- Presenter: Susan Walker, Associate Professor Emeritus, Family Social Science and Education Consultant
In our work as educators, we care about everyone's well-being and will go out of our way to help as best as we can. This is a component of building trust. Yet without understanding necessary boundaries, our help may not be that helpful. We may stretch ourselves into acting as therapist, social worker, or other roles we're not trained for. Stretching ourselves beyond our limits can also be damaging to our mental, emotional and sometimes physical health (read: 'burn out'). When we understand - and act on - the value of setting boundaries in relationships with families (including our own), we're more effective educators; we're happier too. Join your fellow family education 'boundary breakers' as we talk about why it's so hard for us to set limits and enforce boundaries, and how expectations of ourselves contribute to this challenge. Together we'll discover effective ways to create and share boundaries with the important families and people in our lives and how our professional community can help us do it.
1:35-1:45pm Break
1:45-2:45pm Session 1 - Choose one breakout session.
22-23 ECFE Needs Assessment: Key Findings, Themes, and Implications
Each year, the needs assessment submissions provides us with a wealth of information. This session covers each question in the needs assessment and its findings. Then, key themes from the narrative submissions will be discussed. Throughout, implications for programming and services will be discussed, in addition to preparation strategies for conducting this year’s assessments.
- Presenter: Mike Brown, Education Specialist, Minnesota Department of Education
Workshop: Building relationships with diverse families in ECFE.
Description: As educators, we are tasked with the responsibility of facilitating learning that shapes the lives and future of families. This task requires a collaborative effort from both families and colleagues. When working with families of diverse backgrounds, it can be challenging to build connections that lead to lasting impact. Join me as I share three key principles that will help you form positive relationships with families that and foster connections without emptying your bucket.
- Presenter: Welde Dubar, Founder of Educate My Village, a non-profit organization serving West African Immigrant families in greater twin cities and a member of the National Parenting Education Network (NPEN).
Objectives: In this session, participants will learn three key principles of effective relationship building with families of diverse backgrounds through
Self-Awareness (Filling your bucket Principle)
Cultivating the Environment (Garden Principle)
Filling other’s buckets without emptying yours (Adding Value Principle)
2:45-3:00pm Break
3:00-4:00pm Session 2 - Choose one breakout session.
Relationships – Our Foundation, THEIR Foundation
Relationships are foundational to everything else that we do with and for children and families. They qualify as first things first yet can be challenging to establish and maintain without intentional, responsive effort and time.
- Presenter: Dr. Sue Starks, Professor of Early Childhood Education, Concordia University – St. Paul
Objective: Join a conversation and take away tangible, proactive ways to build and foster relationships with children, families, and coworkers that are part of building the foundations that young children need to thrive.
Using Reflective Problem Solving with Colleagues
During this session, I would share a Reflective Problem Solving tool which colleagues can use for processing together in a variety of ways. Some examples of application include: - Debriefing productively with an individual or team following an incident or challenging situation - Discussing a book, podcast, implementation plan, or other resource as a team - Making a decision or navigating a change within the group or organization Reflective Problem Solving includes many benefits for colleagues working together, including the promotion of self-awareness, perspective-taking, empathy, and connection. Most of the time during this session will be focused on the chance for participants to examine the tool, and determining how it will be most applicable to them and their professional team. Each participant will receive a copy of the tool along with instructions for use.
- Presenter: Heather Cline, Licensed Parent Educator &, Founding Owner of Hourglass Perspectives, LLC