Are you a Special Education director, teacher, or paraprofessional in your district? This annual conference is for you! Every year, we work to support our Special Education teams with the most relevant topics in your world while supplying some of the best presenters! Region 5! Let’s have a full conference of learning with Teach, Love & Special ED! We are excited to offer you a session with Indiana’s local experts Todd Hawks & Katherine Herron! We plan to dive into UDL in the Early Childhood Classroom while joining Tim Kretchman for a session on Discovering the Tools for Effective Inclusion. Our sessions will also include work from national presenters & teachers Ms Chyna, Jenn Adams, & Whitney Lowrey! Kevin Dill will close out the conference with more tips and tricks specifically about behavior! Don’t miss out on these sessions created just for you! This is a recorded conference that will be sent to you at 7:30 AM on October 11th to view at your convenience!

Schedule for the Day

Todd Hawks:  Retribution vs Restoration

• Participants will learn about the importance of restorative practices- understanding the 'why,' defining restorative practices, learning about very specific restorative practices. They will also engage in learning about the potential harm caused by punitive practices and how they impact people of various identities. At the end of the presentation, participants will have some concrete ideas on how to incite change that will support ALL learners

Katherine Herron :  Using Universal Design for Learning in Preschool:  Why It Matters and How to Get Started

• Universal Design for Learning (UDL) is an evidence-based framework designed to support the success of all learners. UDL is based on the premise that “normal” learners don’t exist and that all children come into the school environment with strengths and weaknesses. It is our role, as educators, to offer options for learning that meet the varying needs of each student. Dr. Herron will offer concrete strategies for offering options for engagement, representation (the ways children take in new information) and action/expression (the ways children show us what they know). Preschool is an ideal time to introduce these practices because it allows children to engage positively with school early on and builds learners who are confident and competent.

Melysa Mei:  Multisensory Experiences in the Classroom Through Play

• Let’s explore the profound role of multisensory play in early childhood education, with a particular emphasis on its value in inclusive classrooms. We’ll delve into the practical strategies educators can implement to create inclusive, play-based learning experiences that cater to diverse learning styles and needs. We will focus on how multisensory play fosters self-regulation, preparing all students to be calm, focused, and ready to play. Walk away with practical tips, ideas for sensory play activities, and a renewed appreciation for the transformative power of play in the classroom.

Kevin Dill:  Special Education Directors Conference (Strengthening Executive Function)

• Developing and strengthening executive functioning skills can significantly enhance a student's academic performance, behavior, productivity, and overall success. In this brief training, we’ll explore strategies for strengthening the most critical executive function skills that students need to exercise and develop including: Organization, Time Management, Planning and Goal Setting, Task Initiation, Focus and Attention, Working Memory, Self-Monitoring, Mental Flexibility, Emotional Regulation, and Problem-Solving.

Kevin Dill:  The Behavior-Skilled Special Education Teacher

• Are you struggling with student behaviors school-wide across grade levels? Are you wondering how to move kids forward when they resist? Don’t despair!  Changing behavior is more crockpot than microwave! Join Kevin as he shares approaches to managing behaviors effectively & efficiently in your area of speciality! (1:12:09)

Tim Kretchman:  Discover theTools for Effective Inclusion

• Participants will rediscover the role adaptations play in making the general education classroom appropriate for children with special needs. The talk will be focused around the following mission statement:  “By using strengths as leverage, accommodations and modifications should provide a “just right” level of support that empowers a child to engage in class, instruction, and assessment in a meaningful way by supporting them around the needs observed in a classroom.”

Melanie Brethour:  Dyslexia and Effective Intervention in Classrooms

• 1 in 5 students are dyslexic. We have students in our classrooms who are struggling to read. With early intervention, we can rewire their brains. This workshop will address what dyslexia is, the signs of dyslexia and what these students who struggle to crack this code need. Participants will learn what effective intervention is, based on the science of reading, and practical ideas that you can take back to your classroom.