Strong Beginnings: Essential Steps for Establishing a High-Impact Early Childhood Program with HB352 

April 15, 29 & September 9, 16, 23, 30,2025 | 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.

Presented by Marci Parks and Tanya Peshovich
  Virtual Platform
  12 OPI Renewal Units are available for this free Region 2 CSPD training or 1 college credit

This comprehensive, six-part training series is designed to equip leaders and early childhood educators with the knowledge and tools necessary to build a strong early childhood program aligned to HB352 and Montana early childhood standards. Participants will gain an in-depth understanding of key legislative frameworks and evidence-based practices to support the development of a high-quality, developmentally appropriate program that ensures success for all children. 

Sessions to be delivered in Spring 2025 

Session 1: Early Childhood Basics: Understanding HB352, Standards and Assessment, and the Instruction to Prioritize for Later School Success 4/15 

Session 2: Planning Ahead for the Early Childhood Classroom: Developmentally Appropriate Spaces and Materials for Optimal Learning 4/29 

Session 3: Launching the Year: Setting Up Positive Behavior Supports, Schedules, and Routines 9/9

Session 4: Building Literacy Foundations (Part 1): The Power of the Alphabetic Principle for Later Academic Success 9/16

Session 5: Building Literacy Foundations (Part 2): Fostering Oral Language Skills for Later Academic Success 9/23 

Session 6: Math from the Start: Essential Foundations for Early Numeracy 9/30 

Making It All Add Up 

Presented by:  Stephanie Lester

August 6, 2025 | 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
Havre Best Western Inn & Suites
6 OPI Renewal Units are available for this free Region 2 CSPD training.

Join us for a comprehensive 6-hour training designed specifically for PK-2nd grade teachers, focusing on building and reinforcing foundational math skills in young learners. This two-part session, "Making It All Add Up!," will equip educators with the knowledge, strategies, and hands-on resources needed to ensure every child develops a strong mathematical foundation.

Part 1: Developing Children’s Number Sense
The first part of the training will dive into the developmental progression of number sense in young children. Participants will explore key predictive indicators for school readiness in mathematics and numeracy, such as subitizing, counting, one-to-one correspondence, cardinality, and hierarchical inclusion. This session will provide targeted instructional strategies to help teachers effectively introduce, reinforce, and build these critical concepts, setting the stage for academic success in mathematics.

Part 2: Math EVERY Day for EVERY Child!
The second part of the training will focus on integrating math into everyday classroom activities and routines. Teachers will be introduced to a variety of instructional strategies that give students continuous opportunities to practice and reinforce essential math skills throughout their day.

Participants will learn about inclusionary practices that ensure all students, regardless of their learning needs, have access to meaningful math experiences. The session will also cover developmentally appropriate strategies for knowledge and skill acquisition, making math accessible and engaging for every child.

In addition to classroom strategies, this session will present ideas for strengthening home-to-school connections, offering practical games and activities that can be easily shared with families to reinforce math skills at home. Teachers will also explore intervention strategies to support students who may need extra help mastering key concepts.

As a hands-on component, participants will have the opportunity to create make it/take it math activities. These ready-to-use resources will focus on the foundational skills discussed during the training, providing teachers with practical materials they can implement immediately in their classrooms.

Overall Objective:

The "Making It All Add Up!" training aims to equip PK-2nd grade teachers with a comprehensive understanding of the developmental progression of number sense in young children. By focusing on key indicators for school readiness in mathematics, this training provides teachers with effective instructional strategies to introduce, reinforce, and build foundational math skills necessary for every child's academic success.

Participant Benefits:

• In-Depth Knowledge: Develop a solid understanding of how number sense progresses in young children and its crucial role in early math development.

• Practical Strategies: Learn a variety of instructional techniques that can be easily integrated into daily routines, ensuring that math becomes an accessible and consistent part of every child’s day.

• Inclusionary Practices: Discover methods to make math learning inclusive for all students, regardless of their learning needs, by utilizing developmentally appropriate strategies.

• Home-to-School Connections: Gain ideas for strengthening the link between home and school, encouraging math practice beyond the classroom.

• Hands-On Resources: Create make-it/take-it math activities during the session that focus on key concepts such as subitizing, counting, one-to-one correspondence, cardinality, and hierarchical inclusion.

• Intervention Strategies: Explore practical interventions that can help struggling students grasp essential math skills.

This training is a valuable opportunity for PK-2nd grade teachers committed to enhancing their students' mathematical journeys. By attending "Making It All Add Up!," you'll not only gain essential knowledge and tools to improve your math instruction but also leave with hands-on resources and strategies that can be implemented immediately in your classroom. Don’t miss this chance to make a lasting impact on your student's math success—join us and take the first step towards making math an engaging and integral part of every child’s daily routine! 

Stephanie Lester has over 40 years in education including:  educational consulting, teaching preschool and a Project-Based Learning Multiage K-1st program, professional development speaker, author, College Instructor, Assistant Principal, Early Childhood Education Director, and Director of Curriculum, Instruction & Assessment. Currently Stephanie partners with school communities as an Educational Consultant focusing on providing support to educators on a variety of topics aligned with evidence and research based best practices (including but not limited to:  science of reading, classroom management, guidance, instructional strategies, executive functions, science, math, leadership).

Stephanie believes that children learn best when they are excited, engaged, and experiencing success in the learning environment.  Stephanie has published two books: Year-Round Project-Based Activities for STEM and Science Through the Year. Stephanie is passionate about inspiring, educating, and motivating teachers to implement evidence-based instructional practices with the goal of developing the social, emotional, physical, and cognitive skills that children will need to experience SUCCESS in school and life. 

