Early Childhood Conference

Registration 10 a.m.-12:30 p.m.

Thom Leadership Education Center Lobby

12:30 Sectionals 12:30-1:30 p.m.

A. Building up or Breaking Down? The Challenges of Teacher Reviews in the Early Childhood Ministry

Cheryl Haun, Missouri District Early Childhood Consultant; CUNE Adjunct
 

Educators will consider ways to review and reflect on teaching the faith practices in the early childhood classroom. One might consider this to be a “teacher evaluation” process, a process of evaluating staff, that builds up or breaks down educators in the classroom. When we consider how we work with our staff in Lutheran early childhood settings, breaking down staff is not an option. So, what do we look for, what do we ask, and how do we help our teachers move forward in their own faith life and in the lives of the children they are called to serve?
Target Audience: All, Content Level: All

B. Engineering with the Environment, STEM Skills come Naturally!

Jack Hilgert, Conservation Education Coordinator, Nebraska Forest Service Nebraska State Coordinator: Project Learning Tree & Project WET
 

Join us as we learn how to engage early learners in environmental education while building STEM Skills, especially focused on engineering! During this workshop, participants will experience award-winning activities from Project Learning Tree that connect the littlest of learners to the nature in their neighborhood through the lens of engineering, problem solving, and fine-motor skills. We will focus our time in this workshop on covering which PLT activities will be best to cover with students during the summer months and participants will walk away with curriculum and materials to implement lessons right-away!
Target Audience: All, Content Level: Intermediate

C. Vital Connections: How to Build up Parents as Their Child’s Most Important Bond

Claire Brown, Child & Family Wellbeing Coordinator for The Wellbeing Partners and Adjunct Professor of Early Childhood Education
 

Early Childhood Educators know how important the parent/child bond is. But how do we support parents in forming these vital connections with their children? What kinds of strategies can we offer when parents are struggling? Participants will leave this breakout session empowered to come alongside parents as they prioritize early bonding.
Target Audience: Infant and Toddler teachers, Pre-primary teachers (3-5 year olds), Content Level: Intermediate

D. Celebrating the Seasons of the Church Year

Lisa Larson, 3 year-old Preschool Teacher/Campus Manager at Christ Community Lutheran School, Kirkwood, Missouri
 

We know that there are 4 seasons, but let’s focus on the seasons of the church year. See how to incorporate and celebrate the different seasons of the church year in your classroom.
Target Audience: Pre-primary teachers (3-5 year olds), Primary teacher (K-2nd grades), Content Level: Beginning

Exploring God’s Wonderful World

Bev Gruenwald, Early Childhood Director, St. Paul’s Lutheran School, Des Peres MO
 

Stop by and view resources, share ideas and enjoy some hands-on activities that you can use to help your children explore God’s wonderful world. Sticks, mud, grass, stumps, water, grass, sand and so much more are ideal learning tools for open-ended play and sensory learning and lots of discovery!
Target Audience: All, Content Level: All

1:45 Sectionals 1:45-2:45 p.m.

E. A Place of Belonging: Meaningful Spaces for Young Children

Andrea Lohman, Early Childhood Educator
 

Creating meaningful spaces for children involves not only designing the physical environment, but also the spiritual and social environments. During our time together, we will discuss the importance of intentionally creating these spaces as well as specific strategies to experiment with in your classroom.
Target Audience: Pre-primary teachers (3-5 year olds), Content Level: Intermediate

F. Splash into Summer Fun with Getting Little Feet WET

Jack Hilgert, Conservation Education Coordinator, Nebraska Forest Service Nebraska State Coordinator: Project Learning Tree & Project WET
 

Join us as we learn how to engage early learners in environmental education utilizing an award-winning curriculum focused on water! Developed specifically for teachers working with young children (ages 3-6) and in coordination with early childhood experts and educators, Getting Little Feet WET contains 11 interactive, hands-on activities for young learners to explore different aspects of water. From water properties to water sounds there is something to engage every child. Each activity offers both Pre-K and K-2 options and is correlated to respective educational standards. We will focus our time in this workshop on covering which WET activities will be best to cover with students during the summer months.
Target Audience: All, Content Level: Intermediate

G. Early Red Flags for ASD

Kara Coble, MS BCBA, Nebraska ASD Network Behavior Specialist
 

A brief overview of the characteristics of Autism Spectrum Disorder and some of the early red flags that early childhood practitioners and educators may see when working with young children in the home, childcare environments, and preschool settings. Tips, tools, and resources will be shared on how to connect with and provide information to parents, families, and other caregivers regarding ASD. Early detection, identification, and intervention are important for children with ASD and their families.
Target Audience: Infant and Toddler teachers, Pre-primary teachers (3-5 year olds) Content Level: Beginning, Intermediate

H. Repeat of Session D: Lisa Larson & Bev Gruenwald

Jennie Williamson in concert 3-4:30 p.m.

