{"id":1496,"date":"2025-12-04T20:39:56","date_gmt":"2025-12-04T20:39:56","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/in.nau.edu\/early-learning-development-center\/?page_id=1496"},"modified":"2026-04-10T20:07:35","modified_gmt":"2026-04-10T20:07:35","slug":"innovations-conference","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/in.nau.edu\/early-learning-development-center\/innovations-conference\/","title":{"rendered":"Innovations Conference"},"content":{"rendered":"

Early Childhood Innovations Conference<\/h1>\n

Saturday, April 18th | 9:00 – 4:30 pm<\/h3>\n

DuBois Ballroom<\/h3>\n

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The Early Learning and Development Center is pleased to host the annual Early Childhood Innovations Conference at NAU.\u00a0 Meet with experts and fellow educators to learn about innovative practices for young children.<\/p>\n

Parking, lunch, and resources are provided for all participants!<\/p>\n

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Keynote Speaker: Dr. Marti Canipe<\/h2>\n

\"A<\/p>\n

Ooh, Aah, and A-ha!<\/h2>\n

Why Wonder and joy Matter in Science<\/h2>\n

Remember wondering why the sky is blue or why puddles disappear? That curiosity is your superpower!\u00a0<\/span>Let\u2019s<\/span>\u00a0talk about why genuine wonder and joy are essential to inspiring young scientists. Discover how playful questioning and authentic delight transform science from a subject into an adventure. Your wonder is contagious\u2014<\/span>let’s<\/span>\u00a0reclaim it together!<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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Ongoing: ELDC tours<\/p>\n

8:00-9:00: Registration; exhibitor tables open, coffee and pastry service<\/p>\n

9:00-9:15: Welcome and opening remarks<\/p>\n

9:15-10:15: Keynote speaker: Dr. Victoria Damjanovic, Children as Researchers<\/em><\/p>\n

10:15-10:30: break<\/p>\n

10:30-12:00: Breakout sessions<\/p>\n

12:00-1:00: lunch, Dub Dining District<\/p>\n

1:00-1:45: Community Café<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

1:45-2:00: break<\/p>\n

2:00-3:30: Breakout sessions<\/p>\n

3:30-4:15: Closing session<\/p>\n<\/body><\/html>\n\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n

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Any new registrations after April 10th: please email eldc@nau.edu for information.<\/p>\n

All registered participants are welcome to tour our Reggio-inspired classrooms at the ELDC.  To register for a tour, please complete the following form here<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/body><\/html>\n\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n

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The Early Learning and Development Center is an innovative lab school focused on cultivating life-long learners through high-quality, inclusive education. We exemplify an inquiry approach to teaching and learning, improving early childhood pedagogy through education, research, and community engagement.<\/p>\n

All registered participants are welcome to tour our Reggio-inspired classrooms.  To register for a tour, please complete the following form here<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/body><\/html>\n\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n

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AM sessions: <\/strong><\/h4>\n

What Happens When Children Hold the Camera? Documenting Learning Through Child-Led Media<\/strong><\/p>\n

Dr. Catharyn Shelton, Associate Professor, Department of Educational Specialties at Northern Arizona University<\/em><\/p>\n

In this session, you’ll see how children can take photos and videos to make their learning visible. You’ll learn easy, practical ways to use tablet apps with preschoolers to show, reflect, and share their learning and ideas.<\/p>\n

The Big Five Classroom Practices<\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

Korina Callahan <\/span>M.Ed<\/span>, BCBA, LBA, CEO\/Founder <\/span><\/span> of Kaibab Behavior Services and Rising Mountain Academy<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

Challenging behavior <\/span>doesn’t<\/span> happen in isolation—and it <\/span>doesn’t<\/span> have to be addressed reactively. <\/span><\/span>The Big Five Classroom Practices<\/span><\/span> training focuses on prevention-based strategies that build strong relationships, increase predictability, and teach social-emotional skills intentionally. Through hands-on examples and practical tools, educators learn how small, consistent practices can lead to calmer classrooms, stronger connections, and better outcomes for all children. <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Supporting Families from Indigenous Communities<\/strong><\/p>\n

Linda Begaye, Co-Teacher at the Early Learning and Development Center, Northern Arizona University<\/em><\/p>\n

