Start Early. Start well.

Professional Development for All

PD for All is a groundbreaking series of free professional development workshops open to all early childhood professionals who serve young children, birth through Grade 3, in the Omaha metro area. 

Professional Development for All introduces leading-edge research and innovative practices that can make a difference in the lives of young children and families. The series also gives early childhood professionals the opportunity to come together and learn from one another. Watch our highlight video to learn why school leaders, teachers, child care providers, home visitors, family engagement specialists, and others are participating.  
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upcoming institutes

Professional Development for All is a critical piece of the Superintendents' Early Childhood Plan, one of the nation's most innovative, comprehensive approaches to reducing achievement gaps. It was developed by the Buffett Institute and is funded by the Learning Community of Douglas and Sarpy Counties. 

The PD for All focus for 2019-20 is on social-emotional development, with a particular emphasis on executive function. Social-emotional development involves the child's ability to experience, express, and manage emotions. This includes the ability to establish positive relationships with others. Self-regulation and executive function skills are the mental processes that allow us to plan, focus attention, recall instructions, and successfully attend to multiple tasks. In the same way that an air traffic control system at a busy airport safely coordinates the arrivals and departures of multiple planes on different runways, the brain needs this set of skills to filter distractions, control impulses, prioritize tasks, and set and achieve goals. Children aren’t born with these skills. Rather, they are born with the potential to develop them over time. The full range of capabilities continues to grow through adolescence and into early adulthood. When caring adults give children the opportunity to develop executive function and self-regulation skills, the benefits can last a lifetime, as these skills are crucial for development and learning. 

The first institute, on Wednesday, Nov. 6, focused on executive function and self-regulation. The keynote speaker was Julia Torquati, Community Chair in Infant and Child Mental Health at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln. Torquati is a professor in the Department of Child, Youth and Family Studies (CYAF) in UNL's College of Education and Human Sciences. Other featured speakers included Miriam Kuhn, assistant professor in the Department of Special Education and Communication Disorders at the University of Nebraska at Omaha; Brenda Saxe, a consultant and early childhood trainer in Bellevue; and Amy Mart, director of professional learning at the Buffett Institute.
 
The second institute, also English-language, on Wednesday, Jan. 15, focused on executive function and self-regulation. The keynote speaker was Dr. Jolene Johnson, an assistant professor and the associate director of education at the Interdisciplinary Center of Program Evaluation at the University of Nebraska Medical Center. Other featured speakers included Brenda Saxe, a consultant and early childhood trainer in Bellevue; Dana Dyksterhuis and Jennifer Armstrong, co-founders of HERE: Here For You, For Them; and Colleen Schmit, an author, speaker, and early childhood program evaluator. The institute was scheduled to repeat on Saturday, Jan. 18, but was canceled due to a winter storm.
 
The third and fourth institutes, also English-language, will be Saturday, March 14, and Wednesday, April 22. They will build on the themes of executive function, relationships, and mindfulness that were explored in the Jan. 15 PD for All institute. Registration information for the March 14 institute will be coming soon.
 
A fifth institute, presented in Spanish, is being planned for this summer at the Learning Community Center of South Omaha, 2302 M Street.

 

PRESENTATION ARCHIVE

Presentations, videos, and resources from the first four years of Professional Development for All institutes are available for download.

2019-20 SERIES

Jan. 15, 2020, "Executive Function and Self-Regulation"

Nov. 6, 2019, "Executive Function and Self-Regulation"

 

2018-19 SERIES

June 8, 2019, "Children as Expressive Artists"/ "Los niños como artistas expresivos"

April 6, 2019, "Children as Expressive Artists"

Jan. 24, 2019, "The Art of Communication in Classrooms: Helping Children Find, Develop, and Use Their Voices for Learning"

  • Keynote, Perpetuating Equity: One Minute at a Time, Sharon Ritchie
    Presentation slides | Video
  • Infants and Toddlers, BabySnap: Examining the Minute-by-Minute Experiences and Opportunities for Infants and Toddlers to Develop Their Capacity for Language and Communication, Sharon Ritchie
    Presentation slides
  • Kindergarten-Grade 3, Cultural Responsiveness and English Learners: Supporting English Language Learners in Developing Their Voices for Learning in the K-3 Classroom, Leslie Barden Smith
    Presentation slides
  • Preschool and Kindergarten, Building on Common Ground: Supporting Children Through the Transition From PreK to Kindergarten, Juliana Harris
    Presentation slides
  • Grades 1-3, Increasing Student Voice and Voices in Learning in the Primary Grades, Liesel Carlson
    Presentation slides

