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• Brochure & Registration

• Arriving for the Conference

• Keynote Speakers

• Daily Schedule

• Friday Morning Sessions

• Friday Afternoon Sessions

On behalf of Concordia University, the Minnesota South District of the Lutheran Church, Missouri Synod and the Early Childhood Planning Committee, we welcome you to the Minnesota Early Childhood Educator’s Conference!

Our conference strives to provide spiritual enrichment and continuing education for early childhood educators. We believe that early childhood educators must be affirmed, valued and challenged in their work with young children. We are a Christian conference that strives to help teachers grow professionally but also recognizes that spiritual growth is an area of development as well. To support this mission, we will provide worship, motivational keynotes and sectionals for the unique needs of program directors and teachers of children from birth to kindergarten. Early childhood education is as diverse as the children we teach. We hope to expand your horizons and help you gather information for the best developmentally informed appropriate practices.

All registration is online. Click the “Register Online” button below to take you to the registration form. Payment for the conference will also be taken when you register.

All of the brochure information can be found below: cost, directions to Concordia University, keynote speakers, daily schedule, and session descriptions. For your convenience, there are links to each section of the brochure at the top of this web page and buttons below. If you would like a hard copy of the brochure, please click the “Download Brochure” button below. The form in the brochure is for planning purposes for you or for programs where your center director may ask you to provide this information.

Cost

Registration Cost:

• Two days: $175 by February 20; $200 after February 20; $210 after February 27

• One day (Friday or Saturday): $100 by February 20, $125 after February 20; $135 after February 27

• Students: $50 per day; must include university name and student ID on registration

Please call 952-250-7113 if registering after February 27 as the online registration form will be deactivated.

Late Registrations:

Registrations must be received by February 27. Any registrations received after February 27, including walk-ins, will be charged a $10 late fee (described above).

Registration fee includes all sessions for that day, the keynote speaker, morning pastries and lunch on Friday, and brunch and grab-and-go snacks before each session on Saturday.

cancellation policy

~ A full refund will be granted with a written request sent to mnecec@gmail.com if the request is received by February 20. 
~ Cancellations received between February 2 - 27 will be assessed a $30 processing fee.
~ Cancellations will not be accepted after February 27. Registrants may transfer their registration to another Early Childhood professional.  Please email registration transfers to mnecec@gmail.com. 

Unfortunately, we are not able to provide refunds for illness.

weather cancellation

If weather conditions are severe enough to warrant cancellation on one or both days of the conference, an announcement will be posted to the MN Early Childhood Educator's Facebook Group and the Minnesota South District LCMS website.  We will also do our best to notify conference participants via email of the cancellation.  In the event of a cancellation, due to our fixed cost of preparing the conference, there is no guarantee of a full refund.

Questions?

General conference questions may be sent to mnecec@gmail.com

For registration/payment questions, please contact Christina Krentz

The conference admits participants without regard to age, sex, creed, race, color, national or ethnic origin or disability.

If you’ve ever watched an episode of Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood, you likely remember that kind, caring, and knowledgeable Fred Rogers. Join us as we take a deeper look at the practices and philosophies of Fred Rogers and explore how they are still valid today. The young years are foundational in providing a strong start for elementary school that lasts into adulthood. Come ready to reminisce, grow, and be inspired to implement more of “what Fred said” when you return to your classroom!

Dr. Drew Gerdes brings a variety of national and international experiences to Concordia University, Nebraska. Dr. Gerdes has served as an Early Childhood Teacher and Administrator at schools in the United States and Asia for nearly three decades. Noted as a professional who loves to share and develop other educators, Dr. Gerdes has been a sought-after speaker on a variety of topics in Early Childhood Education and Lutheran School Ministry.

Join us for a devotion and some encouragement for the next leg of the journey. This session is created especially for those who care for others each day. This time offers rest for the heart behind the work - a quiet space to pause and be reminded that the work you do matters - and so do you.

Amy serves at Trinity First Lutheran School in Minneapolis as the Director of Christian Outreach. Tom serves at Concordia University, St. Paul as Campus Pastor. Together they bring a strong background of providing meaningful worship experiences and encouraging messages as they share the love of Christ in powerful ways.

PLEASE INDICATE YOUR SESSION CHOICE BY NUMBER 10 - 17

10. Baby Signing and Reading Cues: Birth - Age 2
Annette Weaver, Develop Approved Trainer
Develop Approved Training - KCF Area IIB Promoting Cognitive Development

Explore the research and benefits behind baby signing and learn common American Sign Language baby modifications. Engage in learning activities to recognize children, ages birth to age 2, verbal and non-verbal attempts to communicate and explore developmentally appropriate ways to respond and encourage language development.

