Leading Inspired Learning System-Wide

A London-Middlesex System-Wide Professional Learning Day

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 15, 2024
9:30 AM – 4:00 PM

This event is made possible by funding from the Province of Ontario, City of London, and Middlesex County.

This opportunity will bring the London-Middlesex early years systems together to learn, reflect, grow, and highlight the invaluable contribution early years professionals make each day in service to children and families across our regions.

Together, we will explore topics of belonging and pedagogical perspectives through developing connections.

Download the event package

SCHEDULE

9:30 - 10:00AM Welcome and Municipal Address

10:00 - 11:00AM Virtual Keynote Speaker: Anthony McLean

11:00 - 11:15AM Debrief and Q&A

11:15AM - 12:30PM Working/Reflection Time

12:30 - 1:15PM Lunch Break

1:15 - 2:15PM Travel or Working/Reflection Time Dependent on Session Format

2:15 - 3:45PM Afternoon Breakout Sessions

3:45 - 4:00PM Closing

REGISTRATION

Key Information:

Everyone will tune in virtually to the morning keynote
Each person will have the opportunity to attend ONE afternoon session
Please connect with your centre director/leadership team about registration
The morning keynote and 2 afternoon options (Everything You Wanted to Know About Indians But Were Too Afraid to Ask AND Everything is Possible Outside) are virtual. There is the option to join independently or with your organization/team. Please connect with your organization/team leadership to discuss how your team will be participating. Strive cannot provide venues OR equipment for individuals or teams to view these virtual events.

Questions or concerns? Please email the Strive Team at info@striveswo.ca.

Click Here to email the strive team

Centre leadership looking to register your team? Click the link below to go to the registration page.

Registration opens on September 16, 2024 at 9:00AM and closes on October 25, 2024 at 11:59PM.

NOTE: This page is password protected. If you did not receive/do not remember the password, please email info@striveswo.ca.

Registration Page

VIRTUAL MORNING KEYNOTE SESSION

BELONGING: THE INTERSECTION OF MENTAL HEALTH AND DEI (VIRTUAL)

FACILITATED BY ANTHONY MCLEAN

One of the outcomes of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) is to ensure people have a sense of belonging within our organizations. There is a considerable amount of overlap between mental wellness and racial equity. In this inspiring presentation, Anthony contends that empathy is at the heart of both DEI work and mental health awareness. Psychological safety and creating a sense of belonging are central to both pursuits. This interactive presentation helps participants bring more compassion and courage to the work of anti-racism and mental wellness.

Learning Outcomes:

Learn how to approach mental health and DEI through the lens of empathy
Understand the impact systemic racism has on mental health
See how micro aggressions are the "death by a thousand paper-cuts” to a sense of belonging

Called a “master storyteller”, Anthony McLean delivers lively, actionable presentations on mental health, diversity & inclusion, and the intersection between them. He’s worked with such leading organizations as PepsiCo, Intel, Danone, Coca Cola, and more. McLean shows audiences how to foster an environment of empathy, acceptance, and mental well-being to enhance DEI work and boost individual and team performance.

A respected voice in his field, McLean has delivered hundreds of inspiring talks across the world, rocking the stage at conferences, colleges, and corporate events. His clients have ranged from charities and non-profits to Fortune 500s, with all benefitting from his research-backed tools and actionable strategies that leave them inspired and equipped to bring their best every day. In 2024, McLean released his first book, All Fired Up: Optimize Mental Health to Ignite Joy and Fuel Peak Performance.

McLean has a background in theatre and works actively in the film and television industry. As a screenwriter, he’s currently in development on two feature films.

This session will be virtual. There is the option to join independently or with your organization/team. Please connect with your organization/team leadership to discuss how your team will be participating. Strive cannot provide venues/equipment for individuals or teams to view this virtual event.

Access details will be available on the session landing page on the day of.

AFTERNOON BREAKOUT SESSIONS

CABINET OF CURIOSITY AND CREATIVITY (IN PERSON)

FACILITATED BY KRISTEN DAY (FORMERLY KRISTEN RB PETERSON)

Rooms of Wonder, Cabinets of Curiosity... Many years ago, people paid to see people's collections of curious things. The Cabinet of Curiosity became a traveling show to showcase collections that would wonder the audience. To capture that feeling, Kristen has created her own Cabinet of Curiosity (and Creativity) and travels with it to spark curiosity and wonder in the heart and soul of caregivers around the world. The Cabinet is filled with open ended materials that will get children (and adult learners) curious and creative. There will be many things that will make attendees say "Why didn't I think of that?". Kristen starts with a showcase of the contents of the Cabinet of Curiosity, then attendees will have time to interact with the materials and create their own play. Attendees will learn the benefits of curious and open-ended materials, understand how play schema drives behaviors in early childhood and walk away with new ideas.

