UNK Early Childhood Conference focuses on play

By SARA GIBONEY
UNK Communications

KEARNEY – The University of Nebraska at Kearney Early Childhood Conference will focus on how children learn and grow through play.

“A big issue in early childhood development is that there’s not enough emphasis put on learning through play,” said JoAnna Cordova, director of the UNK Child Development Center. “The most effective way for young children to learn is through play.”

The conference – titled “Learn, Play, Grow” – is Sept. 16-17 at the Nebraskan Student Union. Keynote speakers are Samuel Meisels, executive director of the Buffett Early Childhood Institute, and Kathleen Gallagher, endowed chair of the UNK Early Childhood Program.

Meisels will present “Nebraskans’ Views of Early Care and Education” on Friday. Gallagher will present “Transformative Early Childhood Care and Education: What It Means and What It Takes” on Saturday morning.

Topics at the conference include nutrition, social work, music, and speech and language.

“We really pulled topics from each entity on campus that at some point has the opportunity to work with young children,” Cordova said.

The two-day event is open to child care home providers, child care center staff, preschool teachers and staff, Head Start staff, elementary teachers and administrators, college students, parents and anyone who cares for or about children.

Registration cost is $50 for both days or $35 for one day. After Sept. 1, registration is $55 for both days and $40 for one day. Students can attend for free.

All sessions are approved for Department of Health and Human Services in-service by the Early Childhood Training Center.

To register, go to http://www.unk.edu/academics/coe/unk-early-childhood-conference.php

The conference is sponsored by the UNK College of Education, Buffett Early Childhood Institute, Central Region Early Learning Connection, Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services, University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension in Buffalo County, Kearney Child Care Association, Family Service Child Care Food Program and Kearney Area Association for the Education of Young Children.

Conference Agenda

Friday, Sept. 16

7:30-8:15 a.m. – Registration – Continental Breakfast

8:15-8:30 a.m. – Welcome – Dr. Sheryl Feinstein

8:30-9:30 a.m. – Opening Keynote:  Nebraskans’ Views of Early Care and Education – Samuel Meisels – Founding Executive Director Buffett Early Childhood Institute –– Data from large, comprehensive state survey conducted by the Buffett Institute and Gallup show that the vast majority of Nebraskans value and support early care and education, especially for children in need. But, in overwhelming numbers, Nebraskans say high-quality care is not available or affordable for all families in the state. Other results from the survey, including new findings focusing specifically on the early childhood workforce will be presented as well.

9:35 – 11:45 – State Licensure Session: Safe with You:  Power to Protect –– Paula Thompson – UNK
Department of Teacher Education  (Must pre-register seating is limited to 30) – Participants will learn about child abuse and neglect, how to make a report, ways to strengthen families, and how to prevent child abuse in their own program.

OR

9:35–10:30 a.m. (Concurrent Sessions)

• Quality Everyday Interactions to Promote Speech and Language Development – Jill Wilson, Whitney Schneider-Cline, Diane Loeb, Laura Moody – UNK Department of Communication Disorders Department- The purpose of this presentation is to assist caregivers and parents in developing a language-rich environment that promotes speech and language development in young children.  The impact of high-quality social interactions on speech and language development will be discussed and a variety of easy-to-implement strategies in everyday situations will be provided.  Practical scenarios will be discussed to illustrate content from the presentation.
• Musical Connections in Literacy: Sing, Move, Play! – Jan Harriott – UNK Department of Music and Performing Arts- Participants will step into the world of musical play as they learn how to make literacy come alive in the early childhood classroom. Highlights to enhance and nurture literacy learning include making the connections in reading, spelling and writing using musical activities and resources such as song picture books, picture books, chants and rhymes, web resources and the use of classroom instruments, puppets and scarves. (Activities adaptable for all levels of early childhood.)
• Early Childhood Adversity and Toxic Stress:  Risks, Outcomes and Preventive Strategies – Jody Van Laningham – UNK Department of Social Work – Early adverse childhood experiences such as abuse, neglect, poverty, parental substance abuse, maternal depression, or exposure to violence can cause chronic stress that impacts the developing brain. In the absence of a nurturing environment, this “toxic stress” has long-term consequences for learning, behavior, health, mental health, and social and emotional well being. Factors that place children at risk for these outcomes will be discussed, along with strategies for preventing and mitigating the effects in young children.
• Introducing Ethnic Culture into Early Learning – Matt Mims – UNK Department of Counseling and School Psychology – This session will discussion the benefits and how to introduce ethnic culture into a person’s education during the early years.   Looking at new and wonderful things can often enhance the joys of learning and curiosity.  Cultures can be explored at all ages.  Best practices and currently studies will be reviewed. The opportunity for early education teachers to teach overseas will also be discussed.

