Featured Workshops

1
Grab—and KEEP—Their Attention!
Judy Woodworth (session 1 only)
A fun, informative, interactive presentation—just like a classroom lesson should be! See how well-chosen literature combined with felt puppets, pieces and props brings magic through storytelling. Leave with concrete examples and ideas that will inspire imaginations, creativity and social/emotional connections.

2
Once Upon a Time
Antonio Sacre (session 2 only)
A master storyteller explores how storytelling can help students with their literacy development. Learn three simple techniques to unlock the storyteller in everyone, and discover how to tell stories in the classroom. Participants will leave with at least two new stories to share with their classes.

3
Engaging Children with Rhythm
Norman Jones (session 3 only)
Learn how music and rhythm can add value to your classroom experience. Proven techniques, developed and used with California preschoolers over the last 14 years, will be demonstrated. During this hands-on drumming presentation, all attendees will be encouraged to experiment with their own sense of rhythm. Participants will leave motivated, confident, and inspired to DRUM with their students.

Music

4
The Wheels Are OFF the BUS
Willie Aron
This Grammy-nominated children’s musician and preschool music teacher has developed a compelling, entertaining curriculum for preschoolers and their teachers. Dispense with overfamiliar, tired teaching methods, and become re-engaged by the power and magic of music education in a passionate, new way!

5
Move Your Body to the Beat!
Kathy Medina
This hands-on music and movement workshop will use daily activities and routines that teach children critical thinking, collaboration and cooperation, as well as perceptual motor and language skills. Come and make musical instruments using everyday items, and learn how to develop children’s pre-literacy and pro-social skills through imagination, creative movement, and music!

6
Bring Out the Best through Music and Movement
Sara Anne Quintanar
In this upbeat workshop, participants will learn “whole body” musical activities to build imagination and language development in children. Explore new ways to help children engage, create, and express themselves through language and music. Come dance and sing in English and Spanish! This is a bilingual presentation.

Literature

7
Literature Made Musical
Kira Rappaport
Books and stories are ripe with music-making possibilities. Reading songs, singing stories, and chanting books provide a musical approach to early literacy. Each story explored may be extended into dance, movement, and instrumental opportunities. Making literature musical is a wonderful way to make music in your class EVERY DAY.

8
Awakening a Love for Reading through Rhythm and Rhyme
Angela M. Reed Múnera and C. Christopher Reed
Stimulating a love for reading from infancy will influence a child’s entire life and will help to increase the child’s potential to succeed. Children will become enthusiastic about reading when it is presented through rhythm and rhyme. We will explore several strategies using poetry, song, dramatization, and imagination. This is a bilingual presentation.

Parent Involvement

9
Bring Parents into the Picture!
Annette Franquez
Build a unique approach to parent engagement. When schools work with parents to develop connections, families become advocates, powerful allies, and committed participants. By ensuring family involvement, programs will be meeting State and Federal law requirements as well as high quality educational goals. Join us for discussion and an interactive planning activity.

Toddler

10
Engaging Toddlers with Process Art
Angelica Hernandez
Process art helps children think creatively. The art experience is more important than the end product. Learn how to set up activities that are engaging for both toddlers and educators. We will look at various materials and techniques which can be easily used in any classroom. This is a bilingual presentation.

11
2’s Can Do This!
Connie Rzemien
Discover fun and useful activities to engage two-year-olds during art and music time. Musical experience in early childhood accelerates toddlers’ brain development, lengthens attention span, and develops language skills. Art allows children to make choices, practice fine motor skills, and express their feelings.

Movement

12
I Wish I’d Known This Sooner! Minds and Motor Skills
Cindy Pahr
Learn fun, easy-to-implement ideas for improving skills to help children learn. Armed with effective strategies, you can help students develop the motor abilities needed for solid learning. Students who practice these techniques feel a great sense of accomplishment and develop the motivation to continue learning.

13
Yoga for Every Child
Amber Ramseyer
Learn fun and playful yoga techniques to improve focus, attention, strength, balance, and coordination in every child. Integrating the brain, breath, and body through the use of stories and games will help children find balance throughout their day and instill self-confidence. Adaptations and modification for special needs will be discussed. You are welcome to bring your own yoga mat.

Special Needs

14
Engaging the Child with Special Needs through Movement
Karen Rodriguez
The unique learning style of a child with special needs may require a novel approach to teaching. We will explore sensory strategies to engage children through movement, deep pressure, resistance, and tactile experiences, in order to encourage an optimal response to learning opportunities.

15
Creative Ways to Support Children with Special Needs
Stacey Smith-Clark
We will focus on specific activities and strategies for educators and professionals to use to best support children with special needs and their families. Topics include understanding the steps in the special education process, becoming an advocate, and creating a plan for the child and his/her family.

Puppetry

16
Making and Presenting Felt Board Stories
Nora Ortiz-Sanchez
Discover FUN and creative ways to make and present felt stories that will supplement your curriculum. Engage students by encouraging them to sing, listen and participate. A make-and-take activity, a selection of great songs, and handouts will be included.

Art

17
Learning with Sensory Play
Maile Josiah-Juarez
Sensory Play involves children learning through their senses while they play, create, and investigate. These activities can stimulate children’s engagement in academic areas, the arts, social/emotional skills, and communication with others. Sensory play can be used to address challenging behaviors as well as to promote healthy development. Hand-outs, recipes, and resources will be provided.

18
“HOTS for Art”
Jorge Ramirez
Art is individualized, unique, and authentic! Let’s explore how to implement creative art using higher order of thinking skills (HOTS) and the child’s previous knowledge to construct new meaningful knowledge. It is art implementing DAP (developmentally appropriate practices).

19
Math in Art
Yvette Roman
Discover how to inspire young children’s creativity as they acquire basic math skills! Through hands-on activities, explore how a world of beautiful art can start with math and can be driven by S.T.E.A.M. Take home many activity ideas and a new appreciation for math in art!

20
The Ins and Outs of Art
Marynell Witcomb
Members of the Outdoor Classroom Project will show how to easily bring new art experiences to your outside space. Children and teachers alike will be able to enjoy art in a different way. Art created outdoors can be more expressive, free flowing and artistically valuable. Expose your students to the joy of slipping, squishing, glopping, dripping, and oozing through future art adventures.