Together We Are Moving Mountains March 31, 2012, Vermont Technical College

8:00 8:30 Registration & Networking time, beverages and light refreshments 8:30 - 8:45 Welcome 8:45 9:45 Keynote with Heather Duhamel Wonder There is power and inspiration in the work we do. Our observations can link us more deeply to our practice. Listening, recording, reflecting and adapting curriculum can be fun and help us meet the diverse needs of our programs and children. Join Heather Duhamel to explore the Wonder in the work we do. CDA Subject Areas: 6 , 7 10:00 12:00 Workshop Session I

A. Wonder, Beauty, & Pace Part 1: Beauty You dont have time to waste on observations that dont improve the quality of your program. Join Heather Duhamel for this opportunity to focus on ways to make your assessments authentic and useful. Explore how to use observations to inform changes in your home or classroom environment. These shifts of intention can support children in deep ways. We will explore how some materials and ways of framing space can make our days more meaningful and exciting! Participants must register for both parts of this 2 part workshop. CDA Subject Areas: 2,3,5,7 B. Gaining Ground: Building Confidence as an Early Educator through Setting Boundaries Parents late picking up? Trouble collecting payment on time? Unsure how to create or follow a budget? Child care providers often struggle with maintaining trusting relationships with the families of children in their care, while also balancing the budget and schedule for their business. This workshop will explore this challenge, and offer simple strategies for balancing running a successful small business, with close, yet professional family relationships as an early childhood educator. CDA Subject Area: 5 Presented by Cathy Siggins, Early Ed Outreach Teacher & Northern Lights Master Instructor C. Deciphering the Families & Communities Arena: a STARS information session Do you know that VEEU members have used time spent on union activities, planning and events to increase their points in this arena? Providers who have figured out how to count hours have even been able to add a point or two to their total and increase their star level. Join the STARS Coordinators to learn what you can count, how to report it and get some ideas to help you keep track. This is a basic question and answer session. CDA Subject Areas: 5, 6

12 - 12:45

Lunch & Networking time

12:45 - 1:45 Getting Connected, a World Cafe facilitated discussion Building Our Voice
You know what it takes to create high quality child care programs, and you know what you need to continue the work you do. Join your colleagues from around the state to talk about building the provider voice and bringing your expertise to Montpelier. CDA #6

2:00 4:00

Workshop Session II

A. Wonder, Beauty, & Pace Part 2: Pace The way we pace our interactions, transitions and expectations through the day can energize or exhaust us and the children in our programs. Part 2 of this session with Heather Duhamel will focus on using our observations to pace upward, downward regulation techniques to engage the brain and body! Participants must register for both parts of this 2 part workshop. CDA Subject Areas: 2,3,5,7 B. Creating Inexpensive Classroom Materials, a make and take workshop Are you tired of the same puzzles and games day after day? Do you wish you had some new materials but can't afford to buy them? Make your own! Join presenter Anna Gebhardt to learn, and make, some fun new classroom materials. Participants will leave with lots of new ideas and some new classroom activities to start using on Monday. CDA# 2 This is a hands-on workshop so registration is strictly limited to 25 participants. Register early to guarantee your spot in this class. C. Transitioning to Kindergarten A Toolkit for Early Childhood Educators The year before kindergarten is the ideal time for teachers and parents to think about childrens strengths, talents, weaknesses, and personality as well as how that information will be passed on to their new schools. This comprehensive resource for educators includes tools and materials that can help you implement strategies to facilitate and enhance childrens transition to kindergarten. This course was designed in partnership with the National Center for Learning Disabilities, Inc. Participants will leave with a complete kit to use in their programs. Presented by Meri Saladino CDA Subject Areas: 4, 7 & 8

Important Information
a. Cost: This full day conference is just $35. This covers all workshops and lunch. VEEU-AFT members pay only $25 for the full day! *If the fee presents a hardship partial and full scholarships are available for VEEUAFT members. Contact Cyndi Miller for more information. b. Location: This event will take place in the Red School House at Vermont Technical College in Randolph, http://www.vtc.edu/uploads/1248131259.pdf c. VEEU is an official Northern Lights sponsor. Attendance will be submitted to Northern Lights for inclusion in the Bright Futures Information System d. To register, mail the registration form and payment to: Cyndi Miller, PO Box 386, Bellows Falls, VT 05101 or return to your Organizer before Friday March 23rd. e. We expect sessions to fill quickly so get your registration in right away!