A.S.K. Conference 2024 Brochure

A.S.K. CONFERENCE (Advancing, Skills and Knowledge)

Virtual professional development conference

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 17, 2024

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INTRODUCTION TO THE CONFERENCE Dear Early Care and School Age Education Professional, On behalf of the planning committee and Child Care Services Association, we invite you to join hundreds of early childhood professionals from across North Carolina at the 51st annual Advancing Skills and Knowledge (A.S.K.) Conference. This year the A.S.K. Conference will be virtual and scheduled for one day only.

We are excited to share this year’s program! The A.S.K. Conference has always served classroom teachers as our primary audience. Although there is something for every early childhood professional, the majority of workshops support instructional strategies. It is the planning committee’s priority to bring you a full range of professional development opportunities. As is tradition at this conference, you have the opportunity to choose workshop sessions when you register for the day.

New this year is our collaboration with The Abecedarian Education Foundation (AEF). They provide early childhood professionals, parents, and caregivers with empowering knowledge and effective strategies to enhance development and learning for children ages 0-5. The Abecedarian Education Foundation is hosting a Featured Session which will provide participants with tools to support rich adult-child interactions and will be live streamed from The Nest, Kidzu Children’s Museum’s new early learning lab for infants, toddlers and their caregivers.

SPECIAL GUESTS We are excited to host Tabatha Rosproy, 2020 National Teacher of the Year, Educator, Certified Instructor, as our keynote speaker and Rhodus Riggins, educator, researcher, consultant and Willa Brigham, celebrated storyteller, author, as our Featured Speakers. We believe the conference will meet the professional development needs of all who attend!

CCSA is also sponsoring a learning thread for Durham PreK educators at the ASK Conference.

These workshops are designed to support high quality teaching and learning for public classrooms for 4-year-old children.

See you at the Conference, The 2024 A.S.K. Conference Planning Committee

OUR MISSION Child Care Services Association is dedicated to leading efforts to strengthen accessible and affordable quality early care and education.

CCSA’s Triangle Area Child Care Resource and Referral Division supports early care and school age educators by conducting professional development, training and technical assistance activities all year. View our monthly training calendar on the website for additional learning opportunities.

A.S.K. CONFERENCE COMMITTEE Linda Chappel

Wendy Price

Maggie Connolly

Savion Thorne

Charlene Daye

Swanda Warren

Monnie Griggs

Amy Wearing

Nita McAdoo

Beverly Williams

The A.S.K. Conference is made possible by your registration fees.

CONTENTS

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CCSA Welcome

2

Workshop Subject Categories

3

Conference Schedule

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Featured Presenters

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Abecedarian Education Foundation

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Durham PreK Learning Thread

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Session I Workshop Descriptions

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Session II Workshop Descriptions

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Session III Workshop Descriptions

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Frequently Asked Questions

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We have designated all workshops as relating to one of the nine subject areas required by NC licensing standards, shown below. All workshops impacting teacher classroom practice are aligned with the North Carolina Foundations for Early Learning Development (NC FELD) planning a safe, healthy learning environment.

WORKSHOP SUBJECT CATEGORIES 1. Planning a safe, healthy learning environment 2. Children’s physical & intellectual development 3. Children’s social & emotional development 4. Productive relationships with families 5. Program management 6. Professionalism 7. Observing & recording children’s behavior 8. Child growth and development 9. Inclusion of children with special needs

CONFERENCE SCHEDULE

Session I

8:30 - 10:00 AM

Break

10:00 - 10:30 AM

Session II

10:30 - 12:00 PM

Break

12:00 - 12:30 PM

Keynote

12:30 - 1:30 PM

Session III

1:45 - 3:15 PM

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KEYNOTE TA B AT H A R O S P R OY 2020 NATIONAL TEACHER OF THE YEAR, EDUCATOR, CERTIFIED INSTRUCTOR

“I know that there are thousands of wonderful teachers in this country. I have never known one that showed all of the aspects of learning that she has shown; equality, love, respect,”

As the 2020 National Teacher of the Year, Tabatha has used her platform to promote the importance of early childhood education and the need for social-emotional learning for all students. Tabatha is a career early childhood educator with 12+ years of experience working in Head Start, center-based early education, home-based services for birth through three years old and as a public school preK teacher. Tabatha teaches typically developing and special education preschoolers at Winfield Early Learning Center. Her classroom is housed at Cumbernauld Village, a retirement community and nursing home, and the four-year-old students interact every day with community residents, who serve as volunteer “grandmas” and “grandpas.”

