1.
7:30 to 8:30
AM Mentor Director Breakfast
Solano College ECE Director Mentor Support Group – All program directors are invited
to attend this networking breakfast even if you are not able to stay for the full conference.
8:00 AM to
8:30 AM
Registration
Check-in at the Student Center (Bldg. 1400) where a light continental breakfast will be
provided. Check out the exhibitors and vendors.
8:30 AM to
9:00 AM
Welcome A welcome by the sponsors, overview of the day, and updates on issues of interest to the
field of early care and education. Presentation of ECE student scholarship.
9:00 AM
to
10:30 AM
KEYNOTE
Sandy Holman
The Culture Co-Op
We All Have a Heritage – Acknowledging the fact that we all have a heritage and ensuring
a culturally responsive and relevant education and experience for all is foundational to
success in many areas of life: educational achievement, creating peaceful climates,
ensuring all people have equal opportunities to live their best lives, and so much more! Join
us for this critically important presentation!
10:45 AM
to
Noon
Morning
Workshops
Choose 1:
(A1-7)
Cherida Gruenfeldt
ECE Educator
A1. Creating Warm, Inviting, and Inclusive Environments – In this power point
presentation, lecture and discussion participants will develop an understanding of the
importance the environment plays in honoring all heritages, learning styles and helping
children develop community, acceptance and self-regulation.
Katie Raher
Psychologist, Vallejo Unified
School District
&
A2.Building a Positive Foundation to Prevent Challenging Behaviors – Evidence-based
strategies can be utilized by early childhood educators and families to prevent challenging
behaviors and guide all children toward greater success. Explore the feeling-behavior link
and the significance of investigating what behaviors are communicating. Discuss how
creating optimal caregiver-child connections, maximizing goodness of fit, fostering social-
emotional growth, and setting limits with empathy are key components to enhancing the
ability of any child to succeed.
Paul Roberts
Architect, The Childplay
Institute
A3. Artful Explorations with Nature – Whether indoors or outdoors, bringing nature into
your program adds a beautiful framework for children’s discovery. In this hands-on
experiential outdoor session we will use objects found in nature to create ephemeral art.
Limited to 25 participants.
Carol Gonsalves
Children’s Advocate
A4. Does Your Child Need Special Education Services? – This workshop will look at
eligibility for individual education plans and 504 accommodation plans and will assist
families in resolving disputes and navigating the process with school districts.
Sonja New
MFT, Clinical Director
A5. Father Inclusion: How and Why to Engage Fathers in Care – The centrality of
mothers in early childhood has inadvertently led to a cultural practice of the exclusion of
fathers in program design and implementation. However, research shows that a secure
relationship with a father is a protective factor in child development. Learn ways to avoid
the normative practice of pushing fathers aside and ways to recruit them to participate in
care, in the best interests of the child.
Nadirah Jones & Beth
Coffman
Children’s Network
A6. QRIS 101: What You Need to Know About Quality Rating and Improvement –
The QRIS is a method to assess, improve, and communicate the level of quality in early
care and education. In this workshop you will get an introduction to what is happening with
the QRIS in Solano County including the matrix and tools used to assess quality in
programs.
Barry Bussewitz
Solano College
A7. Social Bias and the “Hidden Brain”: What Can We Learn About Implicit Bias,
Microaggressions, and Our Shared Opportunities? – We will explore our own
experience to relate to current research in emotional intelligence, social justice and effective
use of our own mind and brains.
12:00 PM
to
1:00 PM
Lunch
Cafeteria (1400)
1. All Pre-Registered Participants – Pick up Your Box Lunch
2. Check out the fabulous vendors & displays
Conference workshops subject to change – Check websites: www.solano.edu, www.childnet.org, or www.solanofamily.org for updates

2.
1:15 PM
To
2:30 PM
Mid
Afternoon
Workshops
Choose 1:
(B1-7)
Janet Thompson
UC Davis
B1. Not Just Words: Why Responsive Interactions Are Key to Closing the Readiness Gap –
The number of words children hear predicts vocabulary and school achievement, but research
shows it is not just how many words but how they are used that is important. What kind of
caregiving, parenting, and advocacy makes a difference?"
Cherida Gruenfeldt
ECE Educator
B2. Helping Children Cope with Stress and Trauma - Through hands-on activities,
participants will learn how to use Tai Chi Chua, yoga, visualization, meditation, curriculum,
and sensory experiences to self-soothe, generate and build community, solve problems,
think critically, self-regulate, and build focus, confidence and resiliency. Be prepared to
have fun and discover some stress relieving activities that are simple to implement!
Paul Roberts
Architect, The Childplay
Institute
B3. Awesome Ideas for Your Outdoor Classroom – PowerPoint, handouts, and lively discussion
on ideas for designing, renovating, or just fine-tuning your outdoor learning spaces.
