Early Childhood Yeshiva Day School Conference: Thrive, Grow, Learn Workshop Descriptions

Conference Workshops

There will be two sessions. Please choose two to attend.

1. Blocks: Building Minds

Presented by Esther Kirschbaum

Participants will learn the value and importance of unit block play to young children's academic, social /emotional and physical growth.

Esther Kirschbaum; former instructor of early childhood at Stern College for Women, Mercy College and Sarah Schneirer and former director of early childhood at Bais Yaakov Queens. Yogi Beans: Bringing Yoga and Mindfulness into your classroom

2. Yogi Beans: Bringing Yoga and Mindfulness into your classroom

Presented by Lauren Chaitoff

This workshop will provide educators with the tools needed to effectively apply yoga within the school environment. We will explore breath awareness exercises, yoga poses for classroom environments, mindfulness techniques, focus & concentration games and age-appropriate meditation. Through lecture, discussion and practice, you will learn how to apply these techniques to your school or classroom to enhance your students’ experience. This Workshop will get you moving, thinking and communicating in a yogic way, all while having fun and enjoying some physical exercise!

Yogi Beans is the brainchild of mind-body-fitness expert Lauren Chaitoff, who founded Yogi Beans in 2007. Lauren found herself teaching yoga to hundreds of kids, attending numerous trainings, workshops and lectures and designing the Yogi Beans curriculum "sprouting" from her innate ability to connect with children and her knowledge of yoga. Yogi Beans has since become one of the top rated children's programs in New York City.

As Founder & COO, Lauren oversees and trains the stellar Yogi Beans Instructor team, leads regular Yogi Beans' public teacher trainings, and creates and teaches weekly classes to beans of all ages at a range of venues. Lauren holds a Bachelor's Degree in Theater from Northwestern University and is a registered E-RYT Yoga Instructor through the Yoga Alliance. Lauren continuously evolves Yogi Beans' programming from her extensive experiences in the classroom, on her mat, and through her love of her own beans, Vivienne Bell and Juliette Rose.

3. Introduction to S’cool Moves

Presented by Jessica Rubenstein

What is S'cool Moves?

Participants will learn how to easily incorporate movements into the classroom setting to enhance the learning potential of their students. The S’cool Moves posters are designed to improve motor planning, rhythm, timing, core strength, vestibular activation, hemispheric integration, and sensory-motor systems to build a solid foundation for learning. The end result is improvements in self-regulation, reading, writing, and focus. Through this program, y ou will learn interventions that are designed for whole school involvement, small group sessions as well as 1:1 pull out. S’cool Moves uses therapy-based strategies supported by research to help each child achieve their truest potential.

Dr. Jessica Gilson Rubinstein PT, DPT is a physical therapist who received her Doctorate in Physical Therapy from Touro College and her Bachelors of Science from Yeshiva University Stern College for Women. Jessica primarily works with children and young adults ranging in age from birth to 21 years old in a variety of settings. These include a private therapy center, both the general and special education school systems, and in the home within the early intervention model. She has worked and collaborated with teachers, paraprofessionals, social workers, occupational therapists, speech therapists, and physical education teachers. She is a S’cool Moves Collaboration Coach. S’cool Moves is a program founded by Dr. Debra Em Wilson.

4. But I’m not a Special Ed Teacher...Empowering Teachers to Meet the Needs of Children Today

Presented by Suzi Aryeh

As the profile of the ‘typical student’ becomes increasingly broad, this workshop offers insight and tools to empower teachers to address the social and emotional needs of preschoolers. During the workshop, we will learn to communicate with effective key phrases that will improve behavioral outcomes; to utilize preemptive techniques to manage a class; and to implement de-escalating strategies to resume balance to a classroom. Participants will leave with tangible behavioral interventions to increase flexibility, frustration tolerance, and problem solving in preschool children.

