*Big news ~ April’s Teaching Tree has moved all of our early childhood professional development training sessions online for the remainder of Spring 2020! These sessions are approved for Vermont Northern Lights/ BFIS hours and are offered to early childhood educators for FREE thanks to our sponsors!
These sessions will fill fast but if you would like April Zajko, M.Ed. to offer a training for your ECE network or staff please send me to aprilzajko@gmail.com
~~ Growing a holistic view of childhood! ~~
Finding Your Way: Ethical Decision Making – 6 hours (Advance Specialized Care)
“This training uses reflection and conversation to introduce critical concepts in the NAEYC Code of Ethical Conduct. Participants will practice strategies to effectively manage ethical dilemmas that arise in their work with children, families, and coworkers.” FREE – Register at the link (Max 20)
Choose which session works for your schedule:
A.Wednesdays, April 22 & 29 9-11 a.m.
B. Wednesdays, April 22 & 29 1 – 3 p.m.
Building Collective Resilience = 3 day, 6 hour mini-conference — FREE — April 27-29, 2020 — Six different presenters are coming together to present a powerful online conference. April’s session is “Powerful Tools for Community Care” – Description: For years we have heard about the importance of self care and this continues to be important, but through the last few weeks we have seen the powerful influence and collective impact of a “Community Care”. This session will be packed with practical “Community Care” strategies we can use to support one another (both in person and through digital spaces). Topics will include: story circles, peer support chats, collaborative process art, professional reflective partner work, and finding your tribe.
Register at this link: https://www.theultimatemomentum.com/online-conference
Growing Outdoor Classroom – 6 hours – via Zoom – FREE – Max 20!
Online sponsored by Stephanie Carvey in Rutland, Vermont
(See description below)
May 4, 2020 6:00 pm – 7:30 pm
May 6, 2020 6:00 pm – 7:30 pm
May 11, 2020 6:00 pm – 7:30 pm
May 13, 2020 6:00 pm – 9:30 pm
Growing Outdoor Classrooms with April Zajko, M.Ed.
Sponsored by the Caledonia &, S. Essex and the Orleans & N. Essex Building Bright Futures
Format: Delivered by Zoom
Time: Mondays & Thursdays, 10:30 am- Noon
Dates: May 4, 7, 11, 14 (6 hours) Cost: FREE
Open first to early childhood educators who work in Caledonia, Orleans, Essex until 4/27/2020. (After 4/27/2020 if slots remain the workshop will be open to other Vermont ECE professionals)
To register email aprilzajko@gmail.com
Registration is limited to 20 ~ first come first served!
Description: Every outdoor classroom is as unique as the school or program that designs and builds it. This training will define terms related to outdoor classrooms, give an overview of what an outdoor classroom can become, help define key factors in how outdoor classrooms differ from typical playgrounds. Participants will explore the developmental benefits of teaching in an outdoor classroom and learn how to communicate these benefits to parents. Research confirms that learning outdoors promotes child development and learning in all domains – physical, cognitive, and social emotional. By understanding the benefits of outdoor learning, participants will learn ways to share information with stakeholders as a powerful way to communicate the value of creating nature inspired learning spaces. Once stakeholders understand how outdoor classrooms positively impacts student growth, development, and learning they will be more confident in investing time and money into building or expanding the outdoor learning space. ** Whether you are starting from scratch, transforming a traditional playground into a nature-inspired play area, or expanding an existing outdoor classroom – this training will help you define and prioritize design elements for your space. Participants will create the “Outdoor Classroom Map and Vision” which is a scaled map of your current space and how you would like to transform the space. In this model participants will also list their current resources, identify barriers, and create a wish list so that their vision of an outdoor classroom begins to take shape.
Learning Objectives:
- Participants will create a glossary of terms related to outdoor classrooms and explore an overview of what an outdoor classroom can become in early childhood programs.
- Participants will identify key factors in how outdoor classrooms differ from typical playgrounds.
- Participants will explore the developmental benefits of teaching in an outdoor classroom and learn how to communicate these benefits to parents.
- Participants will learn ways to share information with stakeholders as a powerful way to communicate the value of creating nature inspired learning spaces.
- Participants will create the “Outdoor Classroom Map and Vision” which is a scaled map of the current space and how you would like to transform the space.
- Participants will define and prioritize design elements for their space. Participants will be guided to list their current resources, identify barriers, and create a wish list so that their vision of an outdoor classroom.
P.O.W.E.R. – Path of Wellness Environment and Relationships
Sponsored by the Caledonia &, S. Essex and the Orleans & N. Essex Building Bright Futures
Format: Delivered by Zoom
Time: Friday mornings 8-9 a.m.
Dates: May 1, 8, 15, 22, 29, & June 5
6 hours
Cost: FREE
Open first to early childhood educators who work in Caledonia, Orleans, Essex until 4/27/2020.
To register email aprilzajko@gmail.com
Registration is limited to 20 ~ first come first served!
(After 4/27/2020 if slots remain the workshop will be open to other Vermont ECE professionals)
Description: As childcare providers it is easy to feel like we are giving away our power and begin to feel burned out. During this time of social distancing and facing the COVID 19 pandemic we are even more overwhelmed in how to care for ourselves. We will explore the eight domains of wellness and determine which areas in life we need to add focus and attention. We will discuss ways to improve the environments that we live, work, and socialize that align with our core values. We will brainstorm how to develop nurturing and supportive relationships as a way to build support for one another. Throughout the six week session participants will have the support of an ongoing group that will give them the opportunity for growth and transformation as they find their own path back to reclaiming their inner power.
Learning Objectives:
- Participants will practice recognizing and addressing issues related to vicarious trauma and compassion fatigue.
- Participants will explore the eight domains of wellness and determine which areas in their life they need to add focus and attention as a powerful way to develop meaning self-care routines.
- Participants will discuss ways to improve the environments that we live, work, and socialize to align with our core values. Journal prompts and guidance on how to begin a Reflective Practice will help providers become intentional in how they create safe, nurturing learning and work environments.
- Participants will create self-care actions plans with daily, monthly, and yearly goals to revitalize their own personal wellness.
- Participants will brainstorm how to develop nurturing and supportive relationships with other child care providers as a powerful way to find support in the field.
- Participants will explore how to establish “professional support teams” and “community care” models in order to foster joy and longevity in the field of Early Childhood Education
April's Teaching Tree 