2025 Early Learning Conference
Teaching Preschool Partners and Gladstone Center for Children and Families are proud to present:
Cultivating Belonging and Joy in Early Learning: A conference for Preschool and Early Learning educators
Engaging Keynote Presentations
Topical Breakout Sessions
Materials Exploration & Resource Tables
Kristine Mraz is a teacher, writer, pun nerd and consultant. She is coauthor—with Christine Hertz—of the Kids First from Day One, which provides a practical blueprint for increasing the child-centeredness of your teaching practice. She and Christine previously teamed up for the bestselling A Mindset for Learning, which provides practical and powerful strategies for cultivating optimism, flexibility, and empathy alongside traditional academic skills.
Kristi has also coauthored—with Alison Porceli and Cheryl Tyler—Purposeful Play, the book that helps you make play a powerful part of your teaching. Her previous title is the bestselling. She and Marjorie Martinelli wrote Smarter Charts and Smarter Charts for Math, Science, and Social Studies to get the most out of this classroom staple.
Kristi currently works as an instructional coach in grades PK-2. She was previously an elementary school teacher, as well as a staff developer with the Teachers College Reading and Writing Project (and a co-author on the First Grade Writing Units of Study) In addition to writing and teaching, she consults in schools across the country and as far away as Taiwan. She primarily supports teachers in early literacy, play, and inquiry based learning. On the off chance she has free time, you’ll find Kristi reading on a couch in Brooklyn with her dog, her husband, and baby Harry.
Info
Add On a Playful Inquiry Materials Kit
Each kit includes a curated collection of open-ended materials, and two high quality children’s books as well as guidance to support materials use with children.
Our materials kits are priced to reflect the time and care we put into gathering high-quality, rich resources while supporting the team of our small organization. It is easy to attach a kit to your conference registration at check-out. Don’t forget we also offer many free resources in our online Resource Library!
Loose Parts Kit
$125 (add-on during registration)
Designed for 4–6 table settings (students) at a time, this kit offers materials for open-ended exploration of loose parts and includes a starter set of loose parts, mats, trays, as well as materials to support a self-portraiture experience. The reusable components ensure continued opportunities for exploration over and over. Exact contents may vary based on availability.
Line & Wire Kit
$125 (add-on during registration)
Designed for 4–6 table settings (students) at a time, this kit includes tools, materials that complement wire for exploration of line, and enough wire for a class set. The reusable components ensure continued opportunities for exploration over and over. Exact contents may vary based on availability.
Color Kit
$125 (add-on during registration)
Designed for 4–6 table settings (students) at a time, this kit provides materials for multiple experiences with color, including color mixing and painting. The reusable components ensure continued opportunities for exploration over and over. Exact contents may vary based on availability.
Register Today!
2025 Early Learning Conference