1. 2008 ECTA Conference Brains, bad cats and a whole lot more!

2. Conference delegates arrived bright and early on Saturday 28 th June. The friendly ECTA Conference Committee members were on hand for registration, and volunteers quickly ushered everyone inside. It’s great to be back in 2008

3. Tea and coffee was ready and waiting to warm everyone up and early birds began their rounds of the trade displays. So many BOOKS, so little TIME!

4. There were lots of new resources on offer

5. ECTA Conference Committee Members watched on as seats quickly began to fill.

6. ECTA President, Kim Walters, greeted delegates and introduced the Key Note speaker… John Joseph - “The Brain Man”.

7. This year conference delegates received complementary copies of back issues of the ECTA Educating Young Children journals. ECTA also gained some new members on the day! I really like getting the EYC journals! Me too! Next year I must remember to join before March.

8. Morning Tea was sponsored by C & K, and was an opportunity to network… Do I network…

9. …and to shop! …or do I shop?

10. Let the WORKSHOPS begin!

13. Lunch was sponsored by the Queensland Teachers’ Union. Not only was it delicious, but it gave us time to talk about our new learning Catherine Donaldson, Lyndall Courtice, Rebecca Williams Acorn Babies, Bundaberg, Bundaberg TAFE, Acorn Babies, Bundaberg Catherine: ‘John Joseph was amazing. He kept me totally engaged and taught me to be less confrontational and to empower the child.’ Lyndall and Rebecca: ‘We heard Louise Porter, Collaborating with Parents. We got lots of innovative new ideas for getting parents involved and having parent driven solutions. It was about making the child responsible for their behaviour by involving the family – collective ownership of the behaviour.’

14. Lunch – a time to talk Jane Wise, Di Barnes, Janene Stack Alderly C&K Kgtn, Alderly C&K Kgtn, St Ignatius Primary School, Toowong Jane and Di: ‘We attended Dr Kylie Smith’s master class on Child participation in the curriculum. It was interesting to know we are doing a lot of these things already. It gave us a different viewpoint. It’s about balance in a democracy - rights and responsibility, not just ‘open slather’ for the children.’ Janene: ‘I attended Dr Louise Porter’s master class on Collaborating with Parents. There were lots of good ideas there. It is more about looking for the solution, not the problem.

15. Lunch – a time to talk Pat Hansworth, Sally Maunder, Loula Savini Chapel Hill SS Chapel Hill SS Alex Hills SS Pat and Sally: ‘We attended Yvonne Winer’s workshop on Creating Flexible Books. It was very interesting and creative with beautiful graphics. We got some great ideas for young children and how to help them create their own stories. Loula: ‘I attended Dr Margaret Carter’s workshop on Young Children’s Social Behaviour. She was very practical and realistic. She knew about the hitting, punching and spitting behaviour that we can encounter.’

16. Lunch – a time to talk Glenda Turner, Judy Cuskelly, Pam Charlton Camira Kindergarten, Highfields & District Kindergarten, T’ba Staff from the Bayside Community College Early Childhood College: Lisa Keegan, Paulette Holden, Sue Purcell and Robyn Hackett

17. Even the presenters had time to network Presenter: Rob Jones, Eileen Williams (C&K), Gwenyth Beale (C&K), Presenters: Dr Margaret Carter and Will Jones

18. The Lunch Time program included sessions for Teachers and Teacher Aides/Assistants

19. As always the day concluded with Wine and Cheese, sponsored this year by Queensland Independent Education Union

20. The crowd gathered for the prize draws Lynne Smith, Carolyn Symonds, Jessie Barker Cairns TAFE, West Moreton C&K, Mt Crosby C&K

21. There were some great give-aways to be won from our trade displays and sponsors

22. Winners were grinners J George from Narangba Valley SS won the digital camera donated by this year’s supporting sponsor - VIDEOPRO

23. Thanks to our 2008 sponsors

24. See you all again in 2009 Thanks to our enthusiastic delegates