Vermont Kindergarten Conference 2025
Wonder and Joy: Sparking Playful Pathways to Learning
Doubletree by Hilton, South Burlington, Vermont
Wednesday, March 26, 2025
Registration Information:
Conference Registration Fees: $175 (Educators) $80 (Students)
- A separate registration form is required for each individual and must be accompanied by a check or purchase order.
- Register for the conference online and mail checks or purchase orders to:
Partnerships for Literacy and Learning
250 Main Street, Suite 202
Montpelier, VT 05602
(In the memo line, indicate VT Kindergarten Conference) - Additional Option: Take the 3-credit course Early Ed Learning Through Play, Johnson, Spring 2025: Mar 26, 2025 – Jun 07, 2025. Afternoon workshop session at the Kindergarten Conference and then online synchronous meetings from 4:00-5:30 pm on the following dates: April 8, April 22, May 6, May 20, and June 3. The course is offered through Vermont State Colleges.
Course Registration and Details: LINK (You must register for the Day-long Conference separately) - Hotel Reservations can be made directly at Doubletree By Hilton
Schedule:
- Registrations open at 7:45
- 8:45 – 9:00 Welcome!
- 9:00 – 9:45 Morning Keynote
- 9:45 – 10:15 Vendors
- 10:15 – 12:15 Morning Workshops
- 12:15 – 1:15 Lunch
- 1:15 – 1:40 Vendors
- 1:40 – 3:40 Afternoon Workshop
KEYNOTE: The Powerful Role of Playful Literacy
This year, our keynote speaker is Christine Hertz Hausman. Her keynote, “The Powerful Role of Playful Literacy,” will highlight examples of how teachers can foster emergent literacy and language skills as they deepen children’s play and empower them with the tools they need to express their unique voices, connect with their communities, and share their diverse and multiple literacies.
Christine is an educator, author, and consultant who works with teachers to create child-centered classrooms where all students feel a strong sense of belonging, capability, and joy. Christine supports teachers in play, inquiry, and project-based learning, as well as early literacy. She is the co-author, with Kristi Mraz, of Kids First from Day One and A Mindset for Learning.
Christine has a background in early childhood education and literacy. A former classroom teacher, she now conducts professional development around the country.
Workshop Sessions
Morning Workshops – Select One
Bridges to Curiosity and Creativity: How Literacy Supports Play and Connection
AM: Christine Hertz Hausman – Keynote Speaker
In this workshop, participants will explore the powerful connection between play and literacy, discovering how literacy skills can be seamlessly woven into authentic play experiences. Drawing on the latest research in literacy and language development, this session will provide practical classroom examples and opportunities for discussion. Participants will learn play-based literacy strategies, explore developmentally appropriate practices, and gain insights into creating joyful, engaging, language-rich environments. Additionally, educators will collaborate to share successful approaches, address challenges, and reflect on how to implement new ideas in their own classrooms.
A Roxaboxen Childhood: Using Literacy to Inspire Whole-Body Learning
AM: Colleen Christman: Owner, educator, consultant School/Organization: Wonder Roots LLC
Using the children’s picture book “Roxaboxen” by Alice McLerren as an inspiration, we will explore ways to use literacy as springboards into nature play and child-centered learning. Workshop topics will focus on various types of play and their relationship to child development, behavior, and learning. We will also discuss the role of the teacher and the importance of using observations to document learning. Strategies for using storybooks to create “invitations to play” will be provided.
Kindergarten Small Group Instruction: Nurturing Literacy Development and a Love for Learning by Exploring Strategies for Enhancing Foundational Reading Skills in Small Groups
AM: Kathleen Flinn – Kindergarten Teacher at Williamstown Elementary School
During this workshop, participants will explore effective strategies for utilizing small group time to boost students’ foundational reading skills through engaging, hands-on activities that are both enjoyable and impactful. Participants will leave with practical methods to establish routines that align with the Science of Reading (SOR) components, ensuring that learning remains meaningful and joyful. During small group sessions, students will engage in a variety of hands-on, multisensory activities designed to make learning phonics, decoding, phonemic awareness, fluency, comprehension, and vocabulary enjoyable. Together, we can transform learning opportunities into delightful experiences that students—and teachers—eagerly anticipate!
Who is Out and About in the Winter?
AM: Jed Norris – Director of Farm-Based Youth Programs at Shelburne Farms
Who else is active outside during the cold winter months? This workshop will focus on skills to develop track observation & identification skills to help determine who else might be in your yard or school playground. We will spend some time learning about our local animals and how they adapt to living in winter, then play games inside and create our own track stories. We will then head outside to do some of our own tracking so please be prepared to get outside. We will utilize small groups for both discussion, game playing and sharing out curriculum connections throughout our time together.
