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June 2026 Early Childhood Days of Play
Type: Playground clear filter
Friday, June 19
 

10:15am CDT

Intentional Interactions in Centers: Talking, Questioning, and Extending Play
Friday June 19, 2026 10:15am - 11:30am CDT
Innovate B
Participants will explore practical, classroom-ready strategies for using intentional conversations and purposeful questioning during center time to actively engage in children’s play and extend language, thinking, and learning.
Speakers
PG

Petra Gatzemeyer

Consultant for Deaf and Hard of Hearing Services, ESC Region 11
Petra Gatzemeyer, M.A., LSLS Cert. AVT, is the ESC Region 11 Consultant for Deaf and Hard of Hearing Services. With 30 years in deaf education, she brings over 20 years of expertise in early intervention and early childhood. She holds degrees from Gallaudet University and the University... Read More →
Friday June 19, 2026 10:15am - 11:30am CDT
Innovate B
  Playground

10:15am CDT

Play with Purpose: Teaching Functional Play Skills to Students with Autism
Friday June 19, 2026 10:15am - 11:30am CDT
Connect B
Play is a critical foundation for communication, social interaction, learning, and independence. In this session, participants will explore the importance of functional play for students with autism and learn practical strategies for assessing, teaching, and expanding play skills. Through examples and interactive activities, participants will gain tools for using modeling, prompting, reinforcement, and play expansion techniques to increase engagement and create meaningful opportunities for communication and social development.
 

Speakers
avatar for Michael Tucker

Michael Tucker

Team Lead - Autism Specialist, Education Service Center Region 11
Michael Tucker is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst and has been working with students with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) for over 25 years. He began working with children with autism in a private setting and then at the Autism Treatment Center. His teaching career has included... Read More →
Friday June 19, 2026 10:15am - 11:30am CDT
Connect B
  Playground

10:15am CDT

Small Movements, Big Impact. Fine Motor Strategies and Activities for Educators
Friday June 19, 2026 10:15am - 11:30am CDT
Connect A
Fine motor skills are essential for performing precise hand movements needed for daily activities and academic tasks, such as grip and writing. These foundational skills play a critical role in a child's overall development and academic success. This presentation is designed to empower educators with a comprehensive understanding of fine motor developmental milestones and provide practical, effective strategies and engaging activities to support and enhance fine motor skill development and writing readiness to prepare children for school and beyond. 
Speakers
TS

Tracy Sloper

Field Sales Manager, Learning Without Tears
Tracy is a Territory Manager with Learning Without Tears.  Having been a Preschool Director, she loves to share her experience and passion with other early education educators. 
Friday June 19, 2026 10:15am - 11:30am CDT
Connect A
  Playground

10:15am CDT

That Hamburger’s Been Cooked 4,237 Times! Simple Scaffolding to Level Up Make-Believe Play (...and ensure academic success too!)
Friday June 19, 2026 10:15am - 11:30am CDT
Create B
Are you feeling the ‘academic squeeze’? Join us to discover why you don’t have to sacrifice play to meet foundational standards. Based on the groundbreaking research of Bodrova & Leong, this session explores how to transform "immature" play into high-level learning. We’ll explore how brief, strategic teacher actions can scaffold children’s play & provide practical, evidence-based techniques that boost executive function and self-regulation. You’ll walk away with a clear framework for assessing play quality & a toolkit of strategies to naturally integrate literacy and math into the ‘play world.’ Turn your dramatic play center into a powerhouse for academic and social success!
Speakers
avatar for Mary Eldredge

Mary Eldredge

Early Childhood Librarian, Kooken Education Center | Arlington ISD
Mary Eldredge is a passionate, magical mix of joyful librarian, early-childhood educator, & clever creator — all rolled into one glitter-glue-splattered champion of children. After years of teaching, she followed her heart and became a librarian. Now, her days are filled with reading... Read More →
Friday June 19, 2026 10:15am - 11:30am CDT
Create B
  Playground

12:45pm CDT

Enhancing Cognitive and Language Development Through Play
Friday June 19, 2026 12:45pm - 2:00pm CDT
Create A
Many early childhood professionals agree that young children learn best through play, yet its value is often challenged by calls for increased academic rigor. This session explores a research-based framework grounded in Vygotsky’s theory, positioning play as a critical driver of development. Participants will examine how pretend play supports language and literacy, and how construction play and games build mathematical thinking. The session also provides practical strategies for intentionally supporting and scaffolding play in preschool classrooms, helping educators balance meaningful play with strong learning outcomes.
Speakers
CC

Claudia Castillo-Magallanez

Professional Development Implementation Success Manager, Frog Street
Claudia Castillo-Magallanez is a passionate advocate for high-quality early childhood education with 30 years of experience supporting educators, children, and families. She serves as a Professional Learning Bilingual Specialist at Frog Street and adjunct faculty at San Antonio College... Read More →
Friday June 19, 2026 12:45pm - 2:00pm CDT
Create A
  Playground

12:45pm CDT

Intentional Interactions in Centers: Talking, Questioning, and Extending Play
Friday June 19, 2026 12:45pm - 2:00pm CDT
Innovate B
Participants will explore practical, classroom-ready strategies for using intentional conversations and purposeful questioning during center time to actively engage in children’s play and extend language, thinking, and learning.
Speakers
PG

Petra Gatzemeyer

Consultant for Deaf and Hard of Hearing Services, ESC Region 11
Petra Gatzemeyer, M.A., LSLS Cert. AVT, is the ESC Region 11 Consultant for Deaf and Hard of Hearing Services. With 30 years in deaf education, she brings over 20 years of expertise in early intervention and early childhood. She holds degrees from Gallaudet University and the University... Read More →
Friday June 19, 2026 12:45pm - 2:00pm CDT
Innovate B
  Playground

