Join us for an exciting day of learning with speaker Stuart Stotts! Our speakers will cover the topics of the developing brain and related behaviors, incorporating music and storytelling as teaching tools, and recognizing the awesome work that childcare providers do. 

Attend Your Way

Attend in-person for the musical, engaging, and interactive presentations from Stuart.  If you are unable to attend in-person, we will offer a virtual livestream option, however we strongly encourage in-person attendance to get the most out of the presentations. 

We will be meeting in our Professional Development Conference Center in the Center for Health Sciences. 

Agenda

8:00am - 8:30am  Registration / Check-in

8:30am - 10:00am  "Behavior-What's the Brain Got to Do With It?", Stacy Stenz

Nearly every care provider and parent has experienced it... a child who clings to their caregiver when getting dropped off at childcare.  A toddler who demands that all the toys near them are their's and no one else's.   The little one who hides in the corner of the classroom refusing to budge.  Another that may lash out with fists of fury during play time.  Yet another screaming back at you because you gave them the "wrong" number of apple slices at snack time.   When you attempt to intervene to help, things start to spiral out of control. The child is frustrated and now you sense you are too! All these behaviors are signaling something, but what's the brain got to do with it?  🧠 Dive beneath behaviors and travel the neurocircuitry of the developing young brain to learn more!  Let's create a supportive roadmap for navigating future emotional challenges together!

10:15am - 11:45am  "Everybody Started Out Small", Stuart Stotts

Music is a wonderful way to create strong classrooms, strong children and strong teachers. In this interactive session, we’ll look at what brain research tells us about the importance of singing together. We’ll make connections to literacy. We’ll look at how teachers can adapt songs for multiple uses, with lots of ideas to use with kids right away. We’ll move, sing, and become better acquainted as we explore ways to celebrate, connect, and learn with our children.

11:45am - 12:20pm  Lunch

12:20pm - 2:15pm "Nurturing Kindness in Children", Stuart Stotts

Kindness is a touchstone for living. Although many of our children come to us with inherent tendencies shaped by their environment, teachers can explicitly teach kindness and foster a culture of compassion through a variety of activities, modalities, and strategies. 

2:20pm - 3:20pm "Our Role as Teachers", Stuart Stotts

Build a sense of professionalism and advocacy in EC teachers. Stuart includes material that honors the day-to-day work of childcare, including “Use Your Words,” “Powerful Friends,” and “Crazy ‘Bout Me.” We’ll move, sing, tell stories, and become better acquainted as we explore the importance and challenges and joys of working with young children. 

3:20pm - 3:30pm  Door Prizes / Wrap Up

Meet our Speakers

Stuart Stotts

Stuart Stotts is a songwriter, storyteller and author from Madison, Wisconsin. He’s worked as a full-time performer since 1986, and he gives over 200 shows a year for kids, families and adults around the Midwest, and sometimes farther. He’s a frequent presenter at conferences and workshops for teachers, parents and librarians. He has released several award-winning recordings, including Celebrate and Pass It On Down (both with Tom Pease), which have become classic resources for teachers who work with young children. He is the author of several books, including We Shall Overcome: A Song That Changed the World, an American Library Association Honor Book in 2013. His book Beyond Nice is a guide to nurturing kindness in young children and has become a resource for many EC teachers. You can find more information about Stuart at www.StuartStotts.com. 

Stacy Stenz

Stacy Stenz, MSE is a Brain Architect Educator, John C. Maxwell Certified Speaker, Trainer, Coach and has 27 years Special Education experience (Birth-to-Three, Early Childhood Special Needs 3-6, Intellectual Disabilities, Emotional Behavioral Disabilities, Specific Learning Disabilities 6-13 years) and over 30 years experiences with autistic students as therapist, consultant and teacher.

Registration 

Early Bird Registration (until February 14, 2025) - $30

Regular Registration - $40

Scholarship Support

We are excited to announce this year we will be offering a limited number of scholarship funds in an effort to make this training more accessible and reduce financial barriers to attend and participate in this training.  This scholarship will be distributed as a partial reimbursement of $15/person.  To apply for scholarship support, please complete this form and then proceed with your registration below. Disbursement of scholarship funds will be mailed after completion of the conference. 

Scholarship Assistant Application

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