2021 BRIGHT START CONFERENCE
PRELIMINARY PROGRAMME FOR SATURDAY, 20 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: Navigating the Parent/Family Relationship in Early Years Education Within an Autism Household
Description: This presentation will focus on interactions between family members and early years professionals. This will be delivered using both professional and parental perspectives. On completion, participants will have a greater understanding of the dynamics within an autism household. They will also be equipped with practical ways to discuss and share strengths focused insights into the child’s development.
TIME (GMT): 07:00 a.m. to 09:00 a.m.
TYPE: Workshop
TOPIC: Supporting Children on the Autism Spectrum to Follow Routines and Transitions
Description: For children who are on the autism spectrum, following routines can be difficult, as many parts of the routine contain situations or expectations that can be hard for them. Transitioning from one task to another or one situation to another can also be challenging. During this workshop, we will look at a range of visual supports that can be embedded in your daily practice to assist children in transitioning from one thing to another, and support them in expectations of routines. We will also learn what social stories are, how to develop them, and how to use them effectively to help children with understanding expectations, following routines and transitions, and learning appropriate social behaviours.
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: Best Practice Presentation
TOPIC: The Ins and Outs of Autonomous, Autistic Communication
Description: This presentation will provide background to the ways in which autistic communication has been supported in the past (such as P.E.C.S.) and highlight why these forms of communication have been denounced by the autistic community. It will go on to provide a variety of practical strategies a support person can use to make communication fun and interesting for the autistic child, and that will let them showcase their own unique strengths.
Speaker: Caolán McCarthy
TIME (GMT): 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.
TYPE: Workshop
TOPIC: Merging Technology for Reducing Stress and Emotional Dysregulation in Children with Autism
Description: Merging Technology with Evidence-Based Strategies In this workshop, Dr. Nuske will describe her work in developing the KeepCalm app, a National Institutes of Health-funded smart phone application that pairs with heart rate trackers to track children’s physiological stress, give teachers real-time individualized alerts of best strategies to use, and share best strategies across educational teams. She will also cover the strategies that have the most substantial evidence for addressing stress and emotional dysregulation in children with autism and how her technology can be merged with these evidence-based strategies for keeping children with autism calm, regulated and ready to learn in the classroom.
Speaker: Heather Joy Nuske, Penn Center for Mental Health, Department of Psychiatry, University of Pennsylvania, USA, PhD, Research Assistant Professor of Psychiatry.
TIME (GMT): 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.
TYPE: Best Practice Presentation
TOPIC: STEM for one, STEM for all: Strategies to Ensure All Children Have STEM Learning Opportunities
Description: STEM Innovation for Inclusion in Early Education Come learn about why it is important to include young children with disabilities in early STEM opportunities, and learn evidence-based practices and strategies to ensure each and every child is engaged in STEM learning opportunities.
TIME (GMT): 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.
TYPE: Interactive Workshop
TOPIC: Supporting Neurodiversity in the Gen-Ed Classroom
Description: An interactive workshop that helps create a classroom culture of calmness, inclusion, and productivity for all students, including those students on the autism spectrum. Participants will gain an overview of the ways the Neurodiverse learner presents in the classroom (and at home), develop a comprehensive understanding of the challenges and strengths of autism spectrum disorder (ASD), and the supports and accommodations that help build a harmonious learning environment. Learning about the possible environmental conditions and behavioral triggers that can lead to more challenging behaviors for our students on the spectrum, participants will learn evidence-based practices that can redirect challenging behaviors, alleviate anxiety and support all student learners. LEARNING OBJECTIVES Participants will: 1) Gain an understanding of the strengths and challenges of those on the autism spectrum and how autism-spectrum disorder (ASD) can present itself in the classroom. 2) Develop proficiency in creating and supporting a learning environment that best supports our children on the autism spectrum. 3) Create a “toolbox” of supports, tools and evidence-based practices that support the ASD learner. 4) Understand the most important and essential guiding principle in alleviating challenging behaviors in the classroom.
Speaker: Alan Aymie, Teach The Spectrum, Los Angeles, USA, SEL/Autism Support Specialist, CA Credentialed Educator, Author.
CONFERENCE TRACK 2
TIME (GMT): 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 a.m.
TYPE: Best Practice Presentation
TOPIC: Never too Early: Challenging Gender Stereotypes from the Early Years
Description: A root cause of the gender inequalities which persist throughout society, gender stereotypes limit children’s aspirations and outcomes from a young age, feeding children’s understanding of the world and expectations for their place in it. This session will explore how the gender stereotyping which surrounds children in every aspect of their lives finds its way into the school and nursery environment – through language, books, teaching and everyday interactions. The session will help practitioners to recognise stereotyping in their settings and reflect on their crucial role in challenging it. Learning objectives: Participants understand how big a shaping influence gender stereotyping is for children and why it matters; Participants recognise where gender stereotyping might appear in the school or nursery environment; Participants reflect on gender stereotyping and the role they can play in addressing it; Participants take away practical strategies for challenging gender stereotyping through their own practice.
