2023 SESSION SCHEDULE

8:30 am – 10:00 am

The Basics of HighScope Interactive Read-Alouds

JESSICA LOGAN, Early Childhood Specialist, HighScope

[Conference Room G]

This interactive workshop will focus on the foundation of Highscope read-alouds. During this session, professionals will delve into the basics of reading with young children. We will discuss strategies for engaging with children, incorporating literacy skills, and properly planning experiences to facilitate quality read-aloud experiences for young learners. This handson training will allow educators to collaborate with others while learning the strategies needed to be successful using the Highscope approach to read-alouds.

Hands-On Science During Small-Group Time

DARLENE ZIMNY, Early Childhood Consultant, Oakland Schools

[Conference Room E]

Come learn how to support the HighScope key developmental indicators in science during small-group time. Participants will brainstorm small-group time activities to implement in their preschool classrooms.

Perspective Taking: Challenging Behavior IS Communication

KELLY WINE, Early Childhood Specialist/Consultant, Calhoun Intermediate School District

[Conference Room C]

“When little people are overwhelmed by big emotions, it’s our job to share our calm, not join their chaos,” L.R. Knost. When we, as adults, can regulate our own emotions, co-regulate alongside a child, and become a detective, we finally realize that behavior is more than a nuisance. It is a child’s attempt to communicate a need or want.

The Magic of Empathy-Taking: A Closer Look at Step 2 for Problem-Solving

BETH MELAMPY, Director of Curriculum, Gretchen’s House

[Conference Room D]

In our rush to help children solve problems, we often move too quickly through acknowledging children’s feelings and are surprised when they get stuck in an emotional loop. In this workshop, we will explore the importance of allowing time and space for empathetic conversations. We will look at how empathy helps children regain access to their thinking brain and their ability to cope with strong feelings and will talk about how empathetic conversations build relationships.

WEDNESDAY,

Planning & Recall With Older Toddlers

DANIELLE GRIMALDO, Early Childhood Specialist, HighScope [Conference Room A]

Not sure what to do with those older twos who have not quite moved out of toddlerhood and into preschool? Want to add planning and recall into your schedule but not sure where to start? In this session, we will look at the signs of readiness for planning and recall, go over the “how tos” of implemention, and share concrete planning and recall strategies.

HighScope Boot Camp 101

LOWLETTE EVANS, Field Consultant, LP Early Childhood Field Consultant, LLC [Conference Room H]

This workshop is designed to provide new teachers with basic information about the HighScope Curriculum that will help them with implementation in their classrooms. The workshop will also provide a refresher on core concepts of the HighScope Curriculum to teachers already using HighScope in their program. Participants will review the ingredients of active learning and identify the type of climate used in their classroom: laissez-faire, supportive, or directive. Participants will also learn how to ensure they are correctly implementing the HighScope Curriculum in their classroom.

In This Together: Strength-Based Conversations With Families

BETH O’CONNOR, Co-director, The Family Connection of St. Joseph County Inc.

[Conference Room F]

Are there conversations you’ve dreaded or even avoided because you were worried about what you might have to say? Sometimes we have concerns or even just small ‘notices’ that we want to talk about with families, but aren’t sure how or where to begin. In this session, we will consider ways to strengthen our expertise in framing language about children’s development that is positive, genuine, and authentic while forming partnerships with families.

Supporting Toddlers During Transition Times

LIZ COLEGROVE, Quality Improvement Coach–Infant-Toddler Specialist, CCN

[Conference Room B]

In this session, participants will identify key strategies for successful transition times with toddlers and discuss ways to keep children actively involved at times when waiting can’t be avoided. Participants will also discover ways of actively planning transitions that incorporate music and movement, language and literacy, singing, games, props, and children’s interests.

WEDNESDAY, MAY 10, 2023 2023 SESSION SCHEDULE

8:30 am–10:00 am

Una Experiencia de 28 años en el nivel Primaria Inspirado en el Currículo de HighScope

ELSA PORTILLA ORSONO, David P. Weikart School, Veracruz Mexico

Co-presenter: Martha Luv Gómez Sánchez

[Seminar 5]

Durante este taller se presentarán una vuelta a los componentes de la rueda del currículo de HighScope y como logramos su adaptación al nivel primaria, habrá imágenes, videos, trayectoria y testimonios sobre los resultados obtenidos durante 28 años de trabajo, adaptaciones en el arreglo de salón, utilización de las estrategias de interacción adulto- niño, implementación de grupos pequeños, grupos completos y P-T-R a nivel primaria, una propuesta de evaluación basada en el COR ADVANTAGE 1.5.

Lively Learning at Large-Group Time

KJ JOHNSON, HighScope

[Auditorium 2]

Large-group time is a segment of the HighScope daily routine when children and adults come together to engage in active learning experiences that support curriculum content and a sense of community. In this workshop, participants will identify ways and practice strategies to incorporate active learning and support learning at large-group time.

Using a Horizontal Approach to Coaching Teachers

SHANNON LOCKHART, Director of EC Development, HighScope

[Elizabeth Ann Room]

Coaching teachers can be very challenging. However, by using a horizontal approach to coaching and meeting teachers at their level of understanding of child development and curriculum, coaches can scaffold teacher’s learning and partner with them in setting improvement goals. In this session, participants will be introduced to a horizontal approach to coaching and strategies for providing strength-based feedback when setting improvement goals.

Research is the Heart of HighScope: 60 Years of Building Bridges between Research, Evaluation, and Development

RED STAFF

[Seminar 1]

This session is an introduction to current research, evaluation, and development projects at HighScope for participants that might be interested in attending a research-based session. Connect and learn with HighScope team members about implementation research, assessment development, and independent evaluations with community-based organizations.

10:30 am – 12:00 pm

Keynote Speaker

TABATHA ROSPROY, Early Childhood Education Trainer, Kansas Parent Information Resource Center [Roy E. Wilbanks Ballroom]

12:00 pm – 1:00 pm

LUNCH BREAK

1:00 pm – 2:30 pm

Bringing Various Language Bridges Together to Engage in Active Learning

MARTHA RUTHLIN, Field Consultant, HighScope Curacao, SIFMA [Terrace Dining Room 1]

More and more, teachers are dealing with multiple languages in their classroom. In Curacao, we experience this as a multicultural nation using four basic languages — but teaching goes beyond the mother language. This workshop strengthens the similarities between languages and proves that the enforcement of active learning in your classroom can be done without barriers. Participants will discover ways to engage children in activities whether they speak English, Dutch, Spanish, Papiamentu language, or other languages.

It’s a Family Affair

JANICE HILL, Field Consultant, HighScope [Conference Room H]

Studies of families show that what a family does with their children is more important to children’s future success than family income or the education level of the parents. Both children and their schools/programs benefit from active family participation in the education process. Parent engagement is more than good attendance or a strong volunteer program. The need for strong family engagement starts by the time children are in preschool.

The Match Game: How to Match Small-Group Time Activities With Children in Your Group

KAREN KAY RUSH, Field Consultant, HighScope [Conference Room C]

Small-group time activities should be appropriately matched to children’s interests, developmental levels, and curriculum content areas. But how do you keep small-group time fun and exciting for children every day? Come to this session to discover how to match children with activities using the classic TV game show Match Game.