Michigan DEC Conference - FULL

Date:

April 29, 2016

Location:

Central Michigan University
Education & Human Services Building
195 East Ojibway Court
Mt. Pleasant, MI 48859

195 East Ojibway Court
Mt. Pleasant, MI 48859

Time:

Registration begins at 8:30 AM
Training is from 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM
Continental Breakfast will be served.
Lunch will be served.

Details:

The Michigan Division for Early Childhood 2016 Conference offers a strong emphasis on the Social-Emotional Foundations for Early Childhood Literacy. This year's conference features sessions that offer strategies for supporting the whole child and understanding true "school readiness." Sessions will offer content on supporting self-regulation, executive function, early literacy, DEC Recommended Practices and more! Sessions will offer content for personnel, administrators, faculty, and families with vital interest in serving/educating children birth to age 8 with special needs.

Click here to view the Conference Brochure

Featuring Morning Keynote:

How Can We Avoid Making These Three Common K-Readiness Mistakes?
Kristie Pretti-Frontzcak, Ph.D., B2KSolutions, Ltd.

In our race to readiness, our hearts break as we watch so many children being left behind. We lament that PLAY is no longer how children spend their time; and the question, "Why aren’t relationships our priority" keeps us up at night. You are not alone in these struggles. Many of us are seeking a paradigm shift…a shift from compliance to compassion, from standardization to personalization, and from segregation to integration, particularly when it comes to common mistakes being made around K-readiness policies and practices. The keynote address will explore three readiness remedies that can get providers back on track...back to doing what they do best; ensuring supportive relationships with children and families, cultivating children's love of learning, and inspiring communities of hope.

Afternoon Keynote:

Finding Calm in the Storm: Using a Trauma-Informed Approach to Address Difficult Behaviors
Jennifer Champagne, Ph.D., Oakland Schools

Children exhibit difficult behaviors for a variety of complex reasons. Discuss how to use a trauma-informed approach to de-escalate intense situations and to avoid intensifying challenging behaviors. Examine triggers for adult and child behavior and discuss ways of finding and/or remaining calm while supporting social emotional competence.

State Continuing Education Clock Hours (SCECHs) will be offered, pending approval. The fee is $10 payable at the conference.

New this year! FREE Pre-Conference Opportunities!

MiDEC is pleased to offer bonus pre-conference activities designed to “flip” your professional development experience for this year’s conference. Dr. Pretti-Frontczak has created a series of optional reading, video, tools, and webinars, which allow you to gain awareness, establish common vocabulary, and begin thinking about questions and ideas you’d like to explore with others during the live conference event. Timelines and time commitments are provided for each of the activities.

Learn about and register for Pre-Conference opportunities here:

Parking

Click here to view CMU's campus map.

Parking will be available in Lots 22 & 43.

Cost:
Members:	Through April 13: $50 After April 13: $80
Non-Members:	Through April 13: $70 After April 13: $80
Parents:	$25
Students:	$25
Mail checks or purchase orders payable to MCEC to: Nancy Surbrook, Treasurer Michigan DEC c/o CCRESA EOT&TA 240 S. Bridge St., Suite 250 DeWitt, MI 48820 Cancellation requests must be submitted to Nancy Surbrook at surbrook_n@ccresa.org on or before April 22. A $15.00 processing fee is charged for each cancellation. The full conference fee is due for cancellations that occur after April 22. Substitutions may be made up to the start of the conference.

Agenda:

View the Agenda

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Friday - April 29, 2016

Session 1: Friday - 1:15pm to 2:30pm

A - Creating Embedded Learning Opportunities during Every Day Activities and Routines

Kristie Pretti-Frontczak, B2K Solutions

This session will explore the paradox of needing to teach with intentionality, while also following a child’s lead and building upon their interests and levels of “readiness.” The importance of intentionally teaching children self-regulation skills, in particular, will be discussed. Beyond providing an awareness of the social-emotional learning attributes, and the correlates of social-emotional learning and “success,” we’ll explore and practice, how to intentionally, mindfully, and concisely teach self-regulation across a variety of early childhood settings and routines. (3-8)

(B-8)

B - Early Executive Function Skills and Future Learning Success

Tierney Popp, Central Michigan University

This presentation will focus on how emerging executive function skills in the early years (memory, inhibitory control, and cognitive flexibility) can contribute to healthy development down the road. Individuals working with infants and toddlers will learn what executive function is, why it is important to later positive learning-related behaviors and skills, and how to promote its development in a variety of settings.

(B-3)

C - Storytime Talk: Engaging Children in Whole-Group Interactive Read-Alouds of Narrative and Informational Texts

Meghan K. Block, Central Michigan University

Interactive reading aloud of informational and narrative texts is an important and often overlooked instructional activity that provides children a platform from which to build decontextualized language, vocabulary, print knowledge, and enthusiasm about reading. Preschool teachers will leave this session with recommendations on how to implement and enhance their whole-group interactive read-alouds.

D - Tools you can use: DEC Recommended Practices

Lydia Moore, Oakland Schools

This session will focus on increasing awareness and use of the DEC Recommended Practices in preschool and early elementary classrooms. Specific practices related to promoting children’s early literacy skills will be highlighted, and performance checklists will be shared.

E - Early Childhood Special Education Updates

Lisa Wasacz, Michigan Department of Education

Early Childhood Special Education (ECSE) updates are intended to keep preschool education program administrators and team members well informed of topics related to Part B Section 619 of IDEA. This session will focus on three ECSE indicators: B6, Educational Environments (Ages 3-5); B7, Preschool Special Education Child Outcomes; B12, Transition (IEP by age 3). Information and updates on all three indicators will be discussed.

(3-5)

F - What You Need To Know to Advocate for a More Robust Early Childhood System

Matt Gillard, Michigan’s Children
Michele Corey, Michigan’s Children

This interactive workshop will help you strengthen your advocacy skills on behalf of the early childhood system, especially around Early On eligible children and families. Participants will learn the who, what, when, and how of policy advocacy and influencing policymakers, and learn about key opportunities to strengthen our early childhood system in Michigan.

(B-5)

Deadline Passed:

The registration deadline for this event has passed.