Join Tabatha for keynote, ”From Tiny Seeds Grow Mighty Trees”

12:30 PM - 1:30 PM Research tells us that from the ages 0-5 is when a child learns best, and yet, this age group is underserved all around the United States. Join Tabatha Rosproy as she offers a look into a unique partnership between the public school and a local nursing home that created opportunities for her preschool students that weren’t available before, and the impact that made on the lives of both the students and the residents at the retirement community where the classroom is housed. Tabatha will highlight the life-changing power of connections and self-regulation in your time together. Tabatha’s background in theater and improv comedy come to life in the classroom and on stage, so you’ll not only learn something - you will cry, you will laugh, and you’ll play your way through your time together!

F E AT U R E D S E S S I O N RHODUS RIGGINS EDUCATOR, RESEARCHER, CONSULTANT AND ADJUNCT INSTRUCTOR

Rhodus Riggins, Jr. is Quality Enhancement Coordinator at the Education Quality Improvement and Professional Development Project (EQuIPD) at the University of North Carolina- Greensboro.

He is Adjunct Faculty member at Alamance Community College and UNC-Greensboro. He is co-founder and co-owner of Bailey, Pullis, & Riggins LLC, a racial equity consulting organization.

Rhodus has over 33 years of extensive experiences in research, technical assistance, professional development, evaluation, and higher education. Rhodus is a grassroots advocate and early childhood champion from the Low Country region of South Carolina. He holds a M.Ed. in Educational Leadership, Public Policy, & Advocacy in Early Childhood.

Join Rhodus for a featured session, #8 - The Pursuit of Belonging

8:30 AM – 10:00 AM Belonging is a term that often emerges in justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion work. Yet, what exactly is Belonging? How do we open space and create cultures of Belonging for diverse children, families, and communities? How does Belonging foster diversity and more inclusive spaces? How does Belonging advance equity and justice for diverse children, families, and communities?

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F E AT U R E D S E S S I O N WILLA BRIGHAM CELEBRATED STORYTELLER, POET AND AUTHOR

A tremendous storyteller and poet, Willa is known to incorporate various music, poetry, and moral stories in her storytelling process giving her an utterly unique and distinguished voice. Her style of storytelling is geared towards educating children. In her own words, “I choose stories that have a message, that teach a lesson.” Willa has two Emmy awards for her time on WRAL when she hosted a talk show where she would recite stories to children, a truly great accomplishment. A section called “Tell a Story” where children would call in to tell the listeners their own story was later adapted into a type of call and response attribute associated with Brigham’s “Ms. storytelling. Moreover, her attitude towards making stories an educating moment for children is admirable as it Willa Brigham’s allows the kids to grow as humans, learning morals and valuable life lessons. positive energy Join Willa for a featured session, #18 Storytelling with Songs, Raps and Rhymes

10:30 AM - 12:00 PM

was so contagious, I really enjoyed her presentation.”

Storytelling has many benefits when it comes to young minds. It can boost listening skills, instill virtues, foster their imaginations and enhance their communications skills. Join Ms. Willa in an interactive session to experience hands on techniques that are guaranteed to foster improved vocabulary and social skills alone with all of the before mentioned.

F E AT U R E D S E S S I O N T H E A B E C E DA R I A N E D U C AT I O N F O U N DAT I O N The Abecedarian Education Foundation (AEF) is about creating a better future for children and our world by focusing on the most developmentally significant portion of life: the very beginning.

We aim to provide early childhood professionals, parents, and caregivers with empowering knowledge and effective strategies to enhance development and learning for children ages 0-5, especially those living in under-resourced families. Our approach to early childhood education and development, the Abecedarian Approach (called 2A for short), builds on the work and research of Dr. Craig Ramey, Dr. Joseph Sparling, and their colleagues and was originally developed for the renowned Abecedarian Project. 2A is child centered, playful, and nonprescriptive and equips caregivers to use seemingly simple concepts and techniques in intentional and developmentally powerful ways.

