2025 Young Child Conference

Where PreK - 2nd grade educators share, learn, and lead for young children.

April 1 - 30, 2025

Join educators from local, state, and national levels to celebrate young children, with a focus on PreK through 2nd grade. The presentations will cover topics such as instruction, administration, funding, resources, and best practices. Recordings will be available on the agenda for later viewing and professional development.

Agenda

Tuesday, April 1

8:00 AM

Event Start

8:30 AM - 9:15 AM

Practical Life Activities to Aid Handwriting

Why hand strength and the pincer grip for handwriting are important, -how practical everyday activities in the classroom can aid in accomplishing this objective,

9:30 AM - 10:15 AM

Engaging and Collaborative Small-Group Stations for K-2: Independent, Interactive, and Fun!

Design Engaging Small-Group Stations, Foster Student Independence, Differentiate, Incorporate Collaboration, Manage Stations

10:30 AM - 11:15 AM

Fine Motor Activities for Young Learners

Fine motor skills are essential for tasks such as grip, writing, and navigating their world. These foundational skills play a critical role in a child's overall development and academic success.

Friday, April 4

8:30 AM - 9:15 AM

Accelerating Student Learning with High Dosage Tutoring: LCPS Interventionist Program for Success

Participants will discover how Lenoir County Public Schools is leading the way in creating an intervention program K-2 consisting of retired teachers, community members and college students to grow and develop all learners.

Monday, April 7

8:30 AM - 9:15 AM

Pre-K is So Much More than Free Play

Building a foundation for reading and writing Bringing literacy to life during center play Empowering our multilingual learners The power of intentional teaching experiences

9:30 AM - 10:15 AM

Raising Rockstar Readers: Engaging and Supporting Early Learners Through Literacy-Rich Environments

Participants will: Explore best practices in early literacy, including oral language development, interactive read-alouds, and play-based literacy activities.

10:30 AM - 11:15 AM

Creating Engaged, Empowered, and High-Performing Teams and Classrooms

Participants will examine the impact of affirmations, feedback, and classroom culture on student and staff development, identifying the risks of over-nurturing and the necessity of constructive criticality.

11:30 AM - 12:15 PM

Playlab: Prioritizing Play in K-3 Classrooms

The Playlab Framework: Designing Environments That Inspire Creativity and Play introduces a research-backed approach to integrating open-ended materials, child-led exploration, and play-based learning.

12:30 PM - 1:15 PM

Play to Solve: How Early Math Games Build Problem-Solving Skills

Participants will explore how early math games foster problem-solving skills by engaging students in reasoning, pattern recognition, and strategic thinking.

Tuesday, April 8

8:30 AM - 9:15 AM

A Promising Practice: Pre-K PLC

Participants will: learn how the Office of Early Education utilizes Professional Learning Communities to share values and build teachers' autonomy to collaborate, share knowledge, and lead.

9:30 AM - 10:15 AM

Engaging Neurodiverse Learners in the Preschool Classroom

Providing a foundation to understand the unique learning needs of neurodiverse learners. Sharing how our district has promoted implementation of evidence-based practices to support students with diverse learning needs

10:30 AM - 11:15 AM

Reading for Meaning

The session will focus on explicit instruction and modeling of how to use strategies and text structure to support comprehension during interactive read-alouds.

Monday, April 28

8:30 AM - 9:15 AM

Leading by Learning

Participants will explore how to be Lead Learners by digging into how the formative assessment cycle looks and sounds in real classrooms.

9:30 AM - 10:15 AM

Success with SEL: Using Digital Tools to Cultivate Creativity and Foster Self-Awareness in the Classroom

Emotions drive attention, memory, learning, and decision making, so it’s important for students and educators to incorporate social emotional learning into daily routines.

10:30 AM - 11:15 AM

The Power of Interactions in the Preschool Classroom

his presentation will explore the importance of intentional, purpose-driven interactions and how they impact a child’s development.

Tuesday, April 29

8:30 AM - 9:15 AM

Reading Hearts and Minds: Fostering Literacy and Emotional and Social Skills

This session will explore how to create a positive classroom culture and climate that supports the emotional and social development of PreK-2 students, with a special focus on integrating literacy.

9:30 AM - 10:15 AM

Little Learners, Big Feelings: SEL Through Stories and Games

Understand the five core competencies of SEL (self-awareness, self-management, social awareness, relationship skills, and responsible decision-making) and how they relate to early childhood development.

10:30 AM - 11:15 AM

The Forgotten 'Fun-da-Mentals'

Understand the Role of the Affective Domain in Learning,Use Play-Based Learning and Engagement Strategies,Create a Culture that Fosters Belonging

11:30 AM - 12:15 PM

Healthy Minds, Healthy Bodies

Participants will learn about the benefits of mindfulness programs for PreK-2 students, families, and educators

Wednesday, April 30

12:00 PM

Event End

Speakers

Amanda Jacobs is an early childhood literacy expert and education strategist at Scholastic. A passionate advocate for family engagement and equity in learning, she balances her work with being a mother to three little ones (ages three, two, and two)!

Experienced Pre-K educator, specialist, and coach

Shannon Merenstein

Shannon is an educator, creativity and play expert, parent, and collaborator in Pittsburgh, PA.

Tonya Morris

Fawn Nguyen

Alice Oakley

Alice Oakley is the co-founder of ERG, specializing in K-12 professional development. A former teacher and district leader, she coaches educators and co-authored How to Look at Student Work to Uncover Student Thinking to support formative assessment.

Jennifer Perez

Hope Reagan

As a seasoned educator, leader, and business owner, I believe that we are all learners and should never stop developing ourselves as professionals and as human beings.

Austin Reese

Curriculum Specialist – Lenoir County Public Schools Digital Learning Specialist – Lenoir County Public Schools

Dr. Teresa VanAcker is a Montessori Coach and Montessori Teacher Trainer at Little River Montessori in Durham.

Valerie Zaryczny designs and facilitates Professional Learning at Learning Without Tears. Drawing from her years serving children as a pediatric OT in various settings, she helps educators understand and support child development and learning.

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