Stephanie primarily supports educational programs in the states of Montana and California. When Stephanie isn’t exploring with her grandchildren, you will find her creating hands-on STEM activities, presenting workshops on a variety of topics, consulting with teachers throughout the country, gardening, birdwatching, and playing with her dog, Grizzly.

Stephanie Lester holds a MA degree in Education: Curriculum and Instruction, an Administrative Credential, a Multiple Subject Teaching Credential, a CLAD Certification, CLASS certification, and a Program Director Child Development permit.

Overview of Local School District Early Childhood Special Education Requirements  

Presented by:  Lucy Beltz, Early Learning and Special Education Specialist, Montana Office of Public Instruction

August 6, 2025 | 10:00 a.m. to noon
Havre Best Western Inn & Suites

&

August 7, 2025 | 10:00 a.m. to noon

Shelby Comfort Inn

 
2 OPI Renewal Units are available for this free Region 2 CSPD training.

The session provides a general overview of local school district early childhood special education requirements including transition from Part C to Part B, preschool environments, and child outcomes. Together indicator data will be reviewed and guided questions discussed to improve practices when serving children with disabilities ages 3-5. 

Objectives

1. Review requirements for transition from Part C to Part B, preschool environments, and child outcomes.

2. Review resources available on the OPI website. 

3. Review and discuss early childhood special education indicator data.

9 Essential Skills for the Love and Logic Classroom

Presented by:  Joe Moriarty

August 7, 2025 | 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
Shelby Comfort Inn
6 OPI Renewal Units are available for this free Region 2 CSPD training.

FREE workbooks will be provided to those who attend!

The goal for the 9 essential skills for the Love and Logic classroom is to provide low-stress strategies for highly successful educators that make positive and lasting effects in their school and communities.  Through the program, educators will become further equipped with practical techniques that: 

• They are simple and easy to learn

• Teach responsibility and good character

• change lives and lower stress levels

•  have immediate, positive effects on students and schools

Although there will be an overview of all 9 skills, this one-day workshop will specifically address the first 4 or 5.  There may be a second course offered or a series of online sessions to finish the course (and stay connected) for those who are interested.

The course will be taught in person by the facilitator, Joe Moriarty, and by video from Doctor Charles Fay (Founder and Owner of the Love and Logic Company).  The nine essential tools include:

•  Neutralizing Arguing

•  Delayed Consequences

•  Sincere Empathy

•  Short-Term Recovery

•  Positive Teacher–Student Relationships

•  Setting Limits and Enforceable Statements

•  Providing Choices within Limits

•  Quick and Easy Preventive Interventions

•  Guiding Students to Solve Their Problems

Introduction to Dyslexia

Presented by:  Tanya Peshovich

October 1 & 8, 2025 | 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Virtual Platform
4 OPI Renewal Units are available for this free Region 2 CSPD training.

This introductory training provides educators with a clear definition of dyslexia and practical strategies for identifying and addressing reading difficulties, aligned with Montana Dyslexia Law. Participants will explore the Science of Reading and structured literacy, including evidence-based, explicit instructional techniques in phonemic awareness, phonics, fluency, vocabulary, and comprehension—key components that are essential for supporting students with dyslexia. Educators will also learn how to use screening tools to identify students at risk for dyslexia and diagnostic assessments to pinpoint the root causes of reading challenges. Theoretical models such as Gough and Tunmer's Simple View and Scarborough’s Reading Rope, along with insights from recent brain research on how reading develops and how dyslexia affects the brain will also be addressed.

October 1: Defining Dyslexia and How Dyslexia Affects the Reading Brain

October 8: Dyslexia Assessment and Instruction

Early Literacy Road Show

May 22, 2025 | 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
Browning Public Schools Administration Building
 

We're excited to bring this dynamic, hands-on event to Comprehensive School Leaders, Administrators and communities across Montana, where we'll provide important information about the Early Literacy Targeted Intervention programs created under HB352 (20-7-1803, MCA). Whether you're an educator, community leader, administrator, or part of one of the Special Education Cooperatives in Montana, we hope you will join us to find out more about how to bring these programs to your schools. 

Cortical Vision Impairment Presentation

Presented by Professor John Ravenscroft

October 16, 2025 | 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Butte Civic Center, Butte Montana

This event has limited seating so register early!

 Professor John Ravenscroft Chair of Childhood Visual Impairment is Director of the Scottish Sensory Centre, University of Edinburgh. He is Editor in Chief of the British Journal of Visual Impairment and President of the International Council for Educators of Children with Visual Impairment (ICEVI)Europe). He is known for his work on cerebral visual impairment and his “Conversations about CVI” have been viewed thousands of times on YouTube. Professor Ravenscroft is the course leader at the University of Edinburgh’s Cerebral Visual Impairment course for teachers of children with visual impairment. He is currently working on various research projects on cerebral visual impairment, He publishes on Vision, Cerebral Visual Impairment, Research Methods, Inclusion and Philosophy. 

• 1. Examine the intricate relationship between visual impairment and cerebral visual impairment (CVI) and delve into the visual challenges that children with CVI. 

• 2. Explore the co-occurring disabilities that many children with CVI experience. 

• 3. Highlight the problem of definitions, assessment, collaborative working with other professionals and will cover intervention strategies that are used. 

• 4. We will look at the importance of understanding brain structures, so that we can focus on higher and lower processing of vision.