This year’s conference will be held in Tuttle North Building, on The College at Brockport campus, Brockport, NY. Directions to campus are available at www.brockport.edu/visit, and a campus map is available at www.brockport.edu/map.
The registration fee is $25 per person, $15 for college students. Payment can be made either online via credit card or by check or money order (made out to the Hunter Institute). The registration fee includes all workshop materials, continental breakfast, lunch and refreshments. The Institute staff is happy to accommodate participants with special needs if they are known in advance. NEW THIS YEAR: Keynotes and several breakout sessions will be webcast LIVE on conference day and will be archived for future viewing!
Visit http://brockport.edu/hunter to register online only if you pay with a credit card. Online registration will be available starting August 26.
Register for the conference using the Form located on the last page of the document here if you are unable to pay with a credit card and complete registration online. Mail the completed form, along with a check or money order (payable to "The Hunter Institute"), to:
The Hunter Institute on Young Children Attn: Kevin Warner and Natalie Sarrazin, Co-Directors The College at Brockport State University of New York 350 New Campus Drive Brockport, NY 14420
For more information call Mr. Kevin Warner, (585) 395-5304, or Dr. Natalie Sarrazin, (585) 395-5256, or email hunter@brockport.edu. Space is limited, so please register early. No registration forms will be accepted after September 30, 2013. Confirmation of registration will be sent to participants upon receipt of registration and payment.
Established in 2007, the mission of the Hunter Institute on Young Children is to positively affect the growth and development of young children by providing quality education and professional development for their teachers and childcare providers. The Institute also seeks to promote an ongoing dialogue on best-practices and methods for educating early childhood professionals, thereby contributing to the continuing development of the profession.
8-8:30 am Registration and Coffee, Networking, Vendors
8:30-8:45 am Welcome and Directions for the Day
8:45-9:45 am Keynote Speaker: Dr. Lauren Lieberman, Distinguished Service Professor, The College at Brockport
“Motor Development in Children with Visual Impairments: What We Know, Where We Are Going and How We Can Use this Information to Improve Skills of All Young Children.”
9:45-10 am Break, Networking, Vendors
10-11 am Breakout Session #1 (choose one session)
Infant3:30-3:45 pm Evaluation
Toddler
Preschool
School-Age
Administrators
“Beyond Arts and Crafts: Exploring the Creative Arts through Preschool Thematic Units”
Presenter: Amie Pellegrino, MSEd, Director, Ready, Set, Grow! Preschool, Brockport, NY
TARGET: BIRTH – 8 YEAR OLDS
This workshop will introduce participants to a variety of resources and methods available for encouraging the children in their care to explore the creative arts including dance, visual arts, music, and drama. We will take a closer look at thematic planning and explore ways to encourage the development of problem-solving and decision-making skills through the process of creating. Participant involvement in hands-on activities is encouraged.
“The Box Sculpture — Creating Collaboratively with Children”
Presenter: Suzanne Kolodziej, MA, Cornell University
TARGET: 3 – 8 YEAR OLDS
This presentation will explain how to provide children with a developmentally appropriate art experience working with color and form that reinforces basic concepts in early childhood education, while they learn the importance of working in a cooperative manner. There will be a hands-on component during the presentation and a discussion of children’s current literature.
“Bullying in Early Childhood: Strategies in Prevention and Response”
Presenter: James Colt, EdD, Coordinator of School Safety and Security, Monroe #1 BOCES
TARGET: 3 – 8 YEAR OLDS, ADMINS
This workshop will review issues of bullying, harassment and aggression with a focus on application in early childhood. Included in the discussion will be best practices in bullying prevention, and what is effective in stopping ongoing bullying when it is occurring. Also explored will be our roles and strategies in protecting children through appropriate prevention and intervention (what we can do about it).
“The Changing Family: Children and Parents in Cross-national Families”
Presenter: Yajuan (Vivian) Xiang, PhD Candidate, Early Childhood Education, University of Buffalo
TARGET: BIRTH – 8 YEAR OLDS
Cultural differences found in cross-national families affect parenting stress and ultimately children’s outcomes. This session will focus on the unique family dynamics of the cross-national family and how they play an important role in a couple’s daily childrearing practices, marital relations, and a child’s psychological well-being.
