Winter/Spring 2013 Professional Development Workshops For Early Childhood Educators Funding for these workshops is made possible through the Federal/Provincial Territorial Early Childhood Development Agreement coordinated by the Nova Scotia Department of Community Services. Mount Saint Vincent University 166 Bedford Highway Halifax, NS, B3M 2J6 Child and Youth Study Department
Early Childhood Education Assistance & Continuing Education Reimbursement Programs The Early Childhood Education Assistance program offers financial support through a debt reduction incentive. The Continuing Education Program offers reimbursement for continuing education courses offered through approved early childhood training institutions in Nova Scotia, and some outside the province. If you are presently working in a licensed child care centre in Nova Scotia and are considering a continuing education course or if you are a recent graduate of an approved licensed child care centre you could be eligible for reimbursement. For more information on eligibility & requirements of these programs, & the Recruitment & Retention Strategy, please visit the DCS website: http://www.gov.ns.ca/coms/ families/provider/recruitmentretention.html. ALL REGISTRATION IS NOW ONLINE Please visit our website www.msvu.ca/earlychildhoodworkshops and follow the links to register for workshops. CONFIRMATION & CANCELLATION POLICY: Participation is not confirmed until payment is received. Confirmation receipt will be sent by email upon receipt of payment. All fees are non-refundable but you may allow an alternate person to attend in your absence. Please allow 48 hours advance notice if making a substitution, otherwise a $5.00 administration fee is required for a revised certificate of attendance. CERTIFICATES: A Certificate of Attendance (including number of workshops contact hours) is given out for all workshops or workshop series. Participants must attend the full scheduled workshop session in order to receive a certificate. 2
Workshops Workshop information & online registration is on our website: www.msvu.ca/earlychildhoodworkshops. A light lunch is provided for all full day MSVU location workshops. Basic Management Development for ECE s ** Dates: Saturdays: March 23, April 27, & June 1, 2013 Time: 9am-4pm Cost: $130 or $50 per single day session Total PD hours: 21 hours Location: Evaristus hall room 111 all days Presenters: Susan Willis, Shelley Thompson & Denise Stone Description: This three day workshop series will run on three Saturdays from 9a.m. to 4p.m. at MSVU. The program intends to provide an overview of basic centre administration knowledge to Early Childhood Educators interested in, or currently working in administration positions at their centres. The program may be taken inclusively or as single day sessions. A range of topics related to effective management & administration in early childhood centres will be covered, including: Budgeting & finance, Public relations & marketing, Developing quality programs, Leadership skills & policy development Session 1: Saturday March 23, 2013; Team building, staff evaluation, providing effective mentoring, ethics & professionalism, & developing quality programs. Presenter: Susan Willis- Willis & Associates Session 2: Saturday April 27, 2013; Budgeting & finance, public relations, marketing / strategic planning. Presenter: Susan Willis- Willis & Associates Session 3: Saturday June 1, 2013; Overview of current government structure regarding regulated child care & the role of the consultation with respect to program quality & licensing requirements. Leadership skills & policy development tools to consider when problem solving sensitive topics with staff & parents, such as behavior guidance & inclusion of children with special needs. Presenters: Shelley Thompson & Denise Stone Presenter Biographies: Denise Stone (BCS) has been in the field of Early Childhood Education for over 20 years. A graduate of MSVU with a Bachelor of Child Studies & Master of Education degrees, she has worked in several provinces, & held a wide variety of positions including supervision of child care programs, early intervention, teaching ECE courses, workshop delivery & in licensing. Her main areas of concentration include children with special needs, behaviour guidance & human relations. Shelley Thompson has been in the Early Childhood Education field since the early 1990s. Since then she has held a variety of positions related to early childhood education & care & currently works for the Department of Community Services in the area of policy development related to licensed child care. Susan Willis is the Executive Director of Point Pleasant Child Care Centre, a non profit organization with three locations in Halifax. She is President of Willis & Associates, Early Learning & Care Consultants & part time faculty at the Nova Scotia College of Early Childhood Education (formerly known as St. Joseph's College of Early Childhood Education). Susan is a long time advocate for quality early learning & care programs for young children. 3
Date: Saturday March 23, 2013 Time: : 9 am - 12 noon Cost: $30 Total PD hours: 3 hours Location: Evaristus Hall room 401 Presenter: Beverlie Dietze Thinking Outside the Box Description: Imagine the potential that boxes can bring to children s play and learning. This workshop will explore how the use of boxes can add new forms of adventure, language and discovery to children s play. During the three hours, participants will have opportunities to use boxes, imagine how to use boxes, and think about how and why boxes should be part of the loose parts materials available to stimulate children s play options and discoveries. Presenter Biography: Beverlie Dietze is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Child & Youth Study department at Mount Saint Vincent University. She has been an educator for many years on early childhood education topics & is author of many articles related to children s play & staff development. Beverlie has conducted a number of research studies on issues related to outdoor play & staff development. Using Technology and Social Media in Children's Active Play Spaces Date: Monday March 25, 2013 Time: : 6 pm - 9 pm ONLINE Cost: $30 Total PD hours: 3 hours Location: from your home computer Presenter: Beverlie