Families have a variety of perspectives on school and childcare.  Among those perspectives, indigenous families face additional systematic challenges.  Providing early learning to indigenous families requires a culturally responsive approach to ensure that children feel represented in a meaningful way.  Hear about approaches to building reciprocal relationships with families and children to provide a foundation for creating a respectful and inclusive learning environment.<\/p>\n

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PM sessions:<\/strong><\/h4>\n

How to Project Approach with EVERY Student  <\/strong><\/p>\n

Jolene K. Chavez, NBCT, M.Ed. Early Childhood Special Education Mentor Teacher, ELDC <\/em><\/p>\n

Does “Project Approach” seem like the newest Early Childhood catch phrase? Do you believe that you can’t possibly do project work in your classroom because you have standards and expectations that must be met? How can you possibly do a project when you have so many challenging behaviors to handle? You’re not the only Early Childhood educator who has felt this way. This session will answer these questions and provide real examples of how EVERY student can be successful using the Project Approach. We will discuss that the unique needs of our young learners shouldn’t be a reason why we can’t do project work, but why we absolutely should. You may even realize, that project work will decrease challenging behaviors and increase engagement. Come along with us on a Project Approach Journey and experience the joyful learning that comes with project work! <\/span> <\/span><\/p>\n

Beyond the Worksheet: Turning Standards into Open-Ended Provocations <\/strong><\/p>\n

Brena Kee, M.Ed. Elementary Education and Early Childhood Education, Mentor Teacher, ELDC <\/em><\/p>\n

Worksheets are a familiar resource many educators use to highlight learning goals and a primary tool used in many classroom settings to document, assess and connect to learning standards. But what happens if we look beyond the page and bring the same goals into play?<\/span> <\/span><\/p>\n

This session invites educators to re-envision worksheets by uncovering the learning standards hidden within worksheets and redesigning them into open-ended, play-based explorations. Come explore how you can use the same goals to extend your activities to invite creativity, collaboration, build social\/emotional skills and create authentic data for documentation through playful, inquiry-driven experiences. Participants will explore how play can serve as an authentic form of assessment while supporting diverse learners, languages, cultures, and developmental pathways. Through hands-on examples and collaborative reflection, educators will leave with practical strategies and at least one provocation ready to implement in their own classroom.<\/span> <\/span><\/p>\n

Please Don’t Say I Can’t: Rethinking Toddler Learning<\/strong> <\/span><\/p>\n

Carmen Xitlally Arciniega Avila, M.Ed. Bilingual and Multicultural Education and Early Childhood Education, Mentor Teacher, ELDC <\/em><\/p>\n

I like the materials that are presented, but my toddler can’t play with that. It’s not safe.<\/p>\n

It get’s too messy and I try to avoid it.<\/p>\n

I don’t know how to present materials to a young age group.<\/p>\n

Yeah, but…<\/p>\n

Toddlers are often underestimated because their abilities are subtle, emerging, and expressed differently from older children. Yet, between ages one and three, toddlers and older toddlers demonstrate remarkable capacities for problem-solving, communication, and cognitive development. They <\/span>observe<\/span> patterns, test <\/span>hypotheses<\/span> through play, and use gestures, sounds, and early words to convey complex ideas. Toddlers are deeply motivated le<\/span>arners who: persist through trial and errors, imitate adults and peers, and actively <\/span>seek<\/span> meaning <\/span>in their environments. <\/span>Recognizing<\/span> these <\/span>competences<\/span> shifts early learning <\/span>toward investing in nurturing curiosity, agency, and relationships<\/span>; F<\/span>oundations<\/span> <\/span>that<\/span> support lifelong learning. <\/span><\/span> <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

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A community cafe brings people together through meaningful dialogue.  Unlike traditional professional development, cafes are peer-to-peer learning spaces where educators share experiences, learn from each other’s wisdom, and build community.<\/p>\n

Cafe topics include:<\/p>\n

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  1. Teacher Wellbeing and Retention<\/li>\n
  2. Challenging Behaviors<\/li>\n
  3. Social Emotional Development<\/li>\n
  4. Family Engagement and partnerships<\/li>\n
  5. Inclusive Practices and Special Needs<\/li>\n
  6. Trauma-Informed Care<\/li>\n
  7. Curriculum and Assessment<\/li>\n
  8. Dual Language Learners<\/li>\n
  9. Gender, Race, and Taboo Conversations<\/li>\n
  10. Technology in Early Childhood<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    Community cafes create space to:<\/p>\n