We hope to see you at the
61st Annual AECA Conference!
October 11-14, 2023
ONLINE REGISTRATION IS NOW CLOSED.
HOWEVER, WE WILL ACCEPT WALK-IN REGISTRATIONS NEXT WEEK AT THE CONFERENCE.
(Walk-ins are not guaranteed to receive all materials.)
We're very excited to announce the details of our 2023 AECA conference with you. Last year we had over 430 attendees, and we look forward to having everyone back this year.
The 2023 theme is "Learn to Play - Play to Learn." We all know play is the work of early childhood. Our state's early learning standards provide the blueprint for how play activities can and should unfold in our programs. Play is how young children develop and learn best to get ready for their future.
The 2023 conference will be held at the Wyndham Riverfront Hotel in North Little Rock, AR. Wednesday will be a pre-conference session day with the regular conference beginning on Thursday and continuing through Saturday.
Our keynote presentation on Thursday will be:
LISA MURPHY (the Ooey Gooey Lady®)
There is no one who understands the value of play more than Lisa, who has spent the last 30 years advocating for play in early childhood programs and defending appropriate practices for young children.
We love Lisa's personality and her always on-point message about children and play!!
On Friday, we will feature a panel from the new Office of Early Childhood staff (formerly DHS Division of Child Care) to answer your questions about the changes going on in our state-level early childhood leadership and anything else related to how they support us (vouchers, Better Beginnings, etc.).
You can choose from many interest sessions and special tracks for Leadership, Advocacy, and Family Child Care. As always, we will have our impressive exhibit hall with all your favorite vendors as well as our silent auction filled with amazing items. And this year, we are having a fun evening dance party. We always have a great time when we get together so we hope to see all our ECE friends in October!
AECA MEMBERSHIP: If you need to join or renew your membership, do that online BEFORE registering. It is less expensive to join and attend as a member than as a non-member. For $39, you will receive a year’s membership in AECA and the Southern Early Childhood Association. Join or renew then come back to this site to register.
HOTEL RESERVATIONS: The Wyndham Riverfront has continued to be a wonderful partner with us to provide excellent space and exceptional service at an affordable price. While the hotel block has expired, you may call the hotel directly at 501-371-9000 to check availability.
T-SHIRTS: Conference "Learn to Play - Play to Learn" T-shirts will be available this year for $20. You may prepay with registration then pick up your T-shirt at check-in OR you may purchase them at the conference.
DIRECTORS: Directors are invited for lunch on Thursday and Friday to enjoy networking & professional development. Lunches are complimentary and sponsored by A-State Childhood Services and Lakeshore Learning. Let us know on your registration form if you will attend.
FRIDAY DANCE PARTY: We hope everyone will join us on Friday night for a fun karaoke and dance party from 8:00-10:00. If you don’t want to dance or sing, come mingle and visit with friends. There will be a dessert bar, beverages and some great door prizes. A cash bar will be available for beer, wine and cocktails. Just let us know when registering if you will be attending.
**PRE-CONFERENCE - WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 11** Pre-conference sessions will be offered on Wednesday for an extra charge. Led by state early childhood experts, these sessions will offer participants in-depth guidance and perspective on the latest early childhood topics of interest. Each session is $30 and includes a buffet lunch at the hotel from 12:00-1:00. You have a choice of two sessions in the morning and two sessions in the afternoon. See below for details on each of the classes:
9:00 – 12:00 p.m.
LETRS Training: Foundational Literacy
Playing with Sounds from Beginning to End
Arkansas Dept. of Education Division of Elementary and Secondary Education
Did you know that ninety percent of brain growth happens before kindergarten? The most rapid time of brain development in a child’s life happens in the first five years. During this session, participants will hear an overview of the Pre-K RISE initiative and the early intervention efforts the Arkansas Department of Education is making to provide foundational literacy support for early childhood students and educators, in a developmentally appropriate way.
During our 3-hour session, we will give out the link to register for the entire 35.5 hour professional development course but we would also love to get the word out to other educators that might be interested and did not have the opportunity to attend the preconference. All information can be found online at the PreK RISE Website under the Phase 2: LETRS EC Tab found on the left-hand side of the page. The course is free and participants that successfully complete the course will receive a $500 stipend.
True Colors
UA Early Care and Education Projects
True Colors is a temperament and personality typing program. This enjoyable and insightful training helps Early Care and Education professionals with personal and professional development skills. Using the colors – Orange, Gold, Green, and Blue to describe basic personality types, participants will positively improve teamwork skills by recognizing differences and developing solutions to communicate and collaborate more effectively.
10:30 – 12:00 p.m.
NAEYC Accreditation 101:
A How-To Guide (including Funding!)
Leigh Keener, Executive Director, Joyfully Engaged Learning Arkansas
THIS IS A FREE SESSION (lunch still included).
Interested in learning more about NAEYC Accreditation? Join Leigh Keener from Joyfully Engaged Learning Arkansas for a lunch session. We’ll talk about timelines, resources, finances, and how Joyfully Engaged will walk you through the process from start to finish. From on-site and virtual support that includes mentoring and coaching to portfolio and classroom support to funding for fees and training, we can work together to designate your program as one of excellence. Whether you’re looking to distinguish yourself from other programs or you’re seeking a proven path to improvement, accreditation with NAEYC is sure to move your program ahead.
12:00 – 1:00 p.m.
Buffet Lunch provided for all Pre-conference Participants
1:00 – 4:00 p.m.
Remembering to Remember:
Closing the Gap Between Knowing and Doing
(A faith-based approach)
Leslie Dudley Corbell and Diane Doucet Matthews
“Remember the former things; remember the days of old; remember the words of the Lord Jesus Christ; the memory of the righteous is a blessing; bless the Lord, oh my soul and forget not all his benefits; do this in remembrance of Me; remember the Sabbath.” (Isaiah 46:9, Deut. 32:7, Acts 20:35, Proverbs 10:7, Psalm 103:2, 1 Cor. 11:24, Exodus 20:8)
The word “remember” is found 240 times in the Old and New Testament. God has communicated to us His high value on remembering!
Are there roadblocks to remembering as we work with early childhood children or even as we live in this world as adults? Have you ever thought, “This child knows better,” and wondered why the child isn’t doing it?
The Mind of a Child podcast hosts Leslie Corbell and Diane Matthews will facilitate this session where participants will dive into ten familiar bible verses. These verses will present keys to unlock the wisdom we desire in our daily moments in the classroom and at home, guiding us to helpful tips and strategies to use. Together, we will explore the why and how of closing the gap between knowing and doing — for us and for the children in our care.
Introduction to Coaching Skills
UA Early Care and Education Projects
In this interactive training program, participants will overview the benefits of coaching and learn about the skills and mindset needed for coaching to be successful. Through a series of information and hands-on activities, participants will practice active listening, asking high-quality questions, and the GROW coaching model, putting them on the path to turn work-experienced challenges into learning situations.