2026 Workshops Filter by speaker All speakers Search Clear No workshops match your filters. [ { "title": "Fun and Games Children Play…to Learn Phonological Awareness", "speaker": "Christine Smith", "description": "Phonological awareness is a key component of early literacy learning. Play with a purpose is one of the most effective ways for young children to learn. In this session, we’ll combine these two essential elements through fun and engaging activities that promote phonological success. Come play with me!" }, { "title": "Neurodiversity and Disability Inclusion 101", "speaker": "Rebecca Weiner", "description": "This interactive presentation explores neurodiversity and disability inclusion from an early childhood perspective. Teachers and school leaders will learn how to create cultures of inclusion in their school and implement specific inclusive practices in the classroom, on the playground, and beyond. Ideas will come to life through discussion, videos, graphics, sharing of concrete resources, and access to an online resource guide." }, { "title": "Stressed? Put More Play in Your Day!", "speaker": "Diane Goyette", "description": "Adults need play! Play is the optimal means for supporting adults’ work, just as it is for supporting children’s development. We’ll explore the stress-relieving benefits of play for adults and children while engaging in playful activities for all ages. Participants will leave with a variety of game-based resources, too." }, { "title": "That’s Lit!", "speaker": "Ashley Davis", "description": "If you’ve ever wondered which books to choose for your classroom library, circle time read-alouds, or general early literacy development, this is the workshop for you! During this workshop, participants will learn about acclaimed authors, how to identify quality children’s literature, and the foundational reading skills that quality children’s literature offers young students. Participants will also have the chance to browse some of the most acclaimed children’s titles used in classrooms around the world. After all - seeing is believing!" }, { "title": "Confident Connections: Fostering Brain Development and Regulation through Free Movement in Infants and Toddlers", "speaker": "Debbie Tonne Jones", "description": "Get ready to dive into the world of free movement for our littlest learners! In this session, we will explore how encouraging unrestricted movement in infants and toddlers can supercharge their brain development and foster self-regulation skills." }, { "title": "Building Early Literacy Skills by Effectively Communicating with Infants and Toddlers", "speaker": "Marlyn Kramer", "description": "Have you ever experienced frustration in trying to understand the wants/needs of your infant or toddler? This fun and fast-paced training will explain how good communication skills will begin building early literacy skills in young children; provide useful techniques for each stage of development; and demonstrate the use of American Sign Language (ASL) in communicating with infants and toddlers." }, { "title": "Breathe, Play, Learn: Creating Joyful, Inclusive Learning Spaces Where Everyone Belongs", "speaker": "Jennifer Kist", "description": "This interactive session invites early childhood educators to reimagine their learning environments as spaces where children and adults alike feel safe, connected, and empowered to thrive. Through a unique \"playshop\" format, participants will explore evidence-informed practices-such as mindfulness, co-regulation, rhythm, play, and the intentional use of visual supports-to cultivate inclusive, language-rich and emotionally supportive environments. Educators will leave with practical strategies to build predictable routines, foster self-regulation, encourage risk-taking, and nurture strong relationships - - - laying the foundation for optimal learning and development in the early years." }, { "title": "The Child-Centered Classroom", "speaker": "Tom Wilbeck", "description": "The child-centered classroom or the teacher-centered classroom? Which one sounds more effective to you? Studies show us that a child-centered approach will nurture learners for life and instill confidence in the developing child. This workshop will outline the process of becoming more child-centered in your learning space." }, { "title": "Blueprints from the Heart", "speaker": "Marisa Barrett", "description": "While toddlers are busy constructing block towers, something even more important is under construction: their ability to trust, connect, and handle big feelings in little bodies. Blueprints of the Heart turns caregivers into expert bond builders, because those first thousand days are when tiny humans either learn to build emotional resilience or become professional meltdown artists. Walk away with practical strategies to help infants and toddlers develop self-regulation, empathy, and social skills that'll make you the emotional coach every child deserves." }, { "title": "Creativity Development in Young Children through Process Art", "speaker": "Helen Spaw", "description": "In this experiential workshop, we will explore what process art is (backed by research), the creative process, and creativity development in young children. We will inspire our art projects with children by having a deeper understanding of why and how we offer process art for our young students. This workshop includes an art exercise for participants to connect with their own creative process. We will also have an interactive discussion about how to apply what we have learned when offering art projects for our young students. No art experience is necessary." }, { "title": "Tell Me a Story", "speaker": "Kris Ramos", "description": "Story dictation is valuable classroom practice, essential to developing children's understanding of the relationship between speaking, reading, and writing. In this session teachers will learn a variety of prompts to get kids talking and storytelling and simple, straightforward procedures to make dictation a consistent classroom practice." }, { "title": "Using Sign Language to Foster Language Development Through Play and Process Big Feelings", "speaker": "Laura Payne", "description": "This workshop explores how sign language can ease tantrums, support emotional regulation, and boost language development through play. Attendees will learn 45 practical ASL signs and age-appropriate strategies to confidently integrate sign language into daily school activities, empowering them to foster stronger communication and connection with their students." }, { "title": "“If I ONLY Had a Picture”: Photo Chats for Primary Math, Oral Language, and STEM Development", "speaker": "Jaymee Herrington", "description": "Follow the “yellow brick road” of imagination as we explore how photos and picture books can unlock early numeracy, oral language, and STEM thinking in young children. This session demonstrates how simple “photo chats”: pointing, describing, questioning, and discussing, can spark rich conversations