Friday Afternoon Sessions
When Your Nervous System Walks into the Classroom: Reparenting Tools for Regulation, Connection, and Burnout Prevention
ORO Set 1: Understanding & Guiding Behavior
Presented in English
Reparenting is a practice that affects all of our interactions with people. This training will address how reparenting ourselves can support educators in interactions with co-workers, children, families and even their relationship with themselves. It will go over how past experiences from childhood can follow educators into the classroom, the impact of that, and how to begin to notice when this is happening. The training will also offer educators tools for self-regulation and assisting children with their own self- awareness and self-regulation. These tools will be particularly helpful regarding the challenge of burnout.
Teaching with Purpose: Evidence-Based Supports for Young Children with Autism
ORO Set 1: Special Needs
Presented in English
This presentation offers an overview of research-based strategies to support young children with autism in early childhood settings. Through video examples and interactive discussion, participants will explore how autism affects learning and behavior, and gain practical tools—including visual supports, functional routines, and positive reinforcement—to teach communication, social, and play skills. Attendees will leave equipped with actionable strategies to foster independence, address behavior needs, and create inclusive, supportive environments where all children can thrive.
Auto Cuidado en Tiempos Turbulentos
ORO Set 2 (Pending): Family & Community Systems
Presentado en español
Los participantes realizarán una validación de las emociones que todos podemos experimentar en momentos de incertidumbre, e identificarán actividades constructivas que contribuyen al cuidado de la salud mental y emocional. Este taller también facilita el reconocimiento de los aspectos modificables y proporciona estrategias para afrontar lo que no podemos cambiar. Las actividades identificadas están dirigidas a profesionales y pueden compartirse con niños y sus familias.
Developmental Delays or Behaviors: Using Responsive Teaching Methods to Support All Children
ORO Set 2: Special Needs
Presented in English
Join me as we build our teaching practice to support all children in your classroom in being successful. Through this second part of the Developmental Delays or Behavior series, we will compare and contrast the various ways developmental delays show up at different ages and stages in the classroom. We will apply our newly acquired observation skills to a variety of scenarios to study the functions of behavioral needs and how to be responsive in real time.
Facilitating Helpful Responses during Challenging Situations in Home Visits
ORO Set 2: Family & Community Systems
Presented in English
During this training, early learning professionals will have the chance to engage in self-reflection and assessment of their foundational knowledge, skills and abilities as providers and practice helpful responses that build connections during challenging home visit/parenting group situations.
Nature’s Numbers: Exploring Preschool Math with Sticks and Stones
ORO Set 1: Learning Environments & Curriculum
Presented in English
In this hands-on session, participants will explore open-ended processes to help preschoolers and kindergarteners explore numbers, patterns, geometry, and measurement using natural materials. These opportunities for learning can be set up indoors or outside, using any nature available in any location.
The session objectives are:
5.1.2: Understand how to Integrate learning across subject fields and domains.
Recognize the research behind nature and play-based learning.
5.1.6: Identify and design provocations and experiences built to allow Input and play from children.
The session alternates among presentation slides with examples from actual preschoolers; relevant research; hands-on activities using nature as math manipulatives; and discussion to further knowledge.
Safely Navigating Tantrums and Other Intense Escalations
ORO Set 1 (Pending): Understanding & Guiding Behavior
Presented in English
This session provides participants with an overview of evidence-based practices that are effective at reducing the intensity and duration of potentially dangerous child escalations. How to build a solid foundation to de-escalation strategies through a professional mindset and maintaining a daily proactive plan to promote emotional regulation skills is provided. Specific verbal and non-verbal communication techniques that can diffuse an escalating situation with children are covered. A process professionals can use to document, learn from and then plan for reducing future occurrences of child escalations is outlined and shared.
Supporting Anxious Kids
ORO Set 2: Understanding & Guiding Behavior
Presented in English
Participants will learn what signs to look for in anxious kids, information about anxiety disorder diagnoses, the purposes of stress/anxiety, and tools to help promote self-regulation.
Supporting LGBTQ+ Children and Embracing Diverse Family Types
ORO Set 1 (Pending): Diversity
Presented in English
Join us for an engaging training designed specifically for parenting educators working with families of school aged children. This session will equip you with practical strategies to support LGBTQ+ identified children, fostering an inclusive environment where every child feels valued and understood. We will explore the importance of acceptance and kindness, emphasizing the diverse family structures that children may come from. Through interactive discussions and activities, you'll gain insights into creating a supportive atmosphere that celebrates individuality and promotes respect among peers. Together, let's empower our children to thrive in a world that embraces diversity!
Supporting Literacy Foundations in Play-Based Classrooms
ORO Set 1 (Pending): Learning Environments & Curriculum
Presented in English
In this session, we’ll explore the key building blocks of early literacy and how they emerge naturally through play, conversation, and meaningful classroom routines. We’ll look at practical strategies for supporting children’s literacy development in ways that feel authentic, joyful, and developmentally appropriate.
Supporting Self-Regulation in Children 3-5 Years Session C
ORO Set 2: Understanding & Guiding Behavior
Presented in English
Participants will examine their current personal self-care practices at work and at home and plan practical, positive changes to improve their resilience in the workplace.
Next participants will plan ways to collaborate with families to promote respect for each family’s values, culture, and home experience and build positive, reciprocal partnerships, so that families can play a role in communicating their goals, expectations, concerns, wants and dreams for their child.
Both these exercises can contribute to each participant's ability to effectively meet the self regulation needs of their children.