Fourteen Early Childhood Education students from our college embarked on a different kind of road trip, as they headed north to attend their first professional conference. The group woke up before dawn, eagerly boarding a bus bound for the New Jersey Association for the Education of Young Children’s (NJAEYC) Annual Conference held at the Hilton Meadowlands on Friday, October 4, 2024,
The theme, Innovate, Educate, Motivate: Pioneering Practices in Early Childhood Education, set the stage for a dynamic day of learning. Students enjoyed the keynote speaker, who shared stories and videos from his career as a play therapist working with young children impacted by trauma. Other popular workshop choices included Taking the Challenge Out of Challenging Behaviors, Creating A Classroom of Stewards: Environmental Awareness in the Early Years and “You Get What You Get” Rethinking Some Popular Phrases We Often Use with Children. Selecting which session to attend was anything but easy. There were so many interesting options!
Throughout the day, our students networked with early childhood professionals from all over New Jersey, gaining valuable insights into the field, and hearing about future opportunities that await them after graduation. There was time to explore the expo filled with the latest educational tools and resources. Many even walked away with fun door prizes!
A special thank you goes to the College of Education Associate Dean’s office whose generous support covered the registration and transportation costs, making this memorable experience possible. A special shoutout to Molly Fisher and Lisa Mordecai-Daniel for their tireless work to put this together under an unreasonable timeline. Their efforts enabled our students to experience, not just a day learning beyond the classroom, but an invaluable opportunity to gain new appreciation into what awaits them as future educators. Students returned to Rowan, exhausted but inspired!