Intended audience: 
Head Start, Early Head Start and Early Childhood Program Administrators, Coaches, Mentors, Teachers, Assistant Teachers and Family Services Staff

REGISTRATION FEE: Member Rate - $150 per participant. Non-Member - $225 per participant. 
 
As a result of this event, participants will be able to increase the fidelity of their implementation of Conscious Discipline throughout their Head Start program.
 

 Content is approved for IACET CEUs and 6 hours have  
been  submitted for Ohio Approved Professional Development.
Participants must participate live to receive credit.

Wednesday, August 12        9:30am to 11:30am, continued 1:00pm to 3:00pm

Conscious Discipline®: Ignite and Excite!  Focus on Re-Entry

Angela Fraley, Conscious Discipline Master Instructor
Conscious Discipline is trauma-informed, evidence-based social emotional learning that provides effective strategies for addressing today’s challenging behaviors. In this session participants will explore and refresh their knowledge and enthusiasm for healthy Brain Smart strategies to provide a safe, connected, problem solving environment through Conscious Discipline’s School Family. This session will be framed in the context of preparing for the re-entry of children/families for the new program year in or new costruct and realities. 

Learning Outcomes:

1. Explore the major mindset shift needed to perceive upset moments and challenging behavior as communication, and how to respond calmly, instead of react to the behaviors with the skills of Conscious Discipline, specifically practicing uploading calm so we can download calm to the child.
2. Explore the critical need for healthy, attuned attachment relationships by practicing the skill of noticing, so we can be present (mind is where the body is) in the interactions with young children.
3. Explore the extreme predictability of rituals throughout the day as a soothing, calming practice during stressful, uncertain life circumstances. Practice I Love You Rituals (connection activities that involve eye contact, touch, presence in playful interactions) and explore the critical developmental benefits of their use with children.
4. Explore the extreme predictability of visuals and visual routines throughout the day with young children to provide a felt sense of safety during stressful, uncertain life circumstances.

 

Thursday, August 13            9:30am to 11:30am

Healing the Hurt with Conscious Discipline®
Abbi Kruse, Certified Conscious Discipline Instructor
Participants will explore how Conscious Discipline can be used to support children and families impacted by adverse experiences. We will identify the impacts of stress on the developing brain and discuss the importance of emotional attachments in buffering these effects. 
Participants will explore the role of their own perceptions and identify supports to gain and maintain composure during moments of conflict. Participants will also gain practical strategies and usable tools for establishing safe classroom environments and for developing emotional connections with children. In meeting child needs for safety and connection, teachers can help children heal and prepare them to manage emotions, solve problems and learn.
 
Learning Outcomes:

1. Identify attachment as a buffer against Adverse Childhood Experiences and discuss strategies for connecting with relationship-resistant children.
2. Discuss the Power of Perception and practice identifying the underlying messages of various behaviors and the child's need for safety, connection, or learning during stressful, uncertain circumstances.
3. Explore the impact of trauma on young children and discuss relationship repair after absences related to schools being closed during these stressful, uncertain times.

1:00pm  to 3:10pm  Digging Deeper – Discussion/Q&A
These ‘bonus’ facilitated discussions and Q&A sessions will be an opportunity for participants to examine these topics more deeply and to consider how to apply the content to your day-to-day work with families and children. Participants will be assigned breakouts and will attend both topical Q&A sessions – one in each of the two time slots.
 
1:00pm to 2:00pm
 Preparing for Re-Entry Discussion/Q&A
Angela Fraley, Conscious Discipline Master Instructor with assistance from Rozlyn Grant
 
Healing the Hurt with Conscious Discipline® Discussion/Q&A
Abbi Kruse, Conscious Discipline Master Instructor with assistance from Joni Spencer
 
2:10pm to 3:10pm
Sessions Repeat