Deep Dive Pre-Conference Workshops

Tuesday, October 7th, 2025 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM Presenters: Vicki Stayton, Desiree Hickman, Ya-Chih “Jilly” Chang, Laura McCorkle Strand: Practice, Age level: 0-8, Content level: Introductory The Early Interventionist/Early Childhood Special Educator (EI/ECSE) Standards represent the first standards to focus specifically on the preparation of professionals who work with young children ages birth through 8 who have or are at-risk for developmental delays and disabilities and their families, across home, classroom and community settings.  Through both small and large group activities participants will be introduced to the EI/ECSE Standards and how they may utilize them as a framework for personnel preparation, including both pre-service and ongoing professional development (PD) as well as for state/territory level applications (e.g, certification requirements). We will share resources to support use of the EI/ECSE Standards and engage participants in dialogue related to the implementation of the EI/ECSE Standards based on their professional role. This session is free to attend but advance registration is required.

Tuesday, October 7th, 2025 1:00 PM to 4:00 PM Strand: Practice, Age level: 0-8, Content level: Introductory Presenter: Vicki Stayton, Christine Spence, Peggy Kemp DEC is sponsoring a new initiative to support the dissemination and use of the EI/ECSE Standards within states and territories. A pilot program will identify through an application process a Standards Ambassador(s) for each of a small number of states/territories. Initially, the primary audience within each state/territory will be higher education faculty. The program will be modeled after the Recommended Practices (RPs) Ambassador program. This preconference workshop will provide an overview of the training for and implementation of the Standards Ambassadors program, initial thoughts as to how the Standards Ambassador initiative might be similar and different from the RPs Ambassador model, and participant input on the organization and structure of the Standards Ambassador program through small group brainstorming and large group discussion. Standards resources that Ambassadors might use will be highlighted. If you are interested in learning about this program and/or maybe applying to be a Standards Ambassador, this workshop is for you! This session is free to attend but advance registration is required.

Tuesday, October 7th, 2025 1:00 AM to 4:00 PM Strand: Practice, Age level: 0-5, Content level: Intermediate Presenter: Toni Linder Transdisciplinary Play-based Assessment3 and Transdisciplinary Play-based Intervention3 transform assessment and intervention by emphasizing critical processes that underly skills across domains. How do we shift to emphasize educational process goals in a play-based approach? Participants will engage in transdisciplinary, process-based planning for a play-based module.

Tuesday, October 7th, 2025 1:00 AM to 4:00 PM Strand: Practice, Age level: 0-5, Content level: Intermediate Presenter: Anni Reinking, Laycee Thigpen In this training, participants will work to identify characteristics of a resistant, beginning, learner, or mentor educator in the context of equity and inclusion implementation. Participants will develop strategies to best support educators in conversations and transformative engagement in the context of equity and justice in learning settings.

Tuesday, October 7th, 2025 1:00 AM to 4:00 PM Strand: Practice, Age level: 3-5, Content level: Intermediate Presenter: Maria Sargeant Session covers neurodevelopmental techniques to enhance material usage, environmental design, and play and behavior support for individual learning preferences. Techniques include matching memory buffers, alternating whole-to-part versus part-to-whole memory construction, using neurological cue sequences, matching learning speeds, discerning groupness needs, etc.

Tuesday, October 7th, 2025 1:00 AM to 4:00 PM Strand: Family, Age level: 3-5, Content level: Introductory Presenter: Yvette Mere-Cook Families and early childhood educators will explore ways to embed science, technology, engineering, the arts, and math within young children's everyday lives. This workshop will present hands-on activities in each of these disciplines that tap into children's strengths and leverage their interests in order to address developmental goals and access to early STEAM learning.

Tuesday, October 7th, 2025 1:00 AM to 4:00 PM Strand: Practice, Age level: 5-3, Content level: Introductory Presenter: Wendy Murawski, Zhen Chai Co-teaching in early childhood can significantly enhance the developmental experiences of young learners. Having two educators in a class allows for more individualized attention to meet diverse and developing social, emotional, cognitive, behavioral, and physical skills. This engaging session will model co-teaching, address barriers & share strategies for success!

Tuesday, October 7th, 2025 1:00 AM to 4:00 PM Strand: Professional, Age level: 0-3, Content level: Intermediate Presenter: Lorelei Pisha, Lisa Terry, Cori Hill, Jonathan Buffkin This pre-conference session will equip EI PD system providers with the know-how to implement a comprehensive, accessible, and sustainable PD system. Presenters will share a strategic approach for constructing an impactful PD system. Participants will network, problem-solve barriers, and take away a plan for improving their own PD system.

Tuesday, October 7th, 2025 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM Strand: Practice, Age level: 0-5, Content level: Advanced Presenter: Erin Barton, Brandy Lochetta We will explore practical strategies, tools, and policies for fostering inclusive learning environments in early childhood education. Participants will examine evidence-based approaches, cross-sector collaboration, and coaching models to support equity and accessibility. Real-life case studies and vignettes will highlight inclusion practices that benefit children.

Tuesday, October 7th, 2025 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM Strand: Practice, Age level: 5-8, Content level: Introductory Presenter: Jon Lee Want to spark change through conversation? Join us for an interactive exploration of practical conversational skills to empower positive behavior! Learn how to inspire change and navigate challenging conversations. You'll learn practical conversational skills grounded in Motivational Interviewing that you can use immediately with parents and colleagues.

Tuesday, October 7th, 2025 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM Strand: Practice, Age level: 3-5 , Content level: Intermediate Presenter: Kelly Wilson Prevent Teach Reinforce: for Young Children (PTR-YC) is a manualized process created to guide teams through shaping behavior that challenges us. This process supports teams and families in successfully shaping persistent and significant challenging behaviors by reducing those behaviors that challenge us and focusing intentionally on teaching new skills.

Tuesday, October 7th, 2025 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM Strand: Research, Age level: 0-5, Content level: Intermediate Presenter: Karin Lifter This project video recorded and analyzed 30-minute play observations of 492 children, developing with and without delays, ages 8- to 60-months, to create a play assessment system. The assessment is used to determine what children with delays know and what they are ready to learn to identify developmentally relevant goals in play and to use play in support of other domains.

Tuesday, October 7th, 2025 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM Strand: Policy, Age level: 0-5, Content level: Intermediate Presenter: Deana Buck, Deepa Srinivasavaradan, Melissa Crist, Jennifer Hall-Lande Would you like to improve your efforts in identifying developmental concerns in young children? The CDC’s “Learn the Signs. Act Early” campaign has FREE materials for families and providers. Join Act Early Ambassadors from four states for this working session to learn how to integrate these tools into existing EC systems. Leave with an action plan and materials toolkit!