Opening General Session
Wednesday, November 18th
4:30-6:00 p.m.
Wednesday, November 18th
4:30-6:00 p.m.
The continuum of education begins at birth
U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan will speak about the Department of Education’s efforts to advance the Obama administration’s goals and initiatives for high-quality early childhood education, K-12 education reform, and lifelong learning.
U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan will speak about the Department of Education’s efforts to advance the Obama administration’s goals and initiatives for high-quality early childhood education, K-12 education reform, and lifelong learning.
From early years to adult years: ECE is the foundation for excellence in learning
Luis Hernandez, ECE Specialist, Training & Technical Assistance Services, Western Kentucky University
Luis Hernandez, ECE Specialist, Training & Technical Assistance Services, Western Kentucky University
Early childhood education is a framework for life. The development and learning of children from birth is a foundation for curiosity, discovery, resiliency, and more. Let’s talk about our roles as practitioners in creating joyful, lifelong learners.
Enjoy a special performance with Greg Scelsa and Steve Millang immediately prior to the Grand Opening of the Exhibit Hall at 6:00 p.m.
President's Seminar
President's Seminar: Working Together for High Quality Early Childhood Education: Collaborations of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and U.S. Department of Education
Jacqueline Jones, U.S. Department of Education; Joan Lombardi, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services; Sue Russell, NAEYC President.
Thursday, November 19th
Washington Convention Center, Ballroom C
10:00 a.m.-11:30 a.m.
Advocacy/Public Policy
The economic value of early childhood in the United States: Are we investing adequately and wisely?
Richard Brandon, Human Services Policy Center; Elaine Weiss, Partnership for America's Economic Success, Pew Charitable Trusts; Rob Dugger, Tudor Investment Corporation
Friday, November 20th
Washington Convention Center, Room 146B
2:00 p.m.-3:30 p.m.
The Partnership for America’s Economic Success, in partnership with the Human Services Policy Center, is developing a comprehensive estimate of the economic value of early childhood education care and services. This session will draw on a new study that combines wage-based and price-based methods of estimating economic value. The study is intended to influence such policies as the level and content of public investment to support early childhood success. Panelists will discuss how the value of the early childhood sector compares with other sectors and will engage attendees in a conversation about how to utilize this information to influence federal, state, and local policy.
Charting a course for the next generation
Marian Wright Edelman, Children's Defense Fund
One of our nation's inspiring advocates for children, Marian Wright Edelman will challenge each of us to step up and take action at this pivotal moment in American history to ensure a level playing field for the next generation.
Saturday, November 21st
Washington Convention Center, Ballroom A/B
10:00 a.m.-11:30 a.m.
Curriculum—Language and Literacy
Meet the authors and illustrators: Children's literature at NAEYC
Holly Seplocha, William Paterson University; Karen Beaumont, Harcourt Children’s Books; Vera B. Williams, Greenwillow Books; David Catrow, Scholastic Press
Holly Seplocha, William Paterson University; Karen Beaumont, Harcourt Children’s Books; Vera B. Williams, Greenwillow Books; David Catrow, Scholastic Press
Friday, November 20th
Washington Convention Center, Ballroom C
10:00 a.m.-11:30 a.m.
Washington Convention Center, Ballroom C
10:00 a.m.-11:30 a.m.
Join Vera B. Williams, Karen Beaumont and David Catrow for a stimulating and lively presentation on great children’s books. Listen to Caldecott Honoree Vera B. Williams (A Chair for My Mother; “More, More, More,” Said the Baby) discuss her newest book, A Chair for Always. Award-winners Karen Beaumont and David Catrow, the author/illustrator team that created I Ain’t Gonna Paint No More and I Like Myself!,will celebrate their work as a team as well as their independent successes. These beloved artists will present how they create their books and offer strategies for using them with children. Additionally, they will share their own journeys as writers and artists.
Curriculum—Social-Emotional Development
Lost boys and their failure to launch: Why the number of boys who are unmotivated and underachieving is growing
Larry Griffin, Kaplan Early Learning Company
Washington Convention Center, Ballroom C
Larry Griffin, Kaplan Early Learning Company
Saturday, November 21
stWashington Convention Center, Ballroom C
10:00 a.m.-11:30 a.m.
In this interactive session, participants will explore the dimensions of a troubling national and international trend toward an increased number of unmotivated and underachieving boys who seem “lost” and who “fail to launch.” Participants will consider five salient factors that directly contribute to this worrisome trend: changes in education, video games, prescription drugs, endocrine disruptors, and a deficit of positive male role models. Attendees will also consider effective methods for reversing the trend, starting with children birth to age 5 and continuing just beyond elementary school.
What do you do with the mad that you feel? A developmental approach with insight and strategies from Fred Rogers
Annette Santella, Family Communications, Inc; Roberta Schomburg, Carlow University; Hedda Sharapan, Family Communications, Inc.
Annette Santella, Family Communications, Inc; Roberta Schomburg, Carlow University; Hedda Sharapan, Family Communications, Inc.
