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Presenter: Melanie D’Souza, Research Faculty, School of Health Sciences and Community Services, Red River College

The Abecedarian Approach is an internationally recognized early childhood intervention program focused on vulnerable children from birth to age 5. For the past 40 years it has been the subject of numerous research studies and is regularly cited in child development literature for its long-term health, social and academic outcomes. In February 2012, Red River College, The Government of Manitoba and Manidoo Gi Miini Gonaan (“The Great Spirit is Giving”), embarked on a multifaceted project to bring this intervention to Winnipeg’s North End. This session provides an overview of the project, highlighting the early findings from Manitoba.

• The Abecedarian Approach in Manitoba’s Early Childhood Community (PDF Presentation) 

Presenters: 

• Christine Alden, Program Director, The Lawson Foundation, PhD Candidate, 91����, University of Toronto
• Gail Bornstein, Evergreen/TDSB Associate, School Ground Design Consultant
• Carolyn Webber, Director, Early Years Centre, East Antigonish Education Centre, Monastery, Nova Scotia
• Brenda Simon, Director of Play Programs, Earth Day Canada

Play is the work of early childhood. How and how much young children play influences learning, health and behaviour throughout life. Yet play is controversial, surrounded by debates about whether it belongs in classrooms as it faces ever-increasing restrictions on the playground. This workshop takes a fresh perspective, highlighting innovative approaches to play as central to learning and healthy living.

• Playing for Keeps: The Long-Term Benefits of Play - Christine Alden (PDF Presentation) 
• Playing for Keeps: The Long-Term Benefits of Play - Gail Bornstein (PDF Presentation) 
• Playing for Keeps: The Long-Term Benefits of Play - Carolyn Webber (PDF Presentation) 
• Playing for Keeps: The Long-Term Benefits of Play - Brenda Simon (PDF Presentation) 

Presenters: Dr. Monica McGlynn-Stewart, Faculty, George Brown College, School of Early Childhood, and Dr. Tiffany MacKay Instructional Coach, Peel District School Board

Adding to the debate about children and screen time, findings from an on-going Canadian study examining educators’ experiences and comfort levels using tablets to support children’s oral and visual literacy will be shared. The study employs tablet applications that allow children to take photographs or draw on blank slides and accompany their work with recorded oral explanations. The presenters will share data from educator interviews, classroom observations, and children’s slideshows.

• Toys or Tools? Tablet Applications to Support Literacy Learning (PDF Presentation)

Presenters: 

• Melanie Dixon, Director Professional Practice, College of Early Childhood Educators
• Kristine Parsons, RECE, Director of Operations, Owl Child Care Services of Ontario
• Tonya Millsap, RECE, Program Supervisor, Children's Services, County of Simcoe        
• Dr. Elaine Winick, Professor, George Brown College, School of Early Childhood
• Elaine Levy, Vice-President, Family & Neighbourhood Services, WoodGreen, PhD Candidate, 91����, University of Toronto
• Nicola Morrison, RECE, George Brown College Early Childhood Leadership Intern
• Daniel Venditti, RECE, George Brown College Early Childhood Leadership Intern

Two important studies on the impact of professional learning: The experiences from the College of Early Childhood Educators’ Leadership Pilot Two project on the role of continuous professional learning, self-reflective practice and communities of practice on leadership capacity, plus a look at how recent public policy changes have influenced the professional identity of Registered Early Childhood Educators. Participants will have an opportunity to provide input into, and add to, the research process and data collection.

• Transformational Leadership in Early Childhood Education in Ontario (PDF Presentation)
• Professional Self-Identity as a core Leadership Skill (PDF Presentation)

Presenters: 

• Cynthia Grundmann, Policy Development Officer, City of Toronto, Children’s Services Division
• Dr. Joel Lopata, Researcher, University of Western Ontario
• Jane Tousignant, RECE, Program Quality Coordinator, City of Sudbury Children’s Services
• Laura Urso, RECE, Program Coordinator, City of Sudbury Children’s Services

Ontario’s early year’s pedagogy acknowledges that quality in early childhood settings is all about relationships. Hear about the City of Toronto’s research into quality improvement through program empowerment and the coaching and mentoring efforts of the City of Sudbury that are encouraging practitioners to rethink quality efforts and evaluation as both a means and an end to desired program outcomes.

• Integrating Research, Theory and Practice to Promote Quality in Early Childhood (PDF Presentation)

Presenters: 

• Alice-Simone Balter, Faculty, Early Childhood/Family and Community Social Services, University of Guelph-Humber
• Adam Davies, PhD Candidate, Curriculum Studies & Teacher Development, 91����, University of Toronto
• Tricia van Rhijn, Assistant Professor, Department of Family Relations and Applied Nutrition, University of Guelph

Against debates surrounding Ontario’s new Health and Physical Education Curriculum this presentation highlights the need for building professional capacity in the sexual developmental domain in the early years. Researchers identity the gaps in training and identify the need for teaching strategies and building rapport with families.