More Than One Way to Tell a Story: Storytelling/Retelling with Children’s Literature through Play and Imaginative Thinking to Enrich Multilingual Learners’ Languages and Literacies
AM: Elizabeth Fincher – Lecturer in Early Childhood Education at the University of Vermont
Lucy Campbell – Student at the University of Vermont
This workshop will highlight the use of storytelling and retelling with diverse children’s literature to tap into children’s funds of knowledge (e.g. personal experiences, languages, literacies, skills) and support English learners/multilingual learners’ language and literacy growth. You can draw on multicultural literature for rich examples of imaginative storytelling and retelling through playful learning.
Everybody Has a Story - Storytelling the Vivian Gussin Paley Way
AM: Kim Freeman – ECE Instructor at the Windham Regional Career Ctr.
This experiential workshop will introduce participants to Vivian Gussin Paley’s storytelling process, where every voice is heard and literacy becomes playful. Once completed, participants will be able to facilitate the storytelling techniques and will have made the connection between Paley’s literacy strategies and the Vermont Early Learning Standards.
Afternoon Workshops – Select One
Teaching Emotional Literacy
PM: Jackie Sprague – Consultant: Trainer and Coach at Pyramid 802 Plus
This Session will support teachers in how to directly teach children emotional literacy (naming and recognizing feelings in self and others, responding to emotions, and self-regulation) through play-based activities and throughout daily routines, It is part of the 2023 updated and revised Pyramid Model training. Participants will learn the stages of the learning cycle, and then share and try out several strategies to teach, promote, and reinforce emotional literacy skills with their preschool or kindergarten children. We will also include resources and ideas to support family involvement in teaching these skills both in school and home.
Early Ed: Extending Learning Through Play- In conjunction with 3 credit graduate course.
PM: Lindy Johnson – Kindergarten Conference Manager
NOTE: Only choose this if you are taking this graduate course through Vermont State Colleges.
This workshop will be the first session of the graduate course being offered that will continue through June 7th with virtual sessions and independent coursework. The course focuses on redesigning lessons and learning spaces to incorporate self-guided and teacher-guided play. Registration for the course is not included in the conference cost. Course registration LINK.
Plant Play: Exploring Colors and Place with Natural Dyes
PM: Mallory Schmackpfeffer – School Programs Coordinator at Shelburne Farms
Hannah Corbin – Afterschool and Camp Coordinator at Shelburne Farms
This is a hands-on workshop in which we will delve into the power of plants, our connection to the natural world, and build a culture of curiosity. We will explore two different techniques of dyeing fabric and wool with local plants, food scraps, or garden flowers. We will explore fiber crafts and discuss ways that you can bring this experience into your classroom. Participants will leave with instructional materials and their dye experiments.
Doors, Windows, and Mirrors: Helping Kids Connect with the Joy of Reading
PM: Mary Edith Leichliter – Project Specialist with Children’s Literacy Foundation (CLiF)
Marv Klassen-Landis – Performer, Writer, and Educator with CLiF
Join staff from the Children’s Literacy Foundation (CLiF) to explore how we help kids connect with the joy of reading through creative storytelling, book giveaways, and the power of self-selected reading materials. The facilitators will demonstrate techniques and share tips for storytelling that open doors to the world of reading, and preview titles that act as windows and mirrors for young readers. Participants will experience a book giveaway through the eyes of a child and learn about CLiF’s grant opportunities as they collect strategies for reading engagement through the voices of our past grant recipients.
Engaging and Interactive Math Menu: A Creative Approach
PM: Danielle Hulbert – Kindergarten teacher at Williamstown Elementary School
Transform your math menu time into an enjoyable and creative experience for both you and your students! This presentation will explore a variety of engaging strategies to plan a fun math menu that reinforces the concepts we’ve learned while catering to the diverse needs of our students. Get ready to discover innovative ideas that will make math practice a highlight of the day!
Made in Vermont/Reggio Inspired! Stories of Courage, Discovery, and Collaboration
PM: Jeanne Goldhaber and Susan Torncello – RIVET (Reggio Inspired Vermont Early Ed Team)
What does it look like to be a Reggio-inspired Early Childhood program in Vermont? We will begin with an introduction to several of the guiding principles of the Reggio Emilia approach and hear stories told by Vermont educators that illustrate the ways in which these principles have influenced their classroom design, the materials they made available to children; and the role that observation and documentation has played in their curriculum planning. This session is designed to be one filled with discussion and collaboration (and we hope laughter!), so please come ready to experience the wonder and joy of learning together!
Note: Partnerships for Literacy and Learning is the Fiscal Agent for this Conference
