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Early Educators Conference
Registration Is Live!
Are you ready for our annual Early Educators' Conference?
In 2024, we want to empower our Superheros, and we have decided to make a few changes!
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Our location will be at the Dennis A. Wicker Center.
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Doors will open at 9 AM with registration/sign-in, a light breakfast, and networking.
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Vendor tables will also be in place, and we will have various items available to take to your classroom for some hands-on discovery and creativity.
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Morning Session Options
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Farm to the Classroom
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Learn a variety of hands-on ways to bring healthy eating to the classroom. Book activities, child-friendly recipes, and setting up theme gardens that the kids can take care of and learn from.
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Strengthening Connections
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Deepen your engagement with families in meaningful ways. Explore strategies to align your work with families' diverse needs and values.
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Reading Giraffe
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Where books run wild! Explore various ways to bring stories alive.
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Inclusion and Pride Skills
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Let's talk about it! Interventions, Needs Assessments, Classroom Management, Utilization of Resources, Social-Emotional Development, Individualization, OARS and nature vs. Nurture. Once you’ve adopted P.R.I.D.E (Prevention, Regulation of Behaviors, Inclusion, Diversity, and Equity) skills, you will take away tips and tools necessary for a thriving environment!
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Lunch and Keynote Speaker
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Let's sit and eat together!
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Keynote Speaker: Mr. Dante' Poole | Explore the profound impact that early childhood professionals have on shaping the future.
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Afternoon Session Options
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STEM in the Classroom
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Explore and interact with beebots, robots, and dash! Learn how to bring Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math alive in these fun, interactive ways.
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The Empowerment Factor
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The Art of Self-Regulation & Well-Being for Early Childhood Champions. Explore the complex terrain of self-regulation; participants will acquire priceless knowledge on how to manage stress and emotions properly and uncover methods for fostering your well-being while building resilience.
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Farm to the Classroom
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Learn various hands-on ways to bring healthy eating to the classroom. Book activities, child-friendly recipes, and setting up theme gardens that the kids can take care of and learn from.
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Reading Giraffe
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Where books run wild! Explore a variety of ways to bring stories alive.
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You will choose your top 2 choices for your morning session and your afternoon session at registration - every session will be interactive, and participants will walk away with classroom skills and materials ready to implement immediately.
What will you get from this conference:
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Lunch will be provided
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Materials will be given in each session for you to take home and utilize in your classrooms!
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Tons of Giveaways
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5 DCDEE Training Hours
Registering Multiple Staff Members
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To register multiple staff members online, submit each staff member's demographics and conference choice and hit add to cart.
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Continue doing this until all staff members are added, AND THEN pay for all.
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When you change the quantity at the bottom, we don't get individual staff member demographics, and you will be contacted to change.
Speakers
Keynote:
Dante Poole
This presentation will provide an empowerment experience that adds value to current educational reform efforts on teacher burnout and other contributing factors that influence a teacher’s ability to navigate the pressures and demands of teaching. Teacher shortages across the world have become a problem of epic proportions. Businesses and organizations are scrambling to find assets to support teacher resilience in hopes of discovering ways to improve the recruitment and retention of professional educators. In this keynote address, we will explore the profound impact that early childhood professionals have on shaping the future. Through inspirational stories, practical insights, and a shared vision for excellence in early education, we will delve into the crucial role they play in the development of young minds. We will celebrate their dedication, acknowledge the challenges, and re-ignite their passion that fuels this extraordinary journey in nurturing the next generation.
I.N.C.L.U.S.I.O.N & P.R.I.D.E skills – Let’s Talk About It!
Dionna Smith
Diving into discussions that will enhance your classrooms and connections with children/families. Focusing on: Interventions, Needs Assessments, Classroom Management, Utilization of Resources, Social-Emotional Development, Individualization, OARS & Nature vs. Nurture. Once you’ve adopted P.R.I.D.E (Prevention, Regulation of Behaviors, Inclusion, Diversity and Equity) skills, you will take away tips & tools necessary for a thriving environment!
Reading Giraffe — Where Books Run Wild!
Coach Derick Wilder
Reading is a key that opens the door to a lifetime of learning! In this interactive workshop, we’ll explore a variety of storytelling keys for turning picture books into fun, interactive, and active adventures. Teachers will learn methods for reading collaborative read-alongs, where we read WITH, not to, children. We’ll jump into games, role-playing, and activities built around our books’ storylines and characters. And I’ll give a behind-the-scenes peek at how children’s books are published, while providing a list of my all-time favorite titles!
Strengthening Connections
Anisa Poole
"Strengthening Connections" is a dynamic workshop designed for childcare professionals eager to deepen their engagement with families in meaningful ways. In this interactive session, we explore innovative strategies to align the childcare philosophy with the diverse needs and values of families. Participants will engage in hands-on activities and discussions, uncovering methods to create a more harmonious and inclusive environment. The workshop emphasizes the importance of collaborative communication, cultural sensitivity, and shared decision-making in fostering strong family-provider relationships. Through this transformative experience, childcare providers will gain practical skills to enhance family involvement, reinforcing a community-centered approach in childcare. Join us to empower your practice and build lasting, impactful connections with the families you serve.
STEM IN THE CLASSROOM
Ashley Priem
Explore Robots, Beebots & and Dash….learn about all the exciting ways to build and bring these great learning tools into your classroom. This training will help you explore a variety of ways to include STEM in your lesson ideas and the variety of benefits students gain through the exploration and use of STEM in the classroom. This training will be largely focused on the engineering process, the development of lessons, and the new computer science standards.
The Empowerment Factor: The Art of Self-Regulation & Well-Being for Early Childhood Champions
Dante Poole
The goal of this workshop is to arm early childhood educators with a wide range of useful skills and techniques that are supported by research and can be used outside of the classroom by offering this extensive session. Through exploring the complex terrain of self-regulation, participants will not only acquire priceless knowledge on how to properly manage stress and emotions, but they will also uncover methods for fostering their own well-being while building resilience. This immersive experience will go beyond traditional approaches, fostering a holistic view of self-regulation that not only enhances classroom dynamics but also lays the foundation for sustained well-being in the lives of dedicated early childhood professionals.
Farm to ECE in the classroom
Amanda Wilkins
Farm to ECE- Farm to Fork Connection Program- Want a one-hour or less program that packs a punch about local foods, plants and healthy eating? Then we have the model for you! NC Cooperative- Lee County Center Extension Agents have had a lot of success engaging older 3s and 4s with our Farm to Fork Connection (F2FC) Program. Join us to learn about the Farm to ECE Program, go through the F2FC Program, and learn how you can utilize the activities and Program in your center. The F2FC Program focus is on one seasonal fruit or vegetable (strawberries, peppers and potentially collards)!
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