Jennie Williamson is a Christian Speaker and Recording Artist with AriSon records from Nashville, TN. Jennie and her husband Brian created the Children’s CD series “God is Great!”, an exciting music ministry impacting the hearts and lives of youth and families around the world! Jennie brings energy and excitement for Jesus that is contagious! The music and live events are filled with incredible messages of love and hope that reaches the hearts of every audience.

Jennie and Brian have been in the Christian music industry for 23 years. Having sold over 800,000 CDs, Jennie’s music has touched the lives of millions of people. Jennie and Brian live in Franklin, TN, a suburb of Nashville, with their two daughters Emma Lou, 18 and Eva Jane, 13/

God’s Incredible Design: Right Brain, Left Brain
Jennie will bring to the light effective and successful processes to support you, the educator, in the way you teach, communicate, learn and care for students in the classroom. This keynote includes strategies to effectively reach both “Right Brain and Left Brain” learners. You will have a better understanding and recognition of your own teaching style and how to expand that style to reach a broader audience. Jennie will lead you through steps of advancing your students both emotionally and intellectually.

Social Hour 4:30-5:15 p.m.

Dinner 5:15-6 p.m.

Keynote 6-7 p.m.

Rev. Scott Bruick

And in Walked ???
At the end of a challenging day or week or season, whom would you love to have walk into your center, school, classroom, or office to change your mood? Would it be a certain student, parent, coworker, or administrator? Tonight, we will pause to experience a certain individual walking into our lives to fill us with joy, especially when we are experiencing joy that is hard to find, feel, or hold on to.

Registration/Breakfast 7:45-8:30 a.m.

Morning Keynote 8:45 a.m.

Dr. Lori Desautels

Understanding How the Nervous Systems of Our Young Children Develop and the Impact of Trauma
In this session we will explore how adversity and trauma impact the developing nervous systems of our children. We will also explore how adult nervous systems can unintentionally escalate our children as emotions are contagious.

Break 10:15 a.m.

Morning Keynote 10:30 a.m.-noon

Dr. Lori Desautels

Adults Nervous Systems
We will share and discuss practices for adults that engage our children during procedures, transitions and rituals that become a part of our everyday lives.

Lunch 12 p.m.

Monday Sectionals 12:45-2 p.m.

1. Connecting or Competing?

Rev. Scott Bruick
 

In the current culture, many of us strive to connect with others; however, in the end, connecting is easily replaced with a competition mindset. Whether on social media, in our families, or even among early childhood centers and ministries in a community, a competition mindset often sneaks up and consumes us. Imagine if we really kept “connecting” at the forefront of our minds. How might that change our work with children? With families? And our collective care in a community? Let’s connect in this sectional to see what ideas are generated to better serve children, families, and even our early childhood centers in our current culture.
Target Audience: All, Content Level: All

2. Building up or Breaking Down? The Challenges of Teacher Reviews in the Early Childhood Ministry

Cheryl Haun, Missouri District Early Childhood Consultant; CUNE Adjunct
 

Educators will consider ways to review and reflect on teaching the faith practices in the early childhood classroom. One might consider this to be a “teacher evaluation” process, a process of evaluating staff, that builds up or breaks down educators in the classroom. When we consider how we work with our staff in Lutheran early childhood settings, breaking down staff is not an option. So, what do we look for, what do we ask, and how do we help our teachers move forward in their own faith life and in the lives of the children they are called to serve?
Target Audience: All, Content Level: All

3. A Place of Belonging: Meaningful Spaces for Young Children

Andrea Lohman, Early Childhood Educator
 

Creating meaningful spaces for children involves not only designing the physical environment, but also the spiritual and social environments. During our time together, we will discuss the importance of intentionally creating these spaces as well as specific strategies to experiment with in your classroom.
Target Audience: Pre-primary teachers (3-5 year olds), Content Level: Intermediate

4. Setting Up A Learning Center ​

Penny Gildea, Early Childhood Consultant
 

Learning centers are the foundation of a quality early childhood program. The ART CENTER will be featured in this session. Participants will learn the developmental stages of drawing and how the art center connects to the program’s curriculum. Participants will also learn how to introduce a center, teach the rules of the center, and demonstrate how to care for the center.
Target Audience: Pre-primary teachers (3-5 year olds), Content Level: Intermediate

5. The Pyramid Lens: Connecting Supportive Relationships, Engaged Parents and High-quality Classroom Environments for Children’s Success

Amy Colwell Williams, NeMTSS Early Childhood Implementation Facilitator
 

We’ll examine best practices and connect the dots between relationships and success and get you started on a planning path to create consistency and continuity for children and families and an environment that nurtures community.
Target Audience: Pre-primary teachers (3-5 year olds), Primary teacher (K-2nd grades), Administrators, Content Level: Beginning, Intermediate

Afternoon Keynote 2:15-4:15 p.m.

Dr. Lori Desautels

Relationships and the Nervous System
We will explore the practices and strategies that are built into our time with children and how we can strengthen those connections and trust while calming the nervous system.

As you turn in your conference evaluations, you will receive a free copy of Dr. Desautels’ book, Connections over Compliance: Rewiring our Perceptions of Discipline.