Suzi Aryeh is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker specializing in treatment of children, teenagers and families. She is a graduate of Columbia University School of Social Work and has over 20 years experience in psychotherapy, school based counseling, and parent training. Suzi’s therapeutic approach includes a collaborative effort to work in partnership with the child, parent and school professionals to support a child’s social, emotional, and behavioral growth. She develops therapeutic interventions to promote the teacher-child and parent-child relationship. She maintains a private practice as well as offers school based play therapy and counseling and classroom consultation.

5. Understanding Dyslexia and its relationship to Phonemic Awareness at the Preschool Level

Presented by Rochelle Klier

This workshop will address the characteristics of dyslexia, including signs and symptoms in preschool, and the importance of phonemic awareness as a precursor to age appropriate literacy. The workshop will also explore the necessary milestones needed to achieve proper phonemic competency as it relates to reading and discuss practical ideas on how to foster greater phonemic awareness in the classroom setting.

Rochelle Klier, M.S. CCC-SLP TSHH specializes in treating children with reading deficits, dyslexia, and other language based disorders. She is trained in Orton-Gillingham, a multi-sensory therapeutic approach to reading deficits, and treats children of both preschool and elementary school age out of her Woodmere, NY based private practice. Mrs. Klier received both her undergraduate and graduate degrees summa cum laude from Brooklyn College in Speech-Language Pathology. Throughout her career, she has worked in both school and clinical environments to help children reach their potential, and increase their self-esteem as they become better readers. Mrs. Klier resides in Woodmere, NY and is the proud mother of 4 amazing children.

6. How to Use Real Clay in the Early Childhood Classroom to Improve Focus and Mindfulness

Presented by Lisa Mintz

This is an informative and FUN hands-on workshop, where you will not only learn how to comfortably implement real clay play into your early childhood classroom, but you also experience playing and creating with real clay! Clay is a natural medium that promotes focus and mindfulness by the nature of its sensory experience, even more so than man-made clays and doughs. Mindfulness, which is really about awareness of the present moment, can be promoted by all types of sensory play. During the workshop, we will practice ‘sensory mindfulness’ as we create with clay! You will learn the ease of using clay in the classroom, from preparing it for use, to easy clean up and storage. We will also review some of the research on the connection of clay to promoting focus, calm and mindfulness. Time permitting, we will experiment with other forms of sensory art as well!

Lisa Mintz is a ceramic artist and pottery teacher at the Art League of Long Island in Huntington, NY. She has been making pottery for 15 years, and has experienced first-hand it’s benefits of mindfulness. She is a former early childhood teacher, and has used clay in the classroom with 2 to 4 year-olds with amazing results. She is also a photographer who has taught workshops to Jewish educators on using photos as prompts for learning about Israel.

7. Tweaking for Temperament: Understanding and Adjusting for Student Traits

Presented by Hollis Dannaham

Do some of your students jump from one activity to another while others are so persistent that they have a hard time transitioning? Do you like to introduce new activities into your lessons but find that some of your students are hesitant or resistant? Based on the research of Stella Chess and Alexander Thomas, there are nine innate temperament traits that can affect a child’s behavior in the classroom and in life. Understanding and appreciation of a child’s temperament will help you make some tweaks to your pre-school classroom that will make learning easier and more successful.

Hollis Dannaham, M.Ed., has been empowering complex learners for 30 years as a learning specialist, special educator, administrator, and consultant in public, private, and charter schools. Hollis created Transform Boundaries, an organization dedicated to helping schools create programs and creative solutions for reaching their complex learners. She served as the Director of Academic Intervention at Explore Charter School and co-created the Carmel Alternative High School for at-risk teens. Hollis also worked as a learning specialist at the Student Success Center of All Kinds of Minds. Currently Hollis is a coach, mentor, and workshop facilitator for Hidden Sparks.

8. Social/Emotional Development and Jewish Values in Quality Children's Literature

Presented by Beth Braunstein

Good quality picture books are an effective way of guiding social emotional development and good values in young children The selections presented will include books that are appropriate for preschool through elementary grades. Jewish values will be explored with an emphasis on teaching children acceptance and respect for diversity and individual differences. An annotated bibliography will be distributed and an online version will be available.