TIME (GMT): 7:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m.
TYPE: Best Practice Presentation
TOPIC: Building Visual Arts Skills, Knowledge and Confidence and Demonstrating Art Methods and Processes
Description: Research suggests that many educators have little confidence to plan visual arts learning experiences for children. This lack of self-confidence, combined with limited visual arts skills and technical knowledge, often result in children being presented with structured, adult-designed templates to make, rather than being supported to develop meaningful relationships with quality arts materials and processes. This presentation will share video examples and demonstrations of visual arts methods, materials and processes to build the visual arts literacy of early childhood educators. Conference delegates will be pedagogically and creatively inspired to increase their repertoire of visual arts experiences and to position both the child and the educator as co-learners, co-researchers and co-teachers of the arts.
TIME (GMT): 7:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m.
TYPE: Workshop
TOPIC: Pedagogical Leadership in Early Childhood Education Settings: Kindergarten Leader as Coach and Mentor
Description: A wide pool of research into what makes a school successful in terms of student outcomes has pointed to the central importance of school leadership (Huber and Muijs 2010). Research has also indicated that a leader who is able to combine both transformational and pedagogical (or instructional) leadership is highly effective in raising standards. However, it is pedagogical leadership which has been identified as having the most significant positive impact (Day and Hammons 2016). Arguably pedagogical leadership has even more relevance in Early Childhood Education (ECE) settings, a critical phase of education where teaching and learning processes – and interactions between teacher and child – lay the foundation for personal, social, emotional, physical and cognitive development. Key aspects of pedagogical (or instructional) leadership are to ensure that teaching and learning is kept in the ‘spotlight’ as a core function of the school, and to provide practical support and guidance to teachers in relation to practice (Rodd 2012). This workshop will address the ‘what’ of pedagogical leadership, and then, in a series of practical activities, look at ‘how’ to support Early Childhood teachers towards quality practice with a focus on ECE leaders as coaches and mentors.
Speaker: Louise Anna Ruskin, United Kingdom, Senior Education Specialist.
TIME (GMT): 7:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m.
TYPE: Workshop
TOPIC: The Forgotten Domain in Child Development: The Physical Domain
Description: This workshop will explore why the physical domain is so important in child development and how it underpins the other four child development domains. Recent research highlighting the connection between brain development and child development will be explored. Additionally, significant time will be spent discussing practical and pedagogical resources for educators which are relevant and applicable to their setting. Several practical examples will be provided. This workshop will encourage educators to think broadly about the physical domain in relation to their setting, their resources, the type of learning experiences offered, vocabulary used in such learning experience, planning and observation relating to the physical domain and the importance of child and educator interactions to promote the physical domain. Globally there are few opportunities to participate in professional learning focusing on the physical domain, thus this workshop will provide an excellent opportunity for all educators.
Speaker: Rachel Jones, School of Education, Early Start, University of Wollongong, Australia, Senior Lecturer Faculty of the Arts, Social Sciences & Humanities.
TIME (GMT): 7:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m.
TYPE: Best Practice Presentation
TOPIC: What Our Little Boys Need to be Successful in Pre-Kindergarten and Kindergarten Classes
Description: How preschool teachers can recognize and understand the behaviour of boys in their group through the lens of curiosity and questioning? Learning Objectives: Expose teachers to the idea behind the Boy’s Code and why it is important that they know this; share best practices for the learning style of boys and how to incorporate this practically in the classroom.
Speaker: Kathryne Imabayashi.
TIME (GMT): 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
TYPE: Best Practice Presentation
TOPIC: Children’s Social and Emotional Development Beyond the Pandemic
Description: As we progress towards a post-lockdown world, this session brings together global leaders in Early Childhood Education and parents to discuss practical ways in taking forward learning from parental engagement practices over the last year to better support children’s social and emotional learning and development. This informative and interactive workshop includes contributions from both Early Years teachers and parent perspectives, covering: Learning from the highs and lows of family engagement in 2020 Examples of best practice for parental engagement in Early Years Understanding how to implement best practice in early years settings Practical ways to connect classroom and home activities to support children’s social and emotional learning Practical ways to build mutual trust and understanding between parents and schools Lorraine and her guests will also be discussing the exemplar Mouse Club project where schools reported transformed relationships with parents, greater openness and trust, and improved sleeping, eating, behaviour and language development in children.
