2024 Gulf Coast Early Childhood Summer Symposium Sessions
June 12-14, 2024 | Gulf Shores, ALTraining Sessions
Pre-Conference Session – $30 (not included in registration cost)
Beach Builders’ Workshop with Sandcastle University – Do some building on the beach! Led by experienced instructors passionate about coastal engineering and creativity, participants will learn the fundamental principles of sandcastle construction, including techniques for selecting the right sand, understanding its properties, and mastering the art of sculpting and shaping. Through hands-on activity, participants will discover how to transform simple piles of sand into breathtaking architectural marvels!
Sandcastle University
Opening Session – R.A.R.E. Confidence
This workshop will support you in understanding the imposter syndrome and the inner critic. You’ll learn to isolate the self-limiting narratives that we tell ourselves and subconsciously believe. Attendees will be able to identify and disempower self-defeating and self-limiting narratives; explore the beliefs that easily become ammunition for our inner critic; and, learn the mindset that will serve as an antidote to beliefs that serve to limit, exhaust, and steal your joy.
Honorable Stephanie Jones
RARE Coaching
Using a STEAM Approach to Make Learning FUN again
Join this engaging and comical demonstration centered around the importance of using hands-on learning to spark curiosity; revolutionize the norm and nurture creativity in the lives of our most precious commodity, the early learning student.
Ronnie Thomas
Fun Weird Science
Breaking Free: Empowering Educators to Overcome Ruts with Faith and Resilience
This transformative training session is designed specifically for industry professionals seeking to reignite their enthusiasm and resilience. Through a blend of insightful discussions, interactive activities, and reflective exercises, participants will explore the power of faith and resilience in overcoming obstacles and embracing growth. From managing burnout to fostering a positive classroom environment, this session equips educators with practical strategies to navigate adversity with grace and confidence. Join us on this journey of empowerment, as we unlock the potential within ourselves to create impactful and fulfilling educational experiences for our youngest learners.
Stephanie Peavy
Educator, Author
Time to Tinker! Nurturing Curiosity and Creative Problem Solving
This transformative training session is designed specifically for industry professionals seeking to reignite their enthusiasm and resilience. Through a blend of insightful discussions, interactive activities, and reflective exercises, participants will explore the power of faith and resilience in overcoming obstacles and embracing growth. From managing burnout to fostering a positive classroom environment, this session equips educators with practical strategies to navigate adversity with grace and confidence. Join us on this journey of empowerment, as we unlock the potential within ourselves to create impactful and fulfilling educational experiences for our youngest learners.
Michelle Denney
Truman Pierce Institute, Auburn University
Sandy Resa
Truman Pierce Institute, Auburn University
Using Your Words to Teach Children About Emotion
Do we use the words we want our children to use? Do we give children consistent messages that their emotions matter, that there is no such thing as a good or bad emotion, and that what they are going through happens to all of us? As adults, we were not raised with these ideas, let alone in environments where we talked about our feelings. How can we become the examples our children need? Join Dr. Bailey from the Yale Center for Emotional Intelligence where he will guide educators in becoming the best version of themselves and more effective in teaching children about emotion.
Craig S. Bailey, Ph.D.
Director of Early Childhood, Yale Center for Emotional Intelligence
Park Adventures: I-Spy Critters!
Explore and join in as our educator takes you on a quest to discover critters of the park. You will learn ways animals camouflage themselves and test your observation skills. This session takes place at The Learning Campus in Gulf State Park. Space is VERY limited. Shuttle transportation to and from the park is provided. Participants who attend this session will automatically be registered to attend “Art In Nature” as well.
The Learning Campus Education Staff
Park Adventures: Art in Nature
Explore the beauty of nature! Learn about the history of natural art spanning from early charcoal paintings to recent nature artist and outdoor museum creator Andy Goldsworthy. You will get the chance to create your own work of art in nature!
The Learning Campus Education Staff
Bringing Books to Life
Explore how to bring books to life in a new way for preschoolers. Using Author Studies, creative story-telling and book activities, we will discover how to plan fun literacy experiences for everyday learning.
Samantha Guy
Alabama Public Television
Transformational vs Transactional Leadership
Identifies the difference between leading based on task and action vs leading with intention and intrinsic motivation. The latter is relational and people-centric and results in long-term, sustainable culture change.
Honorable Stephanie Jones
RARE Coaching
Bringing the Pieces Together to Make Inclusive Connections in ECE Classrooms
This workshop has been designed to build early childhood educators’ capacity to create inclusive classrooms for students with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) by providing:
• A working knowledge of ASD and typical and atypical manifestation
characteristics within young students.
• Several (5-7) practical strategies for addressing academic, social, and
behavioral concerns for students with ASD.
• Insight on how to partner with families to build supportive networks for
students and teachers.
Dr. Tricia Shelton
Seton Hill University
Flip the Script: Reframing Behaviors in the ECE Classroom
In this interactive session, participants will uncover the functions of challenging behaviors and discuss how to best work with children to modify behaviors in a positive and effective manner. Say goodbye to the battle-of-the wills, and hello to reciprocity, collaboration, and imagination!
Michala Steele
UCP Hunstville
Harnessing the Power of Storybooks to Teach Children About Emotion
Join Dr. Bailey from the Yale Center for Emotional Intelligence where he will guide educators in how to best select and use storybooks to teach children about emotion.
Craig S. Bailey, Ph.D.
Director of Early Childhood, Yale Center for Emotional Intelligence
The State of Childcare
Join us for a delicious breakfast and an engaging panel discussion focusing on the critical topic of early childhood education staffing. Our expert panelists will delve into the challenges and solutions surrounding recruitment and retention of personnel in this vital industry. Gain valuable insights, strategies, and best practices to address the complexities of attracting and keeping talented individuals in early childhood education. Whether you’re an educator, administrator, or policymaker, this session promises to offer actionable takeaways to enhance the quality and stability of your workforce.