11. Introduction to Cultural Consciousness: Considering Cultural Dynamics
Hannah Riddle, Trainer, Semillitas Bilingual Training Services
This session fulfills MN Teacher License Renewal Requirement – Cultural Competency Training
Develop Approved Training - KCF Area III Relationships with Families

Explore and practice cultural consciousness. Diversity presents itself in many ways when working with young children and their families. Learn how culture impacts child development and our relationships with families.

12. It’s All About the Brain! How to Use Music to Prepare Young Brains for Reading
Ann Kay, Co-Founder & Education Coordinator, Rock ‘n Read Project
This session fulfills MN Teacher License Renewal Requirement – Reading Preparation

Come have fun singing and learning how to help children develop basic music skills with song in any language. No prior music training necessary! Substantial brain research has revealed that the way brains process and remember sound is the key to language and literacy and singing and basic music skills develop it. Babies “warble” sounds in pitch and rhythm (early singing) many months before they babble words. Science has found that by encouraging babies and toddlers to sing, pat a steady beat, clap rhythm patterns and match pitches, they build brains that are ready to learn to read.

13. Social Emotional Skills = Life Skills
Sue Starks, Professor of Education, LCT (Lutheran Classroom Teacher) Program Director & Chair of Early Childhood Licensure, Concordia University, St. Paul
This session fulfills MN Teacher License Renewal Requirement – Instructional Strategies

In the context of play, young children have opportunities to develop social emotional skills - life skills! We know the level of play skills varies from child to child, and that some kids really struggle and need a copilot to sit beside them as they maneuver through the challenges that can come along with play. Come engage in a conversation to identify and share strategies that ensure young children have the experiences and opportunities needed to build life skills needed in the present and for their future.

14. Speech and Language Development
Kasey Wade, Speech and Language Pathologist, Family Chatterbox
Develop Approved Training - KCF Area I Child Development

Explore the progression of speech and language in children through the perspective of a Speech Language Pathologist and gain knowledge on the impact of early intervention. Developed by Speech - Language Pathologist Kasey Wade, and her team at Family Chatterbox, this course is only offered in person and KCF for Child Development and Learning. Learn about the areas of speech - language such as speech sounds, stuttering, voice, language, auditory processing, augmentative/alternative communication, and feeding. Identify red flags in each of these areas of development, and examine the roles of educators, hierarchy of therapy, and how to integrate the information practically.

15. Temperament and Early Childhood Development
Bobbie Bigwood, Parent Educator, South Washington County Schools Early Learning
Develop Approved Training - KCF Area I Child Development and Learning

Participants will explore the components of temperament, identify their own temperament traits, reflect on common behaviors in early learning/childcare settings and how temperament might influence those, and explore ways to create a goodness of fit in their practice to support development.

16. The Foreign Language of Parent Communication
Drew Gerdes, Ed. D Assistant Professor of Education, Director of Undergraduate Early Childhood Education, Director of Student Teaching Education Department, Concordia Seward

This session unpacks what are common school/teacher strategies for communicating with parents; we look at what works, and what doesn’t. There is much research about how adults best receive information and respond accordingly; however, schools are far behind utilizing these ideas. The goal for this session is to have schools and teachers reflect on their communication practices, expectations they have for parents in regard to communication, and how to move forward with research-based best practices.

17. Unpacking Neurodiversity
Laura Lamb, M.S. ECE; Develop Approved Trainer
Develop Approved Training – KCF Area I Child Development and Learning

Define neurodiversity and discuss common characteristics and diagnoses of neurodiverse people. Explore how to set neurodiverse learners in your setting up for success through environmental design, teaching play and social skills, and supporting emotional regulation.

PLEASE INDICATE YOUR SESSION CHOICE BY NUMBER 20 - 26

20. A Joy Filled Classroom
Michelle Espelien, Co-Director, Elim Preschool

Are you a teacher looking for creative and fun activities in the classroom that bring joy and laughter to children? Activities presented will cover all areas of development and focus on learning while doing. Learning through engagement is the most important part of an early childhood experience. When children are engaged, teachers are too!