Dietze Description: There is great debate among early learning professionals if there is role for computers & social media in early learning programs that promote active play. Advocates of technology, suggest if used appropriately, that it becomes another tool that can be used to support children in their curiosity, experimentation & discovery of new ways of knowing. This workshop will present ideas for using technology with children in active play spaces. Participants will explore ways that technology promotes, supports, & advances children's active play experiences. This workshop is delivered Online, & all participants must have a computer with internet access to participate in this session, as well as a microphone. You will need to go online prior to the beginning of the sessions to ensure that you can access the online site. Login information & passwords to the site will be sent to you prior to the workshop. Presenter Biography: Beverlie Dietze is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Child & Youth Study department at Mount Saint Vincent University. She has been an educator for many years on early childhood education topics & is author of many articles related to children s play & staff development. Beverlie has conducted a number of research studies on issues related to outdoor play & staff development. 4
Anger Coping and Social Skills Date: Saturday April 6, 2013 Time: 9am-4pm Cost: $50 Total PD hours: 6 hours Location: Evaristus Hall room 401 Presenters: Susan Adams & Judy Elliot Description: : This one day workshop will provide early educator with tools & strategies to enhance anger coping & social skills for children in a pre-school setting. These strategies will support those children with deficits in these areas as well as enhance all children s skills & abilities. Presenter Biographies: Susan Adams, BA.,B.Ed.,M.Ed & Judy Elliot, BA., B.Ed., MA have over 50 years experience between them working with children & youth in the Mental Health field, in both classroom & group settings. They have developed & facilitated skill building & process groups, & worked extensively with families & schools to support children & youth in their emotional & social growth, & academic success. Susan & Judy recognize the important role that caregivers & educational staff have in the child s life, & the need to work as a team on their behalf. They strongly believe that all aspects of a child s growth are enhanced by positive strategies, interaction, & planning. Effective Communication & The Power of Junk Date: Saturday April 13, 2013 Halifax Time: : 9 am- 4 pm Cost: $50 Total PD hours: 6 hours Location: Evaristus Hall room 112 Presenter: Kathy Black Date: Saturday May 25, 2013 Sydney Time: : 9 am- 4 pm Cost: $50 Total PD hours: 6 hours Location: Days Inn, Sydney Presenter: Kathy Black Description: Effective Communication: Positive communication is essential when creating a nurturing environment for young children. Participants will explore types of communication and effective tools to use in their early childhood environments. We will discuss personality types, and how personality traits may influence the way we communicate to others. The Power of "Junk": Using recycled materials to enhance the early childhood classroom can be fun and exciting for young children. Activities will be discussed for all areas of the indoor and outdoor classroom. Participants will have an opportunity to brainstorm ideas in small groups and create activities with recycled materials. If you would like to share activities that you are currently using in your classroom, please send your ideas and photos along to Kathy.black@eastlink.ca. Presenter Biography: Kathy Black has worked 15 years in early childhood centres. She was a teacher at the Child Study Centre at Mount Saint Vincent University for 12 years, where she planned & implementing activities for children 2-5 years of age. Since 2002 Kathy has had an opportunity to visit numerous child care environments throughout Nova Scotia. In 2005 she began facilitating curriculum based workshops to Early Childhood Educators. 5
Inclusion Strategies for Preschoolers with Autism Date: Saturday May 4, 2013 Time: 9 am 4pm Cost: $50 Total PD hours: 6 hours Location: Evaristus Hall room 401 Presenters: Debbie Thompson & Heather Hiscock Description: This day long workshop will provide information to early childhood educators on the updated diagnostic criteria of Autism Spectrum Disorders and describe the current process for receiving services in Nova Scotia. Participants will spend most of the day working through the process of identifying learning styles and developing behavioural and learning strategies best matched to individual strengths and needs. Presenters will provide examples of hands on teaching tools and materials and share suggestions with participants on how to customize materials based on children s individual needs and interests. PLEASE NOTE: Participants should have previous basic knowledge of Autism Spectrum Disorders and be comfortable working in groups sharing experiences and developing strategies. Presenter Biographies: Debbie Thompson is a Mount graduate, with a Degree in Child & Youth Study BAA (CHYS). She has always had a passion for teaching & has worked in the field of Early Childhood Education (ECE) for over ten years. Debbie started her career at Wee Care Developmental Centre as a teacher in the integrated preschool, becoming their first Resource teacher, having helped the center develop & implement the position. She has created & delivered many workshops on various topics including Transitions, Circle time, Creative learning, Music & Movement for the Nova Scotia College of Early Childhood Education. Debbie has also developed & delivered custom workshops at the request of many preschools. She currently works at the IWK Health Centre as a Program Implementer for the Early Intensive Behaviour Intervention program (EIBI) for children with Autism, where she continues to work closely with preschools, children & families. Heather Hiscock completed her Bachelor of Applied Arts in Child & Youth Study at Mount St Vincent University. She has also completed several courses in the Masters of Child & Youth Study program. Since entering the ECE field, she has worked in daycares in several capacities-as