Course+Descriptions+and+Handouts

Presenter: Laura Zimmerman, SLP, Spring, TX
 * Assistive Technology in the “Real World” PK Classroom

Learn about assistive Technology including no tech, low tech & high tech devices. Gain ideas for practical application and use of this technology by the PK teacher. Using technology to address challenges in the PK classroom will be explored. || Presenter: Jennifer Grisham-Brown, Professor, University of Kentucky, Frankfort, KY
 * [[file:Assistive Technology in the Real World PK ClassroomPart 3.pdf]][[file:Assistive Technology in the Real World PK ClassroomPart 2.pdf]][[file:Assistive Technology in the Real World PK ClassroomPart 1.pdf]] ||
 * Blended Practices in Early Childhood Education

Gain strategies for planning and implementing curriculum in blended inclusive early childhood settings. Participants will learn the four elements of a curriculum framework: assessment, scope and sequence, activities and instruction, and progress monitoring and practice using tools to plan/implement curriculum for children with varying abilities. ||
 * Celebrating the Holiday Through Motor Actvities
 * Celebrating the Holiday Through Motor Actvities

Presenters: Randy Foederer, Adapted PE Consultant, Region 10 Education Service Center, Vicki Mason-Foederer, Adapted PE Teacher, Dallas ISD, Dallas, TX

There is nothing like the holidays to put a little extra energy and excitement into a youngster’s life. Why not build on this excitement and use that energy to encourage and motivate youngsters to move and exercise. Learn a variety of movement activities celebrating the more common holidays that arrive during the school year. || Developing Pre-Writing and Daily Living Skills Presenter: Marianne Gibbs, OTR, Gibbs Consulting, Inc., Houston, TX
 * Curious? Naturally! Classroom Success for Preschool Children: Strategies for
 * Curious? Naturally! Classroom Success for Preschool Children: Strategies for

Learn the WHAT’s, HOW’s, and WHY’s of hand skill development and self-help development as they relate to children’s classroom success. This is a fun “must see” session that contains critical, empowering information for teachers with application across the curriculum! Participants will leave with many activities for fine motor development. || Presenters: Mark Ammons, Adaptive Technology
 * Discover The Fun In Learning: Reading, Vocabulary and Science
 * Discover The Fun In Learning: Reading, Vocabulary and Science

Acquire new ideas for reading skills focusing on vocabulary comprehension, letter recognition, phonemic awareness, rhyming and much more in all school environments. Learn and make pre-reading extension activities for your students and will acquire new ideas for math and science. Come and have fun with exploration science centers, and letter theme activities for preschool. || Presenters: Mark Ammons, Adaptive Technology
 * Discover The Fun In Learning: Math, Listening, and Spelling
 * Discover The Fun In Learning: Math, Listening, and Spelling

Acquire new ideas for math, spelling, and science. Come and have fun with numbers, and counting, activities for preschool. Participants will use Boardmaker v6 to create these activities. A website address of the activities created and those demonstrated by presented will be given to each participant to print out activities viewed. || Presenters: Mark Ammons, Adaptive Technology
 * Discover The Fun In Learning: Writing, Music, and Communication
 * Discover The Fun In Learning: Writing, Music, and Communication

Communication tools and ideas will be demonstrated for those children who are pre-verbal as well as those who have trouble expressing themselves. Participants will acquire new ideas in music for teaching repetition and exploration of sounds and word. Learn ideas to create simple writing journals and see a variety of writing software appropriate for preschool. Participants will use Boardmaker v6 to create these activities. A website address of the activities created and those demonstrated by presented will be given to each participant to print out activities viewed. || Presenters: Clarissa Willis, Kaplan Learning Company, Lewisville, NC
 * Inclusive Literacy Lessons with Special Needs Adaptations
 * Inclusive Literacy Lessons with Special Needs Adaptations

Increase your repertoire of interactive literacy lessons and strategies for designing classroom environments that encourage all learners to be active participants. Strategies that encourage collaboration and communication will be provided. || Presenter: Maria Gonzales, PPCD Teacher, Diana Morales, Title I Teacher, Xotchil Rodriguez-Carias, Bilingual Teacher
 * Lab Coats & Goggles: Little Scientists @ Work
 * Lab Coats & Goggles: Little Scientists @ Work

Expand your science thinking! Learn how to set up a science lab/center that incorporates PK guidelines for differentiated instruction. Ideas & activities will be presented so you can go back to your classroom and begin right away. Workstations will be set up so that teachers can explore and conduct science experiments. So, throw on those lab coats, put on the goggles, and get ready to have fun! || Presenter: Kay Brickley Reading/Language Arts Specialist Houston, TX
 * Made You Look! Teaching Print Awareness to Young Children
 * Made You Look! Teaching Print Awareness to Young Children

