Good Start SG

Nominations for Little Heroes of Inclusion closes tomorrow at 31 August 2024, 23:59.

If you work in a preschool located in Singapore and knows of any Little Hero, nominate them here: https://bit.ly/LHA24

Find out more about the Good Start movement and Conference here: www.goodstart.sg

Have you wondered why the Little Heroes of Inclusion Award started? Here's why!

If you know of any Little Heroes, nominate them here: https://bit.ly/LHA24
Find out more about the Good Start Conference here: www.goodstart.sg

Thank you for all the nominations so far! We have been so heartened and inspired by the stories so far we decided to extend the nomination deadline to 31 August 2024!

Know of any Little Heroes of Inclusion? Nominate them here: http://www.bit.ly/LHA24

Shortlisted nominees will be invited for the award presentation ceremony happening during the Good Start SG Early Childhood Conference happening on 27 September 2024. Find out more about the conference here: www.goodstart.sg

Nominations for Little Heroes of Inclusion is now OPEN! If you are a staff of a preschool in Singapore, you may submit a nomination here: www.bit.ly/LHA24

Nominations close on 15 August 2024. Shortlisted nominees will be invited to the Award Ceremony at the Good Start SG 2024 Early Childhood Conference on 27 September 2024!

We look forward to be inspired by your stories!

Find out more about our Conference here: www.goodstart.sg

Little Heroes of Inclusion is back this year! If you are a staff in a preschool in Singapore, look out for Little Heroes in your school! We would love to hear about them.

Nominations open on 1 August, so mark your calendars! We are looking forward to be inspired by your sharing.

www.bit.ly/LHA24

Giving a Good Start for Every Child means creating awareness, educating the public and also equipping teachers and early childhood practitioners to support children with diverse learning needs in the classroom.

On 29 September 2023, 1200 early childhood professionals gathered for the Good Start SG 2023 Early Childhood Conference. Mayor Denise Phua, the Keynote Speaker and Guest of Honour for the event reminded us of the importance of keeping the major things major, prioritising ex*****on and believing in the power one individual can make.

Dr. Cheryl Seah and Ms. Esther Goh from the Centre for Holistic Initiatives for Learning and Development (CHILD) also shared the key insights from the research they have done and how it can be made applicable to educators as well as the important role educators play in encouraging home school connections and improving inclusion in the classroom.

We also recognised the 9 Little Heroes of Inclusion finalists who demonstrated exemplary care and support to their peers with learning or developmental needs. In our eyes, these children are the forerunners who have empowered their special friends to learn, play and contribute alongside their typically developing peers in the classroom and the community.

Our appreciation goes out to all the co-organisers and partners who made this Conference possible. See you in 2024!

May the preschool fraternity in Singapore keep on keeping on in effecting change in our classrooms!

The Good Start Conference 2023 is happening tomorrow! 🙌

Remember to check your email for the latest version of your ticket. Please bring along either a printed or e-copy of your ticket to facilitate registration and entry for both the AM Session and PM Session.

Registration starts at 8.15AM @ Level 4 for AM Plenary session & 15mins before each Breakout Session (A - 12.45pm, B- 2.30pm, C- 4.15pm) @ Level 4 in various rooms. Please be punctual and refer to the Conference Map provided in the Conference Kit. See you there!

Are we really embracing Inclusion in our classrooms today?

Inclusion in Early Childhood encompasses the values, policies, and practices that promote the active participation of young children and his or her family in a wide range of activities and contexts.

Therefore, when we embrace Inclusion, we are constantly reflecting on our own values, beliefs, and practices. We become thoughtful planners, we begin to have high expectations for all children, and we start improving on our instructions and teaching practices.

If you would like to master a framework for implementing and advancing high quality inclusive education for your centres, join us at the Good Start Conference to learn from Dr Denise Lai-Chua!

Read more about this Breakout Session - Defining and Advancing High Quality Inclusive Education: https://www.goodstart.sg/post/gs23-ce10

Get your Good Start 2023 Conference tickets here: bit.ly/GS23Reg

Check out our full list of workshops offered here: www.goodstart.sg/breakout2023

动物园启发的正念练习对学前教育领导和工作者有何裨益?