21. Bridging Church and School: Introducing and Connecting Families to Jesus and Life with Him in the Church
Pastor Matthew Barry, Associate Pastor, St. John’s Lutheran Church, Chaska

For most churches, one of their greatest areas of outreach is their school. As church leaders, we consider it an honor that parents would both entrust their children to our care and have us share Jesus with them. For many families, the first time they encounter life with Jesus is at one of our schools. How do we carry out the Great Commission in our classrooms and beyond and connect families to Jesus and life with Him in His church? In this session, we will look at simple, practical, and intentional ways educators and churches can partner to do just that.

22. Confident & Composed: Building Executive Function Skills in Young Children
Laura Lamb, M.S. ECE; Develop Approved Trainer
Develop Approved Training – KCF Area IIC Promoting Social and Emotional Development

Discover how executive function skills develop during the early childhood years and the lifelong impacts of executive function. Learn strategies and activities to support the development of critical skills like impulse control and self-regulation to help children grow up to be confident and composed.

23. Cultivating an Inclusive Classroom
Kasey Wade, Speech and Language Pathologist, Family Chatterbox
This session fulfills MN Teacher License Renewal Requirement – Cultural Competency
Develop Approved Training - KCF Area IIA Creating Positive Learning Experiences

This course helps empower educators to cultivate an inclusive classroom for children of all ability levels. Developed by Speech-Language Pathologist and Spanish teacher Kasey Wade, this course is offered in person under KCF Area II A. Learn classroom strategies that inform your teaching with the philosophies and principles for educating children about disabilities of all kinds and diversity. Learn specific classroom activities that will build inclusion and understanding and receive materials for immediate use!

25. Different Child - Different Instruction
Drew Gerdes, Ed. D Assistant Professor of Education, Director of Undergraduate Early Childhood Education, Director of Student Teaching Education Department, Concordia Seward
This session fulfills MN Teacher License Renewal Requirement – Instructional Strategies

Children have many unique needs today; some take careful care, while other students excel beyond what we could ever imagine. This session uses a faith-based approach to slowing down and really looking at the needs, as well as gifts and talents, of each student in our care. In a nutshell, this session explores more about what differentiation looks like and potentially means in the EC classroom environment.

25. Effective Educators: Assessment and Program Quality
Hannah Riddle, Trainer, Semillitas Bilingual Training Services
This session fulfills MN Teacher License Renewal Requirement – Instructional Strategies
Develop Approved Training - KCF Area IVA Observing, Recording and Assessing Development

Learn about the connection between assessment and our role as educators. We must ensure that we observe and document what we learn about the children in our care. There are creative and effective ways to integrate assessment into our teaching practice. In addition to helping us provide individualized care for children, assessment also plays a role in the quality of our programs. Explore the relationship between program quality and assessment in this class.

26. Pyramid Model Classroom Essentials: The Physical Environment and Behavior Expectations
Annette Weaver, Develop Approved Trainer
This session fulfills MN Teacher License Renewal Requirement – Positive Behavior Intervention
Develop Approved Training - KCF Area IIA Creating Positive Learning Experiences

Identifying areas in your physical classroom environment that may be contributing to challenging behaviors in your program. Discuss and design adaptations to your program’s physical environment to reduce challenging behaviors. Discuss best practices to teach behavior expectations and create action plans to implement strategies to help reduce challenging behaviors.

PLEASE INDICATE YOUR SESSION CHOICE BY NUMBER 30 - 34

30. Challenging Behavior: Where Do I Begin?
Michelle Norsten, Develop Approved Trainer
This session fulfills MN Teacher License Renewal Requirement – Positive Behavior Intervention
Develop Approved Training - KCF Area IIC Promoting Social and Emotional Development

Discover how to remain optimistic about caring for all children including those that you may perceive as having “challenging” behaviors. Discover why it is so important to do everything you can to keep the child in your care. This course is based on the work of Fred Rogers.

31. Embracing Hope: Elevating Positive Relationships and Cultural Abundance Across ECE Networks
Jamesetta Diggs, Trainer & Consultant - Beyond Early Initiatives LLC
This session fulfills MN Teacher License Renewal Requirement – Cultural Competency
Develop Approved Training – KCF Area IX Trauma-Informed Care

This session engages early childhood educators, caregivers, and leaders, establishing that nurturing positive relationships supports health, well-being, learning, and community joy. Participants will explore how early relational experiences shape outcomes for children, caregivers, and educators. The session also centers cultural abundance and intergenerational wisdom as foundational strengths within early care communities, affirming culture as a vital pathway for care, connection, and resilience. Through guided reflection, participants will be invited to deepen their self-awareness and identify immediate, actionable steps to nurturing healthy relationships as a core practice for well-being, learning, and collective care beyond the session.