“Gentle Yoga for Stress Reduction”
Presenter: Stephanie Mortellaro, Certified Yoga Instructor, Brockport, NY
TARGET: BIRTH - 8 YEAR OLDS
Join E-RYT yoga instructor Stephanie Mortellaro for an enjoyable hour of relaxing yoga stretches designed to release tension and ease daily stress in the workplace. No experience is necessary, as the class will be gentle enough for all.
“Gluten-free and Casein-free Diets for Individuals with Autism: Are They Effective?”
Presenter: Jie Zhang, PhD, Associate Professor, Dept. of Education and Human Development, The College at Brockport
TARGET: BIRTH - 8 YEAR OLDS
Given the growing number of children diagnosed with autism, it is vital for professionals to systematically evaluate the existing body of literature and synthesize its scientific evidence. With this, research can be translated to applied practice in order to better assist practitioners and better serve people with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) and their families. The purpose of this presentation is to evaluate the evidence base and to analyze the effectiveness of gluten-free and casein-free diets for individuals with ASD by using a systematic analysis model. At the conclusion of this presentation, participants will have a better understanding concerning the utility of gluten free and casein free diets among individuals diagnosed with autism.
“Helping Students Maintain their Heritage Language: Classroom Strategies You Can Use”
Presenters: Janka Szilagyi, Associate Professor, Dept. of Education and Human Services, The College at Brockport; Tunde Szecsi and Debra Giambo, Professors, Florida Gulf Coast University
TARGET: 3 – 8 YEAR OLDS
The focus of this presentation is to share strategies that teachers can use to support students’ maintenance of their heritage language, even when the teacher does not speak the same heritage language. Additionally, ideas for supporting parents in the challenge of maintaining the heritage language and culture will be addressed.
“Identifying Developmental Delays in Infants and Toddlers: Review of Developmental Milestones”
Presenter: Kathy Peterson, PhD, PNP-BC, Dept. of Nursing, The College at Brockport
TARGET: BIRTH - 2 YEAR OLDS
This workshop will review the signs and symptoms in infants and toddlers that assist in the early identification of autism, cerebral palsy, visual disturbances, hearing loss, speech delays, ADHD, and movement disorders. Validated tools will be shared that assist in this identification process. Participants will also discuss ways to communicate possible developmental disabilities with parents. Opportunities will be available to present cases for discussion.
“Leaping Into Stories: Creative Drama in the Classroom” Presenter: Tom Lake, MFA Candidate in Interdisciplinary Arts, Goddard College TARGET: 3 – 6 YEAR OLDS
During this workshop, participants will learn by experiencing a creative drama lesson that adapts picture books so that they can be acted out by a group of children in an inclusive way. Common issues during drama lessons will be addressed, including how to assign roles so no one is left out. No more crying over who gets to be the princess!
“The Many Benefits of Movement Experiences for Pre-school-Aged Children”
Presenter: Doug Collier, PhD, Department of Kinesiology, Sport Studies and Physical Education, The College at Brockport
TARGET: BIRTH – 8 YEAR OLDS
Participants in this session will learn about the physical, cognitive and affective benefits of movement for young children. They will also be exposed to research based, practical ideas regarding how to effectively teach, as well as ways to effectively arrange learning environments that lead to optimal development. This session will involve lecture, discussion, the examination of actual cases and the design of progressive movement experiences.
“Music Activities for Pre-School: Exploring the Connection Between Music and Movement”This workshop will explore pre-school applications of the Dalcroze pedagogy of music/movement through participation and discussion. Emile Jaques Dalcroze, a Swiss music educator at the turn of the 20th Century, developed teaching methods which realized and honed the body as the primary instrument of music perception. His approach is most distinct in its use of movement to teach musical concepts.
“Physical Balance During the Early Years”
Presenters: Pam Haibach, PhD, Associate Professor, and Lauren Lieberman, PhD, Distinguished Services Professor, Dept. of Kinesiology, Sports Studies, and P.E., The College at Brockport
TARGET: BIRTH - 6 YEAR OLDS
This presentation will discuss balance and postural control in young children, including both typical and atypical development. Examples of strategies to improve balance using basic equipment will also be discussed, and time will be provided for questions.
