Professional Development

Young Investigators Project Approach Training:

An Overview of The Project Approach 1.5-2 hours

Audience: Teachers, Associate Teachers, Administrators of preschool, kindergarten through primary grades. 

This provides a overview of project work in order to build interest in using project work and investigation in the formative early years. 

An Introduction to The Project Approach Full Day (5 hours)

Audience: Teachers, Associate Teachers, Administrators of preschool, kindergarten through primary grades. 

This one-day training guides teachers through the process of learning how to enable active, engaged, meaningful learning experiences using the project approach to occur in preschool, K and primary classrooms. It provides instruction in defining active, engaged meaningful learning, identifying interests, helping children learn to investigate, and making field experiences meaningful.  A decision-making process for following children's interests while still meeting accountability is shared.  Several projects will be shared.  This workshop is based on Young Investigators: The Project Approach in the Early Years by Judy Harris Helm and Lillian Katz.  This workshop will enable some teachers to begin to implement, especially if they have support and encouragement.

Young Investigators: From Theory to Implementation Two Days (10 hours)

Audience: Teachers, Associate Teachers, Administrators of preschool, kindergarten through primary grades. 

This two day training, also based on Young Investigators:The Project Approach in the Early Years by Judy Harris Helm and Lillian Katz, provides a good foundation for implementation of project work in preschool and primary classrooms.  Participants learn how to use the Project Planning Journal and to facilitate a project from first topic identification to culminating experiences.  Topics also include how to make anticipatory planning webs that incorporate standards and required curriculum, how to follow children's lead, planning field trips, arranging for expert visitors, and celebrating project work.  

Young Investigators Implementation

Audience: Teachers, Associate Teachers, Administrators of preschool, kindergarten through primary grades. 

This model of Professional Development is spaced throughout 6-8 weeks.  It can be 2 days + 1 day +1 day.  Participants do a project in their own classrooms and return each time to share progress.  The last day is spent sharing projects, evaluating them and celebrating.  

Project Approach Training can be customized for organizations that have had previous training. 

Other Presentations and Training Available:

Custom workshops can also be created after discussing the particular needs of your group.

Artistic Explorations (2+ hours)

Audience: Preschool Teachers, Associate Teachers, Administrators 

Participants will learn the differences between process art and product-based art.  Following a discussion of process art, about 75 examples with photographs and descriptions will follow.  This workshop is best done in a classroom environment where the second half of the workshop can be spent playing with the materials and fully exploring them to create a comfort level before trying to use them with children in an open-ended way.  Photographs of this workshop in progress can be seen on the blog post http://playfullylearning.blogspot.com/2012/01/artistic-explorations-workshop.html

Learning Through Play (2 hours)

Audience: Preschool Teachers, Associate Teachers, Administrators and Parents

This is a beneficial presentation for teachers and parents who do not fully grasp the most developmentally way children learn in the early years: through their play.  This workshop takes an in depth look at the kinds of play, how this changes as children develop and what children are learning at each area in a typical preschool classroom.

Reading and Writing with Young Children   2 (2 -hour sessions)

Audience: Preschool Teachers, Associate Teachers, Administrators 

This is a two-part series on developmentally appropriate ways to saturate your classroom with reading and writing opportunities for young children.  It works well given in a situation where teachers can come back for session two bringing back an assignment given at workshop one.  Time for discussion after examining and reflecting upon current classroom practices in between the two sessions enriches the experience.  Depending on the size of the group, there can be time worked in for make and take options. 

Constructing Creativity and Competency Through Loose Parts Play (2-3 hours)

Audience: Teachers, Associate Teachers, Administrators of preschool & kindergarten children

This workshop explains the educational value and incredible STEAM learning that can be accomplished by adding loose parts to both the inside classroom materials and the outdoor play space. This training includes time for exploration of materials as well as how to educate parents on the use of this type of play. 

Playfully Learning: A Justification for Play in this Competitive Society (2 hours)

Audience: Teachers, Associate Teachers, Administrators of preschool, kindergarten through primary grades. 

Take a closer look at how the play of children has changed and the societal changes that have influenced this change.  An overview of the research on how children learn best, how the lack of play children are experiencing is affecting them and what we can do as parents and educators to make sure children are equipped with the skills they need for success without causing emotional and academic harm.  

The Code of Ethical Conduct (1 hour)

Audience: Preschool Teachers, Associate Teachers, Administrators 

This training meets one of the requirements in NAEYC Standard 6: Teaching Competencies, Preparation, and Support.  Staff will take a detailed look at The NAEYC Code of Ethical Conduct and practice implementing it using possible scenarios they may encounter in their work setting.  

Conflict Resolution (1 hour)

Audience: Teachers, Associate Teachers, Administrators 

This training supports NAEYC Standard 6: Teaching Competencies, Preparation, and Support, specifically 6D.8.  Staff will learn communication and collaboration skills that promote and support a positive work environment.   

Please email Dana at danagorman@playfullylearning.me to inquire about developing and scheduling the professional development or presentation that will work for your organization or event.