Chicago Metro AEYC ∙ Action for Children ∙ M.O.S.T.

Browse workshops by schedule
(Workshop listings are subject to change, pending additions and cancellations. Listings are updated regularly; please check this site frequently for updates and additions. Full descriptions and locations will appear in the final conference program.)

Thursday             Friday            Saturday            [view by track or topic area]

Thursday

9:00-10:30

Advocacy/Public Policy
Creating Change in Child Care from the Ground Up: Advocacy and Organizing

Children & Violence
Disaster, Disease and Devastation: Helping children cope with crisis
Mandated Reporting of Suspected Child Abuse and Neglect

English Language Learners
ACCESS, The State Test for English Language Learners: Its implications in the classroom

Equity & Diversity
Beginnings of Bias
Family & Community Relationships
Music at Home, Music at School: Creating an extended musical family
Real Men Read

Family & Community Relationships
Music at Home, Music at School: Creating an Extended Musical Family
Real Men Read

Family Child Care
Changed, Fed, Now What? Activities for infants and toddlers

Infant/Toddler
Identifying Mental Health Concerns in Infants and Toddlers
Learn About the Illinois Infant Toddler Credential
Safe Sleep - Safe Crib
Scoop, Dump, and Swish! Let's Get Them Talking: Cooking activities to support toddler language development

Kindergarten & Primary
The Sounds of Our Language: Oral language and phonemic awareness

Out of School Time
Bias and Stereotypes: Assessing children's literature

Preschool (3-5)
"Hands On" Approach to Sensory Learning
Beyond Time Out: Effective Strategies for Challenging Behaviors
Books and Emergent Curriculum: How to Promote Oral Language Development and Inquiry-Based Learning Using
Outstanding, Multicultural Picture Books
From Attachment to Separation: Developmental Phases of the Preschool Year
It's Not Junk To Me
Math Matters!
Music: The Key for Learning

Special Needs
Effects of ADHD on Cognitive Function and Learning: Maximizing the classroom experience

9:00 - 12:00

Preschool (3-5)
Becoming an Early Childhood Action Research Teacher

11:00-12:30

Accreditation
Introduction to the Early Childhood Environment Rating Scale (ECERS-R)

Administration & Program Operations
On The Front Line: Legal issues for direct care staff
The Best School Ever Made: How school design supports children's learning

Advocacy/Public Policy
Getting the Media's Attention and Other Impossible Feats!

Career Development
Alphabet Soup: BA, AAS, AA, CDA - What's Best for Me?

Children & Violence
"He Pushed Me!" Conflict Resolution in an Early Childhood Classroom

Faith Based Programs
Holiday Programs as Class Projects

Family & Community Relationships
Poison Prevention Educator Training
Sharing the Power of Projects with Parents
The Effects of Parental Incarceration on Young Children

Infant/Toddler
A Day in the Life of an Early Educator/Provider
Baby Talk: "Bringing Up Baby:" Exploring our relationships with families and culture
Cry-sis in the Classroom: Fussy Babies

Kindergarten & Primary
Creating Budding Readers and Blooming Authors in Kindergarten

Out of School Time
Can't Help Loving Science: So easy and fun!
Designing Parent Involvement around Family Needs

Preschool (3-5)
Beyond Time Out: Effective strategies for challenging behaviors
Exploring Chicago Wilderness with Young Children
Embedding Mathematical Concepts into Everyday Routines
Going Deeper, Getting Stronger while Exploring the Reggio Emilia Approach in Amercan Contexts
Jump Jim Joe: Diverse dancing and singing games
Taming TV: Shortcuts to controlling media's influence on preschool children
The Power of Good Book Selection: The best new books for preschool children

Special Needs
Attention! Attention! Ways to improve attention and identify attention problems in young children
Experiencing the World Through a Different Window: Learning with a vision and hearing impairment

2:00-3:30

Administration & Program Operations
Acknowledge Your Faculty the Easy Way!
Personnel Issues and Answers
Rugtime for Teachers: Reinventing the faculty meeting
The New NAEYC Accreditation

Career Development
Preschool for All: Opportunities for professional development
Social Workers and Mental Health Professionals Network - Organizing Meeting