Beth Anshen Braunstein is currently the librarian at SAR (Salanter Akiba Riverdale) Academy in Riverdale, New York. During her 17 year tenure at SAR she established the library curriculum and a comprehensive collection. She implemented updated technology including online circulation and cataloging and the use of iPads for interactive learning . Prior to SAR, Ms. Braunstein was the librarian at the Abraham Joshua Heschel School in New York City for 14 years. She has led workshops at schools, colleges, and professional conferences. She has served on the Sydney Taylor Book Award Committee and the Board of AJL-NYMA.

9. Kitchen Science and More

Presented by Michele Anselmo and Michelle Quinton

Children’s natural curiosity makes them scientists from the start. This workshop consists of a variety of hands-on activities with readily available materials, providing participants with ideas to support and inspire children to take risks, make mistakes, problem solve, and build confidence. STEM activities help children create new theories about the world around them and provide opportunities for critical thinking, inquiry, and reflection.

Michele Anselmo is a certified teacher with a Master's Degree in Education and is the lead Early Childhood educator for CSTL's Nature's Kids preschool. It was Michele's belief that children are capable of constructing their own knowledge through exploration, discovery, and inquiry that led her to design a science-based preschool curriculum for CSTL. Nearly ten years later, under her guidance, the program successfully meets the developmental needs of young children while also providing them with authentic and engaging opportunities to investigate, experiment, formulate theories, and ask questions. Michele creates an environment where learning happens in an organic, joyful way that deepens her students’ understanding of the world around them. Michele has also provided professional development workshops in Early Childhood Science for pre-service and in-service teachers at several local school districts, a university, and at an early childhood conference.

Michelle Quinton has been an Early Childhood educator for over 13 years. Before joining CSTL's Nature's Kids as a preschool teacher, she taught Kindergarten and preschool at The Gillispie School in La Jolla, California. In that school's award-winning preschool program, Michelle embraced an emergent curriculum in which children were seen as the protagonists of their own learning and projects and lessons were designed around the children's combined interests. During her last year at Gillispie, driven by the needs of her students, Michelle developed an outdoor classroom where children were offered a broader variety of learning experiences. Her efforts led to a remodeling of the outdoor space to incorporate more areas of exploration and investigation, which has become a model for other schools in that area. At Nature's Kids, Michelle uses these same strategies with a focus on science to engage her students in meaningful, hands-on learning throughout the day.

10. Building Readers through Literacy Games

Presented by Leah Girnun

In this workshop, we will explore how to help students attain the literacy skills they need to become good readers while having fun through hands on center and game ideas.

Mrs. Leah Girnun is an experienced educator and administrator. Before moving to Long Island 3 years ago she has served as the elementary principal at the Talmudical Academy of Baltimore, as well as a public school special education teacher and a reading specialist. Mrs. Girnun is currently the Director of Education at the Yeshiva of South Shore.

11. Developing Social Emotional Intelligence in the Classroom; Resilience, Independence, and Problem Solving. *Morning Only*

Presented by Shaya Lieber and Shaya Baum

In this workshop, we will debunk the pseudoscientific understanding of social-emotional health, and provide educators with the skills and techniques necessary to help develop children’s independence and resilience. By implementing practical tools for real life scenarios you will become more aware of different struggles children have and add practical tools to your own toolbox of knowledge to help all kinds of children.

Shaya Lieber LMSW is a psychotherapist in private practice. He has been working with children and families with social and emotional needs for over 15 years. He is currently clinical director of the Diamond Summer Behavioral Program, and has a private practice in the Five Towns working with children, teens, young adults and parents . His practical and creative approach have helped many.

