2021 BRIGHT START CONFERENCE
PRELIMINARY PROGRAMME FOR FRIDAY, 19 NOVEMBER 2021
Conference Track 1: For children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and special educational needs & disabilities (SEND).
Conference Track 2: For typically developing children (ECD).
WHEN REGISTERING DON'T FORGET TO USE THE CODE 'EdCentral' TO CLAIM YOUR 20 EURO DISCOUNT!
CONFERENCE TRACK 1
TIME (GMT): 07:00 a.m. to 09:00 a.m.
TYPE: Best Practice Presentation
TOPIC: First Steps: Empowering the Autistic Child with the Foundations for Self-Advocacy and Life Skills
Description: This presentation will outline the intricacies of autism from a strengths-focused and rights-based standpoint. Attendees will be equipped with practical strategies to ensure the child’s autonomy and wellbeing are central, while garnering an understanding of how important it is to include and listen to the child’s perspective always. Ultimately, in doing so, this will equip participants to ensure that every autistic child in their care will be afforded equitable opportunity to realise their potential.
Speaker: Sharon McCarthy, Autism Journeys, Ireland, Founding Director.
TIME (GMT): 07:00 a.m. to 09:00 a.m.
TYPE: Practical Workshop
TOPIC: Supporting Children with Sensory Needs
Description: Many children (in particular those on the autism spectrum) have sensory sensitivities that make daily situations very difficult for them, and can result in very challenging behaviors. For children who have particular sensory sensitivities, the world can sometimes be overwhelming. During this session we will explore our different senses and what hyper (over) and hypo (under) sensitivity looks like in each area, and how to determine the sensory issues children might be experiencing. We will consider ways to respond to sensory needs and share some recipes/ideas to respond to different sensory needs. This will include a range of practical and inexpensive suggestions of ways to modify the environment, and resources to make that might support children within your services.
Speaker: Jane Warren, School of Education, University of Wollongong, Australia, Lecturer, Early Years, Faculty of Social Sciences.
TIME (GMT): 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
TYPE: Practical Workshop
TOPIC: Documenting Student Progress Over Time for Students with Special Needs
Description: Have you ever found yourself surrounded by millions of binders and clipboards attempting to capture your learning support students' progress over time? I sure have! There is a large body of research that tells us that when we document student progress over time students learn more, teacher decision making improves, and students become more aware of their own performance. Yet putting this into practice still eludes many of us. I created STEP: Strategic Tracking of Educational Progress to help solve this specific problem. Join me for an interactive conversation about the theory behind monitoring student progress, especially those with special needs and on the Autism spectrum, how STEP can help save your school time, involving the whole student team including the parents, and my preferred method for sharing information to reduce transition time. Along the way, you'll have the opportunity to see STEP from the inside.
Speaker: April Remfrey, Mundo Pato Inc./ UnitusTI, Author of STEP - Strategic Tracking of Educational Progress.
TIME (GMT): 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
TYPE: Best Practice Presentation
TOPIC: Supporting the Development of Emotional Awareness and Regulation in Young Autistic Children
Description: This presentation will look at recent advances in our understanding of how sensory inputs impact on autistic individuals and on the development of autistic children’s awareness and understanding of their own emotions. It provides some strategies for supporting autistic children’s development of their own bodily and emotional awareness and strategies for supporting their regulation. Micaela will also offer a means to successfully support an autistic child’s transition from early years settings to primary school.
TIME (GMT): 12:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m.
TYPE: Keynote Presentation
TOPIC: Voices of Children International Project: Honoring Children’s Right to Influence the World
Description: Supported by the World Forum Foundation, the Voices of Children International Project draws on artworks, photographic images and written responses contributed by children all over the world and from diverse backgrounds and circumstances. Children can and should influence the world around them. Through art children are empowered to share what is special about their lives, producing and creating individual and unique responses to share with other children across the world. This session will describe the project and its objectives, share available resources and explain how schools and educators can get involved.
Speakers: Dimitri A. Christakis, Chair Bright Start Foundation, Editor in Chief, JAMA Pediatrics, Director, Center for Child Health at Seattle Children’s Research Institute.
Ian Brown, Honorary Professor, University of Wollongong, NSW, Australia.
Christopher Bailey, Arts and Health Lead, World Health Organization, Geneva, Switzerland.
TIME (GMT): 12:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m.
