Early Education Conference - Association of Christian ... Early Education/EE_Conf... · ACSI Early Education Conference 2016—Apopka, FL | 7 Session 4 Saturday, January 30, 1:05

January 30, 2016 Apopka, FL

Early Education Conference

ACSI Early Education Conference 2016—Apopka, FL | 3

Welcome!Dear Early Educators,

It is my privilege and honor to welcome you to ACSI’s Early Education Conference! Our conference planning team has created a program to help you grow as a professional in the field of early education. A variety of workshop topics have been designed containing ideas and skills to help you become better equipped to teach and lead. As you participate, it is our prayer that the Holy Spirit will fill you up as you listen and learn together with other like-minded Christian educators. Thank you for attending and for educating for eternity!

Sara Jo Dillard, MEd Director of Early Education ResourcesAssociation of Christian Schools International

SpeakersCynthia TobiasFounder, Manager and CEO of Apple St. (Applied Learning Styles)

Author of Focus on the Family’s best-selling book The Way They Learn, Middle School: The Inside Story, and in their Best of Broadcast for 5 years in a row, Cynthia Tobias has a successful background that includes over 28 years as an author and speaker, 8 years of teaching high school, and 6 years in law enforcement. She has written 13 books and is a featured guest on radio and television, a popular presenter for business, government agencies, churches and schools throughout the U.S. and the world. She is the mother of twin sons, now young adults, and she and her husband Jack live in the Seattle area.

Early Education ConferenceJanuary 30, 2016

First Baptist Church of Apopka441 S. Highland Ave.Apopka, FL 32703

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Important InformationMeals• Option 1: Chick-fil-A® Chicken Sandwich,

cookie, chips, and drink• Option 2: Chick-fil-A® Chicken Strip Salad

and drink

ResourcesACSI Book Table

Continuing Education CreditsCEU certificates are included in the conference journal. Delegates will be responsible for attaching labels to their certificates. Labels will be available during each session. A full day attendance will pro-vide 0.7 CEUs.

Conference EvaluationsPlease complete your conference evaluation, pro-vided in your conference journal, at the end of each workshop. Completed forms will be collected during the closing session for a door-prize drawing.

Online Professional DevelopmentACSI ConNEXUS Premium is complimentary through November 2016 to all registered delegates who are at an ACSI member school or have a IACEE member-ship. Nexus Premium includes professional webinars, workshops and other resources which are available for in-service credit. Go online to ACSI.org, Professional Development, ConNEXUS Premium: On-Demand CEUs. Please contact ACSI’s Florida Region office at [email protected] or call 727-734-7096.

Conference Schedule

Time Event Location

7:15 am–8:00 am Registration/Check In Fellowship Hall

8:00 am–9:25 am Session 1: Keynote Church Auditorium

9:25 am–9:55 am Refreshment Break Fellowship Hall

9:55 am–10:55 am Session 2: Workshop 1 Various

11:10 am–12:10 pm Session 3: Cynthia Tobias Church Auditorium

12:10 pm–1:05 pm Lunch Fellowship Hall

1:05 pm–2:05 pm Session 4: Cynthia Tobias Church Auditorium

2:15 pm–3:15 pm Session 5: Workshop 2 Various

3:25 pm–4:55 pm Session 6: Closing Session Church Auditorium

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Sessions

Session 1—Keynote Saturday, January 30, 8:00 am–9:25 am

In All Our Ways … Acknowledging Him: An Introduction and Overview to Appreciating Our Differences and Changing the World

Cynthia Tobias, Founder, Manager and CEO of Apple St. (Applied Learning Styles)

Audience: All

Session 2—Workshop 1 Saturday, January 30, 9:55 am–10:55 am

Make it Fun, Make it Real, and Make it StickLisa Baird, Pre-K Teacher at Rock Solid Christian

Academy, Okeechobee

When intentional teachers plan activities that are fun, related to the child’s life, and are repeated, they are building lessons that will stick with the child. Come learn how to develop lessons that your children will not stop talking about.

Audience: Teachers

Delicious DevotionsKelly Baloun, Director at Tiny Tots of Apopka

Who doesn’t love to eat? I am excited to share with you all some yummy, child-friendly, somewhat healthy snacks and treats that can be used to enhance your Bible stories, devotions and lessons.

Audience: Teachers

Help! I’ve Lost ThemGyia Carney, Director at Bell Shoals Baptist

Academy, Brandon

How to positively change focus during transitions while helping children learn everything: Language, math, science, behavior skills, and fitness.

Audience: Preschool Teachers

Challenging Behaviors? Call in a D.O.C.T.O.R.Holly Cromer, Retired Teacher, Clay County Schools

and former board member of CDEA

Be Diagnostic; Organize and be prescriptive; Care from a foundation of faith and grace; Train up the whole child; One day at a time; Reinforce and reward.