Shaya Baum M.S.Ed is the assistant preschool director of Yeshiva Ketana of Long Island, as well as a teacher in Mesivta Ateres Yaakov. He has been working in the field of education and behavior modification for over 10 years and is currently the assistant clinical director of the Diamond Summer Behavioral Program. He has consulted many tri-state and out of state yeshivas on numerous behavior intervention plans and strategies.

12. Early Childhood Engagement for 2's & 3's: Tools for Tantrums, Conflict Resolution and Beyond *Morning Only*

Presented by Randi Goldfarb

In this interactive workshop, participants will explore the triggers behind tantrums, non-cooperative behaviors and strong-willed students, specifically in 2’s and 3’s classrooms. Varied approaches to managing these common challenges will be evaluated along with opportunities to problem solve and produce positive change. Creative, user-friendly strategies will be provided for supporting healthy communication, building social-emotional skills and fostering greater cooperation in the classroom setting.

Randi Goldfarb, LCSW, Founder & Owner, Zak & Nat™: Being a preschool educator or a parent of a young child can be extremely rewarding, yet, also quite challenging! Randi utilizes her skill set as a seasoned licensed clinical social worker, passionate preschool teacher, creative early childhood consultant/trainer and determined mother of spirited young children, to guide early childhood educators and parents of young children. Her expertise covers a range of topics including managing separation anxiety, dealing with tantrums, conflict resolution, supporting strong-willed students, managing challenging behaviors, facilitating the development of social-emotional skills, and team building for staff. With a deep understanding of the joys and challenges that parenthood and preschool provide, Randi uses her proactive, creative and customized approach to help her clients of all ages build emotional literacy, promoting healthy communication styles and deeper relationships.

“Empowering Kids & Adults to Connect and Stay Connected-” Zak & Nat™

WEB: www.zakandnat.com Email: randi@zakandnat.com Phone: 347.815.5232

13. Should I Refer? What to look for when considering a referral to EI or CPSE *Morning Only*

Presented by Alyssa Gilbert

Teachers often have concerns about children’s development, but it’s difficult to know when a child might need additional supports. This workshop is designed to help identify needs, different interventions to try and when it’s appropriate to refer a family for an evaluation.

Alyssa Gilbert, MS Sp Ed, RYT, PTA is a former special education teacher specializing in children from birth to 2nd grade. She served as the director of Early Intervention Homebased Services at On Our Way Learning Center in Far Rockaway for 5 years and at Hand in Hand Development in Manhattan for 7 years prior. Alyssa is also a registered yoga teacher and certified teacher of therapeutic yoga.

14. Early Childhood Classroom Engagement for 4's & 5's: Tools for Conflict Resolution & Building Cooperation *Afternoon Only*

Presented by Randi Goldfarb

In this interactive workshop, participants will explore the triggers behind non-cooperative behaviors and conflict arising, specifically in the 4’s and 5’s classrooms. Varied approaches to managing these common challenges will be evaluated along with opportunities to problem solve and produce positive change. Creative, user-friendly strategies will be provided for supporting healthy conflict resolution and building greater cooperation in the classroom.

Randi Goldfarb, LCSW, Founder & Owner, Zak & Nat™: Being a preschool educator or a parent of a young child can be extremely rewarding, yet, also quite challenging! Randi utilizes her skill set as a seasoned licensed clinical social worker, passionate preschool teacher, creative early childhood consultant/trainer and determined mother of spirited young children, to guide early childhood educators and parents of young children. Her expertise covers a range of topics including managing separation anxiety, dealing with tantrums, conflict resolution, supporting strong-willed students, managing challenging behaviors, facilitating the development of social-emotional skills, and team building for staff. With a deep understanding of the joys and challenges that parenthood and preschool provide, Randi uses her proactive, creative and customized approach to help her clients of all ages build emotional literacy, promoting healthy communication styles and deeper relationships.

“Empowering Kids & Adults to Connect and Stay Connected-” Zak & Nat™

WEB: www.zakandnat.com Email: randi@zakandnat.com Phone: 347.815.5232