Pre-Conference Training
Thursday: 1pm – 5pm

Description

Thursday, June 25
1:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.

Author Study: The Imaginative Life and Works of Shel Silverstein
Presented by: Dawn Espinoza

Step into the whimsical, witty, and wonderfully unpredictable world of Shel
Silverstein—poet, storyteller, artist, and musician. Best known for classics
like Where the Sidewalk Ends, A Light in the Attic, and The Giving Tree,
Silverstein invites readers to think deeply while laughing out loud.
In this author’s study, students will explore Silverstein’s life, creative process,
and distinctive voice through his poems, stories, and illustrations.

Activities will include:

-Reading and analyzing Silverstein’s humorous yet thought-provoking poems
– Exploring themes of kindness, imagination, and individuality
-Discussing his playful use of rhythm, rhyme, and wordplay
– Creating original poems and drawings inspired by his style

By the end of this study, students will gain insight into how Shel Silverstein
used humor and creativity to express big ideas in simple ways—and will be
inspired to find their own poetic voices.

Time to Sign: The Complete Program for Preschool Classrooms
(Ages 3-5)
Presented by: Lillian Hubler Tobin

This comprehensive 4-hour preservice session equips Family Childcare professionals
with practical strategies to integrate sign-enhanced learning into their daily routines.
Participants will learn how to use American Sign Language to support social-emotional
learning (SEL), classroom management, and early literacy practices for children ages
3–5. The session focuses on embedding signs into routines, transitions, storytelling,
songs, and behavior guidance—leading to calmer environments, clearer communication,
and stronger school readiness.

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Scholarship Qualification