Join AEF for a featured session, #27 The ABC(D)s of Quality Early Learning

1:45 PM – 3:15 PM In this workshop, participants will learn about the Abecedarian Approach, a framework for adultchild interactions that is grounded in the now 50 year old longitudinal NC foundational research study that showed the lifelong impacts of high-quality early childhood education. Participants will hear directly from one of the principal researchers, Dr. Joseph Sparling, and leave with tools that support rich adult-child interactions and can be easily applied into your own center or classroom.

Interactive elements will be provided in partnership with Kidzu Children’s Museum, as the session will be live streamed from The Nest, Kidzu’s new early learning lab for infants, toddlers and their caregivers, and tools will be put directly into practice. Door prizes: free entry passes to Kidzu Children’s Museum and a copy of Dr. Sparling’s new book: The Abecedarian Approach to Health Development.

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The Abecedarian Education Foundation

Dr. Joseph Sparling

Dr. Joseph Sparling is the Board Chair of the Abecedarian Education Foundation (international), a Senior Scientist Emeritus at the Frank Porter Graham Child Development Institute at the University of North Carolina (USA), and Honorary Professorial Fellow at the Melbourne Graduate School of Education of the University of Melbourne (Australia). His 50-year career has been focused on bringing educational opportunities to vulnerable or disadvantaged children from birth though age five. With Professor Craig Ramey and Kimberly Meunier, he developed an early educational program known as the Abecedarian Approach. International early childhood research and/or staff training activities are currently being conducted in Australia, Canada, China, Denmark, Jordan, Mexico, Singapore, and the USA.

Kimberly Meunier is the Executive Director of the Abecedarian Education Foundation and has over 20 years of experience in leading and managing early childhood education and development initiatives focused on improving the lives of vulnerable young children and families. She is an expert on the Abecedarian Approach and has worked in multiple countries (Australia, Canada, Denmark, Jordan, Mexico, Singapore, etc.) and settings to adapt and apply this approach and other research-validated early childhood programs. Kimberly has a MBA from Kenan-Flagler Business School at the University of North Carolina and Kimberly Meunier has done graduate studies in Applied Developmental Psychology and Education.

Maureen Costello Dwyer

Melanie Hatz Levinson

Maureen Costello Dwyer has an M.Ed. in special education and literacy studies and a B.A. in Early Childhood Education. She is a Project Approach educator and staff developer and has led workshops and seminars for educators on the Project Approach and implemented it in the preschool classroom for over a decade. In her current role with Kidzu Children’s Museum, Maureen is researching the development of Kidzu’s learning platform rooted in early experiential learning and informed by Kidzu’s established academic relationships with the Abecedarian Education Foundation and UNC/FPG Child Development Institute’s STEMIE Center of Innovation for Inclusion in Early Education.

As the longest tenured member of Kidzu Children’s Museum, Melanie Hatz Levinson has shepherded the organization through its expansion from a 2000 to 12,500 SF facility, ensuring that all design, educational programming, and academic research efforts fully support the museum’s mission and educational goals and vision. Previously, Melanie worked for over a decade on the curatorial staff of the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City. She received her Bachelor of Arts degree in Art History from the University of Michigan, and holds graduate degrees in Art History and Archaeology from Columbia University and the Institute of Fine Arts, New York University.

Samantha (she/her) has a Master’s degree in Early Childhood Education and has spent the past 10 years working with young children and their families. As the Nest Coordinator, she brings her education and experience to The Nest, where she curates the space, creates the programming, and facilitates play with children and their caregivers.

Samantha Shannon

Durham PreK Learning Thread Durham County is directly involved in a variety of ways with early education, and since 2016, has invested extensive funds in creating a universal preschool program called Durham PreK. Key components of Durham PreK include improved pay and professional development for teachers, intensive technical assistance with early educators designed to raise quality, and work with local educational institutions to increase and improve the supply of early education teachers. Child Care Services Association (CCSA) serves as the management agency for Durham County Government for the local investment in public preschool for four-year-olds.