12:45pm CDT

That Hamburger’s Been Cooked 4,237 Times! Simple Scaffolding to Level Up Make-Believe Play (...and ensure academic success too!)
Friday June 19, 2026 12:45pm - 2:00pm CDT
Create B
Are you feeling the ‘academic squeeze’? Join us to discover why you don’t have to sacrifice play to meet foundational standards. Based on the groundbreaking research of Bodrova & Leong, this session explores how to transform "immature" play into high-level learning. We’ll explore how brief, strategic teacher actions can scaffold children’s play & provide practical, evidence-based techniques that boost executive function and self-regulation. You’ll walk away with a clear framework for assessing play quality & a toolkit of strategies to naturally integrate literacy and math into the ‘play world.’ Turn your dramatic play center into a powerhouse for academic and social success!
Speakers
avatar for Mary Eldredge

Mary Eldredge

Early Childhood Librarian, Kooken Education Center | Arlington ISD
Mary Eldredge is a passionate, magical mix of joyful librarian, early-childhood educator, & clever creator — all rolled into one glitter-glue-splattered champion of children. After years of teaching, she followed her heart and became a librarian. Now, her days are filled with reading... Read More →
Friday June 19, 2026 12:45pm - 2:00pm CDT
Create B
  Playground

2:15pm CDT

Connect With Playing... Virtually!
Friday June 19, 2026 2:15pm - 3:30pm CDT
Connect B
Connect With Playing... Virtually! explores the vital role of play in STEM learning and how it fosters curiosity, creativity, and critical thinking. Participants will discover how meaningful, hands-on experiences can be created without expensive materials or in-person interaction. Through simple, adaptable strategies, teachers will learn how to incorporate playful learning using everyday items and digital tools. The session emphasizes that play is not an extra, but a powerful pathway to engagement and concept mastery in STEM, accessible in any classroom setting, whether physical or virtual.
Speakers
LH

Lori Hamm-Neckar

Distance Learning Program Manager, ESC Region 11
SG

Shayla Greenwood

Virtual Outreach Teacher, The Petroleum Museum
Shayla Greenwood is a Virtual Outreach Teacher for the Petroleum Museum with a combined eight years of experience. She develops and delivers STEAM focused programs for early elementary students, helping introduce foundational concepts through virtual learning and hands on science... Read More →
Friday June 19, 2026 2:15pm - 3:30pm CDT
Connect B
  Playground

2:15pm CDT

Enhancing Cognitive and Language Development Through Play
Friday June 19, 2026 2:15pm - 3:30pm CDT
Create A
Many early childhood professionals agree that young children learn best through play, yet its value is often challenged by calls for increased academic rigor. This session explores a research-based framework grounded in Vygotsky’s theory, positioning play as a critical driver of development. Participants will examine how pretend play supports language and literacy, and how construction play and games build mathematical thinking. The session also provides practical strategies for intentionally supporting and scaffolding play in preschool classrooms, helping educators balance meaningful play with strong learning outcomes.
Speakers
CC

Claudia Castillo-Magallanez

Professional Development Implementation Success Manager, Frog Street
Claudia Castillo-Magallanez is a passionate advocate for high-quality early childhood education with 30 years of experience supporting educators, children, and families. She serves as a Professional Learning Bilingual Specialist at Frog Street and adjunct faculty at San Antonio College... Read More →
Friday June 19, 2026 2:15pm - 3:30pm CDT
Create A
  Playground

2:15pm CDT

Play Without Barriers: Scaffolding Literacy and Joy for Every Learner
Friday June 19, 2026 2:15pm - 3:30pm CDT
Create B
How do we ensure play for 'all' actually includes everyone? This session is a direct response to SPED educators seeking practical ways to adapt play-based literacy for students with diverse physical, cognitive, and sensory needs. We will move past the one-size-fits-all approach to explore the ‘Ms. Mary Method’ of scaffolding: adapting environments, modifying materials, and using visual supports to make play accessible. From sensory-heavy story bins to adaptive role-play, you’ll gain a toolkit of inclusive strategies that honor every child’s developmental stage while fostering a genuine love for stories.
Speakers
avatar for Mary Eldredge

Mary Eldredge

Early Childhood Librarian, Kooken Education Center | Arlington ISD
Mary Eldredge is a passionate, magical mix of joyful librarian, early-childhood educator, & clever creator — all rolled into one glitter-glue-splattered champion of children. After years of teaching, she followed her heart and became a librarian. Now, her days are filled with reading... Read More →
Friday June 19, 2026 2:15pm - 3:30pm CDT
Create B
  Playground

2:15pm CDT

Small Movements, Big Impact. Fine Motor Strategies and Activities for Educators
Friday June 19, 2026 2:15pm - 3:30pm CDT
Connect A
Fine motor skills are essential for performing precise hand movements needed for daily activities and academic tasks, such as grip and writing. These foundational skills play a critical role in a child's overall development and academic success. This presentation is designed to empower educators with a comprehensive understanding of fine motor developmental milestones and provide practical, effective strategies and engaging activities to support and enhance fine motor skill development and writing readiness to prepare children for school and beyond. 
Speakers
TS

Tracy Sloper

Field Sales Manager, Learning Without Tears
Tracy is a Territory Manager with Learning Without Tears.  Having been a Preschool Director, she loves to share her experience and passion with other early education educators. 
Friday June 19, 2026 2:15pm - 3:30pm CDT
Connect A
  Playground
 

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