Created in 2007 by the Pennsylvania Office of Child Development and Early Learning (OCDEL), The Pennsylvania Key implements the work and supports the policies developed and managed by OCDEL. Learn More. >
Created in 2007 by the Pennsylvania Office of Child Development and Early Learning (OCDEL), The Pennsylvania Key implements the work and supports the policies developed and managed by OCDEL. Learn More. >Welcoming Remarks
Presenter: Angela Fitterer, Executive Deputy Secretary, Department of Education and Shante’ A. Brown, Deputy Secretary, Office of Child Development and Early Learning (OCDEL)
Audience: All Audiences
Location: Chocolate Ballroom
Keynote
Title: What Every Care Provider Needs to Know about Children with Behavior that Challenges Them
Presenters: Lise Fox, Ph.D.
Description: Knowing what to do when children have behaviors that challenge adults is one of the greatest needs of care providers. In this session, Lise Fox of the National Center for Pyramid Model Innovations will provide guidance on how to view behavior and respond effectively and confidently.
Audience: All Audiences
Location: Chocolate Ballroom
Documents:
Session C1
Title: Keeping Calm and Carrying On: Responding to Challenging Behavior in the Moment
Presenter: Dr. Lise Fox
Description: Knowing how to respond to behaviors that challenge adults is important for everyone in the classroom. Join this discussion to learn about the escalation cycle, when to step in, how to step back in supporting a child in distress, and strategies to help you keep calm and carry on.
Audience: Infant and toddler and preschool teachers and director specific information
Location: Magnolia A
Documents:
Session C2
Title: The Growing Brain From Birth to Five Years Old: Social-Emotional Development
Presenters: Dr. Donna Miller and Sue Ann Boyles, EITA Consultants
Description: Young children’s social-emotional development influences their academic and social success later in life. Caring and supportive relationships provide young children with a sense of comfort, safety, and confidence. This session will identify areas of the brain involved in social interactions and emotional interactions and look at how social-emotional development unfolds in the first five years of life.
Audience: Infant toddler age specific information; preschool age specific information; teacher specific information
Location: Wild Rose B
Documents:
Session C3
Title: Empowered to Navigating the Pain of Change
Presenter: Dr. Veirdre Jackson
Description: Many have heard the quote that “Change is inevitable. Growth is optional.” Growth stops when you lose the tension of where you are and where you could be. Successfully navigating a time of tension is possible if leaders are willing to explore 4 strategies to R.E.A.L. team growth and empowerment.
Audience: Directors and Leaders
Location: Empire A
Session C4
Title: OCDEL Social Emotional Resources that You Can Access Anytime.
Presenters: Lindsey Van Dyke, IECMH Supervisor & Lisa Gragg, EITA Consultant
Description: Looking for resources to help support young children develop positive social skills and to support staff’s implementation of effective strategies to decrease challenging behaviors? Connect with professionals during this session to learn where to access all the OCDEL and PA developed resources and trainings to support all your needs.
Audience: Infant toddler age specific information; preschool age specific information; director specific information; teacher specific information
Location: Empire C
Documents:
Session C5
Title: Self and Co Regulation Instructional Strategies for Young Children
Presenters: Toni Miguel, Ph.D and Kelly Fisher, EITA Consultants
Description: Explore effective teaching methods for helping young children learn to manage their emotions and work together in this conference session. Discover practical strategies that empower educators to create a supportive classroom environment, fostering skills like self-awareness and social competence. Participants will have the opportunity to practice embedding these skills into daily activities and routines.
Audience: Infant toddler age specific information; preschool age specific information; teacher specific information
Location: Magnolia B
Documents:
Session C6
Title: Let’s Build Some Brains
Presenters: Mike Brink, Assistant Director, EITA and Heather Powell, EITA Consultants
Description: The Brain Architecture Game provides a hands-on experience that helps develop an understanding of the powerful role experiences play on early brain development. Participants will learn what promotes or derails early brain development as they work together in teams to build a brain!