TYPE: Best Practice Presentation
TOPIC: Early Autism Intervention: Parent Coaching
Description: Parent Coaching in the Early Start Denver Model: Tools and Tips for Family-Centered Planning, Practice, and Problem-Solving This workshop is for early intervention providers or educators looking for strategies to expand their coaching skills and session style with families. Some coaching in early autism intervention can take a “do it like this,” expert-driven style that unintentionally leaves parents always looking to the provider for answers or solutions. Learn how the parent coaching practices of the Early Start Denver Model (P-ESDM; Rogers, Vismara, & Dawson, 2021) instead look to parents and caregivers as partners in deciding children’s learning goals and how to best support them with the coaching topics and ideas we share.
Speaker: Laurie A. Vismara, Early Start Denver Model (ESDM), USA, PhD, BCBA-D, Therapist, Researcher, and Author in early autism intervention.
TIME (GMT): 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.
TYPE: Research Presentation
TOPIC: An Ounce of Prevention: Proactively Addressing Challenging Behaviors in Children with ASD
Description: Both research and practice suggest that it is much more effective to try to prevent problem behaviors from occurring in children with ASD than to react to the behaviors after they have happened. This presentation will present a toolbox of evidence-based strategies that can be used to effectively prevent a variety of challenging behaviors in children with Autism Spectrum Disorder and other disabilities.
Speaker: Nancy Rosenberg, University of Washington, USA, Professor in the Special Education department, Director Applied Behavior Analysis program.
TIME (GMT): 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.
TYPE: Workshop
TOPIC: How do Children with Autism Learn?
Description: Children diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) are capable of learning vast amounts of material in specific areas - yet, they often show learning delays across multiple domains. Additionally, they show an intact ability to learn from the outcomes of their own actions, but difficulties learning from others’ actions and communication. What is the nature of these puzzling phenomena? This workshop will address this question by examining recent scientific research on early learning processes in children with ASD. Using innovative methodologies, research is unveiling the mechanisms through which early learning in typical development is built on the child’s self-directed engagement with their social environment, and how in young children with ASD this process is complicated by differences in early emerging attentional, motivational, and cognitive processes that support engagement with people and objects. Implications for adapting clinical and educational interventions to the unique learning style of children with ASD will also be discussed.
Speaker: Giacomo Vivanti, A.J. Drexel Autism Institute, Drexel University, Philadelphia, USA, PhD, Associate Professor.
TIME (GMT): 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.
TYPE: Workshop
TOPIC: How to Systematically Increase Toddler and Children’s Tolerance for Direct Intervention Schedule
Description: This workshop is designed to provide a framework for systematically increasing toddler and young children’s (to age 6) tolerance for direct intervention sessions. Developmental appropriateness of direct intervention schedule length and locations will be discussed in the context of identifying barriers to learning availability. In addition the frequent recommendation for intensive early intervention hours will be discussed in relationship to a developmental scope and sequence framework. Participants should come prepared to learn more about schedules of reinforcement and functions of behavior with regard to both intervention scheduling and goal arrangement.
Speaker: Stacey Shook, Northwest Behavioral Associates, USA, Ph.D., BCBA-D, LBA Director
CONFERENCE TRACK 2
TIME (GMT): 07:00 a.m. to 09:00 a.m.
TYPE: Practical Workshop
TOPIC: ‘Routine Matters’ in Early Childhood Education and Care
Description: Educators play an important role in establishing a pedagogical approach that promotes effective learning through creating quality environments and practices. An aspect of every Early Childhood Education & Care (ECEC) setting is the routine, or the structuring of the day. This practical workshop will present the findings of current research that focuses on the importance of responsive and context-specific routines in ECEC. A range of routine designs will be presented, and a discussion of the value of various routine strategies. Through consideration of the use of time, place and space in ECEC, innovative and accessible strategies will be presented. Promoting sustainable, playful and engaging approaches to pedagogy and practice experiences that support learning outcomes of children will be central to these approaches.
Speaker: Karen Tonge, University of Wollongong, Australia, PhD., Lecturer in The Early Years program, Leader Early Years Professional Experience program.
TIME (GMT): 07:00 a.m. to 09:00 a.m.
TYPE: Best Practice Presentation
TOPIC: How to Plan and Implement a Series of Connected Learning Experiences Based on Children’s Interests
Description: What happens to children’s engagement and attitude to learning when they are asked to complete activities about topics that do not ignite their interests? This presentation will support educators to consider ways to design integrated and meaningful holistic curriculum projects with children that cater to children’s interest, learning styles and multiple intelligences. Examples of practice will highlight the features and share strategies for integrating the curriculum. Rather than compartmentalising topics and domains, this approach to planning the curriculum honours the child and positions them as capable and confident learners. Educators will be encouraged to embrace their own creativity and love of learning in order to foster purposeful and playful inquiry-based learning that is relevant to the children they work with.