Kristen Day (B.A. Education and ECE) is the founder of a play and nature based preschool and forest school in central Minnesota, host of The Play Based Learning Podcast and creator of The Camp Renegade Play Virtual Summit. Kristen retired from teaching two years ago to travel the world and inspire early childhood audiences to give children the most developmentally appropriate environment possible.

Kristen shows up in life authentically and is real with her audience. Her presentation style can best be described as a conversation with a best friend. Funny and dramatic, she captivates adult learners with stories that can be applied to the life of any early childhood professional. She leaves ECE professionals motivated to take risks so they can better serve the children in their lives.

This session will be in person at the Hellenic Community Centre in the Main Hall. There is a large parking lot in front of the building. Parking is free.

133 Southdale Road West

London, ON

N6J 2J2

HAVING AND BEING A PEDAGOGICAL COMPANION: A DEMOCRATIC ANTIDOTE TO BURNOUT (IN PERSON)

FACILITATED BY KARYN CALLAGHAN

The title of our provincial pedagogy for the early years is a question. The question is not “How do children learn?” It is not “How does teaching happen?” It is asking about everyone’s learning. There is strong evidence to indicate that a significant element in response would be “together”. Together with children. Together with families. Together with colleagues. Together in contexts that challenge and intrigue us. We are never alone in this profession, but we may not be realizing the full potential of our together.

In this session, we will consider what might happen when we challenge ourselves and each other to recognize and address the longstanding assumptions and practices that keep us from engaging in transformative experimentation. I will share stories of the experiences of educators who supported each other to be courageous in their exuberant quest to ensure that every aspect of their practice reflected the view of the child, family, and educator that they said they held. We will also look together at documentation from programs that committed to these views every day. This session will also serve to launch an ongoing network of pedagogical companions for those who are interested.

After working with young children for several years as an early childhood educator, Karyn became a professor in college and university ECE programs, and has had the privilege of learning with children, educators, families and artists for over four decades. She founded and coordinated the Artists at the Centre project in Hamilton, Ontario that brought artists into early learning programs, and contributed to the development of the Ministry of Education’s pedagogy for early years document How Does Learning Happen?. She has been a keynote speaker at conferences across four continents and with Carol Anne Wien and artist Jason Avery is co-author of a book entitled “Documenting Children’s Meaning”, published by Davis Publications.

This session will be in person at the Best Western Lamplighter Inn in the Crystal Ballroom. There are parking lots on both sides of the building. Parking is free.

591 Wellington Road

London, ON

N6C 4R3

EVERYTHING YOU WANTED TO KNOW ABOUT INDIANS BUT WERE AFRAID TO ASK (VIRTUAL)

FACILITATED BY ANTON TREUER

“Indigenous people stopped referring to themselves as Aboriginal or Indian and started calling themselves First Nations people… I use the terms Indian, Native, Native American, and Indigenous in this book intentionally and with full knowledge of their shortcomings and the risk that some of them are confusing or even give some people offense.” (p. 13-15 from Everything You Wanted to Know About Indians But Were Too Afraid to Ask)

Ranging from “Why is there such a fuss about nonnative people wearing Indian costumes for Halloween?” to “Why is it called a ‘traditional Indian fry bread taco’?“ to “What’s it like for natives who don’t look native?” to “Why are Indians so often imagined rather than understood?”, and beyond, Everything You Wanted to Know About Indians But Were Afraid to Ask does exactly what its title says, in a style consistently thoughtful, personal, and engaging.

White/Indian relations are often characterized by guilt and anger. Everything You Wanted to Know about Indians But Were Afraid to Ask cuts through the emotion and builds a foundation for true understanding and positive action.

Anton welcomes any questions you may have, whether in the moment or in advance.

Anton Treuer (pronounced troy-er) is Professor of Ojibwe at Bemidji State University and author of many books. He has a B.A. from Princeton University and a M.A. and Ph.D. from the University of Minnesota. Treuer is a member of the governing boards for the Minnesota State Historical Society and Waadookodaading Ojibwe Language Institute and has received many prestigious awards and fellowships, including ones from the American Philosophical Society, the National Endowment for the Humanities, the National Science Foundation, the MacArthur Foundation, the Bush Foundation, the First Nations Development Institute, and the John Simon Guggenheim Foundation. In 2018, he was named Guardian of Culture and Lifeways and recipient of the Pathfinder Award by the Association of Tribal Archives, Libraries, and Museums. His equity, education, and cultural work has put him on a path of service around the nation and the world.