Audience: Infant toddler age specific information; preschool age specific information; director specific information, teacher specific information
Location: Empire B
Documents:
Session C7
Title: Behavior has Meaning
Presenters: Leah Tressler, Liz Gould, Clara Uhalde, and Shanta Austin, The Pennsylvania Key
Description: This session will help participants to understand the importance of children’s behavior as communication. We will analyze and interpret the meaning of children’s behavior and discuss how to create a team to better help find meaning behind the behaviors. Finally we will cover strategies to connect with children and respond to behaviors and build a supportive environment.
Audience: Infant toddler age specific information; preschool age specific information; director specific information; teacher specific information
Location: Magnolia C
Documents:
Session C8
Title: Teaching Social Problem Solving to Toddlers and Preschoolers
Presenters: Sue Zeiders, Project Manager, EITA
Description: This session will address instructional strategies for supporting young children social problem-solving skills in classroom settings. Participants will learn the developmental trajectory of social problem solving. They will learn evidence-based strategies for teaching social problem solving and access resources for communicating problem solving skills and knowledge to families.
Audience: Infant toddler age specific information; preschool age specific information; teacher specific information
Location: Magnolia D
Documents:
Session C9
Title: Big Emotions
Presenters: Lauren Walter and Betsey Saatman, The Pennsylvania Key
Description: When youth have big feelings, they may display them through behaviors. This course will help providers identify big feelings with the youth and provide techniques to manage the big feelings. An overview of brain development including trauma will be reviewed as well as preventative strategies that rely on the environment and the role of the teacher. Strategies including co-regulation and classroom management along with multiple tools will be shared.
Audience: School age specific information; director specific information; teacher specific information
Location: Empire D
Document:
Session C10
Title: An Introduction to Mindfulness: Strategies to Harness the Power of Pause
Presenter: Dr. Marnie Aylesworth, The Pennsylvania Key
Description: Mindfulness has the potential to build our capacity for happiness, even in the most challenging times. In this session we will delve into the research surrounding mindfulness and examine the benefits of practicing moments of presence and pause. We will practice some simple strategies and review resources to build personal practice.
Audience: Infant toddler age specific information; preschool age specific information; school age specific information; director specific information; teacher specific information; focus is on self-care of adults
Location: Wild Rose A
Documents:
Proclaiming that self-care is the antidote to the unprecedented challenges we face as early childhood professionals is not only out of touch, it is harmful. As a collective profession and with common humanity in the forefront of our minds, we will discuss the need for a community of care approach. We will discuss strategies for connection and resilience that go beyond the typical self-care strategies so that we can regain the power of pause and presence, equipping us for a life of well-being.
Session D1
Title: Action Planning Session (Central Region- Counties: Adams, Blair, Centre, Clinton, Cumberland, Dauphin, Franklin, Fulton, Huntington, Juniata, Lancaster, Lebanon, Lycoming, Mifflin, Northumberland, Perry, Snyder, Tioga, Union, York)
Presenter: First Up Staff and Conference Staff Support
Description: Join other early childhood educators and leaders from your region to talk about key reflections from this conference and ways to use new ideas and concepts in your own program or classroom.
Audience: All Audiences
Location: Magnolia A
Session D2
Title: Action Planning Session (Northeast Region- Counties: Berks, Bradford, Carbon, Columbia, Lackawanna, Lehigh, Luzerne, Monroe, Montour, Northampton, Pike, Schuylkill, Sullivan, Susquehanna, Wayne, Wyoming)
Presenter: First Up Staff and Conference Staff Support
Description: Join other early childhood educators and leaders from your region to talk about key reflections from this conference and ways to use new ideas and concepts in your own program or classroom.