Thy Robles
LCSW
B4. Identifying Developmental Needs and Challenging Behaviors in Children Birth to 5 years
by Using the Ages and Stages Questionnaires (ASQ) – Learn how to identify social-emotional
and developmental needs in children birth to 5 years by using the ASQ. This workshop will also
provide an in-depth description of Help Me Grow Solano, a system that connects young children
and their families to programs and services to enhance health, development, and learning.
Kelly Twibell & Jen
Gonzalez
UC Davis
B5. Incorporating Non-Fiction and Factual Books Into the Early Learning Environment and
Curriculum –"Nonfiction books provide children with opportunities to learn new concepts and
vocabulary. This workshop will offer strategies for using nonfiction books to help children build
valuable background knowledge in a variety of areas, including social development, science, art,
and math.
Trudi Schwarz,
Lourdes Schallock,
Julia Luckenbill
UC Davis
B6. Saying Goodbye: Separation Tips for Caregivers –"This workshop will discuss ways to help
ease separation difficulties with infants, toddlers, and preschoolers. It will cover specific techniques,
including how to help diverse families, how to arrange the classroom in a way that makes
separation easier, and ways to talk to and work with the children. We will bring materials from our
classrooms to show as"examples, and provide discussion time.
Solano College
Early Learning
Center Staff
B7. Tour the Solano College Early Learning Center – Spend this session taking a tour of Solano
College’s child care center and learning laboratory to get inspiration for quality infant, toddler, and
preschool environments.
2:45 PM
to
4:00 PM
Late
Afternoon
Workshops
Choose 1:
(C1 – 4)
4:10 – 4:30
PM
Matthew Gollub
Author & Educator
C1. Hand Movements, Chants, Rhythmic Clapping—How Creative Can YOU Get Reading
Stories Aloud? – Speaking English and Spanish, this musical presenter shares loads of
storytelling and read-aloud tips, and essential literacy "customs" for young children. A high energy
workshop with powerful ideas!
Elaine Kabisch &
Allyson Rutherford
Solano Family
Childcare Association
C2. Creating Curriculum for Your Family Child Care – Learn how to create a high quality
curriculum for the children in your care. We will discuss curriculum development, share a lesson
and give ideas of where to find items. The Guideline for Early Learning in Child Care Home
Settings book will be introduced.
Melissa Nelson &
Ashley Chavez
Sonoma State
C3. Home Away From Home: Incorporating Family Culture Within Infant & Toddler
Classrooms – Introduces how to create culturally inclusive infant/toddler environments and rethink
the definition of culture. Participants will contribute to active discussions and engage in hands on
experiences focusing on daily interactions within families and how they can be integrated into
classrooms.
Jeannette Luedders
Early Education
Specialist
C4. Sensory Activities to Support Children – This workshop will give hands on sensory activities
to assist children (both with and without special needs). A sensory processing inventory will be
utilized to assist providers with analyzing children's behaviors in regards to sensory needs, and will
give practical activities to accommodate those needs.
CLOSING SESSION
with Matthew
Gollub
Let’s finish the day with a BANG, as in drumming and rhythmic storytelling! This award-winning
children’s author has delighted audiences at countless schools around the U.S. and abroad. He
speaks English, Spanish, Japanese, and jazz while encouraging students and families to read for
FUN. Lots more about the performer at www.matthewgollub.com.

3.
!
!
SOLANO!COMMUNITY!COLLEGE!and!SNAEYC!PRESENT:!
THE!29th
!ANNUAL!ECE!CONFERENCE!
!
We'All'Have'a'Heritage'
Featuring+Sandy+Holman+
&
SATURDAY,&SEPTEMBER&26,&2015&from&8&AM&–&4:30PM&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&
&
SOLANO&COMMUNITY&COLLEGE&
4000&SUISUN&VALLEY&RD.,&BLDG.&1400&–&STUDENT&CENTER&
FAIRFIELD,&CA&&94534&
&
&
&
This+conference+is+made+possible+by+the+efforts+of+a+dedicated+committee+and+sponsorship+from+several+entities.+++
We+would+like+to+thank+the+CDFS'Department'at'Solano'Community'College,+SolanoANapa'AEYC,'First'5'Solano,'First'
5'Napa,'the'ECE'Advisory'Committee,'Solano'County'Licensed'Family'Child'Care'Association,'Solano'Family'&'
Children’s'Services,'Solano'County'Office'of'Education,'Children’s'Nurturing'Project,'and'the'Children’s'Network+for+
their+support+of+this+event.+
Solano Community College
4000 Suisun Valley Road
Fairfield, CA 94534-3197