Heather – Funtime Funktions

G4. Behavior Interventions and Accommodations
We will explore a variety of behavior interventions and accommodations that can be implemented to address common challenges in our environments. Examples of tools and equipment for any budget will be available.
Tiffany Weeks – Anoka-Hennepin Adventures Plus

G5. Effective Fundraising for Your Child Care Business
Learn fundamental principles, tips and practices to help you more effectively increase your bottom line without compromising your quality and your mission and values.
Tezikiah Gabriel and Mara O’Neill – First Children’s Finance

G6. The ClockWise System: Mental Math with Fractions, Decimals, Percent and Degrees
Come ready to run a relay race and play card games to help 3rd-8th graders master these equivalents! Great for ELL, Special Ed, Gifted and After-School Programs.
Amy Clark-Wickham – The ClockWise System: Mental Math with Fractions, Decimals, Percent and Degrees

G7. The Next Step: Including the Infant in the Curriculum (What Are They Interested in Learning?)
Explore strategies to plan curriculum for infants through preschoolers based on their abilities and interests and how to effectively utilize teachable moments to positively impact brain development and future learning.
Deb Colling – Professional Learning Alternatives, Inc.

G8. Out the Door, Let’s Explore
We will explore ways to use emergent curriculum and the Reggio-Emilia approach to enhance the many learning opportunities our neighborhoods offer with special emphasis on literacy and language development.
Rhoda Redleaf – Retired, Redleaf Press; Kyra Ostendorf – Redleaf Press

G9. Validating Children’s Voices and Communicating with Families
Come and find new ways to connect with children and families. We will demonstrate art, literacy, and writing activities to link home and school, and innovative communication techniques with families.
Amanda Janquart and Sheila Williams Ridge – Dodge Nature Preschool

G10. Sticks and Stones: Nature Play with Preschoolers
Nature provides unending possibilities for open-ended and imaginative play. As we share experiences from a nature-based preschool, learn ways to expand your outdoor play repertoire and enrich children’s learning.
Joey Schoen and Mary Temple – Dodge Nature Preschool

G11. Discover Your Inner Puppet!
Create your own sock puppet and discover its personality. Learn how to use puppets to communicate with children.
Carol Watson – Missing Children Minnesota

G12: Learn Rugby Minnesota!
Learn Rugby Minnesota! provides a co-ed, non-contact rugby introduction designed for ages 5 – 14. We introduce the basic rugby skills of catching, passing, evading, and tag, along with rugby-specific terminology and history of the game.
Chad Augeson – Learn Rugby Minnesota!

Saturday Session H: 12:45 to 2:15 p.m.

H1. Effective Staff Leadership in Changing Times
As a center director, do you sometimes feel like you are tossed among the rapids, barely holding on? Learn about leadership skills and tools that can help you navigate the white water of change.
Tezikiah Gabriel and Mara O’Neill – First Children’s Finance

H2. Camp Discovery - A Summer Enrichment Camp for At-Risk Youth
Using Targeted Services, Enrichment and Youth Development dollars to create a summer camp for At-Risk Youth — a collaborative full day experience with academics, art, science-robotics, nature, and yoga.
Karen S. Walker – ISD 318 Community Education; Geraldine Downing – ISD 318 and Center-MN

H3. Show Me Yours and I’ll Show You Mine! (Understanding and Responding to the Sexual Behavior of Children)
Learn about healthy sexual development in children and how to recognize behaviors that may be concerning. Practice specific responses as effective tools in preventing the perpetration of child sexual abuse.
Deb Colling – Professional Learning Alternatives, Inc.

H4. Bilingual Education for Preschool Children
Presenting information in two languages may seem overwhelming to many, but if you have the ability to speak a second language, it is a gift you can give to children!
Stephanie Ponticas and Enrique Ponticas – Hearts & Minds Preschool Daycare

H5. Academic Achievement, Character Building, Cultural Diversity and Fun… All Together, Right in Your Classrooms.
Imagine a classroom of diverse students; all involved in a hands-on learning experience that is developing their concentration and focus; all taking responsibility for their actions; all respecting each other and having fun completing a highly participatory task that no one alone can achieve. This dream classroom will happen in your school. Come prepared to participate and take back strategies that will positively transform any group of students into leaders.
Emmanuel Ngomsi and Chia Alphonse – All World Languages & Cultures, Inc.