Children & Violence
Anger Alive and In Control

Equity & Diversity
Negotiating the Cultural Maze
Supporting English Language Learners in the Preschool Setting

Faith Based Programs
The Sounds of Our Language with Faith-based Activities

Family & Community Relationships
Parent Control: Practical strategies for developing relationships with parents

Infant/Toddler
A Cooperative Approach: Parents and infant toddler teachers working together
Ethics are Not Always Easy: Using the NAEYC code to guide practice in infant toddler care
Facilitated Discussion: Discipline in infant toddler care

Kindergarten & Primary
Helping Children Make An Easy Transition from Kindergarten to First Grade
Is That 12 or 21? How to Help Young Mathematicians Get Past the Number Identification Roadblock

Out of School Time
Exciting Environments and Activities
I Can't Do Math!

Preschool (3-5)
Is Your Science Area Dusty?
Literacy: One of the "Hundred Languages" of good project work
Math: Do it your way
Music: The Key for Learning
Neurologically Integrated Alphabet Instruction is Critical for Early Literary Success
Using Electronic Portfolios to Enhance the Documentation of Children's Development and Learning

Special Needs
What Neuroscience Teaches Us: Identification of learning disabilities in early childhood

Trends/Cutting Edge
Sleep Disorders and Cognitive Development in Children: Increasing Awareness and Intervention

4:00-5:30

Accreditation
Introduction to the Early Childhood Environment Rating Scale (ECERS-R)

Administration & Program Operations
Selling Strategies
Straight Talk: Defining leadership for center directors

Career Development
Gateways to Opportunity:Opening the Door to Resources & Professional Development Opportunties

Children & Violence
Mandated Reporting of Suspected Child Abuse and Neglect

Equity & Diversity
Celebrating our Contributions: Gay, lesbian, transgender and allies (Suite Talk)

Faith Based Programs
A Grace Space

Infant/Toddler
How Do I Plan for Infants and Toddlers?

Preschool (3-5)
Blooming Where You Are Planted: Designing classrooms for meaningful learning
Extending Quality Children's Literature Throughout Your Classroom and Beyond
Music Together Preschool: Bringing the music home
Phonemic Awareness: Activities that all students love
Reduce Challenging Behavior! Increase Social Competence!
Study Starters: Topics to use with the Creative Curriculum approach

Special Needs
I.E.P.: Involve Every Parent to provide opportunities for children with special needs

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Friday

9:00-10:30

Administration & Program Operations
Confidentiality
Obtaining Funding for Center-Based Services for At-Risk Infants and Toddlers

Children & Violence
Violence Against Children with Disabilities: What can we do to protect them?

Equity & Diversity
Culturally Relevant Anti-Bias Education for Beginners

Faith Based Programs
A Grace Space

Family & Community Relationships
Helping Young Children Cope with Death and Loss

Family Child Care
Arte con Materiales Reciclables para Ayudar el Medio Ambiente
Changed, Fed, Now What? Activities for infants and toddlers

Infant/Toddler
A Cooperative Approach: Parents and infant toddler teachers working together
Helping Parents Understand and Appreciate the Power of Play
Managing and Supporting Infant and Toddler Development in a Group Setting
Music Fun For Infants and Toddlers

Kindergarten & Primary
Classroom Talk, What's All the Buzz About? How Classroom Noise Enhances Learning
Easy Centers for Language Arts

Out of School Time
No Losers Here: 2007 Edition!
Opening Your Eyes to Gang Awareness and Prevention

Preschool (3-5)
Building Language Skills
Chicago Children's Museum Play-posium!
Counting Isn't All That Counts: Bringing Math to Life in Early Childhood Classrooms
Doing Observational Drawings in the Classroom
El Método de Enseñanza por Proyecto
How the Project Approach Addresses Illinois Early Learning Standards
How Young Children Learn Math
Individualizing to Meet the Needs of Challenging Children: How Flexible Should Programs Be?
It's All About the Process: Process Art
Learning the ABCs: Precursors to and Components of Alphabetic Knowledge
Let's Tackle the ABC's
Making Practical Changes to Improve Teaching: Baby Steps to Best Practices
Rhythm and Rhyme
The Math-Rich Environment: Setting Up Your Classroom for Mathematics Learning
The Power of Good Book Selection: The Best New Books for Preschool Children
Using Electronic Portfolios to Enhance the Documentation of Children's Development and Learning

