22nd Annual Training Day for Child Care Professionals
- Get innovative ideas, valuable resources and experience hands-on activities to promote excellence in child care.
- Earn a Continuing Education certificate for six clock-hours and Core of Knowledge hours.
- Visit with vendors who provide products and services to early childhood professionals.
Saturday, March 23
7:15 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
Washington Road Campus
Registration deadline: Monday, March 18
410-386-8100
$59 for Carroll County residents and seniors
$64 for out-of-county residents and seniors
$69 for out-of-state residents and seniors
Includes a pin, tote bag, continental breakfast and bagged lunch.
Make your lunch selection when you register. Select one:
• Turkey/Cheese
• Ham/Cheese
• Chicken Salad
• Veggie Wrap
Key Presentation
PEEPing into STEM for Pre-K Children and Teachers
Now wait ... having fun is learning STEM?! It is when you are having fun with PEEP. PEEP and the Big Wide World gives wings to the innovative idea of teaching science to preschoolers. Wry and distinctive visual humor, charming plotlines and lovable characters combined with a comprehensive science program, attract and engage children three- to five-years-old. PEEP is a central theme with numerous resources targeted at several different levels. From “Anywhere Science” there are a many great activities for you to do well, anywhere! Written by a preschool teacher who specializes in early childhood science, these easy-to-do ideas are fun ways for you and your children to learn simple science and math concepts; from a neighborhood safari to full blown curriculum in the explorer guides. This whirlwind tour introduces the key resources available, applying concepts in the classroom, and hands-on activities. We discuss how the PEEP resources address STEM for early learners, and how you, without learning any new vocabulary or facts and figures, can help your students discover the fun side of investigating. You will take home printed PEEP resources and the CD PEEP Figures it Out. So come have some fun! And rethink STEM education.
About The Presenter
Steve Smalley graduated from Penn State University in 1981 with a computer science degree. He started working on computer graphics and networking before there were PCs. He has worked on defense systems from undersea to outer space.
Smalley has a great opportunity working directly with the education system to identify successful strategies to increase the number of technical students in this country. He sits on the MSDE G&T Advisory Council, the Frostburg State University Engineering Advisory Board and several STEM planning committees, working to improve the number of students preparing for careers in technical fields.
He is an Achievement Counts speaker and a frequent speaker at career days, STEM fairs and other school functions. He is an organizer of Teachers and Engineers for Academic Achievement (TEAACH), which works with middle school teachers to excite them about presenting STEM concepts in the classroom; and he works with the Project Lead The Way (PLTW) state implementation team to bring engineering classes into middle and high schools.
With Nancy Grasmick’s emphasis on early childhood education, Northrop Grumman started looking at STEM for early learners. It has supported PEEP and the Big Wide World for several years and has brought it directly into Maryland classrooms.
Schedule
7:15 – 8:15 a.m. - Registration, Vendor Exhibits and Continental Breakfast
K Building – Lobby, Café, K100A, K100B
8:20 – 8:50 a.m. - Welcome
Theater in the Scott Center
Libby Trostle
Director of Career Training
9 – 10:30 a.m. - Concurrent Sessions
XXB 098AMa: PEEPing into STEM for Pre-K Children and Teachers, K100C
Steve Smalley
Northrop Grumman Corporation
Curriculum 1.5 Hrs
XXB 099AMa: Engaging Story Times: What To Do and What Not To Do, K116
Buff Kahn and Ghis Hockensmith
Carroll County Public Library
Curriculum 1.5 Hrs.
By drawing kids in with a fun story time, you are setting children up to enjoy learning. Tap the power of sharing books and story time activities with children from birth to six-years-old. Explore increasing the effectiveness of your story times by using themes and age-appropriate books, songs, rhymes and “make-it, take-its.”
XXB 100AMa: Be a Giga Math Hero, A202
Carroll Community College STEM Club
Curriculum 1.5 Hrs.
Learn how to teach STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) concepts, through activities such as counting cups, bundling items and spatial concepts. Learn how to make math fun, encouraging both independent and group learning. The activities and overall premises can be easily adapted to any classroom or learning environment.
XXB 101AMa: Yoga in the Classroom, K129
Beth Feinstein
Dancing Dolphin Yoga
Health, Safety and Nutrition 1.5 Hrs.
Discover the benefits and practicality of incorporating yoga breathing and movements into the preschool and elementary school classroom. Topics include scheduling yoga into an already packed school day, adjusting the energy level (increase and decrease) of the class through yoga, identifying potential obstacles and solutions for incorporating yoga in the classroom, and combining literature/ELA with yoga. Practice a variety of “classroom-and-desk-friendly” yoga poses and breathing techniques that you can use, immediately, back in the classroom.
XXB 102AMa: Prioritizing, Planning and Organizing, K115
Suzanne Kondner
President, Human Advantage, Inc.
Professionalism 1.5 Hrs
Gain the skills to effectively set goals and establish priorities, and uncover the time you need for planning, organizing and controlling. Discover how to increase your productivity, use effective systems for setting and achieving your goals, and reduce on-the-job stress.
