The University of Montana 5th Annual ECE Summit: Grid

Parking for Thursday Evening: The Summit begins at 4:00. You can use the Adams Center parking lot (LOT P on the map). The Passport app system is available to pay for short-term parking. If you are arriving at 5:00 or later, parking on campus is Free.
4/17 Friday Sessions: All Friday sessions will be held in the PJW College of Education, except for two held in adjacent buildings (signage will be displayed). Breakfast will begin at 8:00, and sessions will start promptly at 8:30.
Parking for Friday Sessions: Parking for all Friday sessions is FREE by using the top floor of the campus parking garage. Signage will be displayed, and no permit or special tag is required. The FREE parking garage (on the top floor) is located behind the Mansfield Library. Use the link here to view the location of the R Parking Structure (just south of the University Center)
4/18 Saturday Sessions: All Saturday sessions will take place in the PJW College of Education. Breakfast and registration will be available as early as 7:30 am. Sessions will begin at 8:15. Parking for Saturday Sessions: All parking is FREE. You may park anywhere on campus!
Travel: For those traveling from outside Missoula, book your hotel early! A limited number of discounted hotel rooms are available on a first-come, first-served basis at the Holiday Inn Missoula Downtown. You can use this link to book your rooms.Please use the code ECE or call the hotel at 406-721-8550 and mention the code and ECE 4th Annual Summit.

ALI Auditorium, PJW College of Education	University of Montana Learning and Belonging (LAB) School

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Registration, Networking, and Poster Sessions 4:00pm - 5:00pm

Welcome, Awards Celebration, and Dinner 5:00pm - 6:00pm

(Keynote) Beyond Play vs. Learning: The Spectrum of Playful Learning 6:15pm - 8:00pm

Learning and Belonging (LAB) School Tour 9:45am - 10:45am

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ALI Auditorium (A), PJW College of Education	ALI Auditorium (B), PJW College of Education	ALI Auditorium, PJW College of Education	COE room 123	COE room 215	COE room 312	COE room 313	COE room 314	COE room 352	MonTECH	University of Montana Learning and Belonging (LAB) School

7:45am
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Joyful Literacy in Action: Research, Partnerships, and Everyday Opportunities 8:30am - 10:20am

Leveling Up Learning: Utilizing the Spectrum of Play 10:35am - 12:25pm

Designing the Future: Workforce and Systems Innovation in Montana’s Early Childhood Ecosystem 1:30pm - 3:20pm

Let Your Diamond Shine: Play, Purpose, and Possibilit... 8:30am - 9:20am

Community Schools 101: Strengthening the Early Learning Fabric: A Continuum of Support Through Community School Partn... 10:35am - 12:25pm

Strong Families, Thriving Communities: Prevention, Support, and Belonging for Montana’s Children 1:30pm - 3:20pm

Breakfast and Registration 8:00am - 8:30am

Break

Lunch, ECE Institute Impact Report, and Spotlight Posters 12:30pm - 1:30pm

Strive for Five: Using Intentional Conversations to B... 1:30pm - 2:20pm

Literacy Landscapes: Bringing the Science of Reading... 2:30pm - 3:20pm

Greater than the Sum of its Parts: Cross-Sector Colla... 8:30am - 9:20am

Tiny Toy Tales 1:30pm - 3:20pm

Sign it! Say it! It's all about language and communic... 8:30am - 9:20am

Building Happy Beginnings: Practical Positive Educati... 9:30am - 10:20am

From Hire to Inspire: Strengthening Professional Lear... 8:30am - 9:20am

A Cast of Thousands for the Early Childhood Teacher:... 9:30am - 10:20am

University Assisted Community Schools (UAC): Growing Together: Strengthening Early Childhood Systems Through UAC Scho... 1:30pm - 3:20pm

You Can Count on Fractions 8:30am - 9:20am

Using Slow Reveal to Create Engagement and Build Numb... 9:30am - 10:20am

Building Blocks for Teaching Young Children in Inclusive Settings 1:30pm - 3:20pm

Advocacy 101 for Early Learning Leaders 8:30am - 10:20am

From Policy to Practice: Building Teacher Preparednes... 1:30pm - 2:20pm

The Sandbox Project and MonTech Tour 9:30am - 10:20am

From Access to Belonging: Designing High-Quality Inclusive Environments for Every Child 8:30am - 10:20am

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ALI Auditorium (A), PJW College of Education	ALI Auditorium (B), PJW College of Education	ALI Auditorium, PJW College of Education	COE room 123	COE room 215	COE room 241	COE room 313

7:30am
7:45am
8:00am
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8:45am
9:00am
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Virtual Learning Library: Utilizing a New Resource from the UM Institute for ECE 8:30am - 10:20am

Introduction to the 2025 Montana Early Learning Standards (MELS) 10:35am - 12:25pm

Lunch 12:30pm - 1:30pm

Pathways for the Science of Indigenous Knowledge 8:30am - 10:20am

Pattern, Play, and Purpose: Beadwork as a Gateway to... 10:35am - 11:25am

Indian Education for All in the Early Learning Classroom 1:30pm - 3:20pm

Breakfast and Registration 7:45am - 8:30am

Turning Themes into Projects 8:30am - 10:20am

Embedding Social and Emotional Learning and Anti-Bias Education Goals in Project Based Learning 1:30pm - 3:20pm

Leadership Styles to Support Employee Recruitment and Retention 8:30am - 10:20am

Growing Leaders: Becoming Leaders in the Field 1:30pm - 3:20pm

Tiny Toy Tales 10:35am - 12:25pm

Tiny Toy Tales 1:30pm - 3:20pm

Resource Roundup: Early learning resources from the Montana State Library for all 10:35am - 12:25pm

The University of Montana 5th Annual ECE Summit

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