Special Needs
Learn the Symptoms of Asthma
The Challenge of Transitioning Children with Disabilities into Preschool Programs
When to be Concerned and What to Do about Delays in the Development of Children in Child Care

11:00-12:30

Administration & Program Operations
From Teacher to Director: Making the transition
Management Skills for the Child Care Administrator

Advocacy/Public Policy
Unionization of the Early Childhood Workforce: The Illinois experience

Career Development
Alphabet Soup: BA, AAS, AA, CDA - What's Best for Me?
How Can Credentials Work for You?
Learn to Relax: Yoga and meditation for providers
Portales a la Oportunidad en el Desarrollo Profesional

Children & Violence
Don't Be Her Friend, You're My Friend: Addressing bullying with young children

Family & Community Relationships
Bridging the Gap Between Home and School

Family Child Care
Accreditation for Your Family Child Care Home

Infant/Toddler
Actividades para Niños Menores de Dos Años
Baby Talk: "Bringing Up Baby:" Exploring our relationships with families and culture
The Practice of Responsive Relationships in Infant Toddler Care
Tummy Time for Baby

Kindergarten & Primary
Building Comprehension Through Read-alouds
Is That 12 or 21? How to Help Young Mathematicians Get Past the Number Identification Roadblock
Kindergarten and Primary Teachers Suite Talk

Out of School Time
After School Literacy Activities
You Lead! I Lead! We All Lead!

Preschool (3-5)
Beyond Time Out: Effective Strategies for Challenging Behaviors
Chicago Children's Museum Play-posium!
Counting Isn't All That Counts: Bringing Math to Life in Early Childhood Classrooms
Curiosity Trunks
Doing Projects When You Can't Take Field Trips
Going Deeper, Getting Stronger while Exploring the Reggio Emilia Approach in American Contexts (Priority will be
given to CPS educators exploring this approach)
How Young Children Learn Math (follow-up session)
Introducción al Método de Enseñanza Usando Proyectas: Proyecto "Casas"
Mathematics Around the Preschool Classroom
Maximizing Language and Literacy in Your "Out and About" Experience
Old Tunes and New Ideas: Keeping in Tune with Kids and Writing Your Own Lyrics
Songs, Games and Rhymes for the Multicultural Classroom
Toddlers and Preschoolers Learn Math
Yoga in the Classroom

Special Needs
Everything You Want to Know about ADHD
Sensory Integration: What is it? Basic Knowledge and Practical Strategies
Visual Strategies to Encourage Positive and Appropriate Classroom Behaviors

12:45-1:45

Preschool (3-5)
Fiesta en la Granja de Jojo /Jojo's Barnyard Bash

2:00-3:30

Administration & Program Operations
Community D-I-S-A-S-T-E-R-S: More than Spilled Milk
Supervision of Children in the Child Care Setting: Legal Requirements
Ten Keys to Success for Directors and Managers
The Early Childhood Environment: What You Need to Know About the ECERS Buzz

Advocacy/Public Policy
Illinois Legislative Update

Career Development
Jump Start Your Early Childhood Education Career
Moving Beyond Provider Burnout

Children & Violence
Animal Abuse and Young Children

Equity & Diversity
To Celebrate or Not To Celebrate: One agency's journey toward a holiday policy

Family Child Care
Feeding Infants and Toddlers

Infant/Toddler
Facilitated Discussion: Seeing Separation as a Major Part of Your Curriculum
Implementing Continuity of Care: Rewards and challenges
Inside/Outside the Box: Bringing your infant toddler classroom outdoors
Toddler Tune-Up! Get your Ones and Twos Singing, Dancing and Loving Music

Kindergarten & Primary
Helping Children Who are Shy or Selectively Mute
Reflecting the Cultures of African American and Latino Children in Classroom Story Books

Out of School Time
Easy Productions School Age Children Will Love!

