Early Childhood

Professional Development Manual Home | Special Event Offerings | 2024-25 Learning Opportunities

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E-1 Fun, Phonemes and Future Reading Success

Presenter

• Jodie Dittmar, M.S., Education Specialist

Intended Audience

Educators, Families, and Care Providers

Time

2 hours

Format

In Person or Virtual

Summary

Research has shown that the foundations to reading success begin as early as infancy. If you are a parent, care provider, or early childhood educator, this workshop will clarify key features of evidence-based, structured literacy instruction and how it applies to the very young child.

Specific focus will be given to phonological and phonemic awareness skills developed between birth and first grade. Evidence-based resources and practical activities for teachers, families, and care providers will be shared.

Participants will be able to answer

• What is phonological awareness and how do we enhance it through fun, developmentally appropriate activities?
• What is a phoneme, and what are the phonemes of the English language?
• What might we consider for the child who struggles to communicate adequately in the English language?
• How do we set a strong foundation in these (and other) pre-reading skills?

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E-2 Making Every Day a Learning Day

Presenter

• Jodie Dittmar, M.S., Education Specialist

Intended Audience

Preschool and Kindergarten Teachers, Speech-Language Pathologists, Parents, and Care Providers

Time

2 hours

Format

Virtual

Summary

Language, concepts, communication, and relationships can all be strengthened in child centered and child driven active learning. This workshop provides insight and ideas for enhancing engagement and learning in everyday tasks, routines and play. Related technology, learning and behavior considerations, as well as interaction with others, will be included.

Participants will be able to

• Better utilize child-centered developmental opportunities for learning within typical daily activities.
• Hear/see examples of language and concept learning in typical activities of a young child's day.
• Gain insight into addressing children's developmental limits, risks, and growth.
• Enhance activities for immediate application in early childhood home or school settings.

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E-3 Planting the Seeds of Early Literacy

Presenter

• Jodie Dittmar, M.S., Education Specialist

Intended Audience

Early Childhood Educators, School Psychologists, Administrators, Teachers, School Nurses, Speech-Language Pathologists (SLPs), Paraeducators, and Parents

Time

2 to 2.5 hours

Format

In Person or Virtual

Summary

Communication competence and becoming college, career, and community ready begins in early childhood. The benefits to talking, singing, and reading to young children has been demonstrated in the science of reading as well. Activities will be explored to assist parents and educators in ensuring a good foundation for every young child. Research, resources, examples, and practice will be included in this fun, interactive workshop.

Participants will be able to

• Describe language, print, and experiential foundations for building literacy skills.
• Practice interactive everyday activities to enhance early phonological, vocabulary, and language skills.
• Consider specific children's books as they apply to child development, language, and learning.
• Walk away with evidence-based practices to ensure good foundations in language and structured literacy (for later concept understanding, text comprehension, and classroom success).

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E-4 Shaping Positive Early Childhood Behaviors

Presenter

• Jodie Dittmar, M.S., Education Specialist

Intended Audience

Special and General Education Teachers, Administrators, Speech-Language Pathologists (SLPs), School Psychologists, Parents, School Nurses, Paraprofessionals

Time

2 hours

Format

In Person or Virtual

Summary

Children's behavior is dependent on developmental level as well as impacted by parenting and discipline styles of adults who support them. An important task for adults is to help the child learn which behaviors are appropriate and which behaviors are not, as well as the skills to be successful. The way children are parented and supported when young also influences the child's learning and social emotional development. This training will provide participants an overview of the developmental levels of children 12 months to 5 years old, as well as explore varied styles of parenting and behavior support.

Participants will

• Become familiar with typical development and behaviors associated with each level of development.
• Utilize child developmental level information to explore problematic and typical behaviors.
• Consider styles of parenting/discipline, websites, and resources for further exploration.
• Consider evidence-based strategies in behavior and social emotional support.

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E-5 Managing Meltdowns; Impacts of Emotions and the "Rage Cycle" for Young Children

Presenter

• Jodie Dittmar, M.S., Education Specialist

Intended Audience

Teachers, Paraprofessionals, Speech-Language Pathologists, School Psychologists, Administrators, Parents, School Nurses, and Families

Time

2 to 3 hours

Format

Virtual

Summary

This workshop is beneficial to parents or educators dealing with children's difficult behaviors and "meltdowns" at home or in the classroom. Special consideration will be given to the communicatively challenged child (including child's age, development, and emotional stress). Research regarding the "rage cycle" will be shared, as well as helpful considerations in addressing behaviors in young children (or older students with limited communication or frequent "meltdowns").

Participants will consider

• Frequent reasons for childhood "meltdowns" at home and in school.
• Myths when addressing emotional outbursts, defiance, and "meltdowns."
• The "Rage Cycle" and intervention related considerations for communicatively challenged children of any age.

Please note: This workshop can be adapted to meet the needs of any age group, student needs, or setting.

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E-6 Growing Strong: Supporting Kids' Resilience and Well-being - New

Presenter

• Dení Dayan, School Psychologist, Licensed Educational Psychologist (LEP)

Intended Audience

Early Childhood Educators

Time

6 hours

Format

In-person

Summary

Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) have been shown to have long term consequences for health outcomes. In this workshop, we will explore how positive childhood experiences can mitigate those negative outcomes and promote long term health and wellbeing.

Participants will

• Describe the impact of trauma on the developing brain
• Learn evidence-based interventions and protective factors
• Learn ways to promote wellbeing and avoid burnout

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E-7 Enhancing Early Childhood Education (ECE) Teacher-Child Interactions with PRIDE (Praise, Reflection, Imitation, Description, and Enthusiasm) Skills - New

Presenter

• Dení Dayan, School Psychologist, LEP

Intended Audience

Early Childhood Educators

Time

1.5 hours

Format

In-person

Summary

This workshop introduces the PRIDE skills from Teacher-Child Interaction Therapy (TCIT). Participants will learn practical ways to incorporate praise, reflection, imitation, description, and enthusiasm (PRIDE) into daily interactions to support emotional and social development. Benefits of TCIT include improved educator job satisfaction, enhanced teacher-child interactions, reduced disruptive behaviors, and increased student compliance, self-regulation, and emotional intelligence, particularly for children with challenging behaviors.

Participants will

• Name and Describe the 5 PRIDE Skills
• Practice and Demonstrate the 5 PRIDE Skills
• Explore the benefits of using PRIDE Skills

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E-8 Co-Regulation Techniques for ECE - New

Presenter

• Dení Dayan, School Psychologist, LEP

Intended Audience

Early Childhood Educators

Time

3 hours

Format

In-person

Summary

Learn how to effectively co-regulate with young children, helping them develop self-regulation skills through supportive adult-child interactions. In this trauma-informed workshop for early childhood educators, participants will explore how the brain responds to stress, with a focus on a bottom-up approach to verbal de-escalation. By gaining a clear understanding of how the brainstem, limbic system, and cortex function under pressure, staff will learn compassionate and effective verbal strategies to de-escalate challenging situations with young children. Participants will leave with practical tools to calm the brain, helping to restore regulation in both themselves and the children they support.

Participants will

• Define co-regulation and its importance in early childhood.
• Practice co-regulation strategies.
• Learn verbal de-escalation techniques that align with the brain's stress response system.