32. Let Them Be Messy! Exploring Child Based Learning Experiences in Art, Literature and Science
Michelle Espelien, Co-Director, Elim Preschool

When children are truly involved in their learning, we find that learning sticks! Messy learning gives children the space to explore, take risks, and make meaning - supporting brain development, creativity, and lifelong learning skills. This session will give you ideas to take back to implement in your classroom!

33. Play Pedagogy for Language and Literacy Development
Dr. Jodie Riek, Associate Professor, University of Minnesota, Duluth - Paul and Mary Ann Schmidt Endowed Professorship in Early Childhood Development
This session fulfills MN Teacher License Renewal Requirement – Reading Preparation

This session is ideal for early childhood educators as they seek to reclaim play as essential - not optional - in language and literacy learning. Participants will leave with a deeper understanding of how play supports language and literacy development across all domains along with practical, standards-aligned, play-based strategies for pre-literacy and early reading instruction.

34. Strategies for Including Parents in the Management of Unwanted Behaviors
Jamie Waldvogel, Founder/Owner, Board Certified Behavior Analyst with Behave Your Best LLC
This session fulfills MN Teacher License Renewal Requirement – Positive Behavior Intervention
Develop Approved Training - KCF Area II C Promoting Social and Emotional Development

Talking to parents about unwanted behavior their child displays in the classroom can be challenging. Partner with family members to promote consistent responses to challenging behavior. Speak objectively about a child’s behavior when communicating with parents. Learn common parent reactions to discussions about their child’s behavior. Practice appropriate responses to parent reactions.

PLEASE INDICATE YOUR SESSION CHOICE BY NUMBER 40 - 44

40. Building Relationships Through Playful Interactions
Michelle Norsten, Develop Approved Trainer
Develop Approved Training - KCF Area IIC Promoting Social and Emotional Development

Examine the relationship between self-awareness and self-regulation. Explore how to foster the development of self-awareness, including body awareness and social-emotional awareness, through a variety of thoughtful play experiences.

41. From Connection to Collaboration: Family Engagement That Works
Penny Walsh, Parent and Family Educator, Anoka Hennepin ECFE

Strong family-teacher relationships are built from intentional, relationship-centered practices. This session explores how early childhood educators can use connection to create true collaboration with families by integrating research-based frameworks, including NAEYC’s 5 R’s for Promoting Positive Family Engagement (respect, responsiveness, relationships, reflection, and reciprocity), the 4 S’s of Attachment (safe, seen, soothed, and secure), and principles of Family Systems Theory. Drawing on insights from the National Parent Survey Report, participants will reflect on family perspectives, expectations, and experiences within early learning settings. Through discussion, story sharing, and practical examples, educators will reflect and identify actionable ways to strengthen trust, deepen family engagement, and build partnerships that support children, families, classroom and program communities alike.

42. Intentional Teaching Strategies: Purposeful Observation and Authentic Assessment
Dr. Kelly Sadlovsky, Chair of Department of Graduate Teacher Education, Chair of MAED - Early Childhood
This session fulfills MN Teacher License Renewal Requirement – Instructional Strategies

This session will connect theory to practice regarding intentional teaching strategies that support developmentally appropriate practice in diverse early childhood settings. Through the use of large and small group learning activities, participants will have the opportunity to raise awareness for purposeful observations that lead to authentic assessment.

43. Let’s Play! Finding the Joy and Learning in Play
Dr. Jodie Riek, Associate Professor, University of Minnesota, Duluth - Paul and Mary Ann Schmidt Endowed Professorship in Early Childhood Development

Play is often positioned as a break from learning rather than the foundation of it. In this interactive and reflective session, participants will explore how play supports deep learning across developmental domains while reconnecting with the joy, curiosity, and meaning that play brings to children and adults. Participants will leave with a clearer understanding of the relationship between play, learning and development and tools for identifying and articulations learning within play experiences. Renew your confidence - and joy - in becoming a Play Superhero in your professional context!

44. Teach Self-Regulation and Combat Impulsivity: Teach Children to Wait and Accept No (In a World that Values Immediacy)
Jamie Waldvogel, Founder/Owner, Board Certified Behavior Analyst with Behave Your Best LLC
This session fulfills MN Teacher License Renewal Requirement – Positive Behavior Intervention
Develop Approved Training - KCF Area IIC Promoting Social and Emotional Development

Learn how to anticipate and avoid challenging behaviors using positive guidance strategies. Recognize natural opportunities to teach children to wait for items and attention, accept denials, and accept alternatively available options.