The following topics are available to be taught in-person or online in real time via Zoom.
Two-hour trainings are common, but topics can be expanded to 3 or 4 hours.
Need to make sure your training counts? Northern Lights sponsorship is available for a small additional fee.
Email for more information or a quote: EarlyChildhoodInsights@gmail.com
Understanding Challenging Behavior is a practical training for early childhood providers that builds insight into why young children display challenging behaviors and how to respond effectively. Participants will explore the developmental, environmental, and emotional factors that influence behavior; learn to identify underlying needs; and gain strategies for prevention and positive guidance. The training emphasizes supportive, relationship-based approaches that promote self-regulation, social-emotional growth, and inclusive classroom environments.
This training will offer teachers a framework for understanding children’s behavior and how adults can support all children in a diverse classroom. We will learn about different temperament types and identify the strengths and challenges of each different temperament. Participants will learn practical strategies for observing temperament, adapting environments, and responding to challenging behaviors in ways that honor each child’s individual differences. We will also reflect on how our own temperament impacts our approach and discuss strategies for increasing the goodness of fit in our relationships.
Challenging behavior can be extremely frustrating, especially when our usual tricks aren’t working. In this training, we will peek into the brains of children whose behavior adults find challenging and discover how their nervous systems may be driving their behavior. Then, through this new lens, we will explore brain-based approaches to prevent and address challenging behavior. We will also consider how our own nervous systems might be working against us during these moments and discuss ways to keep ourselves regulated in order to respond more helpfully to challenging behaviors.
Transitions are one of the most challenging times of day in an early childhood program and are a prime time for challenging behavior. This session provides practical strategies to help children move smoothly between daily routines and activities. Participants will learn why transitions can be challenging, how to reduce stress and disruptions, and how to use visuals, routines, and playful strategies to promote calm, confident transitions for all learners.
Strength-based coaching recognizes and builds on child care providers’ strengths and interests, helping them to improve their practice through supportive coaching and feedback. Learn what strength-based coaching is (and what it isn’t) and how to leverage the power of teacher’s strengths to address challenges in the classroom. Build your mentoring or management toolbox with new strategies and approaches as you learn the art of strength-based coaching in the early childhood classroom.
How do we offer the most effective early literacy practices in the early childhood setting? How can we use our everyday activities to best promote essential early literacy skills for each and every child? Through modeling, hands-on activities, and discussions we will learn about what research says are the most important things we can do to promote early literacy skills and practice ways to implement these strategies every day into our work with young children.
Basic Specialized Care is a six-hour introductory training for early childhood and afterschool professionals who serve vulnerable children and their families in regulated child care and afterschool settings. This training is one of the requirements to become a Specialized Child Care Provider in Vermont. Topics covered include caregiving together with families; child abuse, neglect, and trauma; understanding differences in development; and understanding children's behavior. You must attend all 6 hours for successful completion.
By request, I can design custom trainings that meet the specific need of your program or group.
Popular topics include:
challenging behavior
social-emotional development
early language and literacy development
culturally-responsive teaching practices
the impact of stress or trauma on brain development and behavior
inclusive classroom practices
early childhood theory
play-based learning and emergent curriculum
infant and toddler care
I am passionate about working with adults to create classrooms that support and celebrate each and every child. When working with adults, I strive to make information accessible, engaging, and relevant so they can make informed and intentional choices about their practice. My focus for professional development is on understanding the "why" behind the work paired with practical strategies that can be used immediately.
I hold a Master's Degree in Educational Psychology with a focus on differentiated instruction, and have additional graduate coursework in early literacy and early childhood and family mental health. I have spent my entire career in the field of education in a wide variety of roles and settings, working with every age group from infants to adults. For the last 17 years I have worked as an Early Care Consultant, helping early childhood educators problem-solve challenges in their programs and providing training and professional development to both new and experienced early childhood educators.
Along with my work as a consultant, I teach professional development through Northern Lights, as well as the Fundamentals course. I am an instructor at CCV, teaching Intro to Early Childhood Education, Strategies for Social Emotional Learning, and Teaching for Equity and Inclusion. I have presented at regional, state-wide, and national conferences on a broad range of topics, informed by my work in programs with providers.
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