在这个要求严格且不断变化的世界中，自我关怀和心理健康变得越来越重要。学前教育专业人员在培养儿童的社会情感发展方面发挥着关键作用，他们必须更好地了解自己的情绪，以便更有效地处理具有挑战性的情况。 心理健康也为专业互动和终身学习创造了一个积极的环境。

本次研讨会的目标是让学前教育领导和教育工作者掌握简单而有力的动物启发式正念练习，促进自我保健。

Read more about this Breakout Session - 为学前教育领导和工作者提供动物园启发的正念练习 (Zoo-inspired Mindfulness Practices for Preschool Leaders and Educators) by Ong Peiying, Mandai Wildlife Group: https://www.goodstart.sg/post/gs23-bc3

Get your Good Start 2023 Conference tickets here: bit.ly/GS23Reg

Check out our full list of workshops offered here: www.goodstart.sg/breakout2023

How can Universal Design for Learning (UDL) support the removal of barriers of teaching to make learning accessible to all students?

What exactly is UDL? How can an educator use the UDL framework in their classrooms?
This workshop will acquaint participants with UDL as a learning framework so as to nurture all children to learn.

Join us at the Good Start Conference to be introduced to the depth, complexity and most importantly, possible applications of UDL in the teacher's daily classroom instruction!

Read more about this Breakout Session - UDL: Removing Barriers and Enabling Learning Everything Everywhere all at Once: https://www.goodstart.sg/post/gs23-ce4

Get your Good Start 2023 Conference tickets here: bit.ly/GS23Reg

Check out our full list of workshops offered here: www.goodstart.sg/breakout2023

How can we make every preschool inclusive?

Making Every Preschool Inclusive (MEPI) is a 3 year capability building project between Rainbow Centre and 2 preschool partners in SingaporeThe project provides a unique opportunity to contextualize, develop and pilot a training programme that focuses on collaborative teaming for early childhood inclusion. Instructional design of the training programme takes the form of a task-based learning and application approach comprising an integration of “Input”, "Guided Lesson Planning" and “Teaching Practice" sessions.

Join us at the Good Start Conference to learn from the design of the training programme, with a potential for learning to be fully experiential, authentic and relevant to the context of early childhood classrooms.

Read more about this Breakout Session - Collaborative Exploration in the Design and Implementation of The Making Every Preschool Inclusive (MEPI) Training Programme for Early Childhood Inclusion: https://www.goodstart.sg/post/gs23-be10

Get your Good Start 2023 Conference tickets here: bit.ly/GS23Reg

Check out our full list of workshops offered here: www.goodstart.sg/breakout2023

How do we celebrate and showcase children’s thinking?

Making the Environment Inspiring (MEI) is an approach that makes the environment a canvas to showcase and celebrate children’s thinking. MEI is not about displaying beautiful things in the classroom but the curation of children's work to tell meaningful stories that are Authentic, Beautiful, Compelling, Diverse and Empowering (ABCDE).

We believe an educator is also a craftsman that collects, curates and composes his/her children’s work to take centre stage.

If you want to learn how to elicit perspectives of the children and transform classrooms into a space that inspires learning, join us at the Good Start Conference to learn with Eileen Boey!

Read more about this Breakout Session - Making the Learning Environment Inspiring (MEI) through Visible Thinking Routines: https://www.goodstart.sg/post/gs23-ce1

Get your Good Start 2023 Conference tickets here: bit.ly/GS23Reg

Check out our full list of workshops offered here: www.goodstart.sg/breakout2023

我们如何探讨和解读幼儿的行为图式呢？

婴幼儿是天生的学习者，探索环境是他们与生俱来的本领和驱力。

理解幼儿的想法和思维是教育的基础和前提，只有读懂他们的思维，教育者才能够拓展他们的思维，从而推进婴幼儿顺利向下一个阶段发展。

本讲座将会和教育者共同探讨和解读幼儿的行为图式，努力成为一个能够读懂幼儿思维的教育者。

Read more about this Breakout Session - 学前儿童的行为辅导: https://www.goodstart.sg/post/gs23-cc2

Get your Good Start 2023 Conference tickets here: bit.ly/GS23Reg

Check out our full list of workshops offered here: www.goodstart.sg/breakout2023

Presenting to you the Little Heroes of Inclusion for 2023, in no particular order! We received over 50 nominations this year, and 9 of them were selected to be finalists for 2023🎖

The finalists were selected because of their care for their friends with added needs in being sensitive to their communication styles, being persistent in helping and walking alongside them, encouraging other peers to be more understanding and care for them too, and more! It was truly heartwarming to read the anecdotes and stories of the children, who have exhibited kindness, love and maturity beyond their years 💞

We thank all the teachers who took time to submit nominations this year and encourage you to continue creating inclusive preschool environments and opportunities for your children to care for each other.