Audience: Teachers

Let’s Take the Mystery Out of ACSI’s Accreditation REACH 2.0 Protocol

Sara Jo Dillard, ACSI Director of EE Resources

A review of the newly released ACSI REACH 2.0 Ac-creditation protocol will outline the changes, edits and additions to the standards and indicators. A handout including the changes and new forms will be provided. Join Sara Jo Dillard for this important update. There will be a question and answer time included in this workshop.

Audience: Directors

VPK and ADA Compliance. What you Need to KnowDarrell Fraley, Head of School at First United

Methodist Christian School, Homestead

Federal laws require all V.P.K. centers to comply with the Americans with Disabilities (ADA). This workshop will provide you with an understanding of the law and how you must comply.

Audience: Directors

Telling Your StoryJulie Hendry Johnson, Consultant with Southern

Baptist Association of Christian Schools

What is the story of your school? Let’s take a look at how to effectively share your message and mission to your community. This session will also cover market-ing and social media and how to use them effectively. A review of policies and guidelines and tips for pre-venting social media nightmares will be shared.

Audience: Teachers

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STEM on a Shoestring BudgetJan Lashbrook, Early Childhood Director at

Calvary Christian Academy, Ft. Lauderdale

Experts in education agree that it is imperative to graduate students with a thorough understanding of science, technology, engineering, and math in order to prepare them well. It’s never too early to begin a STEM education. This workshop is designed to help early childhood teachers bring fun, exciting STEM ac-tivities into the classroom with out “breaking the bank”.

Audience: Teachers

Classroom Management—Critical to Your SuccessLori Long, Director at Small Wonders CDC, Lakeland

In our industry, we are working with children who need to be taught how to behave. Having a solid manage-ment plan is your key to a successful and happy class-room. Teachers can no long assume that students will come to them with any idea on how to behave. A strong classroom management plan will reduce teach-er stress, improve student behavior, and result in very happy parents leading to your center’s improved suc-cess and footprint in the community. It all starts with an age appropriate plan and implementation of that plan.

Audience: Teachers

Classroom Management Power Hour: Effective Strategies to take back your Teaching Time!Kaytlynn Milliken, Classroom Management Coach

with Volusia County Schools

Research has shown that teachers lose 5–9 hours of instructional time per week because of student misbe-havor, disruptions, and repetitive warnings/reminders. Classroom management gimmicks are not necessary when teachers gain back control, choose their battles wisely, and set quick, firm limits. This presentation re-iterates the importance of compassion and structure.

Audience: Teachers/Directors

Leadership that Moves Centers From Good to GreatDeborah Thomas, Director/Consultant with

Lighthouse Educational Consulting

Is your center “Good”? Or “Great”? We will look at fifteen ways to take our centers from Good to Great based on the book by Jim Collins. There’s more than meets the eye. We will use Luke 6:43-45 as our foun-dation to look at what is happening on the outside of our life that is affecting what is happening on the inside.

Audience: Directors/Teachers

Connecting with Parents. It is Possible!Kathy Williams, Director of Children and Families at

Highlands Baptist Church, Ocala

Connecting with parents is just as important as con-necting with the children in your classroom. It is not an impossible task. This workshop will show you practical ways to connect with parents and engage them in the activities in your classroom.

Audience: Teachers

Session 3 Saturday, January 30, 11:10 am–12:10 pm

Getting to Know The Way They Learn: Identifying and Appreciating Learning Styles in Preschoolers and Those Who Love ThemCynthia Tobias, Founder, Manager and CEO of

Apple St. (Applied Learning Styles)

In this entertaining, fast-paced and informative ses-sion, you’ll get insights and practical strategies for rec-ognizing and appreciating all kinds of learning styles as early as possible. You’ll receive a quick and invalu-able profile for identifying natural strengths, especially in preschoolers. Even the most reluctant learners can succeed when we discover how to effectively use their learning style strengths! Unlock the potential in children and adults by getting to know The Way They Learn!

Audience: All

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Session 4 Saturday, January 30, 1:05 pm–2:05 pm

You Can’t Make Me! (But I Can Be Persuaded!) Bringing Out the Best in a Strong-Willed ChildCynthia Tobias, Founder, Manager and CEO of

Apple St. (Applied Learning Styles)

Chances are good that the Strong-Willed Child will change the world--after all, the world probably won’t change them! In this intensely practical session, you can gain insight into how the mind of a Strong-Willed Child works, recognize why the Strong-Willed Child may choose not to obey, and learn techniques for sharing control without compromising authority. Learn to avoid confrontation, anger and emotional outbursts by using simple, practical and proven techniques that work for almost anyone.