Speaker: Gai Lindsay, University of Wollongong, Australia, BEd-The Early Years.
TIME (GMT): 07:00 a.m. to 09:00 a.m.
TYPE: Best Practice Presentation
TOPIC: How to Unpack an Artwork with Young Children
Description: What is an artwork? What is an artist? What processes or practices do artists undertake? It is important for educators and parents and especially young children, to gain an understanding of these important areas. Young children need to critically engage with real artworks, visit museums and communicate openly about artworks. What skills are required by educators and parents to help young children ‘unpack’ an artwork? This presentation will use a variety of artworks and artists to enable young children to see, understand and communicate their ideas about art. The presentation will provide questioning and visual thinking strategies for educators and parents to enable children to better understand and enjoy artworks, while gaining a greater understanding of the processes artists use to produce art.
Speaker: Ian Brown, University of Wollongong, NSW Australia, Honorary Professor.
TIME (GMT): 07:00 a.m. to 09:00 a.m.
TYPE: Presentation
TOPIC: The A to E of Young Children’s Creativity in STEAM Inquiry Projects
Description: Around the world we see children thinking creatively and discovering through STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics) inquiry in their everyday activities and through their play. As children inquire, they can pose their own questions, make predictions, try out new construction ideas and playfully use digital devices in artistic ways. Children use their five senses to answer questions, talk about their ideas and creatively represent their understandings. Through STEAM inquiry, children are learning through a cross- disciplinary approach where they apply concepts from multiple fields, think creatively, problem solve and construct artistic solutions and representations. In this presentation we will share the innovative A to E of Young Children’s Creativity Framework and explore how educators design of STEAM learning environments and pedagogical practices can impact on children’s opportunities for creative thinking and doing. We will share examples of STEAM inquiry projects from early years centers and explore how in practice children’s creativity can be positioned as a social, interactional and a meaningful process, rather than being simply focused on a product.
TIME (GMT): 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
TYPE: Practical Workshop
TOPIC: ‘From Rattle to Rocket’: How to Create an Early Arts Laboratory in Your Settings
Description: The project "From Rattle to Rocket" focuses on toddlers (2-3y), who are invited to the Early Arts Laboratory in your settings to experiment with materials, movement, techniques & sounds, to make their imagination and curiosity visible. Early Childhood educators are invited to stimulate each child at their own level and encourage them to actively participate. The module starts from the concept ‘the environment as the third pedagogue’ and adds abstract art as a source of inspiration. In this Practical workshop we will present the step by steps process to construct an adapted space, using inspiring found objects and loose parts, combining as many artistic languages ( the 100 languages) as possible into a stimulating whole. Young visitors, our toddlers are invited to explore as small artists themselves and as such become an inspiration to all. Based on observation, Early Years educators stimulate the experience with toddlers by guiding them, interacting with them and taking the role of the second pedagogue. They document these inspiring moments to reflect and deepen the experience.
TIME (GMT): 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
TYPE: Practical Workshop
TOPIC: Pyjama Drama Techniques and Imaginative Play
Description: Join Pyjama Drama founder, Sarah Owen, and learn two simple drama techniques that will boost children's physical, as well as social and emotional, well-being and change the way you approach play with 3-5-year-olds forever! Even if you have no experience of drama, or consider yourself to be naturally shy, you will be able to master these techniques in no time and use them immediately with the children you work with. What will I learn? How imaginative play supports key areas of learning and development How to create an imaginary world using two Pyjama Drama techniques* How to use these techniques to deliver a Pyjama Drama game to 3-5-year-olds.
Speaker: Sarah Owen, Pyjama Drama Ltd, United Kingdom, Founder.
TIME (GMT): 11:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.
TYPE: Best Practice Presentation
TOPIC: Nature, Culture, Adventure: Raising Children with Ecological Identity
Description: Connection with nature is essential for children’s holistic wellbeing. Raising children with strong ecological identity is also core for the sustainable development of human society. However, in a period where neoliberalism is the dominant theory of education policies and practice, nature-based education is rather marginal in many countries. This presentation is going to explore how practitioners in city nurseries could strengthen children’s ecological identity and boosting their cultural capital by being the co-adventurer of children in ‘city nature’. Case studies of Chinese nursery will be presented.
