Child Conference

About the Conference

The Creating Habits In Lifelong Development Conference is an annual event sponsored by Little Sprouts and hosted by the Merrimack Valley Reading Association. It is the preeminent annual event offering high-quality professional development in early education, literacy, and curriculum to teachers, administrators, community specialists, and parents. Keynotes and breakout sessions offer participants a chance to customize their own learning and leave with new strategies, skills, and a reignited spark for learning!

2009 CHILD Conference: Innovative Learning, Innovative Teaching

Keynote Speakers

Betsy Lewin
Illustrator for the popular series Click, Clack, Moo, Giggle, Giggle, Quack, and Duck for President. Many of Betsy's books have appeared on the New York Times Best Seller List and she has garnered many awards including a silver medal from the Society of Illustrators, and a Caldecott Honor.

Rae Pica
has been a children's physical activity specialist since 1980. She is the author of 18 books, including the award-winning Great Games for Young Children. She is the host and co-founder of BAM! (Body and Mind) Radio.

Chris Cerf
Author, composer, lyricist, and record/television producer. He wrote the song, "Put Down the Duckie" for Sesame Street and is the co-creator and co-producer of Between the Lions.

Conference Schedule

Friday, August 7, 2009
Check in/Registration: 7:45-8:30
Morning Keynote and Workshops: 8:30-12:15
Lunch with Vendors and Book Signing: 12:15-1:15
Afternoon Keynotes and Workshops: 1:15-5:30

Location:

Northern Essex Community College, Tech Center Building

100 Elliot Way, Haverhill, MA

Directions

Presenters and Workshops

Saturday August 23, 2008
7:45 - 8:30	Registration
8:30 - 9:45 Welcome and Morning Keynote Speaker	"Thinking in Pictures" Betsy Lewin Award winning Illustrator
10:00 - 11:30	103A	103B	131	211	213
Morning Plenary Sessions	Choosing Storybooks Betsy Lewin, Illustrator	Red Flags for Motor Development for Children 0-5 Tamara L. Kucharski, M.S., OTR/L	Advocating for your Right to Advocate! Early Education for All	Preschool Writing Centers of Excellence! Kate Mahoney	Successful Infant/Toddler Environments Pilar Brackett
11:30 - 1:15	Lunch, Book Signing, and Vendor Tables
1:15-2:15	Keynote: The Whole Child: Thinking, Feeling, Moving by Rae Pica
2:30-4:30	103A	103B	131	211	213
Afternoon Plenary Sessions	Moving and Learning Across the Curriculum Rae Pica	Stress and Young Children Kate Mahoney	The Referral Process Dr. Paull Koppenhaver	Innovative Uses for Preschool Technology Christie Clopton, Hatch
4:30-4:45	Snacks and Raffles
4:45-5:30Closing Remarks	"The Evolution of Early Education" Chris Cerf

Interesting in presenting? Send bio and workshop description to Conference Chair, Meghan McGinley Crowe mcrowe@littlesprouts.com.

Featured Speakers from previous CHILD Conferences
	Marilyn J. Adams, Ph. D., is nationally regarded as the leader in phonemic awareness research and application for young children. Her contributions include the landmark publications of Developing Phonemic Awareness in the Classroom, Beginning to Read: Thinking and Learning About Print, and Phonemic Awareness in Young Children. She has contributed to the national movement of early literacy through her work as a Research Associate at Harvard University Graduate School of Education and as a literacy consultant for PBS’s award winning programs Sesame Street and Between the Lions.
	Dr. Peg Griffin, Ph.D. has spent over 30 years researching how language functions in learning and development. She has co-authored many of the most popular and prevalent publications on early literacy including "Starting Out Right: A Guide to Promoting Children's Success in Reading", "Preparing Our Teachers: Opportunities for Better Reading Instruction" and the pivotal publication which began the recent early literacy movement "Preventing Reading Difficulties in Young Children".
	Mallika Chopra is a producer at Chopra Media where she has co-created several TV programs. She is the author of "100 Promises to My Baby" and more recently, "100 Questions From My Child". She is a spokesperson for UNICEF and is the founder and executive of MyPotential, Inc.
	Scott Noyes began his career as a preschool teacher and has been professionally working, playing, and talking about children for over twenty years. His first book "Positive Discipline - That Works!" is in its 4th publishing and his second, "Intentional Language" was released in 2003.
Inspirational Quotes
"Little Sprouts knows it and is making it happen." -Marsha Sonnenberg "There is a positive aura about walking into places where people are happy and great learning is happening with children." -Marsha Sonnenberg "You are on the road to greater greatness!" -Marsha Sonnenberg "Literacy is evident in everything." -Leslie Morrow "The feel in the centers is child focused and adult supported." -Leslie Morrow "Vocabulary allows us to comprehend concepts and become active citizens." -Leslie Morrow "The difference in where they were and where they are is an amazing demonstration of progress monitoring." -Marsha Sonnenberg "Progression of Professional Development is evident in every corner of the space." "Small group activities allow for extra intentionality." "Children that are most at risk and struggling will learn only in small groups." -Leslie Morrow "The ability to integrate at risk, moderate and affluent families into a community of supportive learners is awe inspiring." -Marsha Sonnenberg
Previous Workshops
Storybook Reading to Build Comprehension by Lesley Morrow Infant and Toddler Planning Activities by Daniele Sharpe The Role of the Infant/Toddler Teacher Roundtable by Kathleen Curry Managing Stress by Family Services, Inc Sign Language by Jessamin O'Hara Effective Communication with Families by Daniele Sharpe and Kathleen Curry Science, Math, and Early Childhood by Nicole Andrea and Meghan McGinley Crowe Technology to Support your Classroom by Sherri Penney Diversity and Anti-Bias by Alison Boucher Coaching Techniques by Jean DiGiovanna He's Just A Little 'Different': Exploring Developmental Disabilities in Early Childhood." By Kara Lamoureux Story Retelling Make it/Take it by Adalina Mendez Diversity and Anti-Bias by Alison Boucher Infant/Toddler Developmental Milestones by Jada Carlson Using Assessment for Lesson Planning and Family Interaction by Marsha Sonnenberg Setting Limits and Problem Solving by Lynne Laffie How To Get To Kids Before They Get To You: Including Kids With Behavioral Disabilities In Your Classroom by MSPCC Sensory Integration by Kerry Callahan The Language of Encouragement by Lynne Laffie Growing Up with Quality Children's Literature by Meghan McGinley Crowe Story Retelling Make it/Take it by Adalina Mendez