Saturday, November 21st
Washington Convention Center, Ballroom C
2:00 p.m.-3:30 p.m.
Here’s sound and practical help for one of the biggest challenges facing early childhood educators today. In this interactive workshop, with the help of engaging video segments, you’ll find insight into children’s anger and learn how to foster children’s developing self-control, guiding them toward constructive ways to express their feelings. Understanding the process of learning self-control will help you keep your own feelings in check, making it easier to be helpful and supportive rather than angry with children for being angry.
Diversity and Equity
The achievement gap: What will make the difference?
Linda Zane, Slippery Rock University; Julia Williams, Duquesne University
Linda Zane, Slippery Rock University; Julia Williams, Duquesne University
Friday, November 20th
Washington Convention Center, Room 146A
Washington Convention Center, Room 146A
4:00 p.m.-5:00 p.m.
Come hear about the current research on the achievement gap and two key remedies for closing the gap—quality early education experiences and an emphasis on spiritual and moral growth. Faith is a cultural heritage that has largely been neglected as an integral part of child development, specifically in African American children, yet there is a growing body of research showing that spirituality and faith act as significant sources of strength. Participants will have time to share their personal experiences regarding the promotion of school success and educating the “whole child.”
Relationships
Bullies are created, not born: How to establish a safe and caring classroom community
Jean Schreiber, Early Childhood Educational Consultant
Thursday, November 19th
Washington Convention Center, Room 146B
4:00 p.m.-5:00 p.m.
Because bullies are created, not born, parents and teachers have an obligation to foster an environment of safety and tolerance. Explore how children who bully interact with their victims and with the apparently uninvolved bystanders in a complex social “dance.” Discuss group social dynamics in young children, identify the differences between tattling and telling, and learn to distinguish normal, healthy conflict from aggression and true bullying. Learn how to work with other teachers, parents, and administrators so that children can become assertive and empathic members of a caring community.
Why do we fight when we play with friends? A look at the developmental aspects of conflict during play among preschoolers
Vejoya Viren, University of Texas-Brownsville
Saturday, November 21st
Washington Convention Center, Ballroom C
8:30 a.m.-9:30 a.m.
While many research studies have focused on problems that can arise from children’s conflict, few have focused on the meaning that children make of their conflict with each other. This presentation encourages participants to consider conflict as a relational process that needs to be observed and analyzed according to the multiple contexts within which it takes place. Consider how the social dynamics of the classroom are reflected in conflict processes, how children’s understanding of relationships is played out in conflicts, how conflicts evolve and are maintained, and the role the teacher plays in conflict’s meaning-making process.
Is tattling a bad word? Helping children navigate the playground and beyond
Marie Masterson and Katharine Kersey, Old Dominion University
Friday, November 20th
Washington Convention Center, Ballroom C
12:30 p.m.-1:30 p.m.
Often, teachers miss opportunities to validate and connect with children when they come to tattle—dismissing children rather than embracing the opportunity. Teachers must intentionally plan for and create effective ways to teach social skills that lead to positive relationships. Gain a new perspective on tattling as you learn positive ways to use tattling to meet a child’s need for connection and how to respond in ways that will empower children, build their resilience and respect, and give them healthy options for problem solving in the future.
Research
Early childhood programs and family relationships: Bridging research, practice, and policy
Mon Cochran, Tufts University; Walter Gilliam, Yale University; Mavis Sanders, John Hopkins Univeristy; Christine McWayne, New York University; Linda Halgunseth, Maril Olson and Amy Peterson, NAEYC
Mon Cochran, Tufts University; Walter Gilliam, Yale University; Mavis Sanders, John Hopkins Univeristy; Christine McWayne, New York University; Linda Halgunseth, Maril Olson and Amy Peterson, NAEYC
Thursday, November 19th
Washington Convention Center, Room 146B
Washington Convention Center, Room 146B
2:00 p.m.-3:30 p.m.
Come learn evidence-based practices that will raise family engagement and improve children’s learning in your preschool or elementary setting. Experts in the field will describe their latest research on family engagement, present important policy recommendations, and recommend practices that can be used in your program “on Monday.” See for yourself how bridges between research, practice, and policy can improve the level of family engagement in your program!
Teachers—Dispositions and Professional Commitment
Caring for the caregiver: Taking care of yourself so you can better care for children
Nefertiti Bruce, Devereux Early Childhood Initiative
Saturday, November 21st
Washington Convention Center, Ballroom A/B
12:30 p.m.-1:30 p.m.
Adults who are happy, fulfilled, and relaxed are better prepared to care for children than those who may be experiencing chronic stress, anxiety, or trauma. Your social and emotional well-being will remind you just how important you are in the lives of young children. Reflect on your stress level and learn simple strategies that can reduce stress and promote social and emotional health. Leave with the energy, enthusiasm, and commitment to make a few positive changes in your life that will lead to greater happiness, fulfillment, and success in caring for children.