Everyone in STEM: Strategies and Resources for Empowering our Young Children to Engage in Inclusive Early STEM Learning Experiences 8:30 AM - 12:30 PM and 1:45 PM - 3:15 PM This will be an interactive, hands-on virtual session presented by members of the STEMIE team at FPG Child Development Institute. Participants will engage in active STEM learning experiences and explore ways to apply the content in their own work settings. We will spend time discussing the importance of early STEM learning for ALL young children and develop ideas related to including all children in early STEM learning experiences. Participants will leave the session with an individual action plan with specific goals and objectives for empowering children in early STEM learning.

Co Presenters: Chih-Ing Lim, Christine Harradine, Hsiu-Wen Yang, & Jessica Amsbary, FPG Child Development Institute-UNC Chapel Hill Chih-Ing Lim, PhD, is the co-director of the STEM Innovation for Inclusion in Early Education Center (STEMIE), an OSEP-funded national center to build the knowledge on early STEM learning for children especially those with disabilities. She also leads Supporting Change and Reform in Preservice Teaching in North Carolina (SCRIPT-NC), where she works with community college faculty in North Carolina to better prepare early childhood professionals to serve children with disabilities and who are from culturally and ethnically diverse families. She is also currently adjunct assistant professor at the School of Education, UNC-Chapel Hill.

Dr. Chih-Ing Lim Christine Harradine is a Technical Assistance Specialist/Research Investigator at the UNC Frank Porter Graham Child Development Institute. Her research interests include early childhood education and the systematic approach to recognizing, nurturing, and responding to the strengths and needs of all young children. Instructional design, e-learning product development, survey research, quantitative and qualitative research, and evaluation are all part of what she does. She is a lover of learning, an explorer of all things science, and a former preschool teacher.

Christine Harradine Dr. Hsiu-Wen Yang is a technical assistance specialist at the STEM Innovation for Inclusion in Early Education (STEMIE) Center and North Carolina Early Learning Network whose work aims to ensure ALL young children are included and can fully participate in learning activities. As a former occupational therapist, she has worked with young children with developmental disabilities and their families in a variety of settings (e.g., home, school, hospital). Her research focuses on early intervention, family-centered practices, parent coaching, inclusive practices, and social-emotional development.

Dr. Hsiu-Wen Yang Dr. Jessica Amsbary is a Technical Assistance Specialist at the FPG Child Development Institute where she engages in the development of resources related to STEM Innovations for young children with disabilities. She is also the Program Coordinator of the Early Childhood Intervention and Family Support (ECIFS) Master’s Degree in Education for Experienced Teachers program at UNC-Chapel Hill. Dr. Amsbary’s primary research is focused on family support initiatives related to very young children with autism and other developmental delays and applying principles of implementation science to ensure early interventions are meeting the needs of families and their children.

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Dr. Jessica Amsbary

SESSION I Saturday, February 17

8:30 AM – 10:00 AM

01 Adapting STEM to Engage ALL Learners Presenter: Catherine Burke, Early Educator Support Office at UNC Charlotte

Young children are naturally curious and eager to explore their world. Intentional early STEM learning experiences can nurture these innate developmental competencies that lay a strong foundation for 21st century skills but, to make the most of these opportunities, educators need to understand how to implement appropriate adaptations that meet each child’s unique learning needs. Join us for a fun, hands-on session where we will challenge ourselves and each other to learn more about and plan for adapted STEM instruction!

Subject - 2,5 Audience - P

the Stress for Family Child Care 02 Address Professionals Presenters: Ennis C. Baker and Sharon Little, ITTI Care Project - Duke University

This workshop is designed for family child care professionals who often feel isolated and unappreciated, adding to the stress they experience in the day-to-day work of caring for children. We will provide an interactive session designed to help family child care professionals reduce stress and prioritize their own wellbeing.

We will highlight opportunities to connect and get support. Come to be reminded that self-care isn’t selfish!

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Subject - 5 Audience - AD

Biting Hurts

Presenter: Lisa Rettie, Early Learning Specialist, Alamance Partnership for Children

Participants will gain knowledge to understand why children bite and strategies for how to redirect children with the challenging behavior of biting.

