The Priscilla Pond Flawn Child and Family Laboratory would like to invite you to our second annual Summer Institute! This year’s institute will be interactive and remote, join from anywhere! You will have professional development opportunities for anyone in the early childhood community. We will cover topics such as growth mindset, story dramatization, DAP math, and more! Participants will:
- Interact with presenters and ask questions;
- Obtain 1-8 hours of professional development;
- Receive a training certificate that meets Child Care Licensing requirements;
- Learn from anywhere!
Registration is closed.
Contact Amanda with questions at amanda.davila@utexas.edu.
Tuesday, July 13, 2021
Bring Stories Alive!
Presented by: Becca Rosenfield, MEd
We all know that books are an integral part of any classroom. There are so many lessons and enriching moments that can occur when a story is read aloud to children. In this session, we will discuss how to take read alouds a step further and really make them come alive in your classroom through dramatization, story baskets, and more. You will leave with strategies to help children act out and retell stories, as well as other tips for making read alouds more engaging and entertaining.
What’s With All the Whys?
Presented by: Amy Bryan, PhD
Curiosity is a basic element of cognition that’s essential to motivation and learning, but it’s in scarce supply in many schools. In this session, we’ll explore the biological/neural underpinnings of curiosity and conditions that foster it. We’ll discuss strategies for inspiring wonder and supporting children’s intense, natural urges to explore and understand the world around them.
Give Children a Choice
Presented by: Becca Rosenfield, MEd
It is crucial that children be given the opportunity to make choices for themselves, so they can begin to learn independent and critical thinking skills. In this session, we will explore the importance of choice in the early childhood classroom, and discuss how to move towards implementing more choice for children into your own classroom settings.
Jump Outside of the Box!
Presented by: Amy Bryan, PhD
Creativity is a valuable 21st century skill, essential for innovation and economic growth. There’s evidence, however, that it’s on the decline nationally. In this session, we’ll discuss creativity and the creative process. We’ll explore ways to design inspiring spaces, incorporate innovative materials, and facilitate imaginative thinking to nurture children’s creativity.
Wednesday, July 14, 2021
I Don’t Want to Go to School!
Presented by: Sarah Ozuna, MS
Starting school for the first time, attending a new school, or transitioning to a new teacher or class can be unnerving for young children. Separation anxiety can affect many children of various ages. It can also create anxiety for parents and teachers too. This session will cover strategies for teachers to implement that can curb separation anxiety for children and parents before and after it starts. We’ll discuss tools to give to families so they can help their child prepare for the transition, discuss strategies to reduce separation anxiety in the classroom, and explore ways to prepare for separation anxiety in a post-pandemic school year.
Making Math Count: Meaningful Math Concepts and Activities for Young Children
Presented by: Lara Pauley, MEd
Math is everywhere! Early childhood practitioners need to be knowledgeable about (rather than intimidated by!) math concepts that are appropriate for young children so that they can incorporate math into their classrooms and curriculum. This session will focus on the concepts of math (number sense, matching/sorting, spatial relationships, patterns, measuring etc.), principles for teaching math, and practical ideas for incorporating DAP math activities throughout the day and in each area of the classroom.
Teamwork Makes the Dream Work
Presented by: Sarah Ozuna, MS
Do you ever wonder how to connect with a child on a deeper level? Have you ever thought about what you could learn from families and how to effectively help them learn from you? Have you ever felt like a child’s school-life and home-life were two separate worlds? The answer to navigating these questions starts with building family relationships and family engagement in the classroom. In this session, we’ll discuss ways to build a positive trusting relationship with families and explore strategies to create a bridge between the child’s first teacher and classroom (their family and home) and their second teacher and classroom (you and their school).
Mindset Matters: How Growth Mindset Changes a Child’s Approach to Learning and Life
Presented by: Lara Pauley, MEd
Because of the importance of their work, it is critical for early childhood teachers and administrators to have an understanding of the difference between fixed and growth mindset. Grasping the concept of growth mindset and its implications gives teachers and administrators a powerful tool to instill growth mindset in those they encounter. This will impact their learning and their lives.
Presenters
Amy Bryan, PhD
Associate Professor of Practice, Director
Amy Bryan holds a bachelor’s degree in Applied Learning and Development, a master’s degree in Clinical Social Work, and a doctorate in Human Development and Family Sciences. She has enjoyed successful careers in teaching, school counseling, and social work. Amy has taught a variety of undergraduate courses in Human Development and Family Sciences. In addition to serving as the director of the Priscilla Pond Flawn Child and Family Laboratory, she is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and a Registered Play Therapist Supervisor in private practice. Amy’s research and clinical interests include early childhood development, education, and mental health—especially understanding and strengthening caregiver-child relationships.
Becca Rosenfield, MEd
Assistant Professor of Practice, Master Teacher
Becca has a bachelor’s in Human Development and Family Sciences, with a focus in early childhood, from UT Austin, and a master’s in Educational Leadership and Policy Studies from UT Arlington. She is a certified teacher and has experience teaching Pre-K, 2nd, and 3rd grade in the public school system. Currently, Becca is an Assistant Professor of Practice at UT Austin where she teaches an experiential learning course for undergraduate students, as well as teaching a group of young toddlers and four and five year olds at the Priscilla Pond Flawn Child and Family Laboratory.
Sarah Ozuna, MS
Assistant Professor of Practice, Master Teacher
Sarah is an Assistant Professor of Practice at the University of Texas at Austin. She teaches and mentors undergraduate students at the Priscilla Pond Flawn Child and Family Laboratory, where she also teaches a group of preschoolers and young toddlers. Sarah graduated from Oklahoma State University with a Master of Science in Human Development and Family Sciences with a concentration in Family and Community Services. She received a Bachelor of Science in Human Development and Family Science with a Concentration in Early Childhood from The University of Texas at Austin.
Lara Pauley, MEd
Assistant Professor of Practice, Master Teacher
Lara Pauley is a trainer with over 30 years of experience in the field of early childhood. Lara currently works as a Master Teacher at the UT Lab School. She is an Independent Facilitator of the Love and Logic Early Childhood Parenting Made Fun!® curriculum. She has been the director of two NAEYC accredited child care programs, has taught in early childhood and college classrooms, and has worked as a case coordinator for Early Childhood Intervention. She has an M.Ed. in Early Childhood Education from UT Tyler and a B.S. in Child Development and Family Relationships from UT Austin.