XXB 103AMa: What Infants and Toddlers Need Most in this World, K127
Lin Phelps
Trainer and Consultant for Hopesprings
Child Development 1.5 Hrs
The Center for Social and Emotional Early Learning (CSEFL) has done extensive research on Infant Toddler Development and has created a series of workshops designed to support children at this vulnerable period. This workshop focuses on the power of the relationships and a variety of concrete strategies that will be the building blocks for a lifetime of success for all young children.
XXB 104AMa: Family Engagement, K132
Nancy Magana
Carroll County Coordinator, Child Care Choices
Community 1.5 Hrs
Research continues to support the importance of collaboration between families and early care providers to give children strong foundations for success in school and life. Emphasis is placed on developing Family Engagement practices within Maryland’s quality improvement initiatives. This workshop provides strategies for authentically engaging families and includes an overview of the Parent Café model.
10: 45 a.m. – 12:15 p.m. - Concurrent Sessions
Repeat XXB098AMb – XXB104AMb
12:15 – 1:15 p.m. - Lunch, Vendor Exhibits and MSDE Lunch and Learn Q-and-A Session, K129
Barbara McCready,
Licensing Supervisor, MSDE Office of Child Care
1:15 – 2:45 p.m. - Concurrent Sessions
XXB 098PMa: PEEPing into STEM for Pre-K Children and Teachers | K100C
Steve Smalley
Northrop Grumman Corporation
Curriculum 1.5 Hrs
(Same as morning workshop)
XXB 105PMa: Connecting Children with Nature, K115
Chris Isleib
Curriculum Specialist, Lucy School
Curriculum 1.5 Hrs.
Researchers suggest that the decline in children’s health is linked, in part, to their growing disconnect from nature and outdoor activity. Learn about the "No Child Left Inside" movement, understand the relationship that modern children have with nature, learn reasons that young children need experiences with nature, and learn practical ways to increase young children's direct experiences with nature. Information presented is based on the work by Richard Louv, Rachel Carson, David Sobel and the staff of Lucy School, an arts-based school set on a 17 acre farm in Middletown, MD.
XXB 106PMa: Understanding Autism and Autism Spectrum Disorder, K128
Mary Coster, LCSW-C, C-ASWCM
Program Director, Children’s Training and Services, Maryland Center for Development Disabilities at Kennedy Krieger Institute and PACT: Helping Children with Special Needs
Special Needs 1.5 Hrs.
Gain a better understanding of autism and autism spectrum disorder. Explore and discuss the “Ten Things Every Child with Autism Wishes You Knew” written by Ellen Notbohm. Learn that children with special needs are children first. This session dispels some of the myths you may believe about children diagnosed with autism.
XXB 107PMa: Childhood Depression: What to Look For, How to Help, K127
Heidi Huber, MSW, LCSW-C
Health, Safety and Nutrition 1.5 Hrs.
Childhood depression is a serious and unfortunately quite prevalent experience for many of the children with whom child care professionals interact. Learn about child depression warning signs, including those that are most often overlooked. Life experiences and stressors that can contribute to the onset of child depression are also discussed. The course also addresses strategies for broaching the issue with both families and the children. Basic, supportive interventions are outlined, and local resources are reviewed.
XXB 108PMa: The Art of Mindfulness, K132
Katherine E. Miller
Licensed Massage Therapist and Certified Mediation Facilitator
Curriculum 1.5 Hrs
The art of mindfulness has many benefits in the early education classroom. Learn how mindfulness can be learned through picture books, guided visualizations, fun exercises, imagery and crafts. Come relax and explore the various practices and benefits of mindfulness for children.
XXB 109PMa: Planning for Purposeful Professional Development: An In-depth Look at the Maryland Child Care Credential Program, K129
Vanessa Jones, M. Ed.
Assistant Branch Chief, MSDE-OCC Credentialing Branch
Professionalism 1.5 Hrs.
Recognizing the importance of high-quality professional learning for child care professionals, this workshop assists child care professionals with developing professional development goals and identifying appropriate courses to support career development. Gain an understanding of the future modifications to the Maryland Child Care Credential education requirements, discuss elements of professional development plans, and create a Professional Development Plan to assist with your career goals.
XXB 110PMa: Empowering Against Bullying, K116
Kiersten Meyers
Carroll Community College
Child Development 1.5 Hrs.
Explore tools to help build healthy relationships, safe boundaries and empower children to stand against bullying in your early learning environment. Learn to be proactive and preventive in your classrooms.
3 – 4:30 p.m. - Concurrent Sessions
Repeat XXB098PMb and XXB105PMb – XXB110PMb
4:30 p.m. - Evaluation, Awarding of Certificates and Door Prizes
Thanks to our Partners:
- ABC Care, Inc.
- Carroll County Public Library
- Child Care Choices/MHA
- Maryland State Department of Education, Office of Child Care, Region 6