Participants will receive resources and activities to incorporate into the learning environment as well as contact information of the Healthy Social Behavior Specialist. Participants will also learn strategies to address this challenging behavior with parents and will have the opportunity to collaborate with other educators on ways to work together on resolving this behavior.

Questions and Reminders about 04 Common the Assessment Process Presenter: Megan Porter, North Carolina Rated License Assessment Project

This session will provide information about the North Carolina Rated License Assessment Project and the Environment Rating Scales. Lower scoring items will be reviewed as well as examples of how credit may be earned for different requirements. There will be time to answer questions related to the assessment process as well as scale requirements.

Subject - 5 Audience - E

Families & Adoption in the Early 05 Diverse Childhood Setting

Presenters: Marquita Moore-Raynor, Khandy Bryant, MK Adoption Services, LLC

Early childhood professionals work with a diverse group of families on a daily basis. This training allows participants an opportunity to learn more about adoption, diverse families and understanding the importance of being prepared to support all family types.

06 Fine Motor Skills

Subject - 4 Audience - E

Presenter: Swetal Thaker, Developmental Therapy Associates

This workshop will focus on a discussion of the sub-skills needed for coordinated fine motor skill will provide the knowledge for selecting fine motor activities for preschoolers..

Subject - 2,8 Audience - E

for promoting early 07 Strategies communication skills

Presenters: Dr. Jessica Kinard, UNC-CH Carolina Institute for Developmental Disabilities

In this workshop, attendees will learn evidencebased strategies for promoting the communication of young children. To support the use of these strategies, attendees will also learn which contexts support communication development and how to use knowledge about communication milestones to guide their interactions with children.

Subject - 2,8 Audience - I/T, P

Subject - 3 Audience - I/T

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E = Everyone; AD = Administration; I/T = Infant/Toddler; P = Preschool; SA = School-age

SESSION I Saturday, February 17

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8:30 AM – 10:00 AM

The Pursuit of Belonging Presenter: Rhodus Riggins, Jr., EQuIPD, UNCG

09 What’s In Your Learning Centers?

Presenters: Angela Morse, Laura Pope and Debbie Johnson, Early Educator Support Office at East Carolina University

Belonging is a term that often emerges in justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion work.

Yet, what exactly is Belonging? How do we open space and create cultures of Belonging for diverse children, families, and communities? How does Belonging foster diversity and more inclusive spaces? How does Belonging advance equity and justice for diverse children, families, and communities?

Are you in need of ideas pertaining to materials to add into your classroom centers that represent various diversities? Come join us as we discuss materials that can be used to meet learning and cultural needs in your classroom. Child care teachers will have the opportunity to explore center materials that best reflect diverse needs and will also have the opportunity to reflect on current classroom materials that can used to support additional diverse needs.

Subject - 1,2,3,5,6 Audience - E

Subject - 2,3,5 Audience - P

SESSION II Saturday, February 17

10:30 AM – 12:00 PM

unida: La relevancia de la 10 Crianza comunicación entre padres-maestros para mejorar el comportamiento del niño

Presenter: Laura Price, M. Ed., M.A., BHIT,Spanish Instructor of Interpretation/Translation Programs Early Childhood Education Instructor

Los desafíos de comportamiento en la guardería pueden interferir en el aprendizaje y el desarrollo del niño. Comunicarse y colaborar con los padres es esencial para el éxito en el aprendizaje temprano. En este taller, hablaremos de cómo empoderar a los padres para que apoyen el aprendizaje de los niños tanto en el entorno del hogar como de la guardería. Al fin y al cabo, para educar a un niño hace falta todo un pueblo.

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Empowering Center Directors to Create and Maintain a Great Place to Work Presenters: Ennis Baker, MSW, LCSW, Priscilla Hayes, M.Ed., ITTI Care Project

Center Directors rarely get the support they deserve to manage the stress of juggling the needs of staff, families & children and often feel unappreciated, overwhelmed and isolated.

This session for directors will give participants this support and provide effective strategies for identifying and addressing staff stress and creating a positive work climate.

