Workshops for Saturday, January 26, 2002
KEYNOTE PRESENTATION...Caring about Quality
Why should we care about quality in our child care programs? Why does quality matter? Is "quality child care care through quality people" an accurate relfection of the child care practioner's role in quality? What needs to be in place to support practioners so that they can provide quality child care? Our Caring Connection keynote speaker, Gillian Doherty, Ph.D., has focused on quality in child care in her research, writing, policy development and as a university and college instructor in child develoment. Her work as a principle investigator of the "You Bet I Care! Project", her book "Quality Matters", and her numerous papers, have provided the child care sector with much to digest, reflect upon and develop into plans for action. Gillian will challenge us and give us much to think about in our quest to demonstrate how we Care About Quality
MORNING WORKSHOPS 9 a.m. - 10:30 a.m.
1. Early Childhood Environment Rating Scale - Training session
The Early Childhood Environment Rating Scale, Revised (1998) is used extensively to measure the quality of group child care programs for children 30 months to 5 years of age. This training session will train you to use the ECERS-R to assess your program. If you want to purchase a copy of the ECERS-R, there is an additional charge of $18.25.
2. Reflecting on Quality
Child care practioners who use reflective thinking for personal and professional evaluation and growth are continually improving the quality of the programs they provide to children. This workshop will explore reflective thinking with you and provide you with techniques to increase your reflective practice. Presenter, Pat MacDonald, is certified as an Early Childhood Educator and a child care practioner at Alexandra Children's Centre.
3. Our Child Care Workforce: From Recognition to Renumeration
The Human Resources Round Table on Child Care is a national body that addresses work place issues for child care practioners in Canada. Find out about their current projects, their future plans and tell them what the priorities are for you in your child care work.
4. Intervention and Identification of Learning Disabilities
Children with learning disabilities make up the largest group of exceptional children in the Nova Scotia school system. In recognition of this, the Learning Disabilities Association of Nova Scotia (LDANS) is interested in providing support and resources to child care programs with the goal of early identification and providing resources for intervention with pre-school children who have learning disabilities. Presenter, Alise Innes, is co-ordinator of the Linking Language to Learning of the LDANS. Sponsored by the Learning Disabilities Association of Nova Scotia.
AFTERNOON WORKSHOPS 2 p.m. - 3:30 p.m.
5. Infant/Toddler Enviornment Rating Scale Training Session
The Infant/Toddler Enviornment Rating Scale, (ITERS) is used extensively to measure the quality of group child care programs for children under 30 months of age. This training session will train you to use the ITERS to assess your program. If you want to purchase a copy of the ITERS, there is an additional charge of $18.25.
6. Quality Observation for Quality Programs
Good observation is strongly linked to quality child care. Lynda Rice, presenter, will draw on her study of the Emergent Curriculum and her experience as director of the Early Childhood Studies Program of the Nova Scotia Community College- Kingstec Campus to bring you a session on how to use observation to improve your program quality.
7. Quality Dialogues- What do we need to talk about when we talk about quality child care in Nova Scotia?
Throughout the Fall, members of the Circle Time for Child Care Group have been conducting open forums to discuss what quality child care means to child care practioners in Nova Scotia. Come find out what was said and add your voice to the dialogue.
8. Quality Practice- Becoming a Profession
Each one of us has a sense of what being professional means. To develop a collective meaning for "professional", we have to have a strong infrastructure to support child care practioners in their work. The Child Care Professional Association Development Society (CCPADS), the Société provincial des intervenant(e)s du préscolaire (SPIP) and the Certification Council of Early Childhood Educator of Nova Scotia (CCECENS) are organizations that have developed and are developing the vehicles and structures necessary for that infrastructure. Come to hear about what they are doing and what they plan to do for public recognition of child care as a profession.
Costs:
Early Bird registration (received prior to December 14, 2001) is $75 per person
Regular registration (received after December 14, 2001) is $80 per person
Registration includes opening reception, silent & public auctions, morning and afternoon workshops, keynote address, luncheon, trade show, exhibitor prize draws and lots of connecting with new and longstanding friends and collegues.
For more information, contact:
Child Care Connections
100-1200 Tower Road
Halifax, NS
B3H 4K6
