One of the most important and fundamental jobs of our early years is to grow into the belief we belong. It’s like finding solid ground, and it doesn’t happen automatically. It’s a process of finding we have a self of our own. Find it, and we tend to grow and learn as we can. With story, song, and research, this presentation has fun exploring the characteristics of belonging and what we can do in homes and schools to create environments that nurture it in young children. 
  Tom Hunter is a modern-day minstrel with a busy national schedule of conferences, workshops, school visits, and family concerts. For 30 years, he has been singing and writing songs, and exploring what songs do to help us learn, teach, celebrate, grieve, believe, play, and tell the stories of our lives.
  He is a seminar presenter for the Bureau of Education and Research (12 years), Co-Founder and Co-Director of the Northwest Teachers Conference (11 years), and is a popular presenter at countless statewide and national events of the National Association for the Education of Young Children. He produces recordings of his music through the Song Growing Co. (10 to date) and many of those recordings have quietly become "standards" in homes and classrooms across the country. His essay articles have been published in Young Children, HarperCollins made one of his songs into a picture book, and many other artists (including Willie Nelson) have recorded his songs. With his formal education at Amherst College and Union Seminary, he is most interested in how songs and learning affect each other, and still likes nothing better than to listen for how children and teachers make sense of their worlds.

"I want my music to be grounded in the realities of what kids and teachers know. I want it to ring true; as it helps people laugh, cry, remember, celebrate, and learn."
— Tom Hunter

To learn more about Tom Hunter visit his website at:
www.tomhunter.com

SCHEDULE FOR SATURDAY, MARCH 11
Registration.............................................................. 8:15 - 9:00
PCPO Welcome and Keynote Speaker:
Tom Hunter............................................................. 9:00 - 10:30
Morning Workshops.............................................. 10:45 - 12:15
Lunch/Vendor Displays .......................................... 12:15 - 1:30
Afternoon Workshops............................................... 1:30 - 3:00
Vendors remain open until ..................................................3:30

MORNING WORKSHOPS SELECTIONS

(*) Using Songs to Help Create Lively Preschool Connections Among Parents and Teachers
(Workshop developed for Teachers) Tom Hunter, Keynote Speaker, Song Growing Co.
This workshop investigates how songs help create strong preschool communities by nourishing the connections among us, by giving us ways to celebrate and grieve, and by creating a spirit that welcomes everyone.

Setting the Stage for Successful Sibling Relations
Lynn K. Collins, PH. D., Lead Parent Educator at Willamette Falls Hospital’s Parent/Child Program
Learn how to support and build a positive relationship between your preschooler(s) and younger siblings. Discussions on specific strategies for coping with common sibling challenges.

Nurturing the Everyday Artist
Becky Owens, local artist and mother of two, has been an 'artist in residence' for a PCPO school. "Kows for Kids" Kow doctor who repairs damaged Kows in the Portland area.
Kids love art! Self expression feels good. You will be exploring the importance of daily exposure to quality affordable art materials. Learning how to create a safe supportive environment for children’s confidence to bloom in.

Doing All You Can to Prevent Childhood Obesity
Janet Mann, MS RD LD, Nutritional Counseling in Oregon City Learn how to prevent the spread of the U.S. obesity epidemic to your children. Using the principles of the SHAPEDOWN national weight program for children, Janet will share parenting tips on developing a healthy family lifestyle.

Unique Genius
Dana Anderson, Learning Style Specialist and owner of Multi-Mode Learning
An introduction to some of the ways children think and learn, with suggestions on how to engage them. A variety of teaching styles and methods are outlined as options with which to reach different learners.

Never too Early: Diversity Awareness
Michael Morrow, MA in Education, Certified OSATS (Oregon School Age Training Specialist), Teacher since 1973, NAEYC validator
Focusing on approaches to include multicultural and diversity elements in our children’s lives. Experiential approach focuses on applying principles of tolerance and acceptance of diversity.

Transforming Problem Behavior: Teaching Kids How to Get What They Want Without Acting Out
Dr. Lianne Lennert, PsyD, Licensed Psychologist
Learn how to decode the messages your child does not know how to put into words and teach him or her socially appropriate ways to communicate wants and needs.

Tell it with Puppets!
Sally Skelding, Early Childhood Specialist, Retired from Early Childhood Dept. MHCC.
Presentations based on DVD “Tell it with Puppets”. Demonstration provided to help parents use puppets effectively at home. Participants will have a show done to take home.

Healthy Children, Healthy Planet
Northwest Earth Institute Representative
Explore how pop culture and consumption pressures create a social smog for children and how meaningful family time can provide balance, a healthy environment, and foster a sense of nature’s wonder.

Parenting Young Children Through Divorce
Hillary Hyde, MSW has worked with families since 1995. Ten year facilitator for mandated classes of divorcing parents in Clackamas and Multnomah counties.
This workshop will focus on the needs of young children during divorce & strategies for parenting young children from two homes.

Infant Toddler Massage & Implications for Strengthening the Parenting Relationship
Diana Moore, MS, LMT, Founder and Director of the International Loving Touch Foundation, Inc.
This workshop will explore the many benefits of massage for infant and toddlers and their caregivers. (Bring a doll to use during the demonstrations)

(*) Inviting Neuroscience Into the Classroom: Applying Recent Advances to Our Work with Young Children & Families (Full day workshop developed for Teachers, must select afternoon workshop “W”)
Paige Beard, MA, LPC, Portland State University’s Interpersonal Neurobiology Certificate Program, Child & Family Therapist & Parent Educator in private practice.
Morning - outlining key concepts in relational neuroscience; how the brain is organized through relationship experiences.

