School Readiness Starts with the Brain: The Neuroscience of Curiosity, Connection, and Child-Led Learning By: Dr. Jennifer Koel

Grounded in developmental neuroscience and developmentally appropriate practice, this session explores how children’s interests can drive meaningful learning. Discover practical strategies to turn everyday moments into rich learning experiences that foster curiosity, executive functioning, and school readiness through relationships, play, and responsive teaching. The session concludes with a tour of WCTC’s NAEYC-accredited, 5-Star Child Development Center and its relationship-based, child-led indoor and outdoor learning environments.

(2.5 hrs CE)

School Readiness Starts with the Brain: The Neuroscience of Curiosity, Connection, and Child-Led Learning By: Dr. Jennifer Koel

Grounded in developmental neuroscience and developmentally appropriate practice, this session explores how children’s interests can drive meaningful learning. Discover practical strategies to turn everyday moments into rich learning experiences that foster curiosity, executive functioning, and school readiness through relationships, play, and responsive teaching. The session concludes with a tour of WCTC’s NAEYC-accredited, 5-Star Child Development Center and its relationship-based, child-led indoor and outdoor learning environments.

(2.5 hrs CE)

Morning sessions plus lunch, followed by Turning Storytime Into Meaningful Learning By: Shanna Hand

What if storytime didn't end when you closed the book? Children's literature can be so much more than a literacy experience. In this interactive session, we will explore how to use children's books as invitationsfor conversation, play, investigation, creativity, movement and problem-solving, and social-emotional learning. Participants will learn how to look at familiar children's books through a new lens, move beyond the traditional "read and craft" approach, and create meaningful experiences that follow children's interests. Come ready to play, explore, and discover just how far on little book can take you.

Exploring Sensory Play and Reading for Enhanced Learning By: Sarah Cohan

This session delves into the thoughtful integration of sensory play and reading to craft enriching, immersive learning experiences. Through interactive exploration and storytelling, children will enhance their language skills, literacy, creativity, problem-solving abilities, and sensory awareness. Participants will uncover practical methods to link books with tactile, visual, auditory, and imaginative activities that captivate children and deepen their understanding

(6 hrs CE)

Morning sessions plus lunch, followed by Turning Storytime Into Meaningful Learning By: Shanna Hand

What if storytime didn't end when you closed the book? Children's literature can be so much more than a literacy experience. In this interactive session, we will explore how to use children's books as invitationsfor conversation, play, investigation, creativity, movement and problem-solving, and social-emotional learning. Participants will learn how to look at familiar children's books through a new lens, move beyond the traditional "read and craft" approach, and create meaningful experiences that follow children's interests. Come ready to play, explore, and discover just how far on little book can take you.

Exploring Sensory Play and Reading for Enhanced Learning By: Sarah Cohan

This session delves into the thoughtful integration of sensory play and reading to craft enriching, immersive learning experiences. Through interactive exploration and storytelling, children will enhance their language skills, literacy, creativity, problem-solving abilities, and sensory awareness. Participants will uncover practical methods to link books with tactile, visual, auditory, and imaginative activities that captivate children and deepen their understanding

(6 hrs CE)