that connect language to math, science, and problem-solving. Participants will learn strategies to engage students in counting, comparing, and sequencing pictures while also fostering vocabulary, storytelling, and critical thinking. STEM extensions such as pattern hunts, building challenges, and predicting outcomes from story images will be included. Walk away with practical tools and activities that make photos a powerful pathway to language, math, and STEM exploration. Sometimes, all it takes is a picture!" }, { "title": "Mindful Melodies: Supporting Early SEL Through Music and Movement", "speaker": "Jaime Titus", "description": "Music and movement turns learning into play while helping kids grow socially and emotionally. Singing, dancing, and musical play spark self-confidence, focus, and self-control, while also teaching teamwork, empathy, and friendship skills. Discover how these joyful experiences build happy hearts, strong minds, and lasting connections - - - and learn how you can easily incorporate them to your classroom!" }, { "title": "Motivation Matters: Inspiring a Love of Reading from the Start", "speaker": "Laura Bennett", "description": "Inspiring a motivation to read in our little learners is crucial to laying a strong foundation for future literacy success. Join us as we learn developmentally appropriate practices designed to engage, motivate, and empower our students to identify as readers. During the session, we will take a closer look at wordless books, class books, interactive read-alouds, dramatization, and more as motivators to ignite a lifelong passion for reading." }, { "title": "Beyond Behavior: Trauma-Informed Early Childhood Practices", "speaker": "Andrea Poehl", "description": "Early childhood educators are often the first to notice signs of trauma in young children. This training equips educators with the tools to recognize trauma responses, foster emotionally safe learning environments, and build strong, secure relationships with children. By adopting a trauma-informed lens, educators can improve classroom behavior, enhance learning outcomes, and support children’s emotional development during critical early years." }, { "title": "Understanding Typical Language Development and Recognizing Signs of Communication Delays", "speaker": "Allison Kaiser", "description": "What is normal language development and when should parents intervene and seek expert help? The Outreach Team at The Parish School will provide a comprehensive overview of the world of speech and language and how it relates to children under the age of 5. Identifying the signs of communication delays can help caregivers distinguish between expected developmental milestones in children and red flags indicating a child is at risk for a language disorder." }, { "title": "Talking to Tantrums…Why doesn’t it work?", "speaker": "Peggy Osborne", "description": "You have tried and tried to intervene with children who tantrum or cry all through the day, but nothing works! Did you know that a child cannot hear you when they are so emotional? Join us as we talk about the various brain states that both you and the children experience every day and learn what to do to keep everyone in their thinking brain so they can learn!" }, { "title": "Professional Development: Creating Connection & Capacity", "speaker": "Sharon Jackson", "description": "Finding the most engaging strategies for meaningful professional development is an important part of a director’s role. Ensuring that information and activities are geared to all staff and can benefit everyone present is often a challenge. This session will cover five important components of excellent professional development with details and examples. A free workbook can be accessed after the session for continued reflection and support." }, { "title": "Letting Loose with Loose Parts", "speaker": "Devin Barhanovich", "description": "Loose Parts tap into early childhood design thinking where STEAM and learning across all domains can be amplified. Join us as we explore different ways to use collections of everyday items, nature, and other “loose parts” to advance curiosity in young children through play. Come and learn how to plan and implement open-ended and engaging activities that inspire creativity and joy in young students of all ages while developing 21st century skills." }, { "title": "Powerful Towers: Using Block Play to Help Process Trauma", "speaker": "Sharon Dworaczyk", "description": "In this hands-on session, participants will learn how block play supports child development during times of trauma while creating a safe and supportive environment for children to process their feelings. This presentation will also encourage teachers to become familiar with the stages of block play, learn ways to organize and manage a block center, and explore ways to keep block play interesting throughout the school year." }, { "title": "No More Parent Drama: Turning “Not My Child” Into “What Can I Do Differently?”", "speaker": "Paige Roane", "description": "This interactive presentation equips teachers and administrators with a practical framework for parent communication to strengthen trust and reduce defensiveness. We’ll explore how to set (or reset) the stage for positive partnerships, learn simple strategies to turn tough talks into collaborative conversations, and discover how to hold boundaries with compassion and calm. Educators will leave feeling ready to turn “not my child” moments into productive discussions that put parents on the same page as them." }, { "title": "Understanding Behavior: Are we maximizing intrinsic motivation?", "speaker": "Gayle Fisher", "description": "Why do children do the things they do? There is always a reason. We shall explore intrinsic motivation, learning differences, multiple intelligences, classroom management, natural positive consequences, sensory integration, trust, boundaries, mental health, fun, joy, executive function and more. Please bring your questions." }, { "title": "Hooray for Habitats: Oceans and Grasslands!", "speaker": "Barbara Cargill", "description": "Oceans and grasslands come alive in this interactive training! An ocean sensory baggie, shell imprints, and a Cheerios octopus are a hit with children. Lessons also include seed art, earthworm tunnel jars, a scavenger hunt, and children delight in the stinky skunk game and pouncing like hunting foxes!" }, { "title": "Exploring STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) Concepts Through Nursery Rhymes", "speaker": "Donna Wheeler", "description": "This workshop will explain STEM concepts and discuss how they strengthen and broaden a child’s curiosity while encouraging socialization and collaboration skills. Through hands on activities using nursery rhymes and a planning template participants will practice experimenting with each STEM concept. By the end of the session, participants will have created four STEM activities they can seamlessly integrate into their curriculum planning." } ]