AFTERNOON WORKSHOPS SELECTIONS

Singing With Young Children – An Interactive Approach for Teachers and Parents
Tom Hunter, Keynote Speaker, Song Growing Co.
Singing is one of the best ways to spend time with children, particularly when we open the song for talking, adding words, and wondering out loud. This workshop is full of practical ways to encourage participation and widen what songs do with children. The songs are quickly-learned and easily-used, and you don’t need a beautiful voice to use them well.

Kids Eye View of Reading Symbols
Dana Anderson, Learning Style Specialist, owner of Multi-Mode Learning
Discover children’s developmental learning paths. Learn tips on how to help them out of difficult places, and how to recognize specific obstacles. Explore how development influences the way children come to understand reading symbols.

Virtues and Values: Building Moral Children
Michael Morrow, MA in Education, Certified OSATS (Oregon School Age Training Specialist), Teacher since 1973, NAEYC validator
Learn how to create an environment focused on enabling children to think about behavior and develop the skills to act in a variety of positive ways towards others.

Guilt-Free Parenting: Trusting Yourself
Dr. Lianne Lennert, PsyD, Licensed Psychologist
Learn how to trust your own wisdom to use what is helpful and ignore what is crazy as you become the parent YOU want to be.

Enhance Your Marriage! Improve Your Parenting!
Allan Cordova, PH. D.
You will explore the linkages between the couple relationship and the parent-child relationship. Learning how to foster greater intimacy and teamwork with our partner in order to improve the way we parent and co-parent.

Healthy Children, Healthy Planet
Northwest Earth Institute Representative
Explore how pop culture and consumption pressures create a social smog for children and how meaningful family time can provide balance, a healthy environment, and foster a sense of nature’s wonder.

“It’s All Good!” Is a Lie: Norm and Boundary Setting for Today’s Families
Doreen Dodgen-Magee, Clinical Psychologist
The setting of healthy and well-working norms lays the foundation for a life of health and maturity. This workshop will help parents and educators define the norms and boundaries important in raising and educating children who thrive.

“Navigating the System”
Shelley Molinaro, Speech Pathologist at Therapy Solutions for Kids
Julie Schwiegart, Teacher and Special Educator for Multnomah Early Childhood Program
Does my child have developmental problems? How do I find help for my child? What is the process?

One More Bite: Understanding Parenting Styles and the Feeding Relationship
Cheryl Alto, Pediatric Dietitian and owner of Heart In Hand Nutrition Counseling
How we feed our children is as important as what we feed our children. This interactive workshop will provide practical information for building a stronger and more meaningful feeding relationship.

Organizing 101
Julie Job, professional organizing consultant, founded Organizing Solutions in 1990
In this workshop, you will learn how to deal with all the papers kids bring home and other tips to help your household run more smoothly in this age of clutter and information overload.

(*) Inviting Neuroscience Into the Classroom (Continuation of workshop “L”, an all day workshop developed for Teachers)
Paige Beard
Afternoon - Applications to our work with children and families.

(*) Fine Motor Skill Development in the Preschool Classroom (Workshop developed for Teachers)
Mary O’Connell and Diedra Pine, both have an MS in Occupational Therapy and are Occupational Therapists at Shriners’ Hospital for Children
This course will review hand development in ages 0-5, identify possible dysfunction, and explore helpful tools & activities.

Advanced workshops with this mark (*) before the title were developed for Teachers

GENERAL INFORMATION

PCPO Group Fee - A PCPO member school group fee may have been paid allowing your school’s members to attend the conference at the lowest rate. Your PCPO Rep or Treasurer will know if your school has chosen to prepay the group fee.

Scholarships - A limited number of scholarships for full or discounted fees are available upon written request. Scholarships will be awarded on a first come, first served basis with priority given to PCPO members.

Refunds - We regret we are unable to issue refunds.

Check-In - When you arrive, please check in at the registration desk. You may pick up your agenda, workshop assignments and a map at that time.

Child Care Division Credits - Certificates for CCD credits needed by child care workers will be available at the end of the day.

Displays & Vendors - Displays and vendors will be available before, during and after the conference workshops. Some offer merchandise to purchase. Major credit cards and personal checks may not be accepted by all. PCPO does not endorse any vendor or displayer.

Host - Want to make sure you get in your 1st choice workshop? Be the first person to offer to HOST a workshop, and your space is guaranteed. Hosting simply means arriving a few minutes early, passing out materials & collecting evaluations. Please check the HOST portion of your registration form. Thank you!

Questions - For referrals to co-ops in your area, call PCPO at 503-293-6161 or email us at: 

Website - Please visit us at www.oregonpreschools.org

REGISTRATION INFORMATION

Workshop Enrollment - Workshop enrollments are limited by room and instructor capacity. It is recommended that you register early in order to ensure your first workshop choices. Registration is processed according to postmarked date. Advanced workshops with this mark (*) before the title were developed for Teachers.

Workshop Selections - If your first choice is already full, we will use one of your two alternate choices.

Registration Form - Please only 1 registration per form. You are welcome to copy the form or provide the needed information on another sheet of paper. Also, the registration form can be obtained online at:
 www.oregonpreschools.org.

Walk-In Registration - Mail-in registration must be postmarked by March 3rd. Although walk-in registration is welcomed and is available at the conference at 8:15 AM, specific workshops may be full and the fee is higher.

Lunches - Catered box lunches are available for $ 7.00 each, paid with advance purchase only. Please make your selection on the registration form. You are also welcome to bring your own lunch.

Please Note - So that everyone may hear and learn from the speakers, please do not bring infants or children to the conference.

Click here to download the 2006 Conference Brochure
with Registration Form.

© 1999-2008 PCPO

Last modified on Monday, September 14, 2009