ku annual conference...relationships, resilience and risky curriculum relationships, risky...

KU Annual ConferenceRelationships, Resilience and Risk

Saturday 21 October 2017 International Convention Centre, Sydney

Artwork by Thomas, 4 years, KU Fox Valley Preschool

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...Relationships, Resilience and Risk. These themes weave together, interconnected and interdependent, as the cornerstone of rich and robust pedagogical practice.

KU Annual Conference 2017 3

As the Early Childhood Education sector prepares for more changes in legislation, it is important that we also continue to explore and reflect on common perceptions of early childhood education and openly explore the possibilities we can offer to children. KU Children’s Services (KU) again extends an invitation to early childhood professionals to attend the KU Annual Conference 2017 entitled Relationships, Resilience and Risk.

This conference is intended to provide an opportunity to open dialogue and influence discourse about the culture of childhood and the value of the child as a citizen from birth. The conference program will provoke delegates to think deeply and reflect critically about our perceptions and beliefs about children and their learning; about the structure, organisation and coordination of early childhood programs; the capacity of educators to be alert and attuned to children, and the design and provision of spaces and places for children, that are alive with wonderment and challenge.

It is with extreme delight that KU brings internationally renowned Dr Stuart Shanker and Professor Gunilla Dahlberg to our Sydney home. Supported by a suite of early childhood specialists, they will share contemporary theory, research and innovative pedagogies that will illuminate and challenge the teacher’s perspectives of the key conference themes, Relationships, Resilience and Risk. These themes weave together, interconnected and interdependent, as the cornerstone of rich and robust pedagogical practice. The influence and insights of Dr Shanker, Professor Dahlberg and the wisdom and stories of our presenters and facilitators will ensure that the promise of transformational learning will be deep and profound.

KU CEO, Christine Legg

Welcome

KU Annual Conference 20174

Order of Events8:30 am Registration and Exhibitors Display

8:50 am Welcome to Country

9:10 am Welcome and Opening Address

9:30 am Keynote Speaker, Dr Stuart Shanker

10:30 am Morning Tea and Exhibitors Display

11:15 am Morning Seminars

12:30 pm Lunch and Exhibitors Display

1:45 pm Keynote Speaker, Prof Gunilla Dahlberg

Stories from the Field Workshops

2:45 pm Afternoon Tea and Exhibitors Display

3:15 pm Afternoon Seminars

4:45 pm Close of Day

Closed Session for KU staff only

5:00 pm Refreshments

5:30 pm KU Making the Difference Awards and KUSA Awards

6:30 pm Close of Day


Conference ProgramThis year’s program will offer delegates the opportunity to hear two international keynote speakers, attend two seminars and engage with a Story from the Field.

Keynote Speaker

Keynote Speaker

Morning Seminar

Afternoon SeminarChoose a Seminar

Choose a Seminar

orStory from the Field


Dr. Stuart Shanker is a Distinguished Research Professor Emeritus of Philosophy and Psychology at York University and the CEO of the MEHRIT Centre, Ltd. (www.self-reg.ca). His most recent book, Self-Reg: How to Help Your Child (And You) Break the Stress Cycle and Successfully Engage With Life, has garnered glowing reviews around the world being published in Canada, the US, the UK, South Korea, Germany and The Netherlands, with further translations and foreign editions in the works. His blogs can be regularly seen on the Psychology Today, Huffington Post and TMC websites.

Over the past decade, Dr. Shanker has served as an advisor on early child development to government organisations across Canada and the United States, and in countries around the world. During this period, he became increasingly interested in the impact of

excessive stress on child development and behaviour. Dr. Shanker’s five-step Self-Reg model -- The Shanker Method™-- is a powerful process for understanding and managing stress in children, youth and adults. In 2012 Dr. Shanker founded The MEHRIT Centre as a Self-Reg learning and information centre. Dr. Shanker commits considerable time to bringing the research and science of Self-Reg to parents, early childhood educators, teachers, educational leaders, health practitioners and communities through presentations, master classes, online courses, webinars, publications, social media and a blog entitled “The Self-Reg View”.

Keynote Speakers

Dr Stuart Shanker (Canada)


Prof Gunilla Dahlberg (Sweden)Gunilla Dahlberg is a Professor Emerita of Education at Stockholm University, Department of Child and Youth Studies. Gunilla has served on many curriculum-committees, and was one of the experts engaged in writing the first national curriculum for the Swedish pre-school system.

She is currently engaged in three different research-projects: Children’s Dialogue with Nature; Trans-culturalism and Communication and The Magic of Language. For thirty years Gunilla has also carried out research in close cooperation with the preschools in the city of Reggio Emilia, Italy, and she is a member of the scientific board of ‘Fondazione Reggio Children, Centro Loris Malaguzzi.’ Gunilla is co-author of Beyond Quality in Early Childhood Education and Care and Ethics and Politics in Early Childhood, and co-editor of the series Contesting Early Childhood Education.


