Early Learning Conference

 Faye Brownlie

With so many choices as to how we spend our time, where best do we focus?  What does the research say?  What does this research look like in practice?  Teaching DOES make a difference so let’s explore what that teaching can look like and sound like.

What does it look like when the core competencies are embedded in the day-to-day learning experiences of children? How are teachers developing the language and the thinking of the core competencies with their young learners? Come and see practical and possible classroom practices from BC primary classrooms.

The Vital Connection focuses on the child-adult relationship as the context for raising children – how this relationship is meant to develop, what can go wrong, why parents and teachers must matter more than peers, how to cultivate a context of connection, how to win back one’s child if need be, and more. Attachment-safe and developmentally friendly discipline strategies are also introduced.

Number sense develops in predictable ways. Becoming fluent with these important ideas is critical. So how can we support our youngest learners in becoming competent mathematicians? Come and explore tasks, games and literature links to promote conceptual understanding in K and grade 1. Be prepared to play! Teacher resource materials will be available for purchase at the session.

Please attend the full day

In this workshop participants will explore:

1.     How to work in metaphor in the sand tray with children.

2.     The non-verbal right brain to right brain relationship between adult and child

3.     How to transform the child’s defences in the sand tray

4.     How to facilitate transformational change through asking process questions of the figurines in the sand tray

5.     How to access the childs body responses to the images in the sand tray.

In addition, participants will be given the details and suggestions for setting up a workspace for this kind of work. The workshop will look at this model of working with children in the sand tray through the use of photographs and videos of actual sand tray sessions with children. There will be a demonstration by Madeleine.

It is a reality that our classrooms must be welcoming places for all learners. It is also a reality that our classrooms are filled with diverse learners. Come and see classroom examples of how K-3 teachers are working together to support the range of learners. Together we are better!

Common Challenges focuses on the typical challenges of parenting. Every child gets stuck from time to time on the road to maturation. Dr. Neufeld equips parents to read the signs of a child in trouble, live with a sensitive child, cultivate resilience in a child, lead an alpha child, soften a defended child, discipline a stuck child, and more.

Deep understanding of place value is essential in order for students to add and subtract with confidence. Come and explore tasks, games and meaningful practice opportunities intended to promote place value understanding and flexible whole-number operations.

Strategies for combined grades will be shared. Be prepared to play! Teacher resource materials will be available for purchase at the session.

Denise believes strongly that reconciliation and healing begins with and must include a reconciliation within one’s self and one’s lived experience, and one’s family. From our centre good energy ripples out to our communities and the world we share.