Teacher Workshops
Creating Educational Value in Everyday Play
(Audience: teachers of children age 3-7)
This workshop is designed to work with early childhood teachers and discuss how children learn language, reading, writing, math, science and writing through play beginning at a young age. The workshop will discuss specific skills young children are working on in each curricular area at every age and what this looks like in the classroom. This workshop is backed by research and best practices for young children. Teachers will set goals based on what they learn throughout the workshop and discuss avenues for communicating academic play to parents. Teachers will have time to reflect on their teaching practices and look at ways to easily strengthen their lesson plans both in written and action form. This is a highly interactive workshop.
Parent Connection
(Audience: teachers of children birth-Grade 3)
This workshop is designed to work with early childhood teachers and discuss the importance of connecting with parents. This workshop will discuss the ways to develop relationships with families and assist families in connecting with one another. This workshop will also discuss ways to inform/teach families about concepts and skills being practiced in the classroom, how this looks through play and conversation and how it can be supported in the home. We all know the key to a student’s success is their parents involvement…this workshop will give you the hands-on, start it tomorrow, ideas so you can continue to move into a partnership with your families.
Circle Time Activities
(Audience: teachers of children PreK-Grade 5)
This workshop is hands-on and highly interactive. You will gain ideas on how to enhance your large group time through greetings, games, and sharing. You will walk away with countless new ideas that you will be able to use immediately. Greetings, games and sharing are an excellent way to build community and trust within your classroom or group setting. You will see positive changes in your student’s interactions with each other and hear excitement every time you call “circle time!”
Creating a Peaceful Classroom Environment
(Audience: teachers or caregivers of children preK-Grade 5)
This workshop gives a proactive approach to discipline in the classroom. Many classroom practices come from the research based book, Responsive Classroom, including; morning meeting, rule creation, interactive modeling, positive teacher language, logical consequences, guided discovery, academic choice, classroom organization and working with families. Building a classroom community is essential to creating a peaceful classroom. This workshop is designed to be a discussion with many hands-on ideas of how to incorporate peace daily into your classroom learning environment through greetings, games, warm fuzzies, songs, jobs, signals and more. You will walk away with practical applications that you are prepared and excited to implement that day.
The Five Love Lanugages of Children
(Audience: teachers or caregivers of children birth-teenage)
This workshop is based on the book, The Five Love Languages of Children, written by Dr. Gary Chapman that sold over 600,000 copies world wide. Your student’s success depends on the love relationship between you and your students. When children feel loved, they do their best. But how can you make sure your student feels loved? This seminar will help you gain a deep understanding of the 5 love languages; quality time, words of affirmation, gifts, acts of service and physical touch. You will have tools to identify some of your “toughest students” love language and learn immediate, hands-on ways to love that student in his love language. You will learn how to incorporate all 5 love languages into your day to reach your entire class. When a child’s love tank is full his undesired behaviors will decrease as a direct result. Learn how to fill your students love tank today!
The Five Languages of Apology
(Audience: Adults)
This seminar is based on the book, The 5 Languages of Apology, by Dr. Gary Chapman. Understanding how to apologize with sincerity and clarity is vital to healthy relationships between co-workers, parents, family and friends. We hear and express the words and gestures of apology in a distinct language. This seminar will identify the languages of apology and detail proven techniques for giving and receiving effective apologies. This seminar will teach you how to teach the children you work with how to apologize effectively. It will also teach you how to apologize to the families you work with so your apology can be heard and felt as sincere. The 5 languages of apology that will be addressed are; express regret, accept responsibility, make restitution, genuinely repent, and request forgiveness. You will walk away knowing immediate ways to begin clearing the way toward healing and sustaining all your vital relationships.
Raising Readers and Writers
(Audience: teachers of children age 3-7)
This workshop is designed to work with early childhood teachers and discuss the importance and value of teaching reading and writing beginning at a young age. This workshop provides countless ways to differentiate learning to meet each student’s ability. Topics that will be discussed include read-a-louds, vocabulary development, creating literacy rich and print rich environment, the value of conversations and questions, games, songs, poetry, journals and artwork. Teachers will have time to reflect on their teaching practices and look at ways to strengthen their lesson plans both in written and action form. This is a highly interactive and hands-on workshop.
Monarchs in the Classroom
(Audience: teachers of children PreK-Grade 5)
This workshop instructs teachers on how to incorporate Monarch butterflies in their classroom to teach students about science, math, reading, language, writing, geography and more! Your instructor partners with the University of MN in providing this opportunity. Class length is ½ day and includes topics such as: rearing Monarch larvae, life cycle of Monarchs, Monarch migration to Mexico, reading & writing extensions, Math & Science concepts. All participants will be required to purchase the training manual from the University of MN. Monarch larvae will be provided for this workshop. Additional larvae can be purchased through U of MN or other contractors.