Trainings

Trainings

Hello!

Thank you for your interest in working with me to offer your staff training opportunities, or in participating in one of my trainings. It is always exciting to provide people the information and confidence they need to work with young children and families.

I am a child development specialist with a BS in Human Development and Family Studies and an M. Ed. in Organization and Management, specializing in non-profits and learning theory. I am also certified by 2 states as a public school teacher and certified by Oregon Center for Career Development in Childhood Care and Education as an Oregon Registry Master Trainer. I am qualified to train in all 10 Core Knowledge Categories.

Since 2001, I have provided hundreds of hours of training all over the State and teaching credited courses at community college. Many of my workshops have filled to capacity because they are dynamic, interactive, full of clear information, fun activities and individualized trouble-shooting.

All of the trainings listed below are approved by the Oregon Registry Trainer Program and/or other certifying organizations, so certificates may be provided to participants at the completion of each training:

our trainings

Training Level

Click “Set” number below to jump to the corresponding trainings

Core Knowledge Categories

Click title to jump to sort-able matrix

  • Human Growth and Development
  • Learning Environments and Curriculum
  • Understanding and Guiding Behavior
  • Observation and Assessment
  • Diversity
  • Special Needs
  • Health, Safety and Nutrition
  • Personal, Professional and Leadership Development

Age Group

Click title to jump to sort-able matrix
  • Infant/Toddler
  • Pre-School
  • Elementary
  • Middle School
  • High School
  • No Age-Related Content

Or choose from the complete list of our extensive selection of excellent trainings!

Set One

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Early Words

Infant/Toddler     Pre-School

  • Standardized training
  • Six 2-hour modules
  • Set One
  • Core Knowledge Category: Human Growth and Development, Learning Environments and Curriculum
  • OCCD certificate, Garden of Learning Certificate of Completion, or sponsoring agency’s certificate
  • COVID Discount $20 per module
Sign Up

Offered in the following format(s):

Face to Face

Webinar

Offered in the following format(s):

Face to Face

Webinar

Supporting Children's Social and Emotional Development Birth - 5

Infant/Toddler   Pre-School

  • Standardized training – (formerly Building Blocks for Social-Emotional Development)
  • Four 2.5-hour modules
  • Set One
  • Core Knowledge Categories: Human Growth and Development, Learning Environments and Curriculum, Understanding and Guiding Behavior, Observation and Assessment
  • This training addresses social and emotional development issues including, attachments, milestones, learning environments, guidance and behavior and responsive childcare for birth to 6 year-olds
  • OCCD certificcate, Garden of Learning Certificate of Completion, or sponsoring agency’s certificate
  • COVID Discount $25 per module
Sign Up

Discovering Potentials: Social and Emotional Development of School-Age Children, Module 1: Understanding School-age Children

Elementary   Middle School   High School

  • Standardized training
  • Four 3-hour modules
  • Set One
  • Core Knowledge Category: Human Growth and Development
  • What do we need to know to understand the school-age children and youth in our after-school programs? How do they change in the years between ages 5 – 12 What is the value of their relationships? How does brain development affect their thinking, emotions, and behavior? These 4 sessions equip school-age practitioners with the information and understanding necessary to tailor their programs to support positive social and emotional development of school-age children and youth.
  • OCCD certificate, Garden of Learning Certificate of Completion or sponsoring agency’s certificate
  • COVID Discount $30 per module
Sign Up

Offered in the following format(s):

Face to Face

Webinar


Offered in the following format(s):

Face to Face

Webinar

Asynchronous

Addressing Stress with the 4Ms: Mindfulness, Maintaining a Positive Attitude, Meaningful Engagement and Movement

Infant   Toddler   Pre-School   Elementary   Middle School   High School

  • One 3-hour module
  • Set One
  • Core Knowledge Categories: Health, Safety and Nutrition
  • Are you stressed? How does your stress affect you? How does it affect the children in your care? Are children living carefree childhoods? How can we create environments that are healthy for everyone’s mental health? We will recognize stress, its effects, and try out techniques to reduce stress in our lives and the lives of our children.
  • OCCD certificate, Garden of Learning Certificate of Completion or sponsoring agency’s certificate
  • COVID Discount $30 per module
Sign Up

Diversity in Elementary After-School Activities

Elementary

  • One 2-hour module
  • Set One
  • Core Knowledge Category: Diversity
  • You made it through your daily routines with the little kids. Then the big kids come in from school. They have lots of energy and need something to do! In this workshop you will get down and dirty, trying out some activities geared to elementary school kids. You will laugh through the class and go home with activities you can immediately use with the after-school children. The activities are easy to set up and fun to do. They each can be extended to longer projects or may inspire ideas of your own. In this workshop you will also learn where to find more activities.
  • OCCD certificate, Garden of Learning Certificate of Completion or sponsoring agency’s certificate
  • COVID Discount $20
Sign Up

