Our focus this year is on Understanding Behaviors: Strength-Based Approaches.
Our keynote presenter will be Dr. LaShorage Shaffer. Dr. Shaffer is an Assistant Professor in Early Childhood/Early Childhood Special Education at the University of Michigan. She teaches both undergraduate and graduate courses in early childhood and early childhood special education in the Department of Education. She serves as a Special Education consultant to the Early Childhood Education Center on campus and on various committees. Her research interests lie in the area of utilizing evidence-based practices to enhance teaching, personnel preparation, and policy. She serves the field in a variety of capacities including as a member of professional organizations, presenting at conferences, and as a reviewer for both journals and textbooks.
The keynote address entitled: Respect, Relate and Reflect: A Relationship-based Approach to Guidance will focus on supporting children's social-emotional development through positive guidance. One of the major child outcomes for children in Early Intervention and Early Childhood Special Education is to have positive social-emotional skills, including social relationships. Using the framework of respect, relate, and reflect, participants will learn key strategies to meet this outcome.
Close the Agenda
Registration: Friday - 8:30am to 9:15am
Vendors: Friday - 8:30am to 4:00pm
Welcome: Friday - 9:00am to 9:15am French Auditorium
Morning Keynote: Dr LaShorage Shaffer: Friday - 9:15am to 10:30am French Auditorium
Respect, Relate and Reflect: A Relationship-based Approach to Guidance
One of the major child outcomes for children in Early Intervention (EI) and Early Childhood Special Education (ECSE) is to have positive social-emotional skills, including social relationships. DR. Shaffer will discuss a relationship-based approach to supporting children's social-emotional development through positive guidance. Using this framework, participants will learn key strategies to meet this outcome with the children and families they serve.
(Birth-8)
Morning Break: Friday - 10:30am to 10:45am
Morning Workshop Sessions: Friday - 10:45am to 12:00pm
A - Serving Students with Disabilities in HeadStart and GSRP
Katie Bourbina, Special Education Director, Monroe County ISD
Courtney Last, GSRP Director, Monroe County ISD
Nicole Vandaele, Head Start Director, Monroe County ISD
During this session, presenters will share strategies for coordinating services for preschool students with disabilities in the Head Start program and Great Start Readiness Program (GSRP). A model of service delivery and examples of collaborative leadership to support preschool inclusion will be presented.
(3-5)
Room A
B - Developing a Personal Mission Statement
Barb Schinderle, MICC Liaison, Michigan Department of Education
Chandra Jones, Parent Representative from Michigan Interagency Council (MICC)
Having a Personal Mission Statement helps you to think deeply about your life, set goals for yourself, recognize what is important to you, and serve as a compass to make decisions for your future. This workshop will help you to identify past successes and discover common threads within those successes; reflect upon your core values, set short and long-term goals, and walk away with a Personal Mission Statement that has the power to help you become more reflective and in touch with your authentic self.
(Birth-8)
C - Electronic Photo-Based Portfolio to Guide an IEP Meeting
Catherine Shapero, Teacher, Northville Public Schools/Professor, Schoolcraft College
Learn how and why to use electronic photo-based portfolios to guide IEP meetings. Create strengths-based IEPs, document current level of functioning and progress toward goals for students with special needs. This tool utilizes authentic artifacts for assessment, promotes parent participation, increases team collaboration and shared knowledge.
(3-8)
D - Utilizing the Inclusive Classroom Profile (ICP) to Support Preschool Classrooms
Sophia D’Agostino, Early Childhood Consultant, Ottawa Area ISD
Keshia Roberts, Early Childhood Specialist, Ottawa Area ISD
During this session, we will introduce and discuss the ICP. Participants will develop an understanding of the 12 areas of the tool and how it addresses inclusive practices and behavioral supports for children with disabilities. Also, participants will identify how the ICP compares to Preschool Quality Assessment (PQA) indicators.
(3-8)
E - General Classroom Supports CAN Help ALL Students Succeed!
Nicole Lawrence, Special Education Supervisor for Early Childhood Programs, Calhoun ISD
ALL students can succeed, whether they are in a special education or general education preschool setting. Through general classroom supports, I believe ALL teachers can implement basic behavior strategies in their classrooms tomorrow to decrease behaviors and increase learning!