Subject - 5,6 Audience - AD

Subject - 4 Audience - E

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E = Everyone; AD = Administration; I/T = Infant/Toddler; P = Preschool; SA = School-age

SESSION II Saturday, February 17

10:30 AM – 12:00 PM

of Trauma Responsive Care 12 Importance for Birth-Three Educators Presenters: Jennifer Anderson and Heather Noe, Child Care Services Assocation

The relationships children have with their caregivers plays a critical role in regulating stress and a child’s response to stress during the early years of a child’s life. This session will define and explore what trauma looks like for infants and toddlers. We will examine risk factors, and introduce trauma-responsive care. Participants will learn ways to foster their own resilience and discover strategies to encourage protective factors for the children in their care and themselves.

Subject - 3 Audience - I/T

13 Impact of Vision on Learning

Presenters: Dr. Pooja J. Patel, Julie Taylor, Family Eye Wellness

More than 70% of a child’s learning is dependent on vision. Vision deficits can mimic conditions such as ADHD/ADD, learning disabilities, and more. Learn how to find these signs and symptoms in your classroom children, and how to refer appropriately..

Subject - 8,9 Audience - E

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Quality Interactions to Facilitate Learning

with Families to Address 15 Partnering Challenging Behaviors: We are all in this together!

Presenter: Renae Lingafelt-Beeker, NC-HSB and Child Care Resource Center

When a child uses challenging behaviors at school, parents and teachers need to work together to address the issue. However, when discussing behavior problems parents often feel blamed by the teachers and teachers often feel unsupported by the parents. This session focuses on developing strategies and skills to make these conversations more productive for everyone...especially the child!

Participants will learn how to set the stage for and successfully conduct these difficult conversations with parents.

Subject - 2,8 Audience - I/T, P

16 Sensory Processing Disorder:

Identification and Intervention

Presenter: Swetal Thaker, Developmental Therapy Associates

A review of the sensory systems, how to recognize sensory processing related challenges and how they impact everyday life of a child, and tips/ strategies on helping the “out of sync” child.

Subject - 3,9 Audience - E

17 Start with the Job Description: The path

Presenter: Leigh Zaleon, M.Ed, Shine Early Learning

to successful PD Plans

Information will be presented on the importance of quality interactions to facilitate learning and examples/definitions will be provided. References will be made to the Classroom Assessment Scoring System (CLASS) and this session will be interactive with participants practicing through role-play and sharing past successful experiences. At the end of the training, participants will feel confident in using quality interactions in their classrooms to facilitate learning.

Presenters: Shawna A. Daniels, Candice Fuentes, Learning & Growing Early Childhood Consulting

Subject -3,8 Audience - I/T, P

Supporting staff professional development is an important part of being an ECE program leader that can improve staff morale, program quality, and family satisfaction. It can also be overwhelming if our programs don’t already have an annual PD plan in place. In this session, we will delve into strategies for creating a seamless annual professional review and plan process that includes real expectations; staff input & feedback, and growth that you and your staff can actually see.

Subject - 5,6 Audience - AD

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E = Everyone; AD = Administration; I/T = Infant/Toddler; P = Preschool; SA = School-age

SESSION II Saturday, February 17

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10:30 AM – 12:00 PM

Storytelling with Songs, Raps and Rhymes

19 Teaching Music for the Non-Musical

Presenter: Willa Brigham Storytelling has many benefits when it comes to young minds. It can boost listening skills, instill virtues, foster their imaginations and enhance their communications skills. Join Ms. Willa in an interactive session to experience hands on techniques that are guaranteed to foster improved vocabulary and social skills alone with all of the before mentioned?

Presenter: Amy Latta, Childcare Network

Can’t carry a tune in a bucket? You don’t need to know how to sing or play an instrument to have meaningful musical experiences with your students. We’ll learn all about the skills children can learn from music: self-regulation, literacy, math, even science. But most of all, we’ll have FUN! Bring your hands, your feet, and your voice. No experience necessary.

Subject - 2,8 Audience - I/T, P

Subject - 2,8 Audience - E

K E Y N O T E 12:30pm – 1:30pm “From Tiny Seeds Grow Mighty Trees Educator” Research tells us that from the ages 0-5 is when a child learns best, and yet, this age group is underserved all around the United States. Tabatha will highlight the life-changing power of connections and self-regulation in your time together. Tabatha’s background in theater and improv comedy “She just come to life in the classroom and on stage, so you’ll not only learn pours her heart something - you will cry, you will laugh, and you’ll play your way and soul into through your time together! these little kiddos Presenter: Tabatha Rosproy

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“I have been in the early childhood Intentional profession for over 20 years and I loved that there was actually new information purposeful for me to learn that will make my work even more intentional and purposeful!”

