WHSA Challenging Behaviors Institute 2024

December 3-5, 2024

Join us for the Wisconsin Head Start Association’s Challenging Behaviors Institute, an engaging virtual event designed for educators, administrators, and early childhood caregivers dedicated to supporting children with diverse needs. Board members, Policy Council and parents are also welcome. This interactive institute will take place on December 3-5 through Zoom. Participants will receive the opportunity to learn innovative strategies for addressing and managing challenging behaviors in young children and self-regulation.

Through expert-led workshops and collaborative discussions, attendees will gain valuable insights into fostering positive social-emotional development and creating inclusive learning environments. Don’t miss this chance to connect with fellow professionals, share experiences, and enhance your skills to promote the well-being of all children in your care. Register now to secure your spot!

Click Here to Register!

Where:

Online/Virtual/Zoom

When:

December 3-5, 2024

Full Schedule:

See below for a tentative schedule!

Cost:

$205: Early Bird (thru 11/12)
$215: General (11/12 – event)

Audience:

All Head Start staff, managers and directors.
Board, PC and Parents are always welcome.

Questions:

Contact Brian at Brians@whsaonline.org or
Jennie at Jenniem@whsaonline.org

Schedule:

December 3, 2024

8:30:10:00: Maryann Rehani & Kate Szidon, Waisman Center – Understanding Autism
The Understanding Autism training for early childhood educators is drawn from a collaboration with the Organization for Autism Research (OAR), this presentation is designed to provide school teachers with the knowledge and evidence-based strategies needed to support their students with autism in the classroom.
10:30 AM – 12:00 PM: El Brown, PH.D – Seeing the World Through Their Eyes
Seeing the World Through Their Eyes isa focused and practical workshop designed specifically for the Wisconsin Head Start Association. It equips instructional staff with tailored tools to understand the unique communication styles of children with autism, promoting effective engagement strategies. Participants will learn to create proactive environments that prevent challenging behaviors and support children’s communication needs, ensuring a positive learning experience for both educators and students.
1:00 PM – 2:30 PM: El Brown, PH.D – Calm in Chaos
Calm in Chaos is a focused and practical workshop designed specifically for the Wisconsin Head Start Association. It equips instructional staff with essential tools to develop emotional intelligence and selfregulation strategies, enabling them to better manage their own emotions and effectively support their students. Participants will learn techniques to create a proactive classroom environment that fosters emotional well-being, ensuring positive interactions and improved educational outcomes.
3:00 PM – 4:30 PM: YoungStar Connect – Stress and Resilience: Strengthening Well-Being for Early Childhood Professionals
This course offers early childhood educators strategies to recognize stressors and explore ways to build resilience in both their personal and professional lives. Participants will reflect on techniques to enhance emotional well-being and consider practical approaches to finding balance and maintaining a positive outlook in their work. The training aims to support educators in navigating challenges with greater ease and promoting a healthier, more resilient mindset.

December 4, 2024

8:30 AM – 10:00AM: Conscious Discipline – Active Calming for Adults
Explore ways to practice active calming during moments of upset- for adults! As teachers, we invest so much in how to help our children but often forget we need that same investment. The Power of Perception and Skill of Composure are the keys to engaging in effective active calming.
10:30 AM – 12:00PM: Conscious Discipline – Problem Solving Challenging Behaviors
The Conscious Discipline Brain State Model reminds us of the brain’s three hierarchical needs: Safety, connection and problem solving. Problem solving big behaviors requires us to access our brilliance first to be able to respond instead of react and model what we want our students to do.
1:00 PM – 2:30 PM: Maryann Rehani & Kate Szidon, Waisman Center – The ECHO Early Childhood Education (ECE)
This session is for early childhood professionals working with children with a range of abilities. Participants will learn and share strategies to support inclusive early childhood education for children challenging behaviors as a result of identified disability or a special health or development need.

December 5, 2024

8:30 AM – 10:00AM: YoungStar Connect – Planning Your Physical Environment to Reduce Challenging Behaviors
In this session, you will review key elements of your physical, social, and temporal environments that best support young children. As a participant, you will evaluate your physical environment using a reflection tool on the learning centers of your choice. You will examine the connection between learning environments and behavior, and proactively plan modifications in your physical environment to refresh learning centers, increase child engagement, and reduce behaviors that challenge you.
10:30 AM – 12:00PM: Imagine Your Capacity – Autism and Early Childhood Challenging Behaviors
This training is designed to foster understanding of autism by exploring the diverse experiences of autistic individuals. Participates will gain insights into sensory processing differences, communication preferences, learning style and social/emotional traits that will serve as a foundation for developing supportive and inclusive classrooms for autistic students.
1:00 PM – 2:30PM: Imagine Your Capacity – Supporting Autistic Students in Preschool Classrooms
In this session, participants will learn how to implement sensory-friendly practices, adapt communication methods and implement other proactive strategies to support autistic students in the early childhood setting. We will also explore practices that can be helpful when children are experiencing periods of distress or dysregulation.
3:00 PM – 4:30PM:YoungStar Connect – Creating Inclusive Environments
Celebrate the diverse abilities of all children by learning the benefits of inclusive learning environments. Dive into Universal Design for Learning (UDL) and uncover its three principles: representation, engagement, and action and expression. Explore fun and creative ways to implement UDL, enhancing your program environments to be more inclusive and effective for all children. Gain practical strategies, such as adding visual tools, using objects to demonstrate interactions, and minimizing distractions with a sensory audit. Ensure every child thrives in your care environment.

(More information being added every day!)

Click Here to Register!

Presentations By:

Conscious Discipline
Embraced in 101 countries and 25 languages, Conscious Discipline’s foundation of safety, connection and problem-solving is leading a revolution of the heart as concepts initially applied in the classroom extend to every facet of our lives.

YoungStar Connect
YoungStar Connect provides and oversees all YoungStar services. We offer individualized and group-based coaching, on-demand resources and live training, ratings, and a help desk, all designed to ensure that Wisconsin children, providers, and communities thrive.

Imagine Your Capacity: Counseling and Consulting LLC
Imagine your capacity Counseling and Consulting, LLC provides consultative services for teachers, classrooms and/or individual students depending on the needs of your district/agency and the students you serve. At ICC, our work is rooted in nervous system informed approaches to uncover unmet needs of the individual and collaborate with the adults around them to provide safety and connection.