Speaker: Huan Chen, Early Years International Academy, Founder, Director.
TIME (GMT): 11:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
TYPE: Best Practice Presentation
TOPIC: Different Types of Kindergarten Activities to Promote Children’s Development
Description: Daily activities, group activities and learning area activities together constitute children's daily life in the kindergarten. These different types of activities not only have their own value, but also are related to each other. They form an inseparable whole in children's lives. Teachers should value different types of activities and their experiential connections, so that children can learn in life. This presentation is based on the 3-6 Years Old Children’s Learning and Development Guide published by DfE. Using rich curriculum case studies, I would like to present the implementation of various activities and how they relate to each other, as well as demonstrate how teachers can respond to children's individualized learning needs. Teachers themselves are also experiencing the fun of living and growing together with children in different types of activities, as well as love and care in life.
Speaker: Li Ye, Nanjing Holistic Education Research Institute, China, Director of teaching and Research Department.
TIME (GMT): 12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m.
TYPE: Workshop
TOPIC: Lyrics to Literacy: Read a Song and Sing a Book
Description: Join a picture book author and illustrator as she introduces her books-as-songs, sing along and add in American sign language to augment the learning. Debbie Clement will teach several of her most popular songs and dances that were designed with brain research in mind. Participants will be introduced to new and original songs for children that scaffold one verse upon the next. Participants will be introduced to songs with a strong rhyme structure, that helps anticipate ‘what comes next.’ Participants will be engaged in movement songs that unfold in a patterned sequence.
Speaker: Debbie Clement, Rainbows Within Reach, USA, Educator, Author and Illustrator.
TIME (GMT): 12:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m.
TYPE: Keynote Presentation
TOPIC: Voices of Children International Project: Honoring Children’s Right to Influence the World
Description: The Voices of Children International Project draws on artworks, photographic images and written responses contributed by children all over the world and from diverse backgrounds and circumstances. Children can and should influence the world around them. Through art children are empowered to share what is special about their lives, producing and creating individual and unique responses to share with other children across the world. This session will describe the project and its objectives, share available resources and explain how schools and educators can get involved.
Speakers: Dimitri A. Christakis, Chair Bright Start Foundation, Editor in Chief, JAMA Pediatrics, Director, Center for Child Health at Seattle Children’s Research Institute.
Ian Brown, Honorary Professor, University of Wollongong, NSW, Australia.
Christopher Bailey, Arts and Health Lead, World Health Organization, Geneva, Switzerland.
TIME (GMT): 12:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m.
TYPE: Workshop
TOPIC: Building Brains with Music
Description: Repeatedly, research has shown that music is the only activity that utilizes the entire brain. Combining that with knowing that the early years are the ones where we make the most difference, this workshop demonstrates through movement and activity how to use music to build brains. Come get energized about what you do while becoming engaged with stimulating lecture and activities. Mar. will share brain research findings and give you ways to use them that will help in all areas of development while having fun. Make learning enjoyable for you and the children! Objectives 1. Attendees will gain an understanding of the connection between brain research findings and implementing them through music; 2. Participants will feel confident to begin using these strategies immediately; and 3. Attendees will be able to use the information about brain research and music and apply it to curriculum.
Speaker: Maryann (Mar) Harman, Music with Mar.™ program, USA, Founder.
TIME (GMT): 12:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m.
TYPE: Case Study
TOPIC: Thriving in a Responsive Classroom
Description: Providing responsive care and interactions are at the heart of teaching, yet many educators don’t have a clear idea of what that looks like in an early childhood classroom. It is so much more than just “caring for young children and meeting their immediate needs.” Will go deeper and take a closer look at the important role of the educator as they lay the foundation of the young developing brain between birth- 5 years of age. Participants will learn strategies to help manage challenging and disruptive behaviors displayed in their classrooms by gaining a better understanding of what brain states are in action (Survival, Emotional or executive), what the children are trying to communicate through their behaviors while chasing the “why” behind the behavior. How stress can factor into what the educator and the students are experiencing. We will discuss practical strategies to help the educators on a daily basis. At the end of the training, participants will be able to: Describe brain development and how it impacts behavior in the classroom Identify the different types of stress and their effects on children and adults Explain the importance of self-regulation and creating a mindful classroom.
Speaker: Prerna Richards, Together We Grow, USA, Early Childhood Education Leader, Master Trainer, CEO & Founder.