Offered in the following format(s):

Face to Face

 

Recognizing and Reporting Child Abuse and Neglect

Infant/Toddler   Pre-School   Elementary   Middle School   High School 

  • Standardized training
  • One 2-hour (or 3-hour) module
  • Set One
  • Core Knowledge Categories: Health, Safety and Nutrition
  • This is the mandatory State training
  • OCCD certificate, Garden of Learning Certificate of Completion or sponsoring agency’s certificate
  • COVID Discount $20 ($30) per module
Sign Up

Water Education for Teachers (WET)

Elementary   Middle School   High School  

  • One 2-hour training (or length of your choice)
  • Great venue for a series of trainings
  • The goal of Project WET is to facilitate and promote awareness, appreciation, knowledge, and stewardship of water resources through the development and dissemination of classroom-ready, interdisciplinary teaching aids for K-12 educators, and through the establishment of state and internationally sponsored Project WET programs. The activities are based on best educational practices and engage students in the importance and prevalence of water in every aspect of our lives.
  • Garden of Learning or WET Certificate of Completion
  • A copy of the WET Curriculum and Activity Guide (NOTE: This is not a sales pitch. This is a publicly-sponsored program. The guide is free and requires no purchases, membership or obligations. The workshop simply teaches you how to use the Guide. Your only commitment is to teach students to be good stewards of the water on this planet.)
  • COVID Discount $20
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Project Learning Tree (PLT)

Pre-School   Elementary   Middle School   High School 

  • One 2-hour training (or length of your choice)
  • Great venue for a series of trainings
  • Focus on a topic of your choice involving the natural environment
  • This training will demonstrate several hands-on activities addressing the natural world. It will also teach you how to use the PLT Curriculum and Activity Guide, which is full of hundreds of pages of teacher-tested activities for all ages.
  • Garden of Learning or PLT Certificate of Completion
  • A copy of the PLT Curriculum and Activity Guide (NOTE: This is not a sales pitch. This is a publicly-sponsored program. The guide is free and requires no purchases, membership or obligations. The workshop simply teaches you how to use the Guide. Your only commitment is to teach students to be good stewards of their environment.)
  • COVID Discount $20
Sign Up

Set Two

Set Two

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Curriculum for Elementary After-school Activities

Elementary

  • One 2-hour module
  • Set Two
  • Core Knowledge Category: Learning Environments and Curriculum
  • This is geared to programs that serve school-aged children after school.
  • OCCD certificate, Garden of Learning Certificate of Completion or sponsoring agency’s certificate
  • COVID Discount $20
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Integrating Learning into Play

Pre-School 

  • Two or three 2-hour modules (or one 4- or 6-hour module)
  • Set Two
  • Core Knowledge Category: Learning Environments and Curriculum
  • Developing curriculum appropriate for preschool children, focusing on Areas of Study and Learning Centers.
  • OCCD certificate, Garden of Learning Certificate of Completion or sponsoring agency’s certificate
  • COVID Discount $20 ($40-60) per module
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Screens and Brains

Infant/Toddler   Pre-School   Elementary   Middle School   High School

  • One 4-hour module (or two 2-hour modules) for Infant and Toddler
  • One 4-hour module (or two 2-hour modules) for Preschool
  • One 4-hour module (or two 2-hour modules) for School-age
  • Set Two
  • Core Knowledge Categories: Human Growth and Development, Learning Environments and Curriculum
  • Are TV and video games bad? As media becomes more sophisticated, we need to become more sophisticated in our viewing. This workshop will explore the effects of our electronic devices on brain development. Participate in hands-on activities. Make healthy, yet reasonable, choices about viewing for infants and toddlers.
  • OCCD certificate, Garden of Learning Certificate of Completion or sponsoring agency’s certificate
  • COVID Discount $40 ($20) per module
Sign Up

Child Development - Advanced: Phases and Praises

Infant/Ioddler   Pre-School   Elementary   Middle School   High School

  • 6 hours (module count flexible)
  • Set Two
  • Core Knowledge Categories: Human Growth and Development, Understanding and Guiding Behavior
  • Just when you figure out a good guidance technique, the child changes. What to do now? We will survey some of the most prominent child development theorists in history. With this information we will be able to determine how to provide positive guidance and discipline appropriate for each age.
  • OCCD certificate, Garden of Learning Certificate of Completion or sponsoring agency’s certificate
  • COVID Discount $60
Sign Up

