2017 FCSEM ANNUAL CONFERENCE
Western MIchigan University, Sangren Hall, Main Campus
Kalamazoo, MICHIGAN
July 31 - August 1, 2017

Picture
A variety of accommodations will be available to fit one's monetary and personal needs. 

​

​
The Conference Details page provides information for presenters, exhibitors and participants. The information includes directions, parking information, and the Conference Guide. 

2017 CONFERENCE


The 2017 Annual Conference planning is well underway! Be sure to continue to check back for updates as the date nears! 

Here are a few "sneak peeks" from your conference planners to help excite you for this years professional development

Keynote Speaker(s)

MINDFULNESS in education: cultivating teacher and student well-being
​RITA BENN, THE UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN, ANN ARBor

Picture
Mindfulness as a strategy to support health and well-being is grabbing a foothold in education. This presentation offers an overview of mindfulness and its application in school settings. Information on mindfulness training effectiveness in reducing stress and supporting student and teacher mental and physical health will be shared. 

Beyond Race and Ethnicity: Creating a Culture of Cohesion
Dominica McBride, Become Inc. 

Picture
Cultural differences and preconceived notions can often impede social change towards positive parenting, peaceful communities and a just society. Without cultural competence as it relates to differences in age, ethnicity, socioeconomic status, religion, and sexual orientation, life-saving information and constructive relationships are often lost in translation. This keynote talk will delineate cultural competence, the process for enhancing one's cultural competence, and cultural responsible methods that will lead to greater program and service effectiveness. 

Don't Wait for OPPORTUNITY to knock, Kick down the door! 
Jennifer Leja, Rockford Public Schools

Picture
Are you sick of feeling like one of the “dumping grounds for classes” or being told you are just an “elective”? Are you "over it" hearing your classes are not worth funding? This session will revitalize you personally, leaving you feeling energized to show your school just how fortunate they are to have you on staff! You will walk away with new ideas to liven up your classroom and give administration reasons to take notice of what you do. You will be introduced to resources that will help you be a teacher who loves their job, and receives recognition for a job well done. This session will end on a positive note, and send you flying into the next academic year wanting to soar. 

Breakout Speaker(s)

Megan Michelotti

Picture
DOULA THE ESSENTIAL INGREDIENT
Douala? Midwife? Placenta Encapsulation? you have probably heard some of these terms, but maybe not all. It's possible you aren't quite sure about how they relate to each other and their impact on pregnancy and postpartum. And... Placenta Encapsulation? What's that and how can it be beneficial?? Participants of this session will learn about the role of a professional Doula (different than a midwife) and evidence based research that supports better outcomes in Doula-supported births. Gain new information you can share with your students, or use in your own life. 

 Rita Benn and Natalie Freeburn

EXPLORING MINDFULNESS IN THE CLASSROOM 
Self-awareness and self-regulation are two key skills for student success in school and the workplace. Establishing a mindfulness practice is essential for achieving this outcome. In this workshop participants will gain a further understanding of how to use mindfulness in the classroom through short experiential practices and discussion. Relevant tips and resources will be provided. 

​
​

​

Martha Kiander

Kimberlee Bruce
Picture
STEPING UP YOUR GAME:
Keep students active and engaged using Kahoot, Quizlet, Jeopardy, Bingo, Walk Abouts, Matching, Work Stations and more! I found 10-15 minutes of active, stand up, participation could buy 40 minutes of focused academic work
 Picture
DOMESTIC VIOLENCE: THE COMPLICATED DYNAMICS OF A COMMON ISSUE 
This presentation is an interactive opportunity to learn more about domestic violence and dating violence. One in four women will be a victim and millions of children are affected annually. Participants will learn about red flags, power and control dynamics, and how to appropriately respond to this widespread but often hidden problem in our own communities. 

​

Michigan State Extension - National Endowment for Financial Education (NEFE)
Debra Barrett and Frank Cox

Picture
Session #1:  TALKING CASH IN THE CLASS
A survey of 15-year-olds in the United States found that 18 percent of respondents did not learn fundamental financial skills that are often applied in everyday situations, such as building a simple budget, comparison shopping, and understanding an invoice. (Youth.gov)  This underscores the need for solid financial education in the classroom setting.
Explore various financial literacy curricula in this session that you can use individually or as a series of lessons for middle-school and high school students to teach money management skills. We will be engaging in activities from three different youth money management resources- Spartan Dollars and Cents, NEFE High School Financial Planning Program, and 4-H My Financial Future.

Session #2:  BUILDING FUTURES WITH CAREER EXPLORATION 
Want to incorporate career exploration and workforce preparation lessons into your curriculum? The National 4-H Curriculum, Build Your Future: Choices…Connections…Careers, is a research-based curriculum which consists of nine educational activities intended for use with young people 14 to 19 years of age.  Build Your Future focuses on skill identification, career exploration including entrepreneurship, financing careers and educational training, and preparing for a career.  Each lesson is aligned with national career-technical education standards.
Participants experience a variety of learning methods such as developing a business plan, competing in a quiz bowl, creating a portfolio, analyzing case studies and discussing questions that reflect on their experiences. Most activities range from 30 to 90 minutes in length and include accompanying handouts and ideas for additional learning. The curriculum comes complete with an evaluation and certificate of completion for participants.
​
Come learn more in an interactive session that will reignite your passion in CTE!

Elaine Blake and Lisa Willerick
CHANGING FAMILY DEMOGRAPHICS: WHERE DO I START?
Lisa and Elaine will open a discussion about changing family DEMOGRAPHICS AND how these shifts, specifically in families with LGBTQ members, INFLUENCE FCS courses and curriculum.  This will be a great opportunity Learn from both current research literature and your colleagues as we share ideas about class discussions, instructional materials, course projects, and community engagement.  

Natalie Freeburn 

Picture
ADVOCATING FOR FCS PROGRAMS THROUGH SOCIAL MEDIA
Tweet… what? #huh? This interactive session will leave you with the confidence you need to  advocate for your program via the world of social media. Our students live there, so why not use this as a method to connect with them? Give your admin a glimpse into your classroom without them having to step foot in the door. This is an interactive session, so bring your smartphone or laptop and get ready to play, promote & have fun! #FCSEM #youvegothis
​

DEDE Rush ​

Picture
PEER CONNECTIONS: INCLUSION IN THE FCS CLASSROOM AND BEYOND 
What does inclusion look like in FCS classes? How can you help facilitate inclusion in your building? Peer Connections not only educates mentor students about disabilities, but also provides opportunities for mentors to then use their new knowledge while partnering with students with disabilities. The course focuses on the development of empathy, collaboration, and friendships in classes taught across the building. 

REPRESENTATIVE Jon Hoadley (D) Kalamazoo

Picture
TIPS AND TRICKS TO ENGAGE IN THE LEGISLATIVE PROCESS 

suzy Hirsch 
Take Charge Today

Picture
SAY WHAT? HERE'S WHAT'S NEW FROM TAKE CHARGE TODAY
Catch up with your favorite Personal Finance curriculum to find new lesson plans, new active learning tools and new Teacher Primers.  Join Suzy Hirsch as she reveals updates from TCT to add to your Teacher tool kit.  You’ll walk-away with ideas you can use as you start the new school year! ​

Exhibitors 

PAM (Parenting Awareness Michigan) 
Michigan Allied Poultry Industries 
Michigan Department of Child Support
Adoption Associates
Safe Delivery 
UDIM
The United States Army 
​Western Michigan University
And many more!