Sept. 20, 2018, "Harnessing the Power of Language and Communication to Build Children's Literacy Success"

  • Ages 3 – 5, Vocabulary and Linguistically Diverse Learners, Cristina Gillanders
    Presentation slides | Video 
  • Ages 0 – 8, Focus on Parents and Families, Jonathan Fribley
    Presentation slides 
  • Ages 3 – 5 and 5 – 8, The Story of Me, You, and Us: Storytelling and Storyacting in Early Childhood, Debora Wisneski
    Presentation slides
  • Ages 0 – 8, The Vocabulary of Math and Science, Anne Karabon
    Presentation slides

2017-18 SERIES

March 1 and 3, 2018, "Children as Researchers: Reading to Learn Can Start Early"

  • Institute recap
  • Keynote, Growing Knowing: Building Children's World Knowledge Through Family Partnerships and Meaningful Engagement With Informational Text, Susan Bennett-Armistead
    Presentation slides | Video (part 1) Video (part 2)
  • Birth – Age 3, Can We Talk? Babies, Books, and Building World Knowledge, Susan Bennett-Armistead
    Presentation slides
  • Ages 3 – 5, Building World Knowledge and Comprehension: Authentic Ways to Use Informational Texts That Engage the Curiosity of Young Children, Mary Carey
    Presentation slides
  • Ages 5 – 8, Linking Content-Area Learning and Authentic Reading Experiences by Using High-Quality Nonfiction Text in Grades K – 3, Hannah Schneewind
    Presentation slides
  • Family Literacy, Bringing Informational Books to Life for Children and Families, Julie Humphrey
    Presentation slides

Jan. 25 and 27, 2018, "Children as Mathematicians: Early Math That Matters the Most"

Nov. 30, 2017, "Children as Authors: Guiding Children on Pathways Toward Strong Writing"

Oct. 5 and 7, 2017, "Children as Scientists: Scientific Inquiry for Every Child"

  • Institute recap
  • Keynote – Not Too Early but Just Right: Why Early Science Education Is Key to Building a Foundation for High-Quality Teaching and Lifelong Learning, Dr. Daryl B. Greenfield
    Presentation slides | Video
  • Science Is Everywhere! Learning With Infants and Toddlers, Maegan Heimes
    Presentation slides
  • Science Through the Eyes and Hands of a Preschooler, Kelly Jones and Michelle Sullivan
    Presentation slides
  • Connecting Research to Practice: Connecting Science and Engineering Practices to Early Childhood Education, Wendy Badders, Heather Dreibus, Katherine Holt, Dan Sitzman, and Laura Strubbe
    Presentation slides
  • Using Inquiry-Based Learning as a Means for Teaching Science in Children Ages 5-8, Dr. Anne Karabon
    Presentation slides
  • Readiness Through Integrative Science and Engineering, Dr. Christine M. McWayne
    Presentation slides

2017 LEADERSHIP INSTITUTE

June 20, 2017, "School as Hub for Birth – Grade 3"

  • Keynote – Getting Intentional About the Primary Years (Vincent Costanza)
    Presentation slides
  • Home Visiting 101: The Core Ingredients of the Superintendents' Plan Home Visiting Program (Molly Colling, Meghan McCormack, Rocio Silva, Jennifer Sanchez, Helen Evans)
    Presentation slides
  • Project-Based Learning in the Primary Grades (Mary Beth Pistillo, Katey Reynolds, Becky Weiss)
    Presentation slides
  • “Getting to Know You” Conferences: Positive Grade-to-Grade Transitions for Students, Families, and Staff (Nikki Schubauer, Kelsea Lambert, Pam Helmick, Leslie Holston)
    Presentation slides
  • Mirrors and Windows: Expanding Diversity Through Family Engagement and in Classroom Libraries (Janette Merkel, Herendira Moreno, Mirta Bustos)
    Presentation slides
  • Mirrors and Windows: Diversifying Classroom Libraries (Lizzie Grimm, Danielle Paulson, Darcy Heath)
    Presentation slides
  • District Leadership for the Birth – Grade 3 Continuum and School as Hub: Our Journey and Lessons Learned (Andy DeFreece, Jean Ubbelhode, Melissa Poloncic, Duane Krusemark)
    Presentation slides
  • Connecting Our School and Community: Neighborhood Walks, Community Maps, Barbershops and Books, and More! (Teresa Lopez Tovar, Matthew Williams, Keshia Partridge, Nicole Crumbly, Tierra Stennis, Arthur Lyle, Damion Sayers, Anthony Kellogg, Dalhia Lloyd)
    Presentation slides
  • Welcoming Families in Our Schools (Kristi Reinsch, Tierra Stennis, Mary Ellyn Dunn)
    Presentation slides
  • Preschool to Kindergarten Transitions: Ready, Set, K! (Jessie Wymore, April Jordening, Cama Charlet)
    Presentation slides
  • School as Hub Leadership Team: Our Journey and Lessons Learned (Dawn Marten, Helen Evans, Eileen Cabrera, Bastian Derichs, Darcy Heath)
    Presentation slides
  • Expanding the Social-Emotional Learning and the Pyramid Model From Preschool into the Primary Grades (Violet Glasshoff, Lindsey Voegele)
    Presentation slides