“Print vs. E-book as Mediating Tool for Shared Reading Social Interactions between Infant and Caregiver”
Presenter: Corinne Eggleston, ED.M, Assistant Director of the Early Childhood Research Center, University at Buffalo
TARGET: BIRTH – 2 YEAR OLDS
Emergent literacy is recognized as beginning at birth. Today’s early learners are exposed to books, not only in print but in an electronic format (e-books). Electronic programs and activities for young children are often intended to be used jointly by child and parent. This session will discuss the social-interactions between parents and babies through shared reading experiences using electronic and traditional print books. This session will also describe quality e-books or other applications and strategies for parents and educators to use with infants, in a developmentally appropriate way.
“Seeking External Funding for Your Project – Grants 101”
Presenter: Colleen Donaldson, Grants Development Director, The College at Brockport
TARGET: BIRTH – 8 YRS, ADMINS
In this session, grant development expert Colleen Donaldson will provide a basic overview on how to identify external grant funding sources, and specific tips and practical resources for writing successful grant proposals.
“Supporting Young Emergent Writers”
Presenter: Sue Robb, PhD, Associate Dean, School of Education and Human Services, The College at Brockport
TARGET: 3 – 6 YEAR OLDS
Young children are immersed in a world of print in multiple modalities—environmental print, books, video, digital media, and so on. In this session we will look closely at examples of young children’s writing, with a focus on understanding the developmental trajectories of diverse children’s writing. We will consider the conditions that support young writers, as well as the ways that young children use print both in and out of early childhood education settings. We will explore a range of classroom strategies and experiences that support young writers, including how we respond to children’s writing and how we respond to children as writers.
Motor development is a critical component of growth for all children. Research conducted through the Institute on Movement Studies for Individuals with Visual Impairments has shown that children with visual impairments are behind in motor development as compared to their sighted peers. There are several key approaches to improving the motor development for children with visual impairments that have been developed through the Institute. In our morning keynote, Dr. Lauren Lieberman will discuss these specific approaches and how they can be used with all children to ensure that all children reach their full potential in all areas of development.
Lauren Lieberman, PhD, is a 1996 graduate of Oregon State in the Movement Studies in Disabilities Program. She is currently a Distinguished Service Professor at The College at Brockport in the area of Adapted Physical Education. Previously, Lauren taught at the Perkins School for the Blind in the Deaf blind program for five years.
Dr. Lieberman founded and currently runs Camp Abilities, a developmental sports camp for children with visual impairments, held each summer in Brockport, NY. She has helped start 15 Camp Abilities programs in the US and 6 in other countries. Her areas of research include inclusion strategies and physical activity for youth with sensory impairments. She has published over 87 articles in refereed journals, and presented over 125 presentations, 26 in other countries.
Dr. Lieberman is currently on the board of United States Association for Blind Athletes, US Games, and the journal Palaestra. She is past chair of the Adapted Physical Activity Council. She recently won Professional of the Year from The Adapted Physical Activity Council, The Hollis Fait Research Award from the National Consortium for Adapted Physical Education, and An Access Award from The American Foundation of the Blind for starting Camp Abilities.
We are born ready to move, explore, sense our surroundings, learn and laugh! We develop best if we can experience our surroundings by touching, smelling, tasting and hearing, in addition to seeing, everything our world has to offer. Kelly Kantz believes that we, especially young children, can do this better outside! In the context of the joy and benefits that nature can provide for us all, we’ll discuss concerns about childhood obesity, aggression, excessive screen time and a lack of engagement in learning. We’ll explore creative opportunities to connect with the outdoors within our classrooms, as well as activities to help us appreciate the natural environment outside and extend our learning there.
Kelly Kantz Roy, PhD, is the Director of the Early Childhood Research Center at the University at Buffalo. She completed a B.A. in Early Childhood Education at UB, a Masters degree at Buffalo State College, and a Doctorate in Early Childhood Special Education at Iowa State University. Kelly brings more than 30 years of experience in early care and education in rural and urban settings, for those with abundant resources and those without. Her experiences serving young children and their families and teaching future teachers have been geographically diverse.
Dr. Roy’s research interests include preparing teachers for inclusive classrooms and outdoor environments.