9:30am – 10:30amKeynote One

Dr Stuart ShankerSelf-regulation and Early Childhood DevelopmentIn this keynote, Dr Shanker will unpack the important distinction between self-regulation and self-control, and discuss the crucial role that self-regulation plays in all aspects of children’s development and learning. This talk will also cover the brain science that helps us understand the relationship between self-regulation and emotional regulation and growth, while sharing practice-based examples that show how self-regulation has been used to identify and mitigate stresses that could impair the behaviour, mood and emotional growth of children.

1:45pm – 2:45pmKeynote Two

Prof Gunilla DahlbergGrowing up GlobalGrowing up global means being part of ongoing movement and transformation, and experiencing an increase in new encounters between many different cultures in everyday life. A question that can be asked in relation to this is: How can educators work in and navigate a globalised educational environment? Whilst this is a broad and challenging question, in this keynote Gunilla Dahlberg will address this in relation to a small event taking place in a preschool called Stella Nova in Hallonbergen, Sweden.

Keynotes


Prof Marc de RosnaySocial Agency in Early Childhood – A View of the Whole Child In this presentation Professor de Rosnay will discuss the agency and social sensitivity of the child. Research has offered a view of the whole child, and through this we can see the importance that the child is treated as a full social participant. When children are treated in this way, not only do we provide space for autotomy and their own point of view, but research shows that this leads to optimal child development.

Dr Stefania GiamminutiThe Value of Relationships in the Centres of Reggio Emilia (Italy)This seminar draws on Dr Stefania Giamminuti’s longstanding research collaborations with the educational project of Reggio Emilia. Stefania illustrates key principles of this pedagogy and the value of relationship from the point of view of educators, families and children. The presentation is rich in images, interview excerpts and stories from observations in the infant-toddler centres and preschools.

Dr Stuart ShankerRecognising Stress-Behaviour in Early ChildhoodIn this workshop Dr Shanker will talk about stress-regulation in infancy, the toddler years and early childhood. In particular, he will look at why ‘sensitive caregiving’ can be so difficult with some children and what we can do to assist both caregiver and child. Especially important is helping caregivers understand the difference between ‘misbehaviour’ and ‘stress-behaviour.’

Morning Seminars11:15am – 12:30pm


Elizabeth AylwardOne of the Kids

This presentation will provide an overview of the Early Start Denver Model (ESDM) which has been used for children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) in settings across the United States and Australia, including KU Children’s Services. This presentation will provide an overview of the three phases of a five year study at the KU Marcia Burgess Autism Specific Early Learning and Care Centre in Liverpool. The presentation will offer examples of ESDM in practice and how this has been applied to mainstream settings.

Dr Robyn Dolby, Eilish Hughes and Dr Vickie MeadeIntroducing Playspaces® into a Babies Room

This presentation describes what happens when Playspaces® is introduced into a babies’ room. Playspaces® gives educators a protected space where they can be ‘in the moment’ with babies. This presentation will include films of educators engaging in Playspaces® principles and practices and will reflect on how this emotional and physical holding helps babies to play together.

Janet RobertsonPedagogical Ingredients: Relationships, Resilience and Risky Curriculum

Relationships, risky curriculum and resilience are some of the essential ingredients for successful thought-full and thinking-full pedagogy. In this seminar Janet will present these ingredients, told through two risky examples of pedagogy. Adults and children dance together creating the ideas which become curriculum.

Morning Seminars11:15am – 12:30pm


Karen HugoThe Paper Plane Project: Becoming Little Scientists

This presentation will showcase a project about paper planes that became the catalyst for children and educators delving deeper into Science Technology Engineering and Maths (STEM) to become a certified ‘Little Scientists House’. After hearing about the project and children’s learning there will be an opportunity for participants to explore STEM concepts through making paper planes themselves.

Julie GaulPlayground to Plate

This presentation will tell the story of a centre that has integrated gardening and harvesting into their daily curriculum and centre culture. The story explores how the team made new connections to the playground and nature through challenging their own skills and understanding of gardening. The workshop will include a practical opportunity to explore the basics of introducing gardening skills with children and staff in collaboration with their local community.

Melodie GlassSchemas: How Children Learn through Loose Parts Play

This workshop will look at stories of how children’s schemas can be observed and supported in learning environments. Schemas are a repeatable pattern of behaviour that children engage in to explore and express their developing ideas, thoughts and understanding of the world. This session will look at how loose parts, as well as other open-ended objects, can support the development of a schema-supportive environment.

Stories from the Field1:45pm – 2:45pm


Prof Joce NuttallLeading the Development of Resilient Centre Systems in an Era of Policy Reform

The designation of Educational Leaders has shifted the site of professional learning to firmly inside ECE services. But many Educational Leaders are struggling to enact leadership practices beyond coaching, mentoring, and performance development. These approaches focus on individuals, so can have limited impact on services as a whole. In this seminar Joce Nuttall proposes an alternative approach, where Educational Leaders view their services as complex systems, mediated by ‘how we do things around here’.

Prof Margaret Somerville and Sarah PowellForests, Literacy and Sustainability: How does it all work?