     10:30–10:40 a.m. – Break

     10:45–11:45 a.m.  (Concurrent Sessions)

• *Developing Healthy Menus and Introducing New Foods (FRIDAY ONLY) Kaiti George, RD, LMNT, Kearney Hy-Vee Registered Dietitian
• Managing Small Group Instruction with Work Stations (FRIDAY ONLY)– Cari Kracl – UNK Department of Teacher Education – This session will provide a management system that allows students to practice reading and writing with authentic tasks, choice and engagement.  The teacher will be able to work with small groups of students with minimal to no interruptions.
• Young Children with Disabilities:  How to Know, How to Help – Dawn Mollenkopf – UNK Department of Teacher Education – Child Care providers may be the first to pick up on developmental delays or disabilities affecting a child in their care.  They need to know when to refer a child for testing, who to call, how to get help, what to do if the child does qualify for services, what supports they can get to help them work with the child in their care, and how to support the child who may need help but doesn’t qualify.
• Read with Me!  Involving Children in Early Literacy Activities – Whitney Schneider-Cline, Jill Wilson, Diane Loeb, Laura Moody – UNK Department of Communication Disorders – The purpose of this presentation is to help child care providers and parents understand pre-literacy skill development and strategies for reading with their children of any age. Book selection, group and individual reading methods will be presented as well as best practices for emergent literacy.  Examples of shared reading with young children will be presented and discussed.

11:45 –1:00 p.m. – Lunch, Nebraskan Student Union

1–3 p.m. – State Licensure Session:  Nothing but Baby And Never Shake a Baby –
– Paula Thompson – UNK Department of Teacher Education (Must pre-register seating is limited
to 30) – Participants will learn how to reduce the risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) and will also learn that when a baby is shaken, the shaking can cause brain damage, life changing disabilities, and even death. This is a childhood injury that is preventable.

OR

            1–2 p.m.  (Concurrent Sessions)

• *Developing Healthy Menus and Introducing New Foods (FRIDAY ONLY) -Kaiti George, RD, LMNT, Kearney Hy-Vee Registered Dietitian –
• Recognizing the Signs of Speech and Language Delay and Communicating Concerns to Parents – Diane Loeb, Laura Moody, Whitney Schneider-Cline, Jill Wilson – UNK Department of Communication Disorders – The purpose of this presentation is to describe the signs of speech and language delays in children from birth to five years of age in an effort to encourage early referral for services.  In addition, approaches for sharing your concerns about a child’s speech and language delays with parents will be discussed.  Case studies will be presented to support audience learning and participation.
• Disability Services and Support in Early Childhood – Cristina Sogar – UNK  Department of Social Work – This session will address early disabilities and special education services targeted to young children.  The focus is on recognizing signs of health and learning disabilities among toddlers and preschoolers and sources of supports for parents and teachers.  While no two children develop at exactly the same rate, there are differences in early development that indicate developmental delays.  The earlier these signs are recognized, the more likely programs and services can be implemented to promote healthy development.   
• Relationships for Learning:  Family-School Partnerships – Amy Schmidtke, Darcy Heath, Mary Beth Pistillo, Kristy Feden – Buffett Early Childhood Institute – Family-School partnerships empower parents and caregivers to assume confident roles in caring for their children and advocating for their educational and developmental needs.  This session describes the Metro Omaha Superintendents’ Early Childhood Plan, highlighting the role of families within the comprehensive approach designed to end achievement gaps by starting early.  Join a team from the Buffett Early Childhood Institute to explore strategies for entering into new forms of collaborative relationships with families on behalf of children birth – age 8.