Observation, Recording and Assessment

No Age-Related Content

  • 6 hours (module count flexible)
  • possible to do for Chemeketa Community College credit, 1 Credit – if so then it would need to be scheduled for 10.5 hours, over the course of 3 days, with time for homework in between
  • Set Two
  • Core Knowledge Category: Observation and Assessment, or possibly Chemeketa Community College,1 Credit (ECE 068A)
  • This 6-hour training will define recording, observation, and assessment as well as why and how we do each.  We will examine what tools are appropriate for different circumstances we encounter while working with young children.  We will examine and evaluate some recording, observation and assessment tools commonly used in the field and reflect on our own uses of each.
  • OCCD certificate, Garden of Learning Certificate of Completion or CDA or sponsoring agency’s certificate
  • COVID Discount $60 per module 
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Professionalism and Ethics in Early Childhood Care and Education

No Age-Related Content

  • 10.5 hours, best scheduled 3 days with time for homework in between
  • Set Two (pending) or possibly Chemeketa Community College 1 Credit (ECE 068B)
  • This course will challenge you to take a leadership role in your profession and apply high standards to your job every day. We will focus on what it means to be a professional and how to practice professionalism in the childcare setting. A deep examination of the Code of Ethics will lead several of our discussions and assignments, during which we will apply real-life ethical dilemmas.
  • All students need to be working in a center while attending this course.
  • Garden of Learning Certificate of Completion or sponsoring agency’s certificate
  • COVID Discount $100
Sign Up

Temperaments Part 1: Working with Temperaments

Infant/Toddler   Pre-School   Elementary   Middle School   High School 

  • 2 hours
  • Set Two
  • Core Knowledge Category: Understanding & Guiding Behavior
  • Why do some kids touch your heart while others drive you crazy? Why do my guidance techniques and environment work for some kids but not others? “I just don’t understand this kid!” The first part in a series, learn how to identify temperaments, then make a plan to work with your kids while still developing a strong sense of independence. 
  • OCCD certificate, Garden of Learning Certificate of Completion or sponsoring agency’s certificate
  • COVID Discount $20
Sign Up

Temperaments Part 2: Planning for Child Development and Temperaments: This too shall pass... or will it?
Infant, Toddler and Preschool

Infant/Toddler   Pre-School

  • 2 hours
  • Set Two
  • Core Knowledge Category: Human Growth and Development
  • Why do some kids touch your heart while others drive you crazy? Is it their age or personality?“ I just don’t understand this kid!” In this part of the series, learn how to distinguish between developmental phases and temperamental differences, then make a plan to bring out the best in each of your kids.
  • OCCD certificate, Garden of Learning Certificate of Completion or sponsoring agency’s certificate
  • COVID Discount $20 
Sign Up

Temperaments Part 3: Stressors and Temperaments: Mindfulness and Resilience

Infant/Toddler   Pre-School   Elementary   Middle School   High School

  • 2 hours
  • Set Two
  • Core Knowledge Category: Understanding & Guiding Behavior
  • Why do some kids touch your heart while others drive you crazy? Is it their age or personality?“ I just don’t understand this kid!” In this part of the series, learn how to distinguish between developmental phases and temperamental differences, then make a plan to bring out the best in each of your kids.
  • OCCD certificate, Garden of Learning Certificate of Completion or sponsoring agency’s certificate
  • COVID Discount $20
Sign Up

Temperaments Part 4: Preparing for Special Needs and Temperaments: One, the other or both?

Infant/Toddler   Pre-School   Elementary   Middle School   High School

  • 2 hours
  • Set Two
  • Core Knowledge Category: Special Needs
  • Is this behavior normal? My kids never did that! Why do my guidance techniques and environment work for some kids but not others? After learning about temperament earlier in this series, we now focus on the warning signs of some basic special needs, then make a plan to support your kids with different special needs in light of their temperament.
  • OCCD certificate, Garden of Learning Certificate of Completion or sponsoring agency’s certificate
  • COVID Discount $20
Sign Up

Temperaments Part 5: Physical Places and Emotional Spaces: The effects of physical environment and caregiver emotions on childen's behaviors

Infant/Toddler   Pre-School   Elementary   Middle School   High School

  • 2 hours
  • Set Two
  • Core Knowledge Category: Learning Envir. & Curric
  • Why do some kids touch your heart while others drive you crazy? Why do my guidance techniques and environment work for some kids but not others? “This kid always seems uncomfortable no matter what I do.” In this part of the series, learn how to accommodate for hypersensitivities and adjust your own emotions for the good of your children.
  • OCCD certificate, Garden of Learning Certificate of Completion or sponsoring agency’s certificate
  • COVID Discount $20
Sign Up

Temperaments Part 6: What Fuels Power Struggles: and how to bring down their intensity?