Preschool (3-5)
¡Arte y Juegos que Ayudan Niños Aprender, Ser Mas Creativo, y Tener un Hambre para Aprender!
A Suite Talk for New Pre-K Teachers
An Introduction to the Reggio Emilia Approach and Its Reinvention within the American Context
Aprendizaje a Través de Investigación (Project Approach)
Chicago Children's Museum Play-posium!
Diverse Cultures Celebrate Togetherness! Multicultural Experiences in Accredited Program
How to Use Children’s Work to Show Learning
Inch-by-Inch: Using Manipulatives to Foster Young Children's Mathematical Thinking and Oral Language
Making Circle Time Work for Every Child
Marvelous! Phenomenal! Tremendous! Fabulous Techniques to Enrich Vocabulary in the Classroom

Special Needs
Attention! Attention! Ways to improve attention and identify attention problems in young children
Food Allergy Awareness: What you learn can save a life
Lead Poisoning Prevention Techniques
Visual Strategies to Encourage Positive and Appropriate Classroom Behaviors
What Neuroscience Teaches Us: Identification of learning disabilities in early childhood

Trends/Cutting Edge
A University and Community-Based Agency Prepare Head Start Teachers for Certification: Lessons learned and yet to be learned

4:00-5:30

Administration & Program Operations
The New NAEYC Accreditation

Career Development
CDA: Testimonios el poder de su palabra
Stress for Staff: Cheating Stress

Children & Violence
Anger Alive and In Control
Effects of Violence in Young Children

Family & Community Relationships
Making the Home and School Connection Work in the 21st Century
Music at Home, Music at School: Creating an extended musical family

Family Child Care
Don't Throw That Away: Learning activities from everyday household items
Stress for Staff

Infant/Toddler
How Do I Plan for Infants and Toddlers?
Singing Your Way Through the Day: Music for young children

Kindergarten & Primary
Helping Children Who are Shy or Selectively Mute

Out of School Time
ABCs of Guidance and Discipline in School Age

Preschool (3-5)
Chicago Children's Museum Play-posium!
Early Literacy Teacher Talk: An Appropriate and Effective Instructional Strategy for Emergent Literacy
Enriching Your Classroom through Storytelling
First, Know the Preschoolers' Math; Second, Know Their Math Curriculum
Introduction to Project Based Learning
Sing-a-Move-a-Dance
Study Starters: Topics to Use with the Creative Curriculum Approach
Talking Trash: A Unit about Garbage Extends Language Experience throughout the Day
Urban and Suburban Explorers: Nature Education in Early Childhood
We Can Read: Using Environmental Print in the Classroom

Special Needs
Sensory Integration: What is it? Basic knowledge and practical strategies
The Theraplay Way: Social-emotional groups for children with special needs
Working with Hispanic Families with Special Needs Children

Trends/Cutting Edge
Trip to Reggio Emilia - Planning Session

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Saturday

9:00-10:30

Administration & Program Operations
Encouraging Professionalism

Advocacy/Public Policy
Porque los Niños no Pueden Votar

Children & Violence
Children Grieve Too

Family Child Care
Accreditation for Family Child Care
Decidiéndose Entre una Licencia Regular o de Grupo
Reducing Behavior Problems in Early Childhood
Virtual Pre-K Resources for Family Child Care

Infant/Toddler
Inside/Outside the Box: Bringing your infant toddler classroom outdoors
Toddler Tune-Up! Get your Ones and Twos Singing, Dancing and Loving Music

Kindergarten & Primary
Classroom Talk, What's All the Buzz About? How Classroom Noise Enhances Learning

Out of School Time
Marvelous Math Strategies for After School
Sticky Staff Situations!