EVERYTHING IS POSSIBLE OUTSIDE (VIRTUAL)

FACILITATED BY CHRISTINA PICKLES

Everything is possible outside - children are more physically active, the natural world enters through all the senses, and community connections are made. In this workshop, we will explore the reasons for getting outdoors and our role as adults in these experiences. You will come away with inspiration and practical ideas to create engaging outdoor play spaces and experiences.

What is covered:

Explore personal knowledge and feelings about outdoor play.
Identify barriers to and benefits of outdoor play.
Reflect on your “why” for getting children outside to play.
Review the key roles of adults in providing time, space, and materials for outdoor play.
Learn about loose parts in the outdoor environment.
Build their repertoire of outdoor play experiences for children.

Christina Pickles is an outdoor play advocate and founder of Get Outside and Play, an organization that ensures more outdoor play in early learning and care settings, schools, and communities through events, presentations, workshops, and consulting. She has been supporting outdoor experiences with people of all ages for 25 years and 10 years ago, pivoted her work to put play at the centre of everything she does. She believes play is the best way children (and adults) connect with the land, their communities, their bodies, and each other. She lives along the Bow River in Calgary, Alberta and can be found walking her dog Clover or chasing after her adventurous 10 year old.

CHILDREN’S RIGHTS AND GLOBAL CITIZENSHIP PANEL (VIRTUAL)

FACILITATED BY FRED SEABROOK (HOST), ADEBOLA ADEFIOYE (PANELIST), ASAD CHOUDHARY (PANELIST), ROBYN MICHAUD (PANELIST), AND DR. HALA MREIWED (PANELIST)

This panel discussion will invite participants to consider the ways in which children’s rights and global citizenship are conceptualized and practiced in the early childhood education and care (ECEC) sector. Together, through a lens of critical empathy, panelists will discuss the challenges and opportunities of enacting rights-based pedagogies in everyday practice. Those attending are invited to participate in a question and answer (Q & A) following the discussion.

Fred Seabrook (they/them) is an Ontario-based RECE and public speaker with experience in childcare, elementary school, pre-service and professional learning spaces. Fred describes themself as an early childhood anarchist, a reflection of their professional and academic work toward equity-based liberatory pedagogies, community care and mutual aid, and rejection of oppressive norms, tacit and explicit (e.g., policies), imposed on children, educators, and communities in our sector.

Adebola Adefioye (she/her) has a big heart and a passion for supporting racialized women and educators to build leadership and advocacy skills. She is the team lead of Adebola Adefioye Consulting. She founded The Afro Women And Youth Foundation after her daughter’s experience of racism in Grade 2. She is a professor in Early Childhood Educator (ECE) at Cambrian College in Sudbury. She works from an anti-oppressive and anti-racist lens, continuing to seek opportunities for meaningful community collaborations and partnerships.

She has won many awards, including the 2021 Ontario Premier's Award, United Way Greater Toronto Black Leadership Award, Seneca HELIX Female Entrepreneur Award, YWCA Sudbury Woman of Distinction Award in the social justice category, the 2022 Black Faculty & Staff Community Network Award for Student Leadership and Catherine Howe Memorial Award at Toronto Metropolitan University.

Asad Choudhary (he/him) is a Ph.D. candidate in the Faculty of Education at Western University with research interests in Critical Policy, Equity, and Leadership Studies. He is a professor of the Early Childhood Leadership program at Fanshawe College, a Faculty Fellow for at Niagara University in Vaughan, ON, and a course instructor for teacher candidates at Western University. Asad was also a former principal in AB and ON and was the recipient of the Alberta's Distinguished Leadership Award during his time as principal for the Palliser Regional School District in Calgary, AB.

Robyn Michaud (she/her) is Anishinaabe Kwe, Bear Clan, from Sagamok Anishnawbek First Nation. She is an Indigenous Education specialist with 25+ years experience as an educator and leader in the areas of ESL, anti-racism, equity, diversity and inclusion. Currently, she is an Ed.D. student at Western University, as well as a full-time Indigenous Studies professor at Conestoga College. Robyn is also very proud to be an author and Indigenous education consultant for several award-winning series by Rubicon Publishing including Turtle Island Voices, Issues 21, Big Idea, BoldPrint Inquiry and MathUP.

Hala Mreiwed (she/her) is a children's rights advocate, advisor, educator and researcher with over 20 years of experience in research, curriculum development and pedagogy, training and education, children's media and children's rights education. She is the Co-Chair of the Canadian Coalition for the Rights of Children (CCRC). Hala holds a Master’s in Public Policy and Public Administration from Concordia University, and a PhD in Educational Studies from McGill University. Her multidisciplinary research interests in children’s rights, human rights, education, social policy, media, creative drama, participatory action research, arts-based educational research, critical discourse analysis and their intersections, come from her experiences in Canada and abroad working in education, media, and with non-governmental and civil society organizations.