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FRIDAY
Opening Keynote
Consious Discipline (Kyree Chambers)
FRIDAY 9:30 a.m.-11:30 a.m.
Tattling, Teasing, and Taking: Teaching Social Skills in Real Time
Everyday classroom conflicts are perfect opportunities to teach social-emotional skills. This session helps educators respond to tattling, teasing, and taking in a way that builds empathy, problem-solving, and assertiveness. With the skills of Conscious Discipline, participants will frequent social conflict as an opportunity to teach new skills. Participants will learn rituals and consistent language to teach children how to solve conflict independently.
LOCATION: Dacotah Expo Center
SESSION ONE: BREAKOUT A
Sherry Tiegs
FRIDAY 12:30 p.m. - 2:30 p.m.
The Power and Purpose of Family Child Care
Examine how family childcare is more than just a business, it is a calling. Reflect on early mornings, big feelings, muddy boots, paperwork piles, and countless magical moments in between. Engage in high-energy, humorous, and heartfelt discussions where we will celebrate the joy and grit of family childcare professionals. Recognize the entrepreneurial brilliance behind the scenes, and shine a light on the powerful relationships that shape children’s futures. Leave feeling proud, recharged, and reminded that what you do matters…deeply. Expect laughter, maybe a few tears, and lots of “Yes, that’s me!” moments.
KFC VI: Professionalism
CDA VI: Maintaining a committment to professionalism
Level 2: Implements
LOCATION: Grand Eagle
SESSION ONE: BREAKOUT B
Carrie Zelin Johnson M.Ed
FRIDAY 12:30 p.m. - 2:30 p.m.
Supporting Resilience in Children: The Little Engine That Could
Examine the characteristics of resiliency and its key relationship to children’s mental health. Explore the role resiliency plays as a critical factor in how children who are at risk will handle stress, react, or adapt to negative situations, and overcome obstacles in their emotional growth. Develop practical strategies for improving the environment and programming to enhance and support resilience in young children. Participants will examine the events and situations that can cause stress in our lives and the lives of young children and explore the impact on children’s emotional development and describe the characteristics of resilience and develop strategies for improving resilience in young children.
KFC II.C: Promoting Social and Emotional Development
CDA III: Positive ways to support children’s social and emotional development
Level 1: Explores
LOCATION: Crossed Arrows
SESSION ONE: BREAKOUT C
First Children's Finance (Desi Oberg and Kelly Nokleby)
FRIDAY 12:30 p.m. - 2:30 p.m.
Financial Basics and Taxes for your Family Child Care Business
Learn basic financial terms, and about income and expenses for your child care business. Review the forms and schedules involved in tax preparation, how to organize your records and more. Learn and discover practical tools that will help keep your business taxes organized and make the process simpler.
FCC
KFC VI: Professionalism
CDA VI: Maintaining a committment to professionalism
Level 1: Explores
LOCATION: Tatanka (front)
SESSION TWO: BREAKOUT A
Sherry Tiegs
FRIDAY 3:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Nature Based Learning: Blending Early Childhood Education Indoors, Outdoors, and Beyond
Incorporate nature-based play in your everyday practices. Provide an exciting opportunity for children to grow in child development by extending their learning in natural outdoor experiences. Discover how to blend early childhood education and environmental education. Discuss the nature-based approach and various opportunities at different levels of participation in establishing a nature-based early education program.
FCC
KFC II.A: Creating Positive Learning Experiences
CDA II: Stephs to advance children’s physical and intellectual development
Level 1: Explores
Location: Grand Eagle
SESSION TWO: BREAKOUT B
Carrie Zelin Johnson M.Ed
FRIDAY 3:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.
ACE Interface Understanding NEAR Science: Building Self Healing Communities
NEAR Science stands for neurobiology, epigenetics, Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs), and resilience research. Learn how childhood adversity impacts our lives, the lives of our children, and the health of our communities. This presentation highlights key findings from the fields of neurobiology, epigenetics, epidemiology, and resilience research, demonstrating the impacts of Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) on health and well-being and offering strategies to build resilience. The goal of this presentation is to build a common understanding about NEAR Science as a starting point. All are welcome, and we encourage diverse cultural and identity groups to attend this presentation. Each of us holds wisdom to create healthier communities, and attendees are encouraged to think about how this information can be applied within their own family, work life, and community.
FCC/CCC
KFC IX: Trauma Informed Care
CDA III: Positive ways to support children’s social and emotional development
Level 1: Explores
LOCATION: Crossed Arrows
SESSION TWO: BREAKOUT C
First Children's Finance (Desi Oberg and Kale Weber)
FRIDAY 3:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Great Start Compensation Support Payment Program for your Child Care Center
This course is for both Child Care Center owners and directors who are already using the Great Start Compensation Support Payment Program as well as Child Care Center owners and directors who have not yet applied for Great Start Compensation. This course will guide participants through defining and exploring the Great Start Compensation Support Payment Program. Participants will learn about what Great Start Compensation is, who is eligible, how to apply, what they can spend funds on, how to report fund use, and how to find support and resources about the Great Start compensation program. This course is offered in partnership with DCYF.
CCC
KCF VI: Professionalism
CDA VI: Maintaining a commitment to professionalism
Level 1: Explores
LOCATION: Tatanka (front)
special session
Ray Harrell
FRIDAY 12:30 p.m. - 4:30 p.m.
American Red Cross Adult/Pedatric/Infant First Aid-CPR-AED
The American Red Cross First Aid CPR/AED program provides participants with the knowledge & skills they need to recognize and respond appropriately to cardiac, breathing and first aid emergencies. The courses in this program teach participants the knowledge and skills needed to give immediate care to an injured or ill person and to decide whether advanced medical care is needed.