2016-17 SERIES

March 2 and 4, 2017, "Young Children as Active Learners and Thinkers: Integrated Learning Matters"

  • Integrated Learning Experiences, Ages 5 – 8, Amy Blessing, Susan Choplin, and Andi Green
    Presentation slides
  • Integrated Learning Experiences, Ages 0 – 8 (Espanol), Janette Merkel, Ed.S.
    Presentation slides

Jan. 19 and 21, 2017, "It's More Than Words: Young Children's Language, Thinking, and Learning"

  • Oral Language Birth to Age 8: Implications of the Multiple Contexts of Development: Home, Community, and School, Dr. Luisiana Melendez
    Presentation slides | Video
  • Language as a Foundation for Children's Thinking and Learning, Ages 0 – 5, Dr. Holly Hatton-Bowers
    Presentation slides
  • Language as a Foundation for Children's Thinking and Learning, Ages 5 – 8, Nancy Powers, M.S., and Jenna O'Farrell, M.Ed.
    Presentation slides
  • Language as a Foundation for Children's Thinking and Learning, Ages 0 – 8 (Espanol), Dr. Luisiana Melendez and Janette Merkel, Ed.S.
    Presentation slides

Dec. 1 and 2, 2016, "Engaging and Nurturing Young Children as Active Thinkers"

  • Teaching Active Learners: The Real Rocket Science, Dr. Jerlean Daniel
    Video
  • Parenting Matters: Unlocking the Possibilities for Authentic Partnerships With Families, Portia Kennel
    Presentation slides |     Video
  • Engaging Children as Active Learners, K – 3, Bonnie Reyes and Stephanie Reid
    Presentation slides

2015-16 SERIES

May 13, 2016, "Family Partnerships for Whole Child Development and Learning"

  • Indispensable Allies: Understanding Family Members' Unique Contributions to Children's Early Literacy and What We Can Do to Support Them, Dr. Jane Fleming
    Presentation slides | Handout
  • Strategies for Family Partnerships, Ages 3 – 5, Staff and Parent Participants From the Learning Community Center of South Omaha
    Presentation slides

March 2, 2016, "Cultural and Linguistic Responsiveness for Whole Child Development and Learning"

  • Why Culture Matters: Culturally Responsive Education That Nurtures the Whole Child, Dr. Tonia Durden
    Presentation slides
  • Strategies for Cultural and Linguistic Responsiveness, Ages 0 – 3, Nicky Clark and Beth Sechrest
    Presentation slides
  • Strategies for Cultural and Linguistic Responsiveness, Ages 3 – 5, Dr. Tonia Durden 
    Presentation slides
  • Strategies for Cultural and Linguistic Responsiveness, Ages 5 – 8, Melissa Wolken and Janette Merkel
    Presentation slides
  • Mirrors Matter: Using Culturally and Linguistically Responsive Literature to Support Language and Literacy Development, Dr. Jane Fleming
    Presentation slides |     Book list

Dec. 4, 2015, "Social and Emotional Foundations for Whole Child Development and Learning"

  • Strategies for Social and Emotional Development and Learning, Ages 0 – 3, Traci Penrod-McCormick
    Presentation slides
  • Strategies for Social and Emotional Development and Learning, Ages 3 – 5, Dr. Michelle Rupiper
    Presentation slides
  • Strategies for Social and Emotional Development and Learning, Ages 5 – 8, Dr. Marisha Humphries
    Presentation slides
  • Strategies for Social and Emotional Development and Learning, Leadership, Dr. Sharon Ritchie
    Presentation slides

 For more information about Professional Development for All, please contact Janette Merkel at jmerkel@nebraska.edu.

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