Audience: All Audiences
Location: Magnolia D
Session D3
Title: Action Planning Session (Southeast Region- Counties: Bucks, Montgomery, Philadelphia, Chester, Delaware)
Presenter: First Up Staff and Conference Staff Support
Description: Join other early childhood educators and leaders from your region to talk about key reflections from this conference and ways to use new ideas and concepts in your own program or classroom.
Audience: All Audiences
Location: Empire A and B
Session D4
Title: OCDEL Social Emotional Resources that You Can Access Anytime.
Presenter: Lindsey Van Dyke, IECMH Supervisor & Lisa Gragg, EITA Consultant
Description: Looking for resources to help support young children develop positive social skills and to support staff’s implementation of effective strategies to decrease challenging behaviors? Connect with professionals during this session to learn where to access all the OCDEL and PA developed resources and trainings to support all your needs.
Audience: Infant toddler age specific information; preschool age specific information; director specific information; teacher specific information
Location: Empire C
Documents:
Session D5
Title: Self and Co Regulation Instructional Strategies for Young Children
Presenter: Toni Miguel, Ph.D and Kelly Fisher, EITA Consultants
Description: Explore effective teaching methods for helping young children learn to manage their emotions and work together in this conference session. Discover practical strategies that empower educators to create a supportive classroom environment, fostering skills like self-awareness and social competence. Participants will have the opportunity to practice embedding these skills into daily activities and routines.
Audience: Infant toddler age specific information; preschool age specific information; teacher specific information
Location: Magnolia B
Documents:
Session D6
Title: Let’s Build Some Brains
Presenters: Mike Brink, Assistant Director, EITA and Heather Powell, EITA Consultants
Description: The Brain Architecture Game provides a hands-on experience that helps develop an understanding of the powerful role experiences play on early brain development. Participants will learn what promotes or derails early brain development as they work together in teams to build a brain!
Audience: Infant toddler age specific information; preschool age specific information; director specific information, teacher specific information
Location: Empire B
Documents:
Session D7
Title: How to Use Predictable Schedules to Help Children (and Their Teachers) Navigate the Day
Presenter: Sue Ann Boyles, EITA Consultant
Description: Are you using your classroom schedule to give predictability and stability to your children (and yourself)? Do you find it difficult to balance your schedule and keep it consistent each day? Do you notice challenging behavior when the schedule changes? Learn about using your schedule to provide harmony throughout the preschool day in this session through collegial conversation and real-world examples.
Audience: Preschool age specific information; teacher specific information
Location: Wild Rose B
Documents:
Session D7
Title: Action Planning Session (Southwest Region- Counties: Allegheny, Armstrong, Beaver, Bedford, Butler, Cambria, Clearfield, Fayette, Greene, Indiana, Jefferson, Lawrence, Somerset, Washington, Westmoreland.)
Presenter: First Up Staff and Conference Staff Support
Description: Join other early childhood educators and leaders from your region to talk about key reflections from this conference and ways to use new ideas and concepts in your own program or classroom.
Audience: All Audiences
Location: Magnolia C
Session D8
Title: Big Emotions
Presenter: Lauren Walter and Betsey Saatman, The Pennsylvania Key
Description: When youth have big feelings, they may display them through behaviors. This course will help providers identify big feelings with the youth and provide techniques to manage the big feelings. An overview of brain development including trauma will be reviewed as well as preventative strategies that rely on the environment and the role of the teacher. Strategies including co-regulation and classroom management along with multiple tools will be shared.
Audience: School age specific information; director specific information; teacher specific information
Location: Empire D
Document:
Session D9
Title: Child Care and Early Intervention: Working Together to Support All Children and the Adults Who Care for Them
Presenter: Dr. Jennifer Furness and Melissa Mecke, EITA Consultants
Description: Early Intervention is partnering with child care to learn specific supports called Embedded Instruction so that children are fully engaged throughout daily routines and adults are competent and confident in their ability to teach all children.
Audience: Infant toddler age specific information, preschool age specific information, director specific information, teacher specific information
Location: Wild Rose A
Documents: