Early Childhood

UW ECHO in Early Childhood increases the capacity of early childhood professionals to identify and implement best practices in areas that include early literacy, transitions, behavior support and identification, and referral detection.

Network participants include case managers/family service coordinators, general educators, home daycare providers, paraeducators, related service providers (OT’s, PT’s, SLP’s, etc.), school administrators, school directors, school counselors, school psychologists, social workers, special educators, state agency staff and all others interested in improving outcomes for students in the early childhood setting.

UW ECHO in Early Childhood is a collaboration with the Wyoming Department of Education and the Wyoming Department of Health.

Sessions are on Thursdays, bi-weekly,
1:00 p.m. to 2:15 p.m. MT
via Zoom video conferencing technology.

Early Childhood Learning Session Topics: Spring 2017 to Spring 2018

LEARNING TOPICS - SPRING 2019

Session information subject to change, please check back regularly.

*Registration encouraged but not required to attend sessions*
Registrants will receive session handouts and materials prior to the scheduled meeting time.

January 10

Assessing the Needs of Families of Children with Special Needs or Vulnerabilities

Understanding that a path to helping children is to help their families, we need to figure out what families need. This session will present the concept of talking to families about their daily routines with their children, as a needs assessment method. We introduce the idea of a routines-based conversation, which is similar to but less involved than the evidence-based Routines-Based Interview. Participants will have a guide to help them have these conversations with families.

Presenters:
Robin McWilliam, Ph.D., Professor, University of Alabama; Department Chair, Special Education and Multiple Abilities; Director, Evidence-Based International Early Intervention Office (EIEIO)
Cami Stevenson, Assistant Administrator, Multnomah Early Childhood Program, University of Alabama; Research Associate, Evidence-Based International Early Intervention Office (EIEIO)

January 24

The Comprehensive Service Provider

When a child and his or her family receive services, someone should function as the comprehensive service provider. The CSP is the one person on the team who addresses the whole child and family, not bound by the boundaries of a professional discipline. This session will deal with the concepts of functioning, routines (following up on the first session), and family consultation (collaboration). Participants will have a guide for assuming the role of CSP in contacts with families.

Presenters:
Robin McWilliam, Ph.D., Professor, University of Alabama; Department Chair, Special Education and Multiple Abilities; Director, Evidence-Based International Early Intervention Office (EIEIO)
Cami Stevenson, Assistant Administrator, Multnomah Early Childhood Program, University of Alabama; Research Associate, Evidence-Based International Early Intervention Office (EIEIO)

*Session Registration*

February 7

Engaging Children with Disabilities in Inclusive Preschool Classrooms

Presenter:
Tiernan McIlwaine
Consultant, University of Wyoming, College of Education,
Department of Elementary and Early Childhood Education

*Session Registration*

February 21

Classrooms Including Children with Special Needs

All children should be engaged when they are in group care such as child care, Head Start, and preschool. Maximizing opportunities for engagement involves having functional goals, using effective teaching, providing integrated therapy, organizing the space and the adults, and having a stimulating environment. This session will describe how consultants (e.g., itinerant professionals), directors, and teachers can implement these five elements. Participants will have checklists to use as they work with classrooms.

Presenters:
Robin McWilliam, Ph.D., Professor, University of Alabama; Department Chair, Special Education and Multiple Abilities; Director, Evidence-Based International Early Intervention Office (EIEIO)
Cami Stevenson, Assistant Administrator, Multnomah Early Childhood Program, University of Alabama; Research Associate, Evidence-Based International Early Intervention Office (EIEIO)

*Session Registration*

March 7

Building Positive Strength-Based Teams, Part 1

Children thrive in environments where the adults model positive relationships and create communities based on trust and respect. In this workshop, we will examine the impact that toxic stress in a classroom has on young children's brain development and social-emotional skills. We will explore strategies for enhancing your professional skills to help you communicate effectively with your co-workers and parents.

Presenter:
Susan McDonald, M.Ed.
Professionally Certified Coach, Author of Inspiring New Perspectives

*Session Registration*

March 21

Building Positive Strength-Based Teams, Part 2

Children thrive in environments where the adults model positive relationships and create communities based on trust and respect. In this workshop, we will examine the impact that toxic stress in a classroom has on young children's brain development and social-emotional skills. We will explore strategies for enhancing your professional skills to help you communicate effectively with your co-workers and parents.

Presenter:
Susan McDonald, M.Ed.
Professionally Certified Coach, Author of Inspiring New Perspectives

*Session Registration*

April 4

Family School Partnerships in Rural Settings, Part 1

Presenters:
Susan Sheridan
Lisa Knoche

*Session Registration*

April 18

Family School Partnerships in Rural Settings, Part 2

Presenters:
Susan Sheridan
Lisa Knoche

*Session Registration*

May 2

TBA

LEARNING TOPICS - FALL 2018

September 13

Addressing Standards through Play-Based Learning in Preschool and Kindergarten,
Part 1

This session will discuss the importance of play in preschool programs as the primary tool to address early learning standards and school readiness.

Presenter:
Tom Rendon
Head Start State Collaboration Office Coordinator, Iowa Department of Education
Co-Author, Saving Play: Addressing Standards through Play-Based Learning
in Preschool and Kindergarten

September 27

Addressing Standards through Play-Based Learning in Preschool and Kindergarten,
Part 2

This session will discuss the importance of play in preschool programs as the primary tool to address early learning standards and school readiness.

Presenter:
Tom Rendon
Head Start State Collaboration Office Coordinator, Iowa Department of Education
Co-Author of Saving Play: Addressing Standards through Play-Based Learning
in Preschool and Kindergarten

October 11

From Coo to Code in the Baby's First Years:
News from the Crib on Language Development

This session will highlight new findings from the crib in our understanding of the language acquisition process in the first few years of life.

Presenter:
Dr. Roberta Michnick Golinkoff, Ph.D.
Unidel H. Rodney Sharp Professor, University of Delaware
Author of Einstein Never Used Flashcards and Becoming Brilliant (among others)

October 25

Trauma Informed Relationships with Young Children, Part 1

We will discuss the impact of the ACES study on adverse childhood experiences and how to create a trauma informed preschool classroom. This session will focus on understanding the life-long effects of early trauma.

Presenter:
Sandy Petersen
Zero To Three (recently retired)

November 8

Trauma Informed Relationships with Young Children, Part 2

We will discuss the impact of the ACES study on adverse childhood experiences and how to create a trauma informed preschool classroom. This session will focus on providing trauma informed relationships.

Presenter:
Sandy Petersen
Zero To Three (recently retired)

December 6

Dual Language Learning: The Early Years

During this session, participants will be updated on what the most recent research says about dual language learning during the birth to age 5 group; both, typically-developing learners and learners with learning challenges will be discussed. Implications of these findings for best practices will be considered.

Presenter:
Fred Genesse
McGill University, Canada

 December 20

Proactive Classroom Strategies

This session will focus on strategies that any early childhood professional can implement throughout the day to support child engagement and limit challenging behaviors.

Presenter:
Tiernan McIlwaine
Consultant, University of Wyoming, College of Education,
Department of Elementary and Early Childhood Education