Audience: All

Session 5—Workshop 2 Saturday, January 30, 2:15 pm–3:15 pm

Summer Camp Meets VBSKelly Baloun, Director at Tiny Tots of Apopka

Come see how one church ministry department cre-ated a new approach to the “traditional” VBS through-out the summer. Great ideas will be shared that will revolutionize your summer programs.

Audience: Teachers

Making Sense of SensoryHolly Cromer, Retired Teacher, Clay County Schools

and former board member of CDEA

This session will cover basic understanding and rec-ognition of sensory deficits, giving practical applica-tions for assisting with sensory deficits, adapting for special needs, and compensating for children who are sensory driven in a technology driven culture.

Audience: Teachers

God’s Design for How Young Children Learn BestSara Jo Dillard, ACSI Director of EE ResourcesEarly education teachers have the first opportunity to teach children the joy of learning. Teachers are to lay the foundation for learning using the child’s senses and hands-on experiences. The workshop will empha-size classroom application and provide examples of how to engage young children in the learning process that is fun and pleasurable. Audience: Teachers

Personal Professional Development and EvaluationDarrell Fraley, Head of School at First United

Methodist Christian School, HomesteadWhat do you need to stay ahead of the curve profes-sionally as an early learning professional? This work-shop will discuss: Technology, Child Development, Learning Styles, Expectations, Boundaries, Teacher Assessment.Audience: Teachers

Terrific ToddlersJulie Hendry Johnson, Consultant with Southern

Baptist Association of Christian SchoolsAn overview of best practices and strategies to help toddlers “thrive”. Research shows that seeds for adult success are actually planted in the toddler years! Brains and bodies are growing and exploring, and we must do our part to ensure each child has rich experi-ences that will foster a love of learning!Audience: Teachers

Leading Your Staff with Faith Hope and LoveJan Lashbrook, Early Childhood Director at Calvary

Christian Academy, Ft. LauderdaleLeading a group of early childhood professionals can sometimes be challenging. With God’s Word as our guide, directors have the awesome opportunity to help their staff grow to their optimum potential as leaders in their field.Audience: Directors

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Empowered: Fostering an Environment of Spiritual Growth and Development in the Early Childhood EducatorDamita London, Director at Foundations Christian

Academy, DavieMuch is demanded from the Early Childhood Educator during their daily instruction of and interactions with the children in their classrooms. How can we ensure that they are “thoroughly equipped for every good work?” (2 Timothy 3:17). What practices can we institute to create a culture in which educators are spiritually fed?Audience: Directors

Positive Behavior SupportLori Long, Director at Small Wonders CDC, LakelandRuling with fear and intimidation has never resulted in any good outcome. Looking at how the human brain works, when a child is fearful, scared, or confused; they may go into fight or flight, and they can’t learn. The stop light system sets children up for failure. If a child reaches “red” by 9:15 in the morning what does that do for the rest of the day? A positive reinforcement system will improve student behavior. Teachers and students are happier and more successful. Audience: Teachers

Bring Your Bible Stories Alive!Kathy Roberston, VPK Teacher at Merritt Island

Christian SchoolShare your passion for God’s Word to your children through memorable Bible Lessons. This session will give suggestions and ideas so you can have con-fidence to “tell” Bible stories and talk about Biblical character traits that are engaging and memorable.Audience: Teachers

Preschool Playgrounds that Promote “Growth”Linda Shaw, Elementary Principal at First Baptist

Academy, NaplesParticipants will dig in to discover the benefits of grow-ing a school to cultivate outdoor learning. From avo-cado to zucchini, come enjoy learning how to grow 26 fresh picked gardens pins. This workshop will use project based learning to harvest a bushel of practical

preschool lesson plan extensions. Purposefully plant the Word as you sow the seed!Audience: Teachers

Building Bridges with your Families and Local CommunityDeborah Thomas, Director/Consultant with

Lighthouse Educational ConsultingTo build a bridge between your classroom and your families homes, you first must feel a need to establish this relationship. Developing bridges with a Christ-like foundation. How far are you willing to go to make this happen and to be a bridge to connecting families and our local communities?Audience: Teachers

Session 6—Closing Saturday, January 30, 3:25 pm–4:55 pm

Faith Development in Young ChildrenSara Jo Dillard, Director of Early Education

Resources Association of Christian Schools International

Faith development is the distinctive we offer to par-ents and children when they enroll in a Christian early education program. But do we know what it is? How do we know we are actually doing it well? Sara Jo will share several key components in an early education classroom which can help young children experience a spiritual transformation. Learn how to be more in-tentional in creating a classroom that will help children develop a strong spiritual foundation.Audience: All