Summer Conference 2009

Join us this year for "Kids Matter"® a campaign developed by the Child Care Council of Kentucky as a way to increase awareness around issues that affect the lives of children in our community, state and hopefully nationwide and eventually worldwide.

Keynote Speakers 

Dr. Brad Mears

The Developing Brain
Wednesday, August 5, 2009
8:15 am & 9:45 am

An introduction to brain research, this keynote will be an eye opener for adults to see how the interactions that you have with children actually change a child’s brain. Find out what you need to do and what activities to plan with children to support positive brain development. Gain a better understanding of how to take care of the brain, how to support its development and how to be the direct cause of learning. What everyone should know about the ever changing child!

Dr. Mears is an associate Professor, Department of Health and Human Performance, University of Central Missouri. Before coming to UCM, he taught kindergarten as well as early childhood special education. He holds an Ed. D in Pedagogy from the University of Northern Colorado, and has presented over 75 sessions on the brain nationally and internationally. Dr. Mears was recently recognized by the National Association for the Application of Neuroscience in Education as one of the world’s top five presenters in this area of study. He is currently in the process of writing two books on brain development in children due out in early 2010. Previous conference attendees will remember his presentation at our 2008 Mid-Winter Seminar and at previous Summer Seminars on Brain Based Differences. As a father of four young children, he not only does research and teaches in the field of early childhood development, he lives it every day.

Debbie Clement

Lyrics to Literacy:
Read a Song & Sing a Book
Thursday, August 6, 2009
8:15 am & 9:45 am

Join Debbie to examine the use of print material in the music environment, circle & storytime. Enrich and expand your repertoire of children’s songs with song charts, props, costumes, puppets, flannel boards, movement, sign language and dramatization. Through song, rhythm, rhyme and chant, you can enhance the children’s self esteem, ease transitions, strengthen readiness skills and enjoy the wonder of your children as you further develop a sense of community. Cultivate your music and storytelling, bringing it alive to all the senses through the addition of visual and printed images. Engage early and slow readers through the motivating powers of music!

From Columbus, Ohio, Debbie brings a patchwork quilt of experience to all of her staff development sessions. With over 25 years of experience working with children, she has been a classroom teacher, an administrator, and now serves as a consultant for her company “Rainbows Within Reach.” She weaves her love of music and movement together with storytelling, humor, sign language and vivid, visual props and costumes. Debbie is a recipient of the Ella Lyman Cabot Award for her excellence in music programs for young children with special needs. Her experience serving a diverse population of children influences all of her presentations.

"Kids Matter" is the registered trademark of the Child Care Council of Kentucky