Speakers: Lorraine Allman, Can-Do Child®,UK, Author, Educator, and International Consultant. Janet Davies, Parental Engagement Network (PEN), United Kingdom, Managing Director.
TIME (GMT): 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
TYPE: Best Practice Presentation
TOPIC: Earth Warriors: Play-Based Activities for 3-7 Year-Olds to Foster Their Love for Nature
Description: Earth Warriors is an early childhood education curriculum that uses play-based learning and a solutions-oriented approach to teach young children (3-7 year olds) about sustainability and climate change. This session will cover why climate and sustainability education is important from a young age and how to teach it in a play-based way. We will dive into climate change education, the benefits of play-based learning and how our activities and lessons work. We hope this session will be an informative, fun and useful time for participants to gain practical knowledge, tips and tools about climate education and apply learnings to their own classroom.
Speakers: Keya Lamba, Earth Warriors Global, United Kingdom, Co-Founder Earth Warriors Global, Early Childhood Education Specialist. Shweta Bahri, Earth Warriors Global, United Kingdom, Co-Founder, Sustainability & Education Policy Expert.
TIME (GMT): 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
TYPE: Research Presentation
TOPIC: How can Music and Movement Promote Learning in a Post-Covid World?
Description: Will learning be any different after Covid-19? What does research say about children’s experiences of lockdown and covid-19? This seminar will look at the latest research on early childhood experiences of Covid-19 and offer some guidance and practical support on how best to support young children to engage in learning using a music and movement philosophy. The session will provide both practical and theoretical content to inspire young children to become confident learners.
Speaker: Helen Battelley, Birmingham City University (CREC).
TIME (GMT): 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
TYPE: Workshop
TOPIC: Multidisciplinary Experience for Children: Nature Sings Through Colours and Shapes
Description: ‘How to explore nature and combine music, movement and land-art with children 5-6 YEARS ' In this multidisciplinary experience, nature is the muse and the source of inspiration. When young children are exposed to nature, they begin to interact with its offerings. In this practical workshop we will explain how to organize an atelier outside, where music and visual art are combined. Observing the land art of Andy Goldsworthy, inspires children to create outside. By doing this, the variety of loose parts encourage them to find and create patterns, explore the concepts of numbers and simple equations and ‘mathematize’ their thinking, using concepts such as colours, shapes, rhythm, movement, friction, tempo, connection, ... Their creations are captured with artistic techniques such as monotypes, frottages.. Meanwhile, they are asked to listen to the sounds around them and move. They will compose their own music inspired by the sounds of nature, using scores of natural material. Creating art in nature evokes joy and wonder but also commitment to the environment. This multidisciplinary experience wants to enable and deepen children’s 21st century skills of creativity, communication and collaboration, with an emphasis on sustainability.
Speakers: Sanne Calluwaerts, Erasmus Brussels University of Applied Sciences and Art, Belgium, Lecturer, Artistic Pedagogical Coach, Early Childhood Education Department. Joke Den Haese, Erasmus Brussels University of Applied Sciences and Arts (EhB), Lecturer ART-CULTURAL Education, Early Childhood.
TIME (GMT): 12:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m.
TYPE: Workshop
TOPIC: Director’s Workshop
Description: Captain of the Ship: Sailing your school to success with compassion and strength. Participants in this workshop will learn: How to eliminate certain phrases and words to achieve a successful solution to a problem; enrolment vs registration; leading with kindness vs commands; two breathing techniques to increase energy or calm oneself immediately; how to train children (and adults) to follow instructions without resistance; how to truly find out why or what a child or adult is hiding and what is really going on with them; two highly effective behavior management techniques to introduce to your entire staff; how to improve your closing numbers by connecting with a prospect on an emotional level; how to read and interpret body language to truly understand where a prospect is in their decision making process; two tools to improve time management while getting more done (stack and schedule breakdowns); understanding how Love Languages can transform your relationships with your staff.
Speaker: Ron Shuali, Florida, USA, M.Ed., Early Childhood Consultant, Founder of Yogarate, Author.
TIME (GMT): 12:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m.
TYPE: Panel Discussion
TOPIC: Creating Responsive Programs for Infants, Toddlers and Pre-schoolers: Relationship Based Approaches
Description: The session will explore the premise that loving, consistent relationships foster learning in early childhood settings. From the beginning young children depend and rely on their families and care givers to provide safe and nurturing environments so they can grow and thrive. This session will highlight important approaches that focus on social and emotional development of early learners. The panel will also share research findings that support these approaches and provide participants with engaging examples that bring relationship approaches to life.
Speakers: Calvin Moore, Council for Professional Recognition, USA, CEO, Child Development Associate (CDA).