FCC/CCC
KCF VII.B: Ensuring Safety
CDA I: Planning a safe, healthy learning environment
LOCATION: Tatanka (back)
SATURDAY
SESSION ONE: BREAKOUT A
Helene I. Sherley-Pearson
SATURDAY 8:00 a.m. - 10:00 a.m.
Fostering Connection and Respect: Mastering Communication and Boundaries with Families in Early Childhood Education
Promote communication strategies, establish clear, respectful boundaries in this comprehensive 2-hour course designed for early childhood educators. Participants will engage in practices that facilitate open and transparent dialogues with families, effectively addressing scholar progress and concerns. Participants will examine methodologies for setting and maintaining professional boundaries that promote mutual respect while safeguarding the educator’s role. Emphasis will be placed on balancing supportive relationships with families without compromising professional limits, ensuring that the scholar’s needs remain paramount. By the conclusion, attendees will acquire practical tools to cultivate trust, fortify family partnerships, and foster a positive environment that enhances early learning outcomes.
FCC/CCC
KCF III: Relationships with Families
CDA IV: Strategies to establish productive relationships with families
Level 2: Implements
LOCATION: Grand Eagle
SESSION ONE: BREAKOUT B
Laura Walser
SATURDAY 8:00 a.m. - 10:00 a.m.
Learn, Play, Breathe! Self-Care Strategies for Early Childhood Educators
Explore strategies to reduce stress, take time to breathe, address compassion fatigue, and increase joy in your day-to-day work with children and families. Discover a deeper awareness of toxic stress and its impacts on the caregiver. Identify sources of support and develop a plan for simple self-care routines to enhance well-being and resilience.
FCC/CCC
KCF IX: Trauma Informed Care
CDA III: Positive ways to support children’s social and emotional development
Level 1: Explores
LOCATION: Crossed Arrows
SESSION ONE: BREAKOUT C
Nancy Berndt
SATURDAY 8:00 a.m. - 10:00 a.m.
(SUID/AHT) Sudden Unexpected Infant Death/Reducing the Risk of Abusive Head Trauma (DCYF)
This class meets DHS Licensing training requirements for both Sudden Unexpected Infant Death SUID) & Abusive Head Trauma (AHT). Content includes recommendations to reduce SUID including SIDS, suffocation, and other sleep related infant deaths; safe sleep environments, MN Child Care regulations related to safe sleep; as well as symptoms and consequences of abusive head trauma, risk factors for abusive head trauma; strategies to use when stressed, angry or frustrated.
FCC
KCF VII.B: Ensuring Safety
CDA I: Planning a safe, healthy learning environment
Level 2
LOCATION: Tatanka (front)
SESSION TWO: BREAKOUT A
Helene I. Sherley-Pearson
SATURDAY 10:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.
Tiny Humans, Big Emotions: Trauma Informed Basics
2-hour training provides early childhood professionals with knowledge and practical strategies to recognize and respond to trauma in scholars ages 6 weeks–12 years. Participants will explore trauma’s impact on development, practice trauma-informed interventions, and develop strategies to create safe, supportive, and resilient learning environments.
FCC/CCC
KCF II.C Promoting Social and Emotional Development
CDA III: Positive ways to support children’s social and emotional devleopment
Level 1: Explores
LOCATION: Grand Eagle
SESSION TWO: BREAKOUT B
Laura Walser
SATURDAY 10:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.
Prevention and Behavior: It's All About the Environment
Examine the physical and social environments of your child care program and the effect on children’s behavior. Explore ways to prevent and guide children’s behavior through hands-on activities and practical strategies.
FCC/CCC
KCF II.A: Creating Positive Learning Experiences
CDA II: Steps to advance children’s physical and intellectual devleopment
Level 1: Explores
LOCATION: Crossed Arrows
SESSION TWO: BREAKOUT C
Nancy Berndt
SATURDAY 10:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.
Active Supervision: Risk Management for Family Child Care
Define MN DHS Rule 2 licensing standards regarding supervision in family child care settings. Examine ways to reduce or eliminate safety hazards that children encounter in unlicensed spaces, key areas, and hot spots within family child care environments. Establish a plan for regular review of family child care environments to promote children’s safety.
FCC
KCF VII.B: Ensuring Safety
CDA II: Planning a safe, healthy learning environment
Level 2: Implements
LOCATION: Tatanka (front)
special session
Ray Harrell
SATURDAY 8:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
American Red Cross Adult/Pedatric/Infant First Aid-CPR-AED
The American Red Cross First Aid CPR/AED program provides participants with the knowledge & skills they need to recognize and respond appropriately to cardiac, breathing and first aid emergencies. The courses in this program teach participants the knowledge and skills needed to give immediate care to an injured or ill person and to decide whether advanced medical care is needed.
FCC/CCC
KCF VII.B: Ensuring Safety
CDA I: Planning a safe, healthy learning environment
LOCATION: Tatanka (back)
Closing Keynote
Sherry Tiegs
SATURDAY 1:30 p.m.-3:30 p.m.
Social Emotional Development: An Individual Approach to Behavior Guidance
Engage in positive guidance strategies that meet the unique developmental needs of each child. Apply new knowledge to support social and emotional development and children’s behavior. Reduce barriers and increase the achievement of children by recognizing supportive behavior guidance techniques that build developmental skills.
FCC/CCC
KFC II.C: Promoting Social and Emotional Developtment; II.A: Creating Positive Learning Experiences
CDA III: Positive ways to support children’s social and emotinal development
Level 1: Explores
LOCATION: Dacotah Expo Center