     2:05–3:05 p.m.  (Concurrent Sessions)

• Social Emotional Development in Early Childhood:  Promoting Mental Health Throughout a Lifetime–  Patricia Ealy – UNMC College of Nursing UNK Campus – Early childhood social emotional development sustains a person’s mental health throughout a lifetime. Application of interactions and experiences that support a child’s social emotional development are a catalyst for providing primary interventions that target potential health disparities. The information provided in this presentation will give the audience evidenced based interactions and experiences that can be applied with families, caregivers, educators, and communities
• Establishing a Growth Mindset in Early Learners – Jane Ziebarth, Madi Casper – UNK Department of Teacher Education – The purpose of this presentation is to share information about how to establish a growth mindset in early learners.  The presenters will describe Carol Dweck’s foundational work on mindset and explain the difference between fixed and growth mindsets.  In addition, the presenters will offer practical strategies to encourage a growth mindset in early learners.  The strategies will focus specifically on trigger words, phrases, and questions that promote a growth mindset in early learners.
• Culturally Responsive Early Childhood Home Visitation – Toni Hill and Sharon Obasi– UNK Department of Family Studies Program Director, Early Childhood and Family Advocacy – Participants attending this presentation will examine the central components of providing culturally responsive home visitations with diverse families with young children (0 – 8 years).  The home visitation process will be reviewed in the context of both purpose and impact with both familial and non-familial members focused on child-centered interactions and outcomes.  Both family strengths and non-family (professional) assumptions will be explored in relation to communication, advocacy, and partnerships.
• *Cheetos, Cheerios and Cherries:  Exploring Food from Birth through Pre-School –Laura Moody, Paul Laikko, Janice Flegle – UNK Communication Disorders Department – The purpose of this presentation is to encourage child care providers and parents to create a positive environment for feeding and provide strategies for encouraging healthy eating patterns.  An encouraging environment can promote exploration of new foods for both picky and adventurous eaters. Additionally, information regarding typical feeding development and possible feeding concerns will be addressed with avenues for appropriate referrals. 

3:05–3:10 p.m. – Break

3:10–4:10 p.m. – Panel Discussion and Closing Session – Building Systems of Early Learning and Family Partnerships, Pre-Natal through Grade 3, with the School as Hub

Saturday, September 17, 2016

7:30-8:15 a.m. – Registration — Continental Breakfast

8:15–8:30 a.m. – Welcome – Dr. Sheryl Feinstein

8:30-9:30 a.m. – Opening Keynote:  Transformative Early Childhood Care and Education: What It Means And What It Takes – Kathleen Gallagher – UNK Endowed Chair Early Childhood – Persuaded by forces of policy and funding and trends, families and early childhood professionals are often tempted to emphasize children’s academic skills over other aspects of development. Transformative early care and education programs attend to the development of the whole child and empower families and professionals to provide what all children need to flourish.

9:35–11:45 a.m. – State Licensure Session:  Safe with You:  Power to Protect –– Paula Thompson – UNK
Department of Teacher Education (Must pre-register seating is limited to 30) – Participants will learn about child abuse and neglect, how to make a report, ways to strengthen families, and how to prevent child abuse in their own program.