每一位孩子都是独一无二的个体，和他们的相识都是一段特殊的缘分。身为教师的你准备好踏入他们的世界了吗？

让我们一起发掘他们的喜好，学习用不同的方式和他们相处吧！ 透过这个工作坊，将会和你分享以下的学习目标:

(1)了解特殊孩童的学习特征
(2) 调整教学方式帮助特殊儿童融入课堂
(3) 帮助特殊儿童和班上同学的相处

Read more about this Breakout Session - 请你了解我，走进我的世界 (translation: Getting to know more about children with
additional needs): https://www.goodstart.sg/post/gs23-bc1

Get your Good Start 2023 Conference tickets here: bit.ly/GS23Reg

Check out our full list of workshops offered here: www.goodstart.sg/breakout2023

What is play therapy? How can it be used to support children who experience emotional and social difficulties in their classroom?

This workshop will provide an introduction to the power of therapeutic play and the play therapy toolkit.

Participants will get to hear anecdotal stories and learn strategies through experiential activities to empower children toward social emotional regulation, engagement and better learning outcomes.

If you are interested in gaining hands-on experience of the play toolkit and learning strategies to apply in the classroom, join us at the Good Start Conference to learn from Raine and Grace!

Read more about this Breakout Session - The Power of Therapeutic Play in the Classroom: https://www.goodstart.sg/post/gs23-ae1

Get your Good Start 2023 Conference tickets here: bit.ly/GS23Reg

Check out our full list of workshops offered here: www.goodstart.sg/breakout2023

我们如何通过建立关系来培育有包容性的学习环境呢？

创建一个包容性的学习环境的关键不仅仅在于政策和程序。其实，关键在于老师与孩子们之间的关系。

通过一系列有趣和有创造性的活动，我们将探索如何释放工作上的压力，管理倦怠和紧张的心情，并培养对有不同需求的孩子的更多同理心和理解。我们也希望研讨会能转变老师们的心态，把自己视为孩子们一起学习和玩耍的伙伴们。这样以来，我们才能带出更具活力和吸引力的学习环境。孩子们在其中也能更加感到受到被老师们支持，并给予他们鼓励来更积极地学习和成长。

Read more about this Breakout Session - 让我们一起玩吧！如何通过建立关系来培育有包容性的学习环境 (translation: Let's Play Together! A Relational Approach to Building An Inclusive Classroom Community): https://www.goodstart.sg/post/gs23-bc2

Get your Good Start 2023 Conference tickets here: bit.ly/GS23Reg

Check out our full list of workshops offered here: www.goodstart.sg/breakout2023

How can emotion management translate to better behaviour regulation and academic learning? What does social communication have to do with emotion regulation and behaviour management?

How does this develop from early childhood through play and natural everyday interactions the child engages in with his caregivers (teachers and parents)?
How does this impact academic learning including reading comprehension, story-telling, conversation and negotiation skills?

Behaviour regulation and active emotional engagement is essential to function as part of a classroom and learning. Learn from Chithra about how to harness a child's emotional development to support their regulation and thinking at the Good Start Conference!

Read more about this Breakout Session - Building Social Communication Skills for Better Behaviour Regulation and Academic Learning: https://www.goodstart.sg/post/gs23-be6

Get your Good Start 2023 Conference tickets here: bit.ly/GS23Reg

Check out our full list of workshops offered here: www.goodstart.sg/breakout2023

Are we really embracing Inclusion in our classrooms today?

Inclusion in Early Childhood encompasses the values, policies, and practices that promote the active participation of young children and his or her family in a wide range of activities and contexts.

Therefore, when we embrace Inclusion, we are constantly reflecting on our own values, beliefs, and practices. We become thoughtful planners, we begin to have high expectations for all children, and we start improving on our instructions and teaching practices.

If you would like to master a framework for implementing and advancing high quality inclusive education your centres, join us at the Good Start Conference to learn from Christina!

Read more about this Breakout Session - Defining and Advancing High Quality Inclusive Education: https://www.goodstart.sg/post/gs23-ce10

Get your Good Start 2023 Conference tickets here: bit.ly/GS23Reg

Check out our full list of workshops offered here: www.goodstart.sg/breakout2023

Have you ever seen a child fill a box with blocks, then tip it over, only to fill it and tip it over again another 3 times?