(3-8)
F - A Grassroots Effort: How to Become an Advocate for Early Intervention!
Deb Lively, Professor of Teacher Education, Saginaw Valley State University
Samantha Riggleman, Assistant Professor, Grand Valley State University
Acting on legislative issues that are important to the advancement of policies and opportunities for young children with exceptionalities is essential. Explore CEC and DEC policy issues to learn how you can be an advocate. Connect with your congressional leaders because your voice needs to be heard!
(Birth-8)
G - Help with Challenging Behaviors at Home and in the Community
Alissa Hofstee, Behavioral Supports Consultant, Kent ISD
In this session, we will introduce Prevent-Teach-Reinforce for Families (PTR-F). This tool is intended for children whose behaviors are interfering with their ability to engage in positive relationships, participate with family members in regular routines, play with others, and learn expected skills. Strategies discussed can help improve the child's interactions with parents and siblings.
(Birth-8)
Lunch and Poster Sessions: Friday - 12:00pm to 1:15pm
Family Leadership Meeting: Friday - 12:30pm to 1:15pm
Afternoon Workshop Sessions: Friday - 1:15pm to 2:30pm
A - Early On Center for Higher Education Advisory Group Meeting
Kari Holmberg, Early On Center for Higher Education Coordinator
Christy Callahan, Director for The Office of Innovative Projects, Clinton County RESA
Learn about upcoming projects and activities of the Early On Center and how it can support your work teaching pre-service professionals to work with infants and toddlers with delays and/or disabilities and their families. This meeting is designed with opportunities for collaboration, networking, and sharing resources with other colleagues teaching coursework and/or working within the birth-to-three field.
(Birth-3)
D - The Power of Rituals and Routines
Kyja Malone, Early Childhood Specialist, Regional Preschool Partnership: Midland County
Katie Schoenek-Danks, Early Childhood Data Specialist, Regional Preschool Partnership: Midland County
This workshop will explore rituals to use in your classroom to help to create the genuine connection children need daily. We will also look at how routines within routines can help children to visualize expectations and be successful, especially regarding dealing with challenging behavior. We will also have the opportunity to learn from others and create our own materials to take back and use in our classrooms.
(Birth-8)
B - Developing Phonological Skills in Early Childhood
Suzanne Finney, Education Services Consultant, SLD Read
Through phonological awareness children learn to recognize and manipulate the sounds of the language. The activities presented in this session, while playful in nature, explicitly develop the child's sensitivity to the sound structure of words. During the session, participants will have the opportunity to practice selecting and using age appropriate activities.
(3-5)
C - Selective Mutism: Misidentification and Effective Intervention Strategies
Elaine Tadajewski, Early Childhood Compliance Consultant, Oakland Public Schools
Selective Mutism is easily misidentified as ASD or Cognitive Impairment. In partnership with families, learn how to accurately identify students with SM and ways to help students overcome the unique challenges associated with it. We will also discuss case studies of three students who are affected to various degrees with SM.
(3-8)
Room A
E - How to Boost Self-Regulation and Language in Early Childhood Classrooms
Haruka Konishi, Postdoctoral Fellow, Michigan State University
Norma Eppinger, Early Childhood Specialist, Michigan State University
Self-regulation and language are key early school readiness skills that have implications for later academic success. This presentation will discuss evidenced-based teaching strategies in early childhood classrooms that can promote children’s language and self-regulation skills.
(3-5)
F - Confidence, Trust and Fairy Dust - Leadership in Early Childhood Programs
Nancy Ely, Director of Preschool Programs, Wayne Westland School District
As Leaders in Early Childhood, we sometimes need a little bit of magic to make it through the week! It is critical that we follow best practice but equally critical that we take time to breathe, reflect, and take advantage of our own magical powers and fairy dust!
(Birth-8)
Afternoon Break: Friday - 2:30pm to 2:45pm
Afternoon Panel Conversations: Friday - 2:45pm to 4:00am French Auditorium
The Relationship-based Approach: A Conversation with Parents and Providers
Facilitated by LaShorage Shaffer, Ph.D.
(Birth-8)