OR

9:35–10:35 a.m. (Concurrent Sessions)

• Quality Everyday Interactions to Promote Speech and Language Development – Jill Wilson, Whitney Schneider-Cline, Diane Loeb, Laura Moody – UNK Department of Communication Disorders Department- The purpose of this presentation is to assist caregivers and parents in developing a language-rich environment that promotes speech and language development in young children.  The impact of high-quality social interactions on speech and language development will be discussed and a variety of easy-to-implement strategies in everyday situations will be provided.  Practical scenarios will be discussed to illustrate content from the presentation.
• Musical Connections in Literacy: Sing, Move, Play! –  Jan Harriott – UNK Department of Music and Performing Arts– Participants will step into the world of musical play as they learn how to make literacy come alive in the early childhood classroom. Highlights to enhance and nurture literacy learning include making the connections in reading, spelling and writing using musical activities and resources such as song picture books, picture books, chants and rhymes, web resources and the use of classroom instruments, puppets and scarves. (Activities adaptable for all levels of early childhood.)
• Early Childhood Adversity and Toxic Stress:  Risks, Outcomes and Preventive Strategies – Jody Van Laningham – UNK Department of Social Work – Early adverse childhood experiences such as abuse, neglect, poverty, parental substance abuse, maternal depression, or exposure to violence can cause chronic stress that impacts the developing brain. In the absence of a nurturing environment, this “toxic stress” has long-term consequences for learning, behavior, health, mental health, and social and emotional well-being. Factors that place children at risk for these outcomes will be discussed, along with strategies for preventing and mitigating the effects in young children.
• Introducing Ethnic Culture into Early Learning – Matt Mims –  UNK Department of Counseling and School Psychology –  This session will discussion the benefits and how to introduce ethnic culture into a person’s education during the early years.   Looking at new and wonderful things can often enhance the joys of learning and curiosity.  Cultures can be explored at all ages.  Best practices and currently studies will be reviewed.   The opportunity for early education teachers to teach overseas will also be discussed.

     10:35–10:45 a.m. – Break

     10:45–11:45 a.m.  (Concurrent Sessions)

• Behavior Modification:  Understanding and Dealing with Typical Behavior Concerns (SATURDAY ONLY)– Tammi Ohmstede – UNK Department of Counseling and School Psychology – Attendees will learn about basic behavioral principles and how to handle typical behavior concerns of young children. This session will introduce the basic concepts of behavior and provide early childhood professionals with the knowledge needed to apply behavior modification strategies in any setting. Evidenced based strategies for dealing with typical behavior concerns of young children will be discussed. Case studies will be provided to enhance the practical understanding of the behavior modification process.
• Young Children with Disabilities:  How to Know, How to Help – Dawn Mollenkopf – UNK Department of Teacher Education – Child Care providers may be the first to pick up on developmental delays or disabilities affecting a child in their care.  They need to know when to refer a child for testing, who to call, how to get help, what to do if the child does qualify for services, what supports they can get to help them work with the child in their care, and how to support the child who may need help but doesn’t qualify.
• Read with Me!  Involving Children in Early Literacy Activities – Whitney Schneider-Cline, Jill Wilson, Diane Loeb, Laura Moody – UNK Department of Communication Disorders – The purpose of this presentation is to help child care providers and parents understand pre-literacy skill development and strategies for reading with their children of any age. Book selection, group and individual reading methods will be presented as well as best practices for emergent literacy.  Examples of shared reading with young children will be presented and discussed.

11:45–1 p.m. – Lunch, Nebraskan Student Union

1–3 p.m. – State Licensure Session:  Nothing but Baby And Never Shake a Baby –– Paula Thompson – UNK Department of Teacher Education (Must pre-register seating is limited to 30) – Participants will learn how to reduce the risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) and will also learn that when a baby is shaken, the shaking can cause brain damage, life changing disabilities, and even death. This is a childhood injury that is preventable.