H6. Creating a Peaceful Classroom, Part 1
This workshop gives a proactive approach to discipline in the classroom. Many classroom practices come from the research-based book, Responsive Classroom, including: morning meeting, rule creation, interactive modeling, positive teacher language, logical consequences, guided discovery, academic choice, classroom organization and working with families. Building a classroom community is essential to creating a peaceful classroom. This workshop is designed to be a discussion with many hands-on ideas of how to incorporate peace daily into your classroom learning environment through greetings, games, warm fuzzies, songs, jobs, signals and more. You will walk away with practical applications that you are prepared and excited to implement that day.
Kilee Christnagel – Start Your Kids Engine

H7. What’s Outside the Box? Creativity in Math and Science
This workshop will provide you with classroom-tested ideas for unleashing your creative side and the creativity of the children you teach through math and science explorations.
Jane Benesch – Duluth Children’s Museum

H8. Personalizing Preschool Literacy Experiences: Exploring Children’s Imaginative Story- telling and Artistic Expression
Facilitating children’s literacy, creativity and social growth through their own writing and drawing. Discussion will include the use of story dictation and dramatization (as inspired by work of Vivian Paley), nature journaling, book-making and collective story creation.
Kris Rollwagen and Brenda Jerde – Dodge Nature Preschool

H9. Supporting Change: Using the New Joint Position Statement on Early Childhood and School Age Inclusion
The Division for Early Childhood (DEC) and the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) have recently developed a joint definition of and position on early childhood inclusion. Join creative and thoughtful colleagues in a facilitated conversation about how to use this new resource to support opportunities for inclusion. How could it be used to support professional development, advocacy, and policy development efforts? Help envision the possibilities so we can use them to grow new realities for young children with disabilities and their families.
Cindy Croft – Center for Inclusive Child Care

H10. Developing Confident and Capable Kids
Learn the secrets of communicating with kids to help them develop confidence and life skills. Experiential learning will help participants appreciate the effect their words have and move toward change.
Deb Pysno and Cheryl Forse – Robbinsdale Area Schools ECFE

H11. Music Fun for Infants and Toddlers
Explore the world of music with your infants and toddlers! Building a music curriculum of developmentally and age-appropriate music activities. Finger and toe rhymes and songs, bounces, lullabies, active play. Infant - 2 years of age.
Colleen Hannafin and Brian Schellinger – North Side Music

H12. Assessment in the Early Years of 3-8 Years
Assessment is key to effectively planning for a child’s learning as well as communicating with parents. What do teachers, care providers and directors need to know about developmentally appropriate assessments, especially as it relates to the Quality Rating System and program improvement efforts?
Nancy Wallace

Saturday Session I: 2:30 to 4 p.m.

I1. Planning and Paying for Developmentally Appropriate Playgrounds
Well-designed play areas can help develop children’s brains. Learn tips on planning developmentally appropriate play spaces for young children and on finding resources to help pay for them.
Nedra Sims Fears – First Children’s Finance

I2. Generation to Generation
Sadly, many children have no regular contact with seniors. Come hear our story of a weekly meeting between preschoolers and seniors. It has been a learning opportunity for all ages.
Mike Huber – ISD 318 Community Education; Geraldine Downing – ISD 318 and Center-MN

I3. Building Relationships: Roadblocks or Bridges?
Building relationships is critical to successfully including all children in your setting. Learn strategies to promote successful collaboration, clearing “roadblocks” and promoting an improved quality of life for everyone.
Deb Colling – Professional Learning Alternatives, Inc.

