2024 Project ACT Conference Information
Saturday, September 28, 2024 from 8am-4:40pm
Location Information
We are thrilled to be hosting this year's conference at the beautiful Goucher College campus located at 1021 Dulaney Valley Rd, Baltimore, MD 21204. This location will provide us with ample space for all of the conference activities along with room to continue growing.
Conference activities will be spread out across several different buildings at Goucher. Most of the buildings are a 3-5 minute walk from one another.
Please take a moment to review the Goucher College map by clicking here. Conference activities will take place in the following buildings at Goucher College (the number in parentheses listed below corresponds with the building number on the map):
- Buchner Hall (1)
- The Ungar Athenaeum (2)
- Merrick Lecture Hall (4b)
- Rosenberg Gallery (4c)
Workshop Sessions
On your registration form, we will ask you which workshop sessions you want to attend. Please review the workshop session descriptions below and make note of the title of the workshops you wish to attend.
Workshop Session A - Morning
It’s Not You, It’s Me: Using Reflective Practice Principles to Shift Our Beliefs About Children’s Behaviors and Refine Our Teaching Practices
Presented by Dr. Amanda Holliday-Bembridge
1.5 hours in Professionalism
Too often, it can be easy for providers to notice children’s behaviors and apply a label. Whether these labels are meant to be positive or negative, ultimately, they categorize a child based on our perceptions of what is “normal.” Taking a more curious approach toward analyzing children’s behaviors using Reflective Practice Principles can expand our understanding of Individual Differences in a positive, inclusive way. Rather than believing a child fits a particular label based on their characteristics, we will look more closely at why these behaviors exist from a sensory-processing level and how we can change our teaching practices to make this child successful.
Promoting Inclusion and Social-Emotional Learning Through Storytelling
Presented by Caroline Ferrante
1.5 hours in Special Needs
Join Arts for Learning Resident Early Childhood Teaching Artist Caroline Ferrante as she demonstrates how First Nation storytelling techniques create inclusive spaces for English Language Learners and Neurodiverse students. Ferrante will break down and demonstrate storytelling strategies that draw on Somatic language acquisition through Total Physical Response, reducing classroom stress. Experience how steady beat, call-and-response chants, and physical storytelling foster self-awareness, emotional literacy, and grounding. This workshop will equip you with practical tools and insights for creating warm and emotionally supportive learning spaces while incorporating research-driven best practices in literacy pedagogy.
Nurturing the NOW Generation: Why Understanding Learning Styles Matter
Presented by Thelma Hayes
1.5 hours in Child Development
Early Child Care Educators are facing a Now generation where the dynamics of the child and the parents are constantly changing. In order to empower young children and their parents to achieve their potential, the ECE endeavors to create a stimulating, culturally diverse, and inclusive environment in the classroom. Learning Styles and Multiple Intelligence approaches open doors to opportunities for ECE as they develop an understanding of how to assess children’s different learning styles. In this workshop, the ECE will gain a greater awareness of how to vary their personal teaching style to appeal to all types of learners, including students with diverse needs.
Workshop Session B - Early Afternoon
The Rhythm of Language: Using Music to Help Autistic Children Understand & Speak
Presented by Corinne Zmoos, Keynote Speaker
1.5 hours in Special Needs
We know that music is helpful for kids, but what if it's the most powerful tool a teacher can use for autistic language learning?
In this workshop, participants will first learn the brain-based reasons that children with autism have difficulties accessing spoken language in the classroom. They will increase their confidence in how to talk about the autistic neurotype, learn about the musical language acquisition style called Gestalt Language Processing, and develop a vocabulary for the music theory elements in this approach. Once the foundation has been laid, it will be time for teachers to learn about musical language modeling and environmental modifications!
Through interactive musical activities and small group experiences, participants will acquire techniques for pitch, melody, rhythm, syncopation, tempo, and timbre that draw from the fields of neuroscience and speech-language therapy. Whether participants are musically experienced or sing out-of-tune, this workshop is tailored to all experience levels and will leave teachers with a personalized musical plan they can implement as soon as Monday morning.
Teaching to Our Little Ones Strengths - They Love to Play!
Presented by Dawn Baker
1.5 hours in Curriculum
We will discuss how a hands on approach to teaching preschoolers in all areas of the curriculum, particularly science and language, uses their natural curiosity and enthusiasm to build learning and confidence. We will also be looking for the glimmers of joy in our day as teachers. And we will play a little, too 🙂
Finding Joy Everyday: The Importance of Mental Health and Happiness
Presented by Orinthia Harris
1.5 hours in Professionalism
The session aims to raise awareness of the importance of mental health and happiness among early childhood teachers and equip them with practical tools to find joy every day. By focusing on self-care and creating a positive classroom environment, teachers can enhance their own well-being while fostering a nurturing and joyful atmosphere for their young learners. Objectives include define and discuss the relationship between mental health and happiness; identify factors that contribute to, and counteract educators ability to experience joy in the EC classroom; and identify strategies for EC educators to find joy in their daily interactions and teaching experiences with young children.
Workshop Session C - Late Afternoon
Building Self-Esteem and Self-Regulation Skills Using Nursery Rhymes
Presented by Betsy Diamant-Cohen
1.5 hours in Child Development
A quick overview of executive function skills will be followed by hands-on demonstrations of concrete ways to partner nursery rhymes with activities that build self-esteem and self-regulation skills. For instance, learn how to use a Humpty Dumpty flannel board activity to practice turn taking, paying attention and following directions, while also building us self-esteem and learning how to show appreciation to others.
Mindfulness Across the Spectrum
Presented by Kristi Jenkins
1.5 hours in Special Needs
Mindfulness practices are adaptable to all types of learning spaces and styles. This workshop introduces the basic scientific concepts of mindfulness and how it applies to neurodiversity just as beautifully as it does to our neurotypical peers. The workshop builds on basic neuroscience framework to then introduce fun mindfulness based emotional awareness activities and ways to adapt them to meet any type of ability and learning need. You'll leave with a list of activities to share with your community.
This workshop allows educators to feel more comfortable taking mindfulness outside of the usual stereotypical spaces of yoga studios or self-help books and empowers you to be confident in recognizing mindfulness everywhere as a tool for building powerful emotional awareness tools that support students in building compassion for others and themselves.
Respecting the Uniqueness of Children: Creative Ways to Celebrate Cultural Diversity in Your Early Childhood Classroom
Presented by Melissa Lebowitz and Theresa Robinson
1.5 hours in Curriculum
This workshop is designed to engage participants in a conversation and creative thinking experience. We will discuss current practices in early childhood classrooms in terms of respecting the cultural diversity of the children and their families as well as brainstorm ideas to encourage a deeper approach beyond holidays and food! There are so many different children in our classrooms, how do we possibly connect with them all while respecting their diverse lifestyles and cultures? It's possible and fun!!! Join us to find out more!!