Igniting Connections Early Education Symposium
Saturday, September 29, 2018 | The Inn at Virginia Tech | FREE
A regional conference for all childcare educators and early education teachers
Continental breakfast and lunch will be provided.
Join 175 of your passionate, dedicated early education and childcare provider colleagues for the 2nd Annual Igniting Connection Early Education Symposium on Saturday, September 29th at the Inn at Virginia Tech. The Symposium will provide entertaining, hands-on professional development opportunities and celebration of the most important job in the world.
Presented by the Alliance for Better Childcare Strategies (ABCs) and Virginia Quality, Igniting Connections Early Education Symposium features a remarkable lineup of early education experts offering practical and proven best practices that you can take into your classroom. Igniting Connections is hosted by the Virginia Tech Foundation.
The lunchtime keynote speakers will be Dr. Craig Ramey and Dr. Sharon Ramey, nationally renowned Professors of Human Developemnt, Psychology & Neuroscience and Pediatrics at Virginia Tech Research Institute and The Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine. Dr. Craig Ramey and Dr. Sharon Ramey will be talking about the life-changing impact of quality childcare and early education, as revealed by the 40 year-long results of the Abecedarian Project. Come hear how your work shapes the future of our children's lives for decades to come!
Registration is free! Spots are limited, so sign up today!
Additional Information
Schedule
8:00-9:00 a.m. Sign in, Continental Breakfast, Visit with Exhibitors
8:30-9:00 a.m. Welcome and Opening Session- First Steps Community Resources
Learn about the many resources provided for families and young children in our community through lightning round presentations
10:00-10:30 Visit Exhibitors
10:30-11:30 a.m. First Breakout Sessions
11:30-noon Visit Exhibitors
Noon-1:30 Lunch and Keynote- Quality Childcare Changes Lives- the Abecedarian Project and the Impact of Early Education
Craig Ramey and Sharon Ramey, Research professors at Virginia Tech, Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine & Research Institute and VTC School of Medicine
1:30-2:00 Visit with Exhibitors
2:00-3:00 p.m. Second Breakout Session
Workshops
Morning Session
Infant/Toddler Workshop: Number Sense and Counting with Kim Thomason, Virginia Quality
Pre-K Workshop: Growing Young Scientists through Exploration and Play with Bonnie Graham, New River Community College
General Session Workshop: Family Engagement with Jen Slack, Our Neighborhood Child Developemnt Center, Charlottesville
Directors' Workshop: Financial Smarts for Childcare Center with Lauren Small, Early Education Business Consultants LLC
Afternoon Session
Infant/Toddler Workshop: Bringing Books to Life with Martha Swirzinski, Thomas Nelson Community College
Pre-K Workshop: Literacy Development for the Pre-K Classroom with Cynthia Hutchinson, Virginia Commonwealth University
General Session Workshop: Supporting the Whole Child with Dinah Arnott, Virginia Quality
Directors' Workshop: Building A Caring Community at Your Center- Valuing Your Teachers, Children & Families as Partners in Raising & Educating Young Children with Karen Gallagher, Virginia Tech Child Development Center for Learning and Research