Michelle L. Brown, Council for Professional Recognition, USA, Executive Vice President, Programs Division.
Amber Jones, CDA Council, USA, Pre-K Lead Teacher.
TIME (GMT): 12:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m.
TYPE: Best Practice Presentation
TOPIC: Early Childhood Music: Creative?
Description: In this presentation, Nicola will discuss creativity and will specifically explore music making in early childhood. Delegates will be invited to consider pedagogical approaches to early childhood music practice and how these approaches may or may not encourage creativity. Nicola will share elements of Musical Development Matters in the Early Years and will demonstrate how delegates can support children’s musicality, creativity and development. The presentation will also introduce delegates to Tune into Listening, her award-winning free resource that shares research findings of an active listening action research project.
Speaker: Nicola Burke, United Kingdom, Early Childhood Music Consultant, Strategic leader, Author, Researcher.
TIME (GMT): 12:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m.
TYPE: Workshop
TOPIC: To Climb Their Own Mountains: Creativity, Loris Malaguzzi and His Schools
Description: In this workshop, we will unwrap and deconstruct how creativity connects with art and knowledge through an investigation of Loris Malaguzzi’s thinking and pedagogy as expressed through the Pre-Schools of Reggio Emilia, his writing and conversation. Creativity is notoriously hard to pin down to a singular concept or way of seeing. As a process it is hard to define let alone identify processes that we can observe in young children. Malaguzzi and the Infant-Toddler and Pre-Schools of Reggio Emilia offer us a unique perspective to catch a glimpse of creativity in its everyday clothes in our own contexts and situations, not as a special mental faculty of a few, but as a way of knowing that is amplified in relational and social contexts. As artists, educators, teachers, and pedagogical leaders, we can learn how to curate and promote creativity in our own schools, classrooms, and environments when we activate pedagogical listening, reflection and exchange our points of view to energize learning through and between the 100 Languages of Children. Learning Objectives: To understand creativity from the point of view of Loris Malaguzzi ‘as a quality of thought’ that can be revealed in the everyday daily experiences of young children; to explore pedagogical approaches that support and promote creativity inspired by the Reggio Emilia Approach®; to consider ways in which to connect the ‘school of knowing’ with the ‘school of expressing’ through a re-consideration of the 100 Languages.
Speaker: Debi Keyte-Hartland.
TIME (GMT): 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.
TYPE: Panel Discussion
TOPIC: Active Play Every Day! Physical Activities to Promote Young Children’s Learning and Development
Description: Join the panel to discuss the role of movement in children’s development and the interplay of movement and academic readiness. Gather practical ideas for physical activities that can be enjoyed in small spaces without expensive equipment. Learn how to plan developmentally appropriate movement tasks to meet the needs of young children. Consider ways of structuring the environment to infuse physical activity throughout children’s day and of encouraging families of young children to enjoy physical activities together.
Speakers: Helena Baert, SUNY Cortland, USA, Associate Professor in Physical Education.
Diane H.Craft, State University of New York Cortland, USA, Professor, Physical Education Department.
Jeff Gehris, Temple University, USA, Associate Professor of Kinesiology.
TIME (GMT): 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.
TYPE: Presentation, Discussion and Workshop
TOPIC: Parents as Partners: Creating Meaningful Engagement to Better Support Children with ASD
Description: This part presentation, part discussion and activity workshop will help participants learn key strategies for meaningful family engagement to better support children who have special needs, in particular those on the autism spectrum. It gives an opportunity to listen and converse with experts and thought leaders who have extensive practical experience working with and supporting educators, families, and children with special needs. It includes: The importance of establishing parents as partners to maximise every child’s learning potential Areas requiring particular attention when supporting families with children on the autism spectrum Practical ways to build mutual trust and understanding between parents and schools.
Speaker: Lorraine Allman, Can-Do Child®,UK, Author, Educator, and International Consultant.
TIME (GMT): 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.
TYPE: Workshop
TOPIC: Pre-schoolers, Private Parts and Playmates: What’s Typical, What’s Not, and When to Really Worry
Description: Preschoolers are naturally curious about bodies – their friends’ and their own. They also love potty talk and aren’t shy about nudity. When you know what kinds of sexual behaviors in young children are typical and common and how to talk with parents about it, everyone is safer. Learning objectives: Analyzing the difference between sex play and sexualized play and when to be concerned; identifying and preventing sexual abuse; examination of typical childhood psychological and social sexual development and the common behaviors for each age group; techniques for interacting with children engaging in these behaviors – including scripts; how to evaluate a child's behavior by using a simple behavioral checklist.
Speaker: Amy Lang, Just Say This! Parental Guidance for the Birds & Bees Talks, Sexuality Educator.