E = Everyone; AD = Administration; I/T = Infant/Toddler; P = Preschool; SA = School-age

every day,”

”

SESSION III Saturday, February 17

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1: 45 PM - 3:15 PM

How Are You? How Am I? Presenters: Stephanie Dreyer and Jessica McQuillen, Childcare Resources, Inc/Healthy Social Behaviors Project

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Presenter: Melissa Radcliff, Our Children’s Place of Coastal Horizons

Emotional literacy – the ability to identify, understand and respond to emotions in yourself and others in a healthy manner – is even more basic to school readiness. We’ll examine the many benefits to children who gain a strong foundation in emotional literacy, explore simple ways in which you can foster emotional literacy in your classroom, and share some excellent resources for tools and activities teachers can incorporate into their daily classroom curriculum to make intentional teaching of emotions fun and easy.

On any given day, there are an estimated 2.7 million children in the US with at least one incarcerated parent (18,000+ in NC), with reports showing that more than 5.2 million children (160,000 in NC) have experienced parental incarceration at some point in their lives. This workshop will focus on what we know about the children, impacts of parental incarceration, available resources, ways to collaborate to meet their needs, and the importance of hearing from the children and families themselves. Participants will be encouraged to continue the conversation within their own organizations.

Subject - 3 Audience - P

22 Impact of Vision on Learning

Presenters: Dr. Pooja J. Patel, Julie Taylor, Family Eye Wellness

More than 70% of a child’s learning is dependent on vision. Vision deficits can mimic conditions such as ADHD/ADD, learning disabilities, and more. Learn how to find these signs and symptoms in your classroom children, and how to refer appropriately.

Subject - 8,9 Audience - E

23 Individualizing Lesson Plans

Presenter: Leigh Zaleon, M.Ed., Shine Early Learning

This training will help teachers think through the steps to planning an effective activity and to individualize using the CDC developmental milestones and NC Foundations for Early Learning and Development. This should make planning easier as well as keep children engaged and increase child outcomes. When children are more engaged, classroom management becomes much easier!! During the training, teachers will have opportunities to participate and practice.

Invisible Sentence: Recognizing, Supporting, and Advocating for Children of Incarcerated and Returning Parents

Subject - 3, 8 Audience - AD

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Practice-Based Coaching for Increasing Birth-to-Three Classroom Quality Presenters: Dr. Robin Warfield, Teresa Speller, Chatham Partnership for Children/Child Care Services Association Consulting With Rated License assessments resuming, teachers and administrators are re-evaluating the quality of care they provide to infants, toddlers and two-year-olds. This session will unpack the Practice-Based Coaching (PBC) model as a motivational tool for quality enhancement in birth-to-three classrooms. We will explore how PBC uses providers’ personal strengths to create changes in teaching practices that make a difference for young children’s healthy development. Participants will identify common barriers to skill development and will strategize for solutions together.

Subject - 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 9 Audience - E

Subject - 1,2,3,7,8,9 Audience - I/T, P

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E = Everyone; AD = Administration; I/T = Infant/Toddler; P = Preschool; SA = School-age

SESSION III Saturday, February 17

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1: 45 PM - 3:15 PM

Start with the Job Description: The path to successful PD Plans

Talking To Parents When There’s A Concern

Presenters: Shawna A. Daniels, Candice Fuentes, Learning & Growing Early Childhood Consulting

Presenters: Ennis Baker, MSW, LCSW, Tykara Young, MSW, LCSWA, ITTI Care Project

Supporting staff professional development is an important part of being an ECE program leader that can improve staff morale, program quality, and family satisfaction. It can also be overwhelming if our programs don’t already have an annual PD plan in place. In this session, we will delve into strategies for creating a seamless annual professional review and plan process that includes real expectations; staff input & feedback, and growth that you and your staff can actually see.

