Events

In this session we will explore principles and strategies for creating enjoyable and enriching opportunities for young children to explore fundamentals of visual art, music, dance, and drama as avenues for creativity, expression, performance, and more. Some portions will be participatory and we will move, create, laugh and learn in a safe supportive environment. Participants will leave the session with detailed plans for a variety of tested activities for children ages 1-6 (with extensions for school aged children) and increased confidence to bring more art into their programs.     Karen Begley supports and empowers educators to feel fantastic about the work they are already doing by making connections between their underlying values, everyday programming, and pedagogical theory. Her playful style makes for interactive workshops that generate new ideas and increase participants’ confidence and competency to bring practical and enriching experiences to the children in their care. To learn more about Karen, her work, and thoughts on childhood, learning, and care, join her monthly newsletter list at www.natureplaystudios.com.     Participants will be given the link to the video and are required to participate in one of two ways-- with a microphone/built in speaker or through the chat. In addition there will be a log tracking which members contribute and which do not, and those that do not contribute will not receive PD hours. We ask that you leave your camera on for the session.

Cet atelier offre une exploration approfondie du traitement sensoriel chez les tout-petits et les enfants d’âge préscolaire, ainsi que des moyens concrets de transformer les environnements éducatifs pour mieux répondre à leurs besoins. À travers des exemples pratiques, des mises en situation et des discussions interactives, les participants participants apprendront à identifier les difficultés qui apparaissent en classe (comportements perçus comme difficiles) et à les comprendre à travers un prisme sensoriel. L’atelier présente ensuite des stratégies efficaces pour adapter les routines, les transitions et les espaces scolaires afin de soutenir la régulation, la résilience et la connexion. Les éducateurs repartiront avec des outils concrets pour intervenir avec empathie et créer des environnements inclusifs favorisant le bien-être et la participation de tous.   Bengisu Gonul est ergothérapeute et fondatrice de Your Nextdoor OT. Titulaire d’une maîtrise en ergothérapie de l’Université McGill, elle a travaillé auprès d’enfants et de familles dans divers milieux : école, centres de la petite enfance, domiciles et programmes communautaires. Sa pratique s’appuie sur des approches respectueuses de la neurodiversité et centrées sur la famille, avec un accent sur le traitement sensoriel, la régulation et la participation authentique. Passionnée par la création de classes inclusives et « sensoriellement intelligentes », elle met son expertise au service du bien-être, de la résilience et de l’apprentissage des jeunes enfants.  

This workshop focuses on building strong educator-child relationships while strengthening proactive guidance strategies and responsive supervision. Through the lens of connection and consistency, educators will explore how to foster regulation, reduce conflict, and support a sense of belonging in fast-paced environments. Participants will: Understand the difference between guidance and discipline in a school-age context. Identify and implement the 5 Dimensions of Active Supervision. Reflect on personal supervision styles and guidance language. Explore practical tools to respond to behavior with empathy and clarity. Core Topics Include: The Power of Connection in Preventing Escalations Supervision as Engagement (not Surveillance) Respectful Language & Conflict Resolution Understanding Behavior as Communication Tools for Regulation and Co-Regulation ---------- Jamie Wagler, OCT, RECE is a passionate Early Childhood Education leader, consultant, and advocate with over 13 years of experience. As the owner of Miss Jamie Consulting and Director of Stratford Cygnets Preschool, Jamie specializes in innovative child-led learning, ASL integration, and school-age programming. Known for her work in empowering educators through dynamic professional development and mentorship, she also hosts The Forgotten ECEpodcast, where she amplifies the voices of educators and tackles key challenges in the field. Jamie’s expertise helps shape the future of early learning across North America!   Please note that participants must register individually to attend professional learning sessions. Participants will be given the link to the video and are required to participate in one of two ways-- with a microphone/built in speaker or through the chat. In addition there will be a log tracking which members contribute and which do not, and those that do not contribute will not receive PD hours. We ask that you leave your camera on for the session.

Practice-Based Coaching (PBC) is a professional development model aimed at improvising the practices of educators through ongoing, structured support. It focuses on the actual implementation of practices of Pyramid Model in early childhood settings, helping individuals refine their skills by engaging in cycles of planning, action, observation, and reflection. It is designed to be ongoing coaching support, allowing individuals to continuously refine their skills and adapt to new challenges. It is commonly used in education, early childhood care, and other fields that require continuous professional development. This training will help you understand how to coach, ask reflective questions, engage your educators to grow, and build your educators capacity to implement Pyramid Model practices ongoing.   Carolyn Porter is an ASaP Coach with Kids Included. Her role is to support educators implementing the Pyramid Model in their childcare rooms to ensure all children's participation and belonging through responsive relationships, quality inclusive environments and supportive learning opportunities. She has lived in Grande Prairie for 9 years and lived in Ontario before that. Carolyn has 20 years’ experience working in child care in different roles (educator, director, supervisor, support). When she is not working, she is doing things with her 2 children and husband and baking sourdough.

Lori and Karen are back by popular demand to offer and extended version of their Spring Conference session! Join Lori and Karen as they have an engaging conversation about a passion of their life’s work with children, the topic of emotional regulation. Through a closer look into the topics they remain curious about in their own work with children, the duo will help participants thoughtfully consider how their own facilities and centers can create self-regulation havens for children and the workers who support them. Reviewing and building on concepts already examined in the ECDA conference, those topics being: dysregulation, self-regulation, co-regulation, along with window of tolerance, attunement and stress behaviour versus misbehaviour, Lori and Karen will further offer practical strategies for change that you, as a learner and participant, can use on Monday when you head back to work. Using Lori’s training in Solution Focused therapy and strategies and her understanding of self-regulation through the lens of developing streams for organizational growth, as well as her work as an author, along with Karen’s sensorimotor and somatic therapeutic skills and interventions, participants can experience for themselves the difference that movement and insight make for the body and mind. This will be an interactive day of learning, movement and conversation. Come dressed comfortably, but please note, participation in any activities introduced will always be at the discretion and choice of the participant.   Lori‘s degrees include a Bachelor of Arts in History and Political Studies, a Bachelor of Education, a Master of Education and a Master of Science in School Counselling and Guidance. She is a school counsellor, writer, Canadian Certified Counsellor, Registered Counselling Therapist and nationally certified Solution Focused Brief Therapist with CCPC Global. Lori works in her private counselling practice with individuals, couples and families using a Solution Focused and Emotionally Focused therapeutic lens. She additionally works as a K–6 school counselor in western PEI. Lori has written for Huffington Post, Edutopia, PEI Living Magazine, and PEI’s Red Magazine. She is the author of three children’s books, Reg Goes Swimming, Reg Takes a Trip and Reg Catches a Salmon. Her latest book in this 3 book REG series will be released in the month of April.  Lori is the vice president of the PEITF School Counsellors Association and the Chair of the College of Counselling Therapist of PEI. She works to share resources, develop professional development for school counsellors and arrange for school counsellor networking within the PEITF. She is also a member of the PEICA.