OR

     1–2 p.m.  (Concurrent Sessions)

• Recognizing the Signs of Speech and Language Delay and Communicating Concerns to Parents – Diane Loeb, Laura Moody, Whitney Schneider-Cline, Jill Wilson – UNK Department of Communication Disorders – The purpose of this presentation is to describe the signs of speech and language delays in children from birth to five years of age in an effort to encourage early referral for services.  In addition, approaches for sharing your concerns about a child’s speech and language delays with parents will be discussed.  Case studies will be presented to support audience learning and participation
• Disability Services and Support in Early Childhood – Cristina Sogar – UNK Department of Social Work – This session will address early disabilities and special education services targeted to young children.  The focus is on recognizing signs of health and learning disabilities among toddlers and preschoolers and sources of supports for parents and teachers.  While no two children develop at exactly the same rate, there are differences in early development that indicate developmental delays.  The earlier these signs are recognized, the more likely programs and services can be implemented to promote healthy development.
• Relationships for Learning:  Family-School Partnerships – Amy Schmidtke, Darcy Heath, Mary Beth Pistillo, Kristy Feden – Buffett Early Childhood Institute – Family-School partnerships empower parents and caregivers to assume confident roles in caring for their children and advocating for their educational and developmental needs.  This session describes the Metro Omaha Superintendents’ Early Childhood Plan, highlighting the role of families within the comprehensive approach designed to end achievement gaps by starting early.  Join a team from the Buffett Early Childhood Institute to explore strategies for entering into new forms of collaborative relationships with families on behalf of children birth – age 8.

     2:05–3:05 p.m.  (Concurrent Sessions)

• Social Emotional Development in Early Childhood:  Promoting Mental Health Throughout a Lifetime –  Patricia Ealy – UNMC College of Nursing UNK Campus – Early childhood social emotional development sustains a person’s mental health throughout a lifetime. Application of interactions and experiences that support a child’s social emotional development are a catalyst for providing primary interventions that target potential health disparities. The information provided in this presentation will give the audience evidenced based interactions and experiences that can be applied with families, caregivers, educators, and communities.
• Establishing a Growth Mindset in Early Learners – Jane Ziebarth, Madi Casper – UNK Department of Teacher Education – The purpose of this presentation is to share information about how to establish a growth mindset in early learners.  The presenters will describe Carol Dweck’s foundational work on mindset and explain the difference between fixed and growth mindsets.  In addition, the presenters will offer practical strategies to encourage a growth mindset in early learners.  The strategies will focus specifically on trigger words, phrases, and questions that promote a growth mindset in early learners.
• Culturally Responsive Early Childhood Home Visitation – Toni Hill and Sharon Obasi– UNK Department of Family Studies Program Director, Early Childhood and Family Advocacy – Participants attending this presentation will examine the central components of providing culturally responsive home visitations with diverse families with young children (0 – 8 years).  The home visitation process will be reviewed in the context of both purpose and impact with both familial and non-familial members focused on child-centered interactions and outcomes.  Both family strengths and non-family (professional) assumptions will be explored in relation to communication, advocacy, and partnerships.
• *Cheetos, Cheerios and Cherries:  Exploring Food from Birth through Pre-School –Laura Moody, Paul Laikko, Janice Flegle – UNK Communication Disorders Department – The purpose of this presentation is to encourage child care providers and parents to create a positive environment for feeding and provide strategies for encouraging healthy eating patterns. An encouraging environment can promote exploration of new foods for both picky and adventurous eaters. Additionally, information regarding typical feeding development and possible feeding concerns will be addressed with avenues for appropriate referrals.

3:05–3:10 p.m. – Break

3:10–4:10 p.m. – Panel Discussion and Closing Session – Building Systems of Early Learning and Family
Partnerships, Pre-Natal through Grade 3, with the School as Hub

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Writer: Sara Giboney, 308.865.8529, giboneys2@unk.edu
Source: JoAnna Cordova, 308.865.1576, cordovajl@unk.edu