2015 Teacher Conference
The Really Hard Work We Do
Infant Toddler Children's Center
Saturday, March 14, 2015 from 9:00 a.m. to 12 noon
Accommodations, adaptations, and what keeps us doing this important work.
Agenda
9:00-9:45 - Visits to classrooms. Bring your notebooks and cameras. Gather ideas for preparing learning environments and share ideas with our teachers.
9:45-10:00 - Whole group gathering: introduction to the conference topic.
10:00-12:00 - Workshops
Workshop 1: Taking Care of Us: Meeting our needs so we can meet the needs of others.
Teaching is HARD work. Whether you've been in the field one year or twenty, you've likely had times when you've wondered why you chose this work. What brought you to teaching? What keeps you going day to day? Where do you find inspiration? This workshop will explore these questions and more as we reignite our passion and replenish our energy. Teaching is hard work, but we are in it for a reason... we will spend our time together rediscovering why.
Cindy Heaney and Christin Magliozzi, presenters
Workshop 2: Enfolding the child with special needs into your daily curriculum planning; how can you support the whole group experience in the process?
Do you wonder how you can create environments that support all of the children in your classroom inlcuding children with special needs? What are some techniques or strategies you use when what you are doing isn't working? How can you effectively partner with parents and specialists while using a strength based approach to learning? What are some ways to integrate specialists and service plans into your daily routine and curriculum planning? How do you keep everyone "in the know" in the process; co-workers, parents, and specialists?
Come meet with us as we consider curriculum, service plans, accommodations, and relationship building with children, parents, and specialists. We'll also have time to explore different sensory systems firsthand!
Jaime Shanklin, M.S. and Kathy Linnane, M.A., presenters
Workshop 3: Implementing USDA nutritional guidelines for children: Educating children and families about making healthy food choices and making food and cooking in a classroom a valuable and enjoyable curriculum experience.
During this workshop you will receive fundamental information about the USDA recommendations as they pertain to the healthy growth and development of young children. As early childhood professionals we are required to "design and implement nutritional programs" that meet with these recommendations. Additionally we will be looking at how food and cooking experiences deepen awareness of healthy food choices and social connections in the classroom. Come and learn ways to create more positive, fun, and inviting cooking experiences for young children? How does cooking with young children establish a community and empower children to see themselves as capable of providing for themselves and others?
Cathy Mariani and Vivian Ricketts, presenters