Sunshine Coast Half Day Workshop

Presenter: David Gilkes

Topic: Mark Making - A Voice for our thinking

Children have an innate curiosity and desire to know, to find out, to research, to construct theories, to make connections, and to express their thinking creatively. When children first pick up a pencil, a paint brush or a stick and make a mark, they are doing something very powerful. They are communicating. How can we be sensitive to these imaginative, creative, knowledge-building and meaning-making processes? How do we ensure that we are providing contexts to support these experiences? David will talk about mark-making as an act of citizenship and participation, as a process of building relationships and knowledge.

 Presenter: Aunty Sharron mirii Bell

Topic: NGAMA

As we walk with Yindyamarra - going softly, slowly, gently with love, honour and respect we acknowledge our past, present and future. Sharron mirii Bell will guide you on a beautiful journey - the making of NGAMA, an amazing heartfelt album honouring her late mother Iris Joan Lindh - nee Bell. Music has the ability to heal and transform as it weaves its magic within you, and around you. As we connect to NGAMA discover new ways to embrace and extend your  Cultural awareness with Sharron mirii Bell through song and dance.

Presenter: Margaret-Anne Carter

 Topic: Be Intentional ... Behaviour Change is on its way!

In this session we engage in a behaviour audit to identify what behaviours are and what behaviours are not working in your learning and teaching spaces.  An audit is a catalyst to begin a process of change, to consider possibilities and plan creative ways forward.  In this workshop we will consider three dimensions - Dimension 1 - Behaviour teaching Dimension 2 – Behaviour coaching Dimension 3 – Behaviour modelling Participants are encouraged to be intentional, to formulate plans for action, translating learnings from this workshop into daily practices.

 Presenter: Caroline Fewster

Topic: How can the early childhood learning environment enhance children’s social and emotional competence?

An opportunity to expand our vision what may be possible. The way we design environments can be closely explored with children and educators with three key aspects of a learning environment with a goal of enabling a pro-social environment.

• The physical environment – the organisation and aesthetics for learning experiences.
• Interactional – the social interactions between children and other children and children and educators.
• Routines and transitions – the timing of the day (the temporal features).

The possibilities in this professional learning workshop are designed for educators to choose practices for their particular service in the context of their community.