This presentation will explore young children’s experiences of the forest from a three year study titled ‘Naming the World’. Margaret Somerville and Sarah Powell will share videos and photos of ‘deep hanging out’ in the forest with young children and their educators. Sometimes the forest did not produce anything, other times it seemed alive and vibrant with possibilities for literacy and sustainability learning.

KU Inclusion Teams NDIS: A Collaborative Approach

The introduction of the National Disability Insurance Scheme will have a major impact on families and educators supporting the inclusion of children with disabilities in early childhood education services. In a complex and sometimes confusing environment, a new level of collaboration between families, early childhood educators and early intervention professionals is required.

Afternoon Seminars3:15pm – 4:45pm


Afternoon Seminars3:15pm – 4:45pm

Gisella Wilson

A Journey of Reconciliation – From Developing to Implementing a Reconciliation Action Plan and Beyond

This presentation provides an overview of how, at a centre level, the journey of reconciliation and developing a Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP) can begin. Educators who have started working on their RAP will offer insight into the development and implementation process from a centre perspective.

Prof Gunilla DahlbergPedagogical Documentation as a Tool for the ‘Becoming of Democracy’

During recent years pedagogical documentation has become part of an international culture of quality assessment and evaluation, with the risk that it only becomes a powerful technique for normalising, controlling and taming children’s and teachers’ desires. In this seminar Gunilla Dahlberg will address this problematic situation, and offer a space within which an alternative language and practice of pedagogical documentation can be produced.

Dr Stefania GiamminutiThe Value of Relationships in the Centres of Reggio Emilia (Italy)

This seminar draws on Dr Stefania Giamminuti’s longstanding research collaborations with the educational project of Reggio Emilia (Italy). Stefania illustrates key principles of this pedagogy and the value of relationship from the point of view of educators, families and children. The presentation is rich in images, interview excerpts and stories from observations in the infant-toddler centres and preschools.


KU Staff AwardsThe post-conference award ceremony is a closed session for KU staff only. The KU Making the Difference Awards and the KUSA Awards recognise outstanding achievements and contributions to KU by individuals or teams of KU staff. The ceremony will run from 5:00pm – 6:30pm and refreshments will be provided.

International Convention Centre (ICC) Located in the heart of Darling Harbour, the brand new ICC Sydney is easily accessible by train, bus, light rail and foot with only a 10 minute walk from Central and Town Hall train stations. Secure parking is available and conveniently located within the Darling Harbour precinct.

MarketplaceThe marketplace will showcase a variety of suppliers relevant to the Early Childhood sector.

Lunch and RefreshmentsYour registration fee includes morning tea, lunch, tea and coffee and refreshments. If you have any special dietary requirements, please fill in the appropriate section during the registration process.

Transport and Parking

KU Annual Conference Travel Support KU Children’s Services would like to thank Reggio Emilia Australia Information Exchange (REAIE), who are the proud sponsors of KU Annual Conference Travel Support.

Early Childhood Professionals are invited to apply for KU Annual Conference Travel Support*. Five (5) delegates from interstate (outside NSW) and regional or remote NSW will receive conference registration, travel support (up to $300), reserved plenary seating and acknowledgement at the KU Annual Conference 2017.

To apply for KU Annual Conference Travel Support please email [email protected] and outline: 1. Your role in the early childhood sector (including your employer)2. Your geographic location3. Why you would like to attend the KU Annual Conference 2017

Applications for KU Annual Conference Travel Support close on Friday 4 August 2017, and successful applications will be informed by Friday 18 August 2017.*Please note, KU Annual Conference Travel Support is only open to non-KU employees.


To register for the 2017 Annual Conference, participants are required to complete the online registration process accessible via the KU website: www.ku.com.au/professional-services/ku-annual-conference

Registration FeesKU Employee Registration $85.00External Registrations (non-KU employee) – Early Bird (until 31 July) $265.00 – Full Registration $295.00 – Student (Full Time) $180.00

(For Student Registrations please call 02 9268 3978)

Important InformationIn order to complete the registration process, you must accept the Terms and Conditions. A confirmation email will be sent upon final payment of registration, if you do not receive this email confirmation then your registration is incomplete.

Registrations close 29 September 2017.

Registrations

KU Annual Conference 2017 will contribute 4.5 hours of registered PD addressing 6.2.2 and 6.3.2 from the Australian Professional Standards for Teachers towards maintaining Proficient Teacher Accreditation in NSW.

Please provide your teacher accreditation number upon registration.

KU Children’s Services 129 York Street Sydney 2000 Box Q132 QVB Post Office NSW 1230T 02 9264 8366 F 02 9267 6653 E [email protected]/professional-development

ABN: 89 000 006 137ACN: 000 006 137

© KU Children’s Services 2017

With thanks to our Sponsors and Exhibitors:

Gold Sponsors:

Exhibitors:

Official Supplier:

Travel Support Sponsor:

All images of children are from KU centres.

Platinum Sponsor:

ku annual conference...relationships, resilience and risky curriculum relationships, risky...

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