Help bridge the gap between students who are print-savvy and raring to read and those for whom print seemingly holds no appeal. Participants will engage in activities that support students who need explicit instruction on learning the arbitrary conventions of our printed language. || Presenter: Stephanie Burton, Teacher, Author, Singer/Songwriter, Manitou Springs, CO
 * Making Math Magic for Young Learners
 * Making Math Magic for Young Learners

Teaching math concepts is like magic for young learners when combined with music, rhythm, rhyme and movement. Get great ideas on how to find teachable math moments throughout the day and throughout the year and learn how to use easy children’s songs and rhymes to motivate learning number concepts. || Presenters: Marilyn Bitsis, Project Developer, Houston, TX
 * Motoring to Literacy
 * Motoring to Literacy

Come learn exciting ways to get your preschoolers moving and learning. The participants will cover the KidBuilders’ fourteen basic motor skills necessary for higher learning. Essential equipment and music will also be demonstrated. This is a must for all teachers of preschoolers || Presenters: Jim Gill, Musician, Child Development Specialist, Oak Park, IL
 * Moving Rhymes for Modern Times
 * Moving Rhymes for Modern Times

Attend this session and learn songs and games that early childhood professionals can utilize in their programming. Connections between music and early literacy become clear as Jim Gill shares clever word play and rhymes in the context of active movement games. Jim will focus on music as a context for active play and participation, the type of music for which Jim is known best. He will discuss how a play-based program provides an inclusive environment for children with special needs and share thoughts based on his work with children of all ability levels. In his humorous and straightforward manner, Jim will address the many benefits of play and, in particular, music play. || Presenters: Tanya Tullos, PhD, Library Specialist, Region 4 ESC
 * Picture Book Magic
 * Picture Book Magic

Featuring the nationally recognized 2010 Texas Library Association 2x2 Reading List for ages two through grade two, this session will introduce participants to the newest picture books and provide activities for using them in preschool classrooms. || Presenters: J. Sullivan Coleman OTR, MA, Laura J. Krueger PT, MA, St. Paul, Minnesota
 * Play and Learn: A Universal Design Preschool Curriculum for Children of ALL Abilities
 * Play and Learn: A Universal Design Preschool Curriculum for Children of ALL Abilities

Expand your knowledge of Play and Learn, a newly revised curriculum that is built on evidence-based practices for inclusion of young children with special needs and supports research that all children learn best through movement and meaningful play. Demonstration of universally designed early childhood activities will make accessibility for ALL children come alive! || Presenter: Jennifer Grisham-Brown, Professor, University of Kentucky
 * Reach for the Stars: Planning for the Future
 * Reach for the Stars: Planning for the Future

Expand your repertoire of strategies for ensuring positive transitions for young children. Participants will learn to use a child/family-centered process called Reach for the Stars to gather information about children in order to develop IEPs that reflect recommended practices for working with young children. || Presenters: Stephanie Burton Teacher, author, singer/songwriter Manitou Springs, CO
 * Science Fun for Everyone
 * Science Fun for Everyone

Discover how you can make nursery rhymes, songs, and stories come alive by including science in your literacy and language units. Included will be ideas for how to create science art and make science part of your music and movement program. Teaching science is easy and fun when you integrate it with stories, songs and nursery rhymes. By using every day items, we’ll explore exciting science lessons appropriate for young children. || Presenters: Natalie Cherry, Elizabeth Kremen, Cypress-Fairbanks ISD, Houston, TX
 * So Much to do …. So Little Time!
 * So Much to do …. So Little Time!

You already have the tools to be a great teacher, so why waste your free time "re-inventing the wheel" when you could spend a fraction of the time modifying what you already have. We’ve done the research for you and compiled ideas from numerous teachers and districts in regards to classroom management, behavior management, incorporating technology, online resources, etc. Come get recharged and learn some tips and tricks to reclaiming your free time! || Presenters: Susan M. Catlett Autism Consultant, Houston, TX
 * Strategies to Use During the Behavior Change Process
 * Strategies to Use During the Behavior Change Process

This session will discuss a variety of research based behavioral strategies and procedures to use when working with students who have autism and other developmental disorders. || Presenters: Clarissa Willis Author, Consultant, Kaplan Early Learning Company, Lewisville, NC
 * Teaching Young Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder
 * Teaching Young Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder

Children with autism have difficulty with social interaction, communication, behavior and sensory integration. Participants will learn strategies for planning a school environment that addresses these issues through collaboration with the child’s family, and how to access community resources and build partnerships with other professionals working with children with autism. ||