classroom teacher, as a one-to-one support worker, as a resource teacher at the Mount s Child Study Centre &, currently she works as a Program Implementer, for the IWK, spending much of her time, teaming with daycare centre staff in the development & implementation of behavioural programming for children with Autism Spectrum Disorders. Family Matters: Engaging Families in Child Care Settings Date: Saturday May 4, 2013 Time: 9am-4pm Cost: $50 Total PD hours: 6 hours Location: Evaristus Hall room 358 Presenters: Bronwen Lloyd & Shelley Thompson Description: This session will explore the need for early childhood educators, administrators and professionals to connect in meaningful ways with children, families and communities. This interactive workshop will support participants to inspire each other through sharing their experiences, vision and passion about working with families and contributing to a culture of respect and hope for children. Activities and discussion will be focused on how we can engage families in creating early learning settings that celebrate childhood and set children on positive learning and developmental trajectories that will sustain them for the rest of their lives. Some key concepts around effective communication, conflict and change management, intergenerational influences, child development theory and human dynamics/leadership will be explored within the context of delivering high quality child care. Presenter Biographies: Bronwen Lloyd has been in the field of early childhood education for over 17 years. Throughout her career, Bronwen has worked as an educator, college/university professor, researcher and consultant. While her studies and work has taken her to many places in Canada and abroad, Bronwen has always been passionate about the field of early childhood education. Currently, Bronwen works as a Child Care Centre Policy Analyst for the Nova Scotia Department of Community Services in Early Childhood Development Services. Shelley Thompson has been in the Early Childhood Education field since the early 1990s. Since then she has held a variety of positions related to early childhood education & care & currently works for the Department of Community Services in the area of policy development related to licensed child care. 6
Handle with Care: Relationship Building to Promote Mental Health Date: Saturday May 11, 2013 Time: 9am-4 pm Cost: $50 Total PD hours: 6 hours Location: Evaristus Hall room 401 Presenter: Denise Stone Description: Handle with Care consists of a series of workshops designed to help participants develop a mental health promotion mindset in their child care work and assist them in implementing appropriate strategies in the child care setting. This one day workshop will focus on the importance of building relationships between the educator/child and educator/parent as contributors to promoting children s mental health. Participants will become familiar with the principles of mental health promotion through exploration of the following key messages: Building trusting relationships and secure attachments with children helps to foster positive social and emotional development; and Actively involving parents and families in meaningful ways creates partnerships that promote children s mental health. Presenter Biography: Denise Stone (BCS) has been in the field of Early Childhood Education for over 20 years. A graduate of MSVU with a Bachelor of Child Studies & Master of Education degrees, she has worked in several provinces, & held a wide variety of positions including supervision of child care programs, early intervention, teaching ECE courses, workshop delivery & in licensing. Her main areas of concentration include children with special needs, behaviour guidance & human relations. Understanding Children s Sexual Development & Risk Reduction, Prevention & Healthy Relationships; Intervention Planning for Carers of Young Children with Intellectual Disabilities Date: Saturday May 25, 2013 Halifax Time: : 9 am- 4 pm Cost: $50 Total PD hours: 6 hours Location: Evaristus Hall room 401 Presenter: Emily Martinello Date: Saturday June 1, 2013 Sydney Time: : 9 am- 4 pm Cost: $50 Total PD hours: 6 hours Location: Days Inn, Sydney Presenter: Emily Martinello Description: The morning presentation for Early Childhood Educators on how to support children's sexual development in child care centres, addressing how to respond to: "Where do babies come from?" and "Show me yours, I'll show you mine and other kids queries. Communication tips, resources and supports, plus information about prevention and risk reduction will be covered in this interactive presentation. The afternoon is a continuation from the morning s presentation, with particular attention paid to strategies addressing the increased risk of sexual abuse of young persons with intellectual disabilities. Emphasis on family centered care, early intervention and debunking myths and stereotypes will help attendees learn how to support and nurture healthy, loving relationships. Presenter Biography: Emily s career, volunteer, and school experiences have consistently focused on children and youth, and their families. Working in Early Intervention, Emily used a family-centered approach to support families with young children with special needs, and consulted with teams throughout Nova Scotia. Noting a distinct lack of resources available for families of children with disabilities regarding their child's sexual development, Emily began her Masters degree in Child and Youth Study at Mount Saint Vincent University. Emily has attended the CAVE/SAR (Comfort, Attitude and Values Education; Sexual Attitude Reassessment) workshop, and the New Brunswick Association for Community Living (NBACL) s SEXCESS: Family, Feelings, and Future training. She has done a variety of presentations focusing on how to incorporate developmentally appropriate sexual education into core programming. 7
ALL REGISTRATION IS NOW ONLINE Please visit our website www.msvu.ca/earlychildhoodworkshops and follow the links to register for workshops For additional information or to receive a copy of our electronic brochure please contact: Rhonda Rees Professional Development Coordinator Department of Child and Youth Study (902) 457-6313 rhonda.rees@msvu.ca http://www.msvu.ca/earlychildhoodworkshops 8