Senses In Motion: Calming, Learning, and Growing Together
Presented by: Liz Powers, Teacher
VIRTUAL EXCLUSIVE PRESENTATION
Senses in Motion: Calming, Learning, and Growing Together invites early childhood professionals into a warm, practical conversation about sensory experiences as pathways to regulation, connection, and learning—aligned with this year’s conference theme, Telling Our Way Forward: Learning Stories of Belonging and Resistance. Together we’ll explore how early brain development influences children’s ability to manage stress, emotion, and behavior, and then translate that knowledge into simple, effective sensory materials and routines educators can use immediately.
Participants will leave with supportive strategies to reduce overwhelming feelings, respond to big feelings, and redirect challenging behaviors through sensory play and strategies—strengthening calmer, more connected learning environments. These approaches are designed to support children with disabilities, children impacted by trauma, children experiencing intense emotions, and children simply having a hard day.
Grounded in Learning Stories, we’ll also examine how to document and share children’s sensory experiences in ways that reframe behavior as communication, highlight children’s strengths, and deepen belonging. Educators will practice capturing moments of regulation, resilience, and growth so families—and children themselves—can see narratives of capability and resistance rather than deficit. Strategies shared will be low-cost and accessible (often free) and ready to implement as soon as you return to your classroom. This session will be in lecture and discussion based format.
Audience: 3-6 years; Inclusion
Liz Powers, Teacher
University of Michigan Towsley Children's House
Liz is a Michigan native, growing up on the shores of Lake Michigan. She has been a preschool teacher for the past twenty-two years. Liz is currently teaching 3-5 year old preschoolers in the Evergreen Room at University of Michigan Towsley Children’s House and has been with the university since 2011. Liz is passionate about mentoring other teachers, including hosting and supervising student teachers. Liz shares her knowledge of child development through presenting at child development conferences. She has presented at several Michigan conferences including Building on Behalf of Children; Child Care Network Connect for Success; MiAEYC Grand Rapids annual conference; and for private schools and institutions. She presents on how to support children with challenging behaviors in the mainstream classroom; engaging environments; nap time; and risk taking. When not engaged in early childhood development, Liz spends her time walking in the woods with her dogs and boating with her family on local lakes.