One of the biggest stresses child care professionals face is talking to families when they have a concern about a child. It is common to feel anxious, frustrated, unsure and to avoid the conversation. In this session, we will reflect on the feelings that come up and provide some strategies for success.

Subject - 5,6 Audience - AD

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The ABC (D)s of Quality Early Learning Presenters: Dr. Joseph Sparling, Kimberly Meunier, Maureen Costello Dwyer and Melanie Hatz Levinson In this workshop, participants will learn about the Abecedarian Approach, a framework for adult-child interactions that is grounded in the now 50 year old longitudinal NC foundational research study that showed the lifelong impacts of high-quality early childhood education. Participants will hear directly from one of the principal researchers, Dr. Joseph Sparling, and leave with tools that support rich adult-child interactions and can be easily applied into your own center or classroom.

Interactive elements will be provided in partnership with Kidzu Children’s Museum, as the session will be live streamed from The Nest, Kidzu’s new early learning lab for infants, toddlers and their caregivers, and tools will be put directly into practice. Door prizesfree admission and copy of Dr. Sparling’s new book.

Subject - 1, 2, 3, 7, 8, 9 Audience - I/T, P

Subject - 4 Audience - E

Poetry/Music to Teach Concepts 29 Using About Print Presenter: Dr. Angela M. Clayton, Planting Seeds To Grow LLC Concepts about Print(CAP) is a necessary component to a Balanced Literacy Program.

The purpose of CAP is to help young readers learn about how print works. Participants will engage in meaningful activities in order to demonstrate their understanding of how music enhances the understanding of print as it allows children to use different modes of learning.

Subject - 5,6 Audience - AD

“

“ASK Conference offers variety of

Trainings topics/ discussions/trainings that that help help all of us and giving us knowledge can we be effective as educators us all how plus so much more to help children in education.”

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E = Everyone; AD = Administration; I/T = Infant/Toddler; P = Preschool; SA = School-age

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FAQ WHO SHOULD ATTEND?

BREAKS AND LUNCH

Those in attendance include teachers, directors and administrators from early education and school age programs across North Carolina representing: child care; public schools; Early Head Start, Head Start; NC Pre-K; Smart Start, half day preschools; special education, health and human service agency providers and child advocates.

There will be a break from 10:00 AM – 10:30 AM. During the keynote from 12:00 PM - 12:30 PM, you may join and eat your lunch.

REGISTRATION An early bird registration is available for $27 until January 5, 2024. Registrations ($35) must be received on or before February 3, 2024. Register Online here.

GROUP REGISTRATION When seeking to register multiple people from the same program, contact the PD & Training Department professionaldevelopment@childcareservices.org for assistance to ensure there are no challenges or issues with user IDs and passwords. Creating a new account for an individual already in the system will result in your not being able to complete the registrations for the additional individuals.

REGISTRATION CONFIRMATION All registrations that are accepted will receive a confirmation e-mail, if an email address is provided. Links for each workshop will be sent to each registrant after February 5, 2024.

PROGRAM CHANGES AND REFUNDS Refunds of registration fees will not be made. CCSA reserves the right to make changes in workshops and speakers or to cancel workshops if enrollment criteria are not met or when conditions beyond our control prevail.

SCHEDULE OF THE DAY We encourage all participants to log in at least 10 minutes prior to the start of your workshop. Late entrances are disruptive to the presenters and other participants. All workshops are 1.5 hour sessions except for keynote.

ENDORSEMENT OF PRESENTERS We are proud of the diversity that will be exhibited by the presenters at this conference. However, we do not assume responsibility for the information, opinions, products or services shared by the presenters. Please share your concerns directly with the presenter by completing the evaluation form. We also encourage participants to offer presenters compliments!

CONFERENCE CHECK-IN Virtual check in will begin at 8:00 AM. You will be welcomed and given an opportunity to win door prizes. There will be a brief overview of the agenda for the day.

ZOOM HELP

All workshops will be on ZOOM. If you are in need of assistance or would like to learn more about how to log into your workshop, please join us for a ZOOM 101. You will receive an invitation with a link one-week prior to the conference to join us, ask questions and get better acquainted with the virtual experience.

You can register and pay online on our website!

Register Here For additional registration help or for questions email: 14

professionaldevelopment@childcareservices.org