Renae Ekstrand, M.S.

Instructor, Early Childhood Education

Pugsley Center 141, Box 2218

Brookings, SD 57007

Tele: 688-6936

Fax: 688-5797

Renae.Ekstrand@sdstate.edu

Education

M.S. Winona State University, Education Generalist, 2000

B.S. Bemidji State University, Elementary Education, 1987

Concentrations in Early Childhood and Reading

A.S. North Central Technical College, Educational Sign Language Interpreting, 1980

Primary Academic Interests

Program Area:

Early Childhood Education

Content Interests:

Early childhood education in rural communities

Autism spectrum disorders and implications in early childhood education

Mental health in early childhood years

Family and professional teaming

Sign language use with hearing infants

Reggio Emilia approach to early childhood education

Mentoring in the early childhood education setting

Mixed-age groupings in Early Childhood Classrooms

Teaching

ECE 150: Early Experience

ECE 441: Professional Issues in Child and Family Studies

ECE 465: Introduction to Developmental Assessment of Young Children
ECE 468: Early Intervention in Family-Centered Practices
Field Placement Coordinator

Undergraduate Advisor

Organization Memberships

National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC)

Minnesota (MAEYC) and South Dakota (SDAEYC) Affiliates

Association for Childhood Education International

Council for Exceptional Children

International Reading Association/Wisconsin State Reading Association

Autism Society of Minnesota

National Education Association

Wisconsin Education Association

Current Research

Integrated Play Groups in Early Childhood Settings – Impacts on social skill development in children on the autism spectrum

Relationship-Based Interventions and Infant Mental Health

Presentations

Using Integrated Play Groups within the Junior Kindergarten Setting with Children on the Autism Spectrum and Typically Developing Children, Action-Research Grant Summary District 11 Cooperative Educational Service Agency, Rice Lake, WI, 2004

Creating Interactive Story and Song Props Using Computer Clip Art, Wisconsin Indianhead Technical College, Early Childhood Education Area Professionals Workshop, New Richmond, WI, 2004

Enhancing Stories and Songs Using Die-Cuts as Props, Wisconsin Indianhead Technical College, Early Childhood Education Area Professionals Workshop, New Richmond, WI, 2004

Science and Math Activities in Your Early Childhood Program (Invited Presentation), Wisconsin Indianhead Technical College, Early Childhood Area Professionals Workshop,

New Richmond, WI 2003

Cooperative Grouping of Grade Level/Below Grade Level Reading Students in an Integrated Social Studies Class – Capstone Project Summary (St. Mary’s Masters in Education Cohort Group, Stillwater, MN, 2001

Integrating Everyday Math Curriculum into Your Current Math Curriculum-Preparing for the Change! St. Anne School Administrators and Faculty, Somerset, WI, 1999

Accommodating the Special Learner in the Classroom Hamline University graduate classes, Chisago Lakes, MN, 1997-1998