2025 Oregon Early Learning Conference

---

20 Executive Function & Self-Regulation Activities for Better Learning and Calmer Classrooms

Join pediatric Dr. Lynne Kenney for an interactive workshop that combines cutting-edge research with practical applications to strengthen children's executive function skills. Drawing from over 300 studies across kinesiology, developmental psychology, neuroeducation, auditory neuroscience, and cognitive science, Dr. Kenney will share her pioneering cognitive-motor techniques developed over two decades of clinical and classroom experience. You'll learn evidence-based activities that strengthen children's self-regulation, attention, and memory through cognitive skills coaching and movement. Come dressed in comfortable clothing, as you will be able to participate in these engaging cognitive-motor exercises throughout the session.

Universal Design for Learning: Meeting the Unique Needs of Young Children in Our Care

Join us for a fun and interactive exploration of universal design for learning (UDL) and how to create and implement strategies to provide supports and individualize activities for young children with disabilities. In this workshop you will learn how to make sure all of our children have access and opportunity to truly engage and participate in activities throughout the day.

The LEAP Inclusion Model: Keys to Successful Implementation, Fidelity and Scale-Up in Oregon

This session, based on our past 10+ years of partnerships across Oregon, will highlight the following keys to LEAP Preschool Model implementation success. 1) Vital policies and practices needed to begin initial model installation. 2) Key administrator characteristics that promote program-wide implementation. 3) Using coaching as the driver of change. 4) How classrooms and personnel change over time. 5) Using data to guide decisions around child outcomes, classroom implementation and program-wide sustainability.

The Science of Balance: Enhancing Wellness and Authentic Communication for Early Educators

In this session, we will explore the science behind work-life balance and its crucial impact on wellness, productivity, and emotional well-being for early educators. Through a combination of research-backed strategies and practical insights, we’ll delve into the power of authentic communication in fostering healthy relationships, setting clear boundaries, and maintaining personal well-being in the classroom and beyond. Participants will leave with evidence-based tools to enhance their communication skills, nurture their own wellness, and achieve a more balanced, fulfilling career in early childhood education.

THE SCIENCE OF READING: Guide Effective Classroom Practices

We now understand that approximately 95% of students can be taught to read, especially if we start the process early. In this session, Marisa Russo, will model how to use this newest, research-based science to provide the most effective instruction for all students, including fragile learners. We will review the five pillars of reading that students need to become successful, lifelong readers and writers. Participants will learn research-proven strategies for teaching letter knowledge, phonemic awareness, English sound and spellings, explicit instruction in blending sounds to read words, fluency building using decodable text, connecting phoneme to grapheme through dictation routines, and how to transition from phonics instruction to word analysis/morphology.