• Equipping ECEs to Discuss the Development of Sexuality in Childhood: In the Classroom and with Families (PDF Presentation) 

Presenters: Shelley Kapraelian, Director, Early Childhood Development, Department of Education, Culture & Employment, Northwest Territories, and Sabrina Broadhead, Aboriginal Health and Wellness, Department of Health, Northwest Territories

The territories face special challenges when developing early childhood programs responsive to the diversity of communities, high levels of vulnerability and the challenging geography of Canada’s far north. The NWT’s early childhood framework and action plan is now in its third year. This presentation shares promising practices and partnerships, the status of early intervention pilots and efforts to improve quality and access across the territory.

• Early Years Systems Development in the Northwest Territories (PDF Presentation)

Presenter: Chelsea Hobbs, Researcher and Trainer, Early Childhood Development Support Services

With the increase in refugee and immigrant families and the growing numbers of children who have witnessed violence, having a trauma informed lens can help build relationships, bridge trust, and open the door for better outcomes. This workshop describes the six main trauma-informed principles outlined in the literature and focuses on how to translate these principles into practice with both children and parents.

• Responding to Victims of Trauma in Early Childhood Settings (PDF Presentation)

Presenters: 

• Denise Stone, Director, Early Years Integration and Community Development, Nova Scotia
• Nancy Dickieson, Director, Children’s Services, Region of Waterloo, Ontario
• Tessa Graham, Executive Lead, Provincial Office for the Early Years, British Columbia

Increasingly jurisdictions are using schools to expand access to early childhood education and care but as schools shoulder more responsibility for younger children where does this leave the child care sector? Hear the perspective of jurisdictions managing the transition. The Region of Waterloo formed innovative partnerships with its school boards and children’s service providers. Nova Scotia is documenting its journey as it expands full day preschool and creates early years hubs in its schools. British Columbia’s new Provincial Office of the Early Years coordinates services to improve access, and identifying promising practices of child care in school districts.

• Nova Scotia Early Years Centres (PDF Presentation)
• Little Kids in Big School - Our Story (PDF Presentation) 

Presenters: 

• Wenda Dickens, Coordinator, Early Childhood Education Unit, Manitoba Education and Advanced Learning
• Carolyn Simpson, Director, Early Childhood Development, Department of Education, Early Learning and Culture, Prince Edward Island
• Marueen Dockendorf, Superintendent of the Early Years, Provincial Office for the Early Years & Ministry of Education, British Columbia

While education and early years programs move ever closer together, what is the lived experience of young children as they transition into school? To what degree are the pedagogical approaches of Kindergarten teachers and early childhood educators aligned? Jurisdictions are paying attention and developing resources to address the discontinuities that young children may experience as they enter school.

• Aligning Early Childhood Pedagogy from Preschool to Kindergarten - Manitoba Perspective (PDF Presentation)
• Growing ECE Access and Quality: Opportunities and Challenges (PDF Presentation)

Presenter: Petr Varmuza, PhD Candidate, 91����, University of Toronto

What impact does social and economic status have on interactions that take place between child care staff and children? A study of 586 licensed preschool programs in 140 Toronto neighbourhoods found a 35% difference in quality depending on program location. This represents the difference between mediocre and good quality care. Results were mitigated by auspice and organizational type with implications for public policy, systems planning and management.

• Are Neighbourhood Characteristics Associated with Quality of Child Care Programs? Or Do Neighbourhoods Matter? (PDF Presentation)

Presenter: Shannon Fuller, Director, Early Years Policy and Program Branch, Ministry of Education, Ontario

Child care is changing in Ontario. New rules effect private schools, recreation programs and both licensed and unlicensed providers. The first suite of rules took effect in September 2015. Changes to centre care, including new staffing qualifications and changes to group size and child to staff ratios, are under discussion for 2017. This workshop helps operators and practitioners understand the changes.

• Phase 2 Regulatory Amendments under the Child Care and Early Years Act, 2014 and the Education Act (PDF Presentation) 

Presenters: 

• Susan Garrow-Oliver, Associate Professor, Department of Child Studies & Social Work, Mount Royal University
• Lyndsay Macdonald, Coordinator, Association of Early Childhood Educators Ontario
• Carolyn Ferns, Public Policy and Government Relations Coordinator, Ontario Coalition for Better Child Care
• Nicki Dublenko, Chair, Alberta Child Care Association
• Maryann Farebrother, Mount Royal University Pilot Project Coordinator, Early Childhood Curriculum Framework, Alberta

Engaging the early childhood workforce in the movement for decent work and how building professionalism and leadership equips educators to influence public policy.

• The Movement for Decent Work: Advocacy & Actions to Influence Policy (PDF Presentation)

Presenters: 

• Janet Jamieson, Research Chair, School of Health Sciences and Community Services, Red River College
• Dr. Susan Wamithi-Gitau, Paediatrician, Aga Khan University Hospital, Nairobi, Kenya
• Rabeya Hussein, Early Child Development Consultant

The Science of Early Child Development (SECD) is a knowledge translation and mobilization initiative developed in partnership between Red River College, the University of Toronto and the Aga Khan Development Network. SECD provides training to groups in subSaharan Africa working with children and families affected by HIV/AIDS to provide an evidence-based background which will in turn, improve early childhood program implementation. This session will focus on how a Canadian resource, through close, trusting relationship with partners, can help support social equity for young children by contributing to and building upon existing programs in international contexts. There will also be a discussion about how SECD has been used to support ECD programs for children in marginalized communities in Dhaka, Bangladesh.

• Themes of social justice for young children in applied research (PDF Presentation)