Teachers—Training and Professional Development of EC Staff
The Baby Signs® Program early childhood educator training: Sign language for the early childhood classroom
Bonita Broughton, Linda Acredolo, and Susan Goodwyn, Baby Signs, Inc.
Wednesday, November 18th
Washington Convention Center, Ballroom A/B
1:00 p.m.-4:00 p.m.
Return to your center ready to communicate with the young children in your care! Participants will learn the benefits of signing in the early childhood classroom, the research behind this growing trend in education, and how to use signs to promote communication. This training will also address the relationship between signing and literacy. Learn signs though games, songs, and activities that can be used in the classroom. Come prepared to sign, sing, and have fun! Participants will receive a certificate of completion from the Baby Signs Institute.
From good to great: A staff development model focused on communication and relationship building in a professional setting
Dawn Hogan-Lopez, Ladue School District; Suzanne Coffey and Mary Fitzgibbons, West County Psychological Associates
Thursday, November 19th
Washington Convention Center, Ballroom C
12:30 p.m.-1:30 p.m.
Too often a school climate is compromised by the inability of staff members to work together and to communicate honestly, directly, and freely. Great schools establish an environment where professional educators are constantly collaborating and focusing their efforts on the children they serve. Come discover a staff development model that provides educators with the skills necessary to create an environment of effective, positive communication so that they are free to focus their energy on the children. Improve communication and relationship building in your school to lead it from good to great.
Teaching
When learning comes “naturally”: Nurturing children’s connection to the environment
Cheryl French and Rachel Grob, Sarah Lawrence College Child Development Institute; William Crain, The City College of New York; Lorayne Carbon and Jan Drucker, Sarah Lawrence College
Cheryl French and Rachel Grob, Sarah Lawrence College Child Development Institute; William Crain, The City College of New York; Lorayne Carbon and Jan Drucker, Sarah Lawrence College
Friday, November 20th
Washington Convention Center, Room 146B
8:30 a.m.-9:30 a.m.
As concern grows about environmental issues, many adults worry about the world they are leaving for the next generation. How do we prepare children to protect the environment? How do we both advocate for children and teach them to be advocates? How do we nurture children’s curiosity, creativity, and sense of belonging in the world? This session will present a new film that raises awareness about the importance of connecting young people to their environment and provides a substantive resource for parents and educators. Panelists will discuss with attendees ways to help children explore, examine, and enjoy their environments, and thus to move toward meaningful stewardship.
“Why can’t he sit still?” A sensory integration approach for the “overactive” preschooler
Christy Isbell, Milligan College
Christy Isbell, Milligan College
Thursday, November 19th
Washington Convention Center, Ballroom A/B
8:30 a.m.-9:30 a.m.
In this presentation, participants will learn about the brain process, sensory integration, and how these factors affect preschoolers who appear to be “overactive.” Learn to identify red flags that indicate a preschooler may have Sensory Processing Disorder or that the child is a “vestibular seeker.” Leave with practical solutions for addressing challenging behaviors such as impulsivity, risk taking, and constant movement (for example, fidgeting, wiggling, or rolling around), and improve the learning environment for all preschoolers.
Important policy and practice issues affecting young dual-language learners
Tamara Halle, Child Trends; Miriam Calderon, DC Public Schools; Dina Castro, Frank Porter Graham Child Development Institute; Linda Espinosa, University of Missouri; Ann Rivera, Office of Planning, Research and Evaluation in the Administration for Children and Families
Tamara Halle, Child Trends; Miriam Calderon, DC Public Schools; Dina Castro, Frank Porter Graham Child Development Institute; Linda Espinosa, University of Missouri; Ann Rivera, Office of Planning, Research and Evaluation in the Administration for Children and Families
Friday, November 20th
Washington Convention Center, Room 146A
2:00 p.m.-3:30 p.m.
Come learn all about policy and practice issues related to young dual-language learners (DLLs), an important and growing segment of the early childhood population in the United States. Presenters will share the state of the research field, identify challenges, and discuss future directions. Panelists will offer an overview of relevant population and policy trends, guidance on how to select appropriate assessments for young DLLs, and promising instructional strategies for working with DLLs, including an example of a professional development program (Nuestros Niños). Conference participants will have the opportunity to explore their own experiences working with DLLs and to discuss how to incorporate evidence-based practices in their settings.
Closing Session
Early childhood education and digital media: Past, present, and future
Susan Zelman, Corporation for Public Broadcasting
Susan Zelman, Corporation for Public Broadcasting
Saturday, November 21st
Washington Convention Center, Ballroom A/B
4:00 p.m.-5:30 p.m.
Education continues to be a core value of the public broadcasting community as it has been since its inception. This session will examine how public broadcasting's educational services, which are tailored to meet the unique needs of diverse communities, are giving our nation's children the opportunity to learn on air, online, and in the community. Anytime, anywhere learning sresses educating the whole child: socially, emotionally, physically, and cognitively. Resources beyond the broadcast for parents and early childhood teaching staff are also part of this equation. Hear public broadcasting's vision for the next generation of investments in education.