If you have ever wondered why a toddler repeats an activity or action over and over again you will be interested to learn about ‘Schema’.

Schema is part of essential brain development and it is fundamental to learning – seeing patterns, forming expectations, questioning, reasoning, problem solving and making predictions as they explore movement of objects and of their own body.

If you would like to learn practical strategies to support children in developing effortless explorations into conscious efforts to further their own learning and development, join us at the Good Start Conference to learn from Tracy!

Read more about this Breakout Session - Some-THINK to Play: Transform effortless explorations into conscious efforts to support children’s learning here: https://www.goodstart.sg/post/gs23-be2

Get your Good Start 2023 Conference tickets here: bit.ly/GS23Reg

Check out our full list of workshops offered here: www.goodstart.sg/breakout2023

How can we help children embrace others who are a little different from them?

What are the essential elements needed to create inclusive preschool environments? Beyond people, policies and procedures, what else might need to be ready?

Zabeli, Gjelaj and Ewing (2020) mentioned that the success of an inclusive program is highly dependent on the attitudes and beliefs of all the players involved in the child’s life. Attitudes and beliefs drive our actions and reactions.

Learn how to help children embrace others and to believe that children should and can learn in an inclusive environment at the Good Start Conference with Juliana, Liang Hong and Hadjirul Eliiona from Anglican Preschool Services!

Read more about this Breakout Session - Social and Emotional Learning Using Puppetry here: https://www.goodstart.sg/post/gs23-be4

Get your Good Start 2023 Conference tickets here: bit.ly/GS23Reg

Check out our full list of workshops offered here: www.goodstart.sg/breakout2023

And another one of our workshops has also sold out - 'The Power of Self-Directed Learning in Developing Engaged and Independent Learners' presented by Wendy New from Imagine If and SUSS!

Check out our full list of workshops offered here: www.goodstart.sg/breakout2023

Hurry get your Good Start 2023 Conference tickets here to have your best pick of the workshops: bit.ly/GS23Reg

Do your children face challenges with social communication skills?

It is common for children with social communication challenges to be equipped with simple social skills and quickly being placed in a school environment with hopes of making friends by being around other children. Unfortunately, exposure to other children is not sufficient to develop the ability to navigate the social world.

Come and explore a wide range of effective techniques to build social skills for children with social communication difficulties at the Good Start Conference with Nuryahati!

Read more about this Breakout Session - Harnessing the Power of Your Visual Mind for Lesson Planning here: https://www.goodstart.sg/post/gs23-be7

Get your Good Start 2023 Conference tickets here: bit.ly/GS23Reg

Check out our full list of workshops offered here: www.goodstart.sg/breakout2023

How can "seeing" your lessons during preparation help with better engagement with children? When visual thinking is applied to lesson design, lessons are more creative, compelling, and impactful.

If you would like to learn how harness the power of visual thinking in lesson planning, delivery and material design, join us at the Good Start Conference to learn from Ai Yat and Joyce!

Read more about this Breakout Session - Harnessing the Power of Your Visual Mind for Lesson Planning here: https://www.goodstart.sg/post/gs23-be3

Get your Good Start 2023 Conference tickets here: bit.ly/GS23Reg

Check out our full list of workshops offered here: www.goodstart.sg/breakout2023

The results of this year's Little Heroes of Inclusion Award will be out on 11 September. Are you excited?

How does early learning impact young children's cognitive development?

The presentation explores classroom interactions that promote cognitive development in young children.

If you would like to learn how to support the cognitive development of children who have learning difficulties or special needs, join us at the Good Start Conference!

Read more about this Breakout Session - Promoting Young Children's Cognitive Development Through Mediating Learning here: https://www.goodstart.sg/post/gs23-be8

Get your Good Start 2023 Conference tickets here: bit.ly/GS23Reg

Check out our full list of workshops offered here: www.goodstart.sg/breakout2023

And the following workshop has also sold out - 'Positive Behaviour Interventions and Supports (PBIS)' presented by Iris Chen and Jerlyn Leong from Community Psychology Hub!

Check out our full list of workshops offered here: www.goodstart.sg/breakout2023

Hurry get your Good Start 2023 Conference tickets here to have your best pick of the workshops: bit.ly/GS23Reg