Presenters

Presenter Information
(Updated: September 4, 2015)

Keynote – Jennifer Daniels

Jennifer Daniels, a performing songwriter out of Lookout Mountain, Georgia, is also an assistant to Eric Litwin, the author of the first four Pete the Cat picture books. A music and movement educator with a Masters in counseling and certification as an Autism Movement therapist, Jennifer teaches at home and tours the country performing interactive concerts for kids and workshops for educators seeking to build this fun way of learning into their curriculum. Jenn’s married to a guitar hero and they have five year old boy/girl twins. Jennifer will demonstrate “Interactive Literacy and Music: Fun in Learning” as well as “Interactive Literacy and Music: Emphasis on Kids with Autism and Sensory Processing Issues.”

Presentation (Tuesday, September 29, 2015)
"Interactive Literacy and Music: Fun in Learning"
What is the connection between learning and FUN in early childhood education? Everything! Learn to use interactive stories, songs and organized movement to promote reading, verbal language, motor coordination, a sense of community, cooperation, and more. Fun teaching instills a love of learning. So get ready to sing, growl, and dance your way into this kind of learning environment. No musical expertise is necessary. Just leave your inhibitions (if you still have any after working with kids!) at the door.

Highlighted Presenter- Maurice Sykes

Sykes Author and speaker, Maurice Sykes has spent his career advancing high-quality early childhood education and advocating for educational reform and teacher professional development. At SAV he will offer practical insights for educators and leaders through both a preconference workshop and a breakout during the main conference event.

For a complete listing of workshop sessions and presenters, please view the 2015 Conference Schedule.

Keynote – Robin McWilliam, PhD.

Robin McWilliam is the Director of the Siskin Center for Child and Family Research, The Siskin Endowed Chair of Research in Early Childhood Education, Development and Intervention. Robin helps programs, states, and countries implement effective early intervention (0-5) practices. He is a researcher, implementation “purveyor,” program developer and administrator, writer and editor, and teacher of professionals. He is known for his family-centered, functional, evidence-based approach – a no-nonsense model emphasizing support to the adults in a child’s life. Robin challenges educators around the globe to rethink effective practices. At SAV he will engage us with “All the Intervention Occurs Between Visits,” “Routines are the Vertebrae of Families,” and “The Child’s Second and Third Teacher.”

Presentation (Wednesday, September 30, 2015)
"All the Intervention Occurs Between Visits"
How much intervention should young children with special needs get? This presentation will highlight the importance of empowering the adults who are in children’s lives all the hours that we are not. This requires a fundamental change about how we see our contact time with children and families, whether on home visits or visits to children’s child care programs or preschools. It also raises questions about the dosage of some preschool special-education programs.

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University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
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Early Childhood and Parenting Collaborative