The following information is in regards to the 2024 Annual Conference, provided for your reference. Please check back soon for more information about the 2025 Annual Conference!

Pre-Conference Workshops  

Tuesday, November 5, 2024 

Anaheim Convention Center

As an IACET Accredited Provider, NAEYC is now offering IACET CEUs for its 2024 Pre-Conference Workshops in compliance with the ANSI/IACET Continuing Education and Training Standard. Click here for FAQs. Attendees registered for a Pre-Conference workshop will receive more information via email in the coming months.

To register for one of the Pre-Conference Workshops, find instructions here. Note: Annual Conference registration is not included in the Pre-Conference workshop fee.  

Joyful and Effective Learning in Kindergarten: Developmentally Appropriate Practices, Play, & Content: A NAEYC DAP Training 

Time: 11:00 AM – 5:00 PM 

Fees: $275 for standard/premium members; $300 for entry level members/nonmember 

Description: Join us for an engaging and interactive session as we unveil a new book on developmentally appropriate practices (DAP) in kindergarten. This session is designed for educators, administrators, and anyone passionate about fostering joyful learning experiences for young learners. We will explore a systems approach to integrating DAP into school districts that fosters optimal developmental outcomes for children as well as detailed information about implementing this research-based approach in K settings. We'll dive deep into the key areas of DAP, exploring how to create environments and experiences that honor the unique developmental needs of kindergarten-aged children. From language and literacy to social-emotional development, we'll examine practical strategies and innovative approaches to enriching the kindergarten experience. 

Learning outcomes: By the end of this session, participants will be able to: 

• Introduction to the new book: Hear about the research and insights that inspired the creation of this essential resource for kindergarten educators. Understand how the DAP principles and guidelines can serve as a model for engaged learning in kindergarten. 

• Joyful Learning in Action: Through classroom examples, analyze how DAP principles can transform classrooms into vibrant hubs of creativity, exploration, and discovery.
• Interactive Experiences: Engage in hands-on activities and collaborative discussions and evaluate how educators apply DAP principles to real-world teaching scenarios. 

• Digging Deep: Delve into each of the five guidelines of DAP— and explore how social-emotional development, physical development, cognitive development, language development, and literacy integrate into curriculum planning, assessment, creating a caring community, approaches to teaching and supporting families—exploring practical strategies for implementation. 

• Q&A, Goal Setting, and Networking: Connect with fellow educators and share insights, challenges, and successes in implementing DAP in kindergarten settings. Create a DAP action plan for your own setting or context. 

Participants can earn 0.6 CEUs

Higher Education Faculty Workshop: Completing the NAEYC Higher Education Accreditation Process 

Time: 11:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. 

Fee: $250 for standard/premium members; $275 for entry level members/nonmembers  

Description:  This full-day workshop is designed to better equip and familiarize higher education program faculty who are engaging for the first time in the NAEYC Accreditation of Early Childhood Higher Education Programs system OR are new faculty members in currently accredited higher education programs that may be preparing for renewal. This workshop will focus on the NAEYC higher education accreditation standards and the Professional Standards and Competencies for Early Childhood Educators; creating aligned key assessment instructions and rubrics; and using candidate performance data to improve higher education programs. 

Note: For faculty experienced with the higher education accreditation system and seeking professional development (i.e., faculty preparing renewal self-study reports, meeting interim reporting requirements, or responding to conditions) please see the concurrent sessions planned during the Annual Conference. 

Learning Outcomes: By the end of this session, participants will be able to: 

• identify the overall process/steps of the NAEYC Higher Ed. Accreditation system and indicators of the new Accreditation Standards 
• gain an understanding of the Professional Standards and Competencies and identify how they apply to higher education accreditation 
• gain an understanding the concept of aligning Learning Opportunities and Key Assessments to the Professional Standards & Competencies 
• recognize features of high-quality rubrics 
• identify strategies for candidate performance data collection & analysis 
• be familiar with the elements of the self-study template 
• seek out additional resources to support the accreditation journey.  

Participants can earn 0.5 CEUs

Wednesday, November 6, 2024

Affiliate Leadership Day at Annual Conference       

Time: 8:00 AM – 3:00 PM

Fees: $50 for Affiliate Staff and Board Members

Description: *REGISTRATION BY INVITATION ONLY* Join Affiliate colleagues from across the country in an exchange of ideas, strategies, challenges, and success stories. This session includes keynote presentations, discussions with NAEYC staff, and breakouts. For questions, please contact Jordan Christian, Affiliate Relations Specialist at [email protected]

This event is not eligible for IACET CEUs