TIME (GMT): 12:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m.
TYPE: Research Presentation
TOPIC: International Lessons on Children’s Early Development
Description: “If the race is already halfway run even before children begin school, then we clearly need to examine what happens in the earliest years.” (Esping-Andersen, 2005) Panel Discussion: “Professional Development, Quality of Teaching and Child Development in Early Childhood? Findings from a Randomised Controlled Trial of the Leadership for Learning Intervention” “OECD evidence on risk factors and increasing resilience among children in the early years” “Social-emotional skills: the key to building strong early learning”.
Speakers: Iram Siraj, Oxford University, United Kingdom, Professor of Child Development and Education.
Rowena Phair, Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), France, Project Leader in the Education and Skills Directorate.
TIME (GMT): 1:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m.
TYPE: Workshop
TOPIC: Supporting Social-Emotional Development with Effective Policies and Practices
Description: Evidence clearly identifies social and emotional competence as the early foundation of later development and learning. What supports are needed to build such competence? How has Covid-19 created both challenges and opportunities for improvement? During this session participants will hear about policies and practices that are designed to support the social and emotional development for children birth to age five, with an emphasis on the pre-school years.
Speaker: Marilou Hyson, The World Bank, UNICEF, USA, Senior Consultant, Early Childhood Development and Education.
TIME (GMT): 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.
TYPE: Best Practice Presentation
TOPIC: Coding and Computational Thinking: Empowering Early Childhood Educators with Technology
Description: This presentation will guide early childhood teacher educators, teachers and policy makers to use appropriate technological tools. The session will focus on both coding on electronic devices (e.g. Toontastic, ScratchJr.) and robotic devices without screens (e.g. Bee-Bot, KIBO, ThinkFun). The focus of the activities that we will describe encourage students to be active creators of their learning. We will share examples of students using these technology tools and offer suggestions for implementation in early childhood classrooms. The session will include suggestions and resources available for teachers, teacher educators, and students to create a platform to begin using digital tools and evaluate how to select and use digital media.
TIME (GMT): 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.
TYPE: Workshop
TOPIC: Lessons in the Greatness Chair
Description: In this session you will learn six powers to bring out the greatness in students. Combining elements of the Nurtured Heart Approach, Positive Psychology, Attachment and Polyvagal theory, learn practical fun activities for cutting edge SEL application in the classroom. Learning Objectives: 1. Learn the importance of relationship versus behavior management 2. Introduction to the six powers of greatness parenting/teaching 3. Understand the importance of adult self-regulation for child self-regulation. 4. Learn how to apply the Greatness Chair in your classroom to build emotionally rich experiences to promote inner strength and resilience.
Speaker: Kathleen Friend, Nurtured Heart Approach, USA, MD Child Psychiatrist, Spiritual Mentor, Author, Speaker and Advanced Trainer.
TIME (GMT): 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.
TYPE: Panel Discussion
TOPIC: Making the Most out of Early Childhood Assessment Practices and Information
Description: In this session, experts in early childhood assessment will discuss the ways in which the process of child assessment is continuous, comprehensive, and integrated into the day-to-day classroom practices. In addition, the presenters will discuss how to use assessment information for purposes that will both inform instruction and be used to benefit children’s learning and development.
Speaker: Dominic F. Gullo, School of Education, Social and Behavioral Sciences, Drexel University, USA, Ph.D., Professor of Early Childhood Education, Director, The McNichol Early Childhood Education Lab.
TIME (GMT): 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.
TYPE: Workshop
TOPIC: Teaching Literacy Through Music and Movement – ‘Zipper Songs’
Description: Using songs as Shared Reading texts, children 3-5 years old learn literacy skills, and have a lot of fun. Zipper songs provide an opportunity for modeled, interactive, or independent writing, depending on the level of the student. Join us to learn some super-fun songs that you and your kids will love and discover new avenues into literacy. Let's sing into reading! In this practical workshop participants will learn: the components of a Balanced Literacy program. what Shared Reading is, and how to teach a Shared Reading text in the classroom over five days. why it is important to sing with children every day. what a zipper song is, how to use a zipper song to facilitate Shared Reading, Modeled Writing, Interactive Writing, Independent Writing (or Drawing), and Illustration as a Comprehension exercise. songs to use in the classroom.
Speaker: Risa Beth Cohen, Sing Into Reading ‘Teach your children to read with music and love’, USA, Creative Director.