Infant/Toddler   Pre-School   Elementary   Middle School   High School 

  • 2 hours
  • Set Two
  • Core Knowledge Category: Understanding & Guiding Behavior
  • Why do some kids touch your heart while others drive you crazy? I just don’t understand this kid!” In this part of the series, learn how to establish standards enforceable for all temperaments and practice best guidance and discipline practices through appropriate negotiation, then make a plan to bring out the best in each of your kids. 
  • OCCD certificate, Garden of Learning Certificate of Completion or sponsoring agency’s certificate
  • COVID Discount $20
Sign Up

Set Three

Set Three

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Making Meaning: Inquiry Method for School-Age Children: Encouraging Curiosity and Drawing Out Knowledge

Elementary   Middle School   High School

  • 3 hours (module count flexible)
  • Set Three
  • Core Knowledge Category: Learning Environments and Curriculum
  • “Educate” means to “draw out.” How do I draw out the knowledge and help children to apply their knowledge and connect it to make meaning? This method has been around a long time, but has been forgotten amongst all the new-fangled methods and techniques. Does it work well for any subject and any age? We will consider it as a practice across the curriculum and find ways for it to work with your youngsters. Prerequisite: training or course-work in learning theory at the Set 2 level.
  • OCCD certificate, Garden of Learning Certificate of Completion or sponsoring agency’s certificate
  • COVID Discount $30
Sign Up

Coming Soon

Other

Child Development - Introduction: Through the Eyes of the 6 Major Theorists

All Ages

  • 6 hour (module count flexible)
  • Set One
  • Core Knowledge Categories: Human Growth and Development, Observation and Assessment or Understanding and Guiding Behavior (Pending)
  • How do you explain why children behave the way that they do, and how does that help you in your work? Have you ever heard of Piaget, Skinner, Freud, Eriksson, or Vygotsky? How would they explain children? In this course, we will survey some of the most prominent child development theorists in history. This will give you a solid background as a childcare professional, and provide a base for further study you choose. So, roll up your sleeves, try out some experiments and compare your findings with the masters.
  • OCCD certificate, Garden of Learning Certificate of Completion, CDA class, or sponsoring agency’s certificate
  • TBA
  • COVID Discount $60
Sign Up

Super Simple Square-foot Gardening for Kids

Are you looking for a fun summer activity to get the children outside this the summer? Are you interested in the educational opportunities to teach about nature and plants but have never made a garden before? Are limited by space and time? Here is an easy, care-free and fun way to grow a vegetable garden with kids. This training will take you from building garden boxes to harvesting and eating your produce in ten short lessons.

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Healthy Planet, Healthy Little People

We will walk our way through the rooms and outdoor spaces of a typical childcare centers to examine a variety of sustainable topics and apply them to your own environments to help keep your children, the staff healthy while protecting the planet.

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Introduction to Autism

  • One 2 hour module
  • Set One
  •  Survey of case studies, differences between boys and girls and approaches to children on the spectrum 
  • OCCD certificate, Garden of Learning Certificate of Completion or sponsoring agency’s certificate
  • COVID Discount $20 per module
Sign Up

Service Learning, Community Service and Experiential Education

How do I set up community service learning opportunities for young people? How do I make it an educational experience? What resources are there to support my efforts? This is a wonderful endeavor for all parties involved and can be incredibly enriching if you know a few secrets. And I am going to share them with you!

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Brain Development

  • One 2-hour training (or length of your choice)
  • Registry Set of your choice
  • I have presented on topics such as television, screen time and its effects on brain development. I can present on other topics as well (the latest scientific findings on brain structure and function, how we learn, the effects of trauma and violence, etc.).
  • Garden of Learning Certificate of Completion
  • COVID Discount $20
Sign Up

Authentic Assessment

Kids have more tests than is good for them.  Would you like to provide a more integrated and “real “assessment when you are not required to use a test? This workshop will introduce some tools, techniques and methods that you might like to incorporate, including project-based learning, cooperative learning, using rubrics and self-assessment.

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For Further Workshops and Trainings:

If you have a different topic in mind, I would be happy to work with you to customize your request.

After you have a chance to review the available information, please contact me at the phone number or email address on the Contact page. I look forward to hearing from you.

"The best part was the openness and respect of the trainer. I have felt in some trainings that the trainer or program sees their way as the most accurate or BEST without appreciating other ways. The trainer created and environment of safety and respect. Thank you."

- A Training Participant