Preschool (3-5)
All Teachers Can Sing
Aprendizaje a Través de Investigación (Project Approach)
Cuéntame un Cuento Abuelita
Finding a Project Topic in your Neighborhood/Buscando el Tema de Tu Proyecto en tu Comunidad
Preparation Through Play: The Fundamentals of Writing Readiness
Something to Crow About! Using the Little Red Hen to Reach to the Illinois Early Learning Standards
Study Starters: Topics to Use with the Creative Curriculum Approach

Special Needs
Effects of ADHD on Cognitive Function and Learning: Maximizing the classroom experience
Inclusion of Youngsters ages 3-8 with Autism Spectrum Disorder
Not Quite Right: Self-regulation and regulatory disorders
Working with Hispanic Families with Special Needs Children

Trends/Cutting Edge
On Our Way to Teaching the Reggio Way: The Beginning

11:00-12:30

Administration & Program Operations
Personnel Issues and Answers

Career Development
Jump Start Your ECE Career
Learn to Relax: Yoga and meditation for providers

Children & Violence
Caring as an Alternative to Violence

Faith Based Programs
Ministering to Children of Divorce

Family & Community Relationships
Fortaleciendo los Lazos con Padres y Familias

Family Child Care
Advocating for Families and Children with Special Needs
Assessment: Where do I begin?
Science: Explore the possibilities

Infant/Toddler
Facilitated Discussions for Infant/Toddler Providers: Culture and Discipline
Simply Signing: Using the Sign with Your Baby Program to communicate with pre-verbal children

Kindergarten & Primary
Reflecting the Cultures of African American and Latino Children in Classroom Story Books

Out of School Time
Emotional Intelligence: There's more to success than just Your IQ
SOS? No! SES: Supplemental Educational Services

Preschool (3-5)
Actividades Temáticas: Manipulativos
Don't Be A Block-Head!
Fiesta en la Granja de Jojo /Jojo's Barnyard Bash
Graphing: Go for It!
How to Track Student Development through Documentation of StoryBus Curriculum Projects
Kaleidoscope Café: Healthy Meals and Snacks
Silent Language of Learning: Understanding the Impact of Body Languages on Children's Success
Taking the Plunge: Doing a First Project Does Not Have to Be Scary
Vocabulary Acquisition in Children Ages 0-5

Special Needs
Hearing Loss: The impact on children
Looking at Children with New Eyes
Parents and Teachers as Allies Working to Identify Warning Signs of Mental Illness

Trends/Cutting Edge
En Camino a la Enseñanza al Estilo Reggio: El Principio

12:45-1:45

Advocacy/Public Policy
The Challenge of Bringing Health Care Coverage to Child Care Workers

English Language Learners
Respondiendo a la Diversidad Lingüística y Cultural de los Estudiantes: Porque

Preschool (3-5)
Arts and Games: Encouraging creative expression and creating lifelong learners
The Power of Projects: Meeting contemporary challenges

2:00-3:30

Children & Violence
Mandated Reporting of Suspected Child Abuse and Neglect

Family & Community Relationships
Trabajando con los Padres Lado a Lado

Infant/Toddler
Active Music with "Macaroni Soup!"
Come and Make a Circle: Terrific tunes for the toddler/preschool classroom
Coping with the Day to Day Stress of Working with Infants, Toddlers and Their Families
Reading to Infants and Toddlers: When, what and how

Out of School Time
I Can Do It! Helping Kids Manage Their Behavior

Preschool (3-5)
1 2 3, Erupt!
Active Music with "Macaroni Soup!"
Actividades Sensorias y el Desarrollo Integral del Niño
Are You Ready for Your Close-up? How to Engage Your Students with Drama
Becoming an Early Childhood Action Research Teacher
Dancing with Your Dragons: Helping Children Identify and Deal with Life Challenges
Marvelous! Phenomenal! Tremendous! Fabulous Techniques to Enrich Vocabulary in the Classroom
Reclaiming the Fun in Nature Education: Backing Off the Bad News
Talking Trash: A Unit about Garbage Extends Language Experience throughout the Day
Ventajas de las Unidades Temáticas

Special Needs
Lead Poisoning Prevention Techniques
Mindful Teaching: Responsible application of the neuroscience findings

4:00-5:30

Family & Community Relationships
They Will Help You Bake the Bread! How to Involve Parents in the StoryBus Curriculum

Family Child Care
La importancia de un currículo en su programa

Infant/Toddler
How Do I Plan for Infants and Toddlers?

Preschool (3-5)
Children, Art, and Nature: Hands-On Explorations for Inside and Outside Your Classroom
Don't Be A Block-Head!
Extending Quality Children's Literature throughout Your Classroom and Beyond
Tómale el Compás …Ven a Disfrutar!

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