I4. Creating a Peaceful Classroom, Part 2
This workshop gives a proactive approach to discipline in the classroom. Many classroom practices come from the research-based book, Responsive Classroom, including” morning meeting, rule creation, interactive modeling, positive teacher language, logical consequences, guided discovery, academic choice, classroom organization and working with families. Building a classroom community is essential to creating a peaceful classroom. This workshop is designed to be a discussion with many hands-on ideas of how to incorporate peace daily into your classroom learning environment through greetings, games, warm fuzzies, songs, jobs, signals and more. You will walk away with practical applications that you are prepared and excited to implement that day.
Kilee Christnagel – Start Your Kids Engine

I5. Creating a Dynamic Sensory Table
A Power Point presention will show how play and learning expand exponentially in and around the sensory table with twenty simple apparatus made with free or inexpensive materials.
Tom Bedard – St. Paul Schools/ECFE

I6. Elephants Have Wrinkles: Animal Themes that Teach
Animal, insect and bird songs and chants for learning fun. Early math and literacy, colors, concepts, body part identification. Extended ideas for props, flannel and magnet boards, creative play and themes.
Colleen Hannafin and Brian Schellinger – North Side Music

I7. Healthy and Fun Cooking Experiences for Every Child
Learn techniques to cook using local foods, garden fresh produce, and substitutes for common allergies. We will also share gardening and food purchase techniques to save money and eat healthy.
Sheila Williams Ridge and Heather Erickson – Dodge Nature Preschool

I8. Making Learning Visible
Documentation is an important part of the Reggio Emilia Approach. Learn a variety of techniques to use when recording children’s work, reflecting on that work, then displaying the work so that others understand the learning process.
Marty Watson and Sarah Kruger – Dodge Nature Preschool

I9. Power of Play
Learn how to build skills, foster positive relationships, and reduce challenging behavior with this proven framework for active play in school-age care.
Joshua Koepp – MnSACA

I10. Academic Achievement, Character Building, Cultural Diversity and Fun… All Together, Right in Your Classrooms.
Imagine a classroom of diverse students; all involved in a hands-on learning experience that is developing their concentration and focus; all taking responsibility for their actions; all respecting each other and having fun completing a highly participatory task that no one alone can achieve. This dream classroom will happen in your school. Come prepared to participate and take back strategies that will positively transform any group of students into leaders.
Emmanuel Ngomsi and Chia Alphonse – All World Languages & Cultures, Inc.

I11. Name Picks 2010 — Your Language Landscape
The use of names in combination with shapes create relational learning for children, teachers, and parents. Learn how graphemes and phonemes provide sight and sound clues to navigate today’s names.
Dawn Lees – Mount Olivet Day Services

I12. Silly School-Age Activities
Kids just want to have fun! Rediscover the joy of childhood. Celebrate silly days. Play games with mixed ages and abilities. Turn your space into a swamp or a winter wonderland. Ideas for activities that can be used across the curriculum spontaneously or with little preparation.
Gloria Deziel

Power Sessions 6, 7 & 8 4:15 to 5 p.m.

Power Session 6: Don’t Panic!
Do you have a sudden change in plans? Rainy weather? Don’t let little things like this get the best of you. Come create some hands-on, kid-tested, teacher-approved projects sure to make any day a success!
Dawn Hanson

Power Session 7: Science in the Cities, POWER’d UP!
Need science? “Science in the Cities” is back! Roll up your sleeves for a Science Power Session that will keep you moving and “AH HA”-ing! Learn as you quickly work through a variety of hands on science activity stations and see how easy it can be to do science with the kids at your site! Power session will begin and end with instruction, and be filled in the middle with science fun for every age! We’ve got science!
Marty Elmquist and Angela Alman

Power Session 8: Portable Program Space
No dedicated space? Not a lot of room to store program supplies? Your program environment says a lot about what you have to offer. We will look at ways to create inviting designated areas that are portable. This workshop focuses on strategies to maximize quality programming within the limitations of a movable program.
Jane Marnholtz and Cory Franson

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