2025 Early Learning Conference

This early learning conference is for Teachers, Early Learning Professionals, Child Care Providers, etc.

• Keynote Speaker: Dawn Babb Prochovnic "Early Childhood Education = Planting Seeds for the Future"
• Choose one, 2-hour workshop (see below)
• STARS or Clock Hours Available
• Breakfast Provided
• Raffle Prizes

Workshop Choices:

1. Sign Language Beginner Basics for Early Literacy, Inclusion (and FUN!) with Dawn Babb Prochovnic - Join in for a fun, interactive introduction to sign language that supports and encourages language development and literacy/early literacy. Through songs and play, learn how to encourage infants, toddler, and young children to use signs to communicate. Participants will learn and practice American Sign Language (ASL) signs for words and ideas that are important to babies and young children, with emphasis on practical techniques that support routine transitions, gude positive bahavior, and enrich literacy/early experiences.
2. De-Escalation with Laurie Severson - Facing the Challenge and How to De-escalate an Upset Child - Join us as we take the journey into challenging behavior and focus on a de-escalation. We will explore techniques from the Pyramid model and Conscious Discipoline to prevent challenging behaviort and then focus on how to respond to a child. We will learn about the de-escalation cycle and what to do at each point in this process. We will talk about prevention and observing the child to know what they need to feel safe and connected. We will discuss ways that we can support children through the upset to sucessfully regaining composure.
3. ECE Professionals Empowering Families through School Connections with Josie Zbaeren and Madeline Busby - This workshop will offer a comprehensive overview of effective strategies for fostering strong family/school connections to enhance children's educational outcomes. We will cover approaches to strengthening home-to-school relationships, building positive partnerships between families and schools, involving families in curriculum development, supporting learning at home, and cultivating community connections. Our goal is to equip providers with the knowledge and tools to collaborate effectively, emphasizing the importance of teamwork in creating a positive and impactful early learning experience for children.
4. Thinking Outside the Box for Early Childhood Teachers with Heather Strong - Children enter our classrooms at all different levels of develoment and experiences. We know the importance of creating a classroom community and environment that gives every child a sense of belonging and acceptance. The challenges are maintaining this with so many varying degrees of develoment, behaviors, and following program policies. One way to maintain this is by thinking outside the box and giving children true ownership in their classroom environment and in their learning.

Host or Publisher Early Learning Coalition