Curriculum & Philosophy Training Topics
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Setting the Stage for Learning: Creating a class full of excitement and learning
Find out what you can do to create a world of discovery in your classroom using a thematic approach. From room decorations to learning centers, discover why and how to get the most of your themes. |
The Power of Choice: How to empower your children
Help the children become invested in their learning to transform them from passive to ACTIVE learners. Your class will become an exciting place to play and work |
Open-ended Crafts and Materials: Developing children’s creativity
What are they and how do they work? See how to make simple changes in your methods to reveal what your children really know and how to cultivate creativity. |
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Mathematics for Young Learners: It’s easy as 1, 2, 3!
Everyone includes counting, calendars and colors. Learn how you can bring true mathematical concepts to your young learners including problem-solving strategies, number sense, computation and estimation, measurement, geometry, statistics, and patterns. You’ll love the take-home projects! |
Frogs, Fossils and Flowers: Science exploration made easy!
Learn practical, inexpensive and exciting ways to incorporate science into your weekly plans, making your students scientists who love to investigate. I’ll show you how to infuse science into your learning centers, outdoor play, small and large group sessions, and even through independent play |
It’s A Small World After All! Integrating social sciences into your curriculum!
Bring your children into the community and the community to your children. This workshop shows you how to tap into the children’s natural curiosity about their families, neighborhoods and communities to help them to discover the world! |
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Jigsaw Learning: Completing the “puzzle” to develop higher thinking skills
This fascinating strategy pulls together the best of independent and cooperative learning! Your children can become “experts” that then share their discoveries. See how this format incorporates multiple learning styles, science inquiry skills and more to explore new information. |
Differentiated Instruction: Meeting the diverse needs of your children
Even working with just one age-group can leave us feeling overwhelmed with the diverse needs of our class. One that still parallel plays along with another who is ready to read. How can you meet all of their needs and still provide appropriate challenges and fun for all? Find the secret to make your class a perfect fit for everyone! |
Multiple Intelligences: Putting it to use in your classroom
Howard Gardner’s research demonstrates that children can be “smart” in many different ways. Come and explore these ways and see how you can tap into those different intelligences and make learning fun for everyone! |
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Tapping into Toddlers: Intertwining fun and learning effectively
Creating fun and educational lessons and learning centers can be challenging for those working with two’s. These young learners are filled with curiosity and yet need safe and structured environments. Learn effective and practical ways to combine it all. You will be amazed at the results |
The Perfect Segue: Fantastic and fun transition activities for you!
What do you do to keep the children from running wild as you transition from one activity to another? This workshop is filled with tantalizing songs, games and activities that provide the “glue” that holds your class together! |
Emergent Curriculum: Who’s planning your program?
Many teachers believe that emergent curriculum leaves the topics and ideas for learning up to the children. This philosophy makes us nervous and wondering who really is in charge! I will show you key components of emergent curriculum & how to balance the children’s interests with your quality planning to satisfy everyone! |
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“So What Was That Story About?” Assessing and Teaching Reading Comprehension
Duke and Pearson (2002) say that “Comprehension instruction is best when it focuses on a few well-taught, well- learned strategies.” This workshop does just that! You will discover a variety of ways to build comprehension through storytelling, predicting, drama and retelling skills. |
A Belly Full of Laughs! Bringing humor and laughter into your classroom & daily life!
Learn the benefits of using laughter and humor with your children. Humor can be used to teach coping and relationship skills. This workshop sends the message that each of us is capable of achieving great things, especially if we have fun doing it! You will be amazed at the positive influences they have on you and the joy humor brings to your students! |
Developmentally Appropriate Practices – what is it really?
We’ve all heard about it, know that it is relevant to our teaching and know that we are to focus on these practices in our daily teaching, but what is it really and how to we make sure that everything we teach falls within DAP? Find out the research that has influenced DAP and how to infuse your lessons and practices with DAP! |
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Cooking in the Classroom: Math, Science…Fun - all rolled into one!
My hands-on cooking projects show you how to infuse your program with practical cooking everyday. |
Bonjour, Ciao and Shalom! Involving culturally diverse parents in your program
Involving culturally diverse parents in the educational setting can enhance the academic performance of young children. Learn how to overcome barriers and open your doors to the endless possibilities of cultural diversity! |
Kindergarten readiness: Are you preparing your preschoolers?
The pressure of SOL’s is creeping down to our early childhood programs and everyone is getting nervous: parents and teachers alike. Come and learn what children entering kindergarten really should be able to do and strategies to implement these skills in a developmentally appropriate way! |
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“Say Cheese!” Using photographs to document, teach and assess in the classroom
Children love to look at pictures of themselves. Learn how to capitalize on this thrill and turn it into productive ways for teaching and assessing the students in your class. The focus is on cognitive, social and behavioral skills. |
“Here’s to your health!” Having fun with nutrition and fitness
Do your kids think that a healthy snack is a chocolate bar or exercise is walking to the drinking fountain? Let’s change the lifestyles of our children! We’ll explore the importance of physical activity and good nutrition and start them on the road to healthy habits! |
Once Upon A Time: Using read-aloud stories to build literacy
Children love to look and listen to read-aloud picture books. See how to use that love and interest to build literacy skills with your children. Learn to incorporate skills for oral expression, vocabulary development, phonological awareness, letter knowledge and early word recognition, print and book awareness and even written expression just through reading and talking about books! |
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“Ally, Ally, In Free!” Using games to promote learning
Games were a big part of our growing up, but are becoming extinct today. With over-programmed schedules and parent fears of outdoor play, our children are being robbed of the wonderful learning opportunities playing games provides. See how you can bring these games back into their lives and FUN for everyone! |
Promoting Meaningful Learning: Creating environments that embed real-life learning
The pressure is on us to promote academics and yet our intuition suggests that we still let our children play. This workshop shows you how to balance those needs to teach life-long learning situations that develop persistence, problem-solving, inquiry and thinking skills and yet feel like they are just having fun. |
Learning Styles: What is yours and how can you use it to enhance your teaching?
Have you discovered your preferred learning style? This workshop is fun and informative as we learn about our own learning strengths and challenges, what it means about us and how we teach, and how to channel those into positive teaching strategies for our students! |
Enhancing Circle Time: Going from blah to bravo! - Are your children rolling around on the floor, interrupting your songs and stories and just generally acting up during your circle time? This workshop is designed to show you ways to use this time to teach, build and practice skills along with games, role playing and fun interactions that will make children yearn for circle time!
Creating Theme Units Your Children Will Love! - Studies show that when children can connect information in logical ways, they will be more likely to retain it. This is where utilizing themes is so helpful. This workshop will help you select and prepare themes that will bring out their natural curiosity and desire to learn to make a win-win situation for you and the children.
Kindergarten Readiness: How are you preparing your preschoolers? - Kindergarten readiness implies that children are ready or not ready so, what does it look like to be ready? What are characteristics of a child that may not be ready? This workshop works to define those differences to help you council parents wisely.
Creating Theme Units Your Children Will Love! - Studies show that when children can connect information in logical ways, they will be more likely to retain it. This is where utilizing themes is so helpful. This workshop will help you select and prepare themes that will bring out their natural curiosity and desire to learn to make a win-win situation for you and the children.
Kindergarten Readiness: How are you preparing your preschoolers? - Kindergarten readiness implies that children are ready or not ready so, what does it look like to be ready? What are characteristics of a child that may not be ready? This workshop works to define those differences to help you council parents wisely.