76th Annual SECA Conference

This session will start with a welcome and ice breaker activity, using types of art works to create table groups (Brown Bear, Brown Bear-connection)
The group will reflect on their personal experiences with art and exposure to art works. Time for sharing in small groups and a few whole group comments will help to establish commonality and possible new insights.
The objectives will be reviewed to help participants gauge if the content is what they expected. there will be post-it notes on tables for participants to write down questions for discussion at the end of the presentation. I will review the agenda for the session.
Teaching Points- What the typical toddler art experiences looks like (input form participants)
Common definition of "art" for our purpose today- It is not crafts or "make -it like this one."
PowerPoint examples of types of art works, how and where they can be integrated into the environment and some routines.
Exploration- time for participants to review samples of art and think about how they might appeal to children, where and how they can be made accessible.
Application- some examples and then time for participants to revisit the exploration samples and identify potential learning goals.
Implementation- make a plan for how you can start! Include type of art, materials you will need, how you will introduce it, where it will "live" in your room, and a timeline. Share ideas and hopefully have time for those questions.

This interactive session equips early childhood educators with the foundational knowledge of sensory processing in young children. Led by an occupational therapist with 27 years experience in pediatric field, the session explores how children experience the world through their senses. Participants will gain a practical understanding of sensory processing challenges and discover how to recognize signs in their classrooms.

Through engaging activities and real-life examples, educators will learn simple strategies to create supportive environments that cater to diverse sensory needs. The session will cover topics such as:

*The sensory system and its impact on learning
*Identifying signs of sensory over- and under-stimulation
*Adapting the classroom environment to promote sensory regulation
*Easy-to-implement activities that cater to different sensory preferences

By the end of this session, educators will feel empowered to create classrooms where all children can thrive and learn comfortably.

Imaginative Small World Play
Educators will investigate the benefits, materials and skills to create small world play for young children. Young children will engage in using their imagination, creativity, building, sensory and language skills through small world play experiences. Imagination is nurtured with small world play experiences, let's imagine some small worlds for your students.

You don’t have to be an artist to promote artistic expression by children. Books written for children provide a practical avenue for introducing young learners to artists, works of art, and art media. Integrating the visual arts with language development and early literacy allows children to learn about themselves and others in a creative, collaborative environment.

Consider how artists portray human figures, families, and nature. It is important to make connections with children’s funds of knowledge gained through their experiences of home, family, community, and culture. Using children's books as a starting point, teachers can provide young learners with opportunities to manipulate art tools and materials, represent their perspectives, express their personal interests, and build conceptual knowledge.

As teachers, we provide models of art talk. Terminology such as color, shape, texture, lines, patterns, and designs can be components of conversations about art processes and products. In addition, teachers can use open-ended questions to elicit children’s thinking and decisions about art making. Take a few minutes to practice art talk before or after you contribute to a group art project during the session.

You will come away with a list of recommended list of read aloud storybooks, art series for children, biographies for featured artists, and relevant resources for teachers. We hope that you will be inspired to plan creative explorations for children that will promote inquiry and investigation through hands-on activities and lively conversations.