Coaching Services and Staff Development
Our coaches support staff and administration through professional development workshops, staff meetings, age-group cohorts, and classroom teacher meetings. We focus on observations made in the classroom, emergent curriculum, more efficient and successful teaching practices, open-ended art experiences, teacher organization and planning strategies, classroom environment, documentation, and parent partnerships. In short, we help schools integrate developmentally appropriate best practices into their classrooms while encouraging a reflective approach to learning.
We offer our coaching and staff development services at a range of price points. Every school community’s needs and goals are different, and we are known for bringing a tailored approach to our work with schools. Our coaches will work closely with you and your staff to build a scope of work that reflects your specific and unique context and goals.
Please reach out to Jennifer Carvajal if you would like to inquire about any of these offerings for your school.
If your school is in need of financial assistance, please SUBMIT THIS FORM.
Potential Topics
The Provocations Menu: Examples of Different Types of Provocations
Learn how to inspire children with a variety materials
Identify possible next steps after observing the children’s responses to the initial provocations
Developing, Sustaining, and Documenting Emergent Curriculum
Discuss observation, note-taking and analyzing strategies and how they support emergent curriculum
Learn about a specific study and how it was developed as an example of emergent curriculum
Discuss process and final documentation as a way to track the study and communicate the learning
The Role of the Teacher
Discuss the role of the teacher as facilitator
Learn how to model, question, listen, and observe
Discuss when to lead, when to guide, and when to step back
Found Materials/Loose Parts
Discuss how to use found materials to support open-ended play experiences in the classroom,
Learn how materials support various types of learning and development.
See examples of children’s work from Beginnings and other schools with which we collaborate
Engage in a hands-on experience with found materials (optional)
Documentation: When, Why & How?
Learn the purpose and audience for documentation
Discuss the different between process and final documentation
See examples of unique types of documentation
Classroom Environments
Discuss and explain the environment as the third teacher
Learn key components to include in any classroom space
See examples of inspiring spaces
Observations & Note-taking: Systems and Purpose
Discuss note-taking opportunities and systems
Learn how to organize and analyze notes
Discuss how to use analysis to inform planning and next steps in the classroom
Creative Ways to Incorporate Literacy into a Progressive Classroom
Review the basics of how to teach reading, writing and language at the early childhood level
Learn how to use your read-aloud time to develop reading comprehension strategies
Learn how to create a writing center in your classroom
100 Languages/Open-Ended Art Experiences
Discuss the concept of the 100 Languages and how it relates to the classroom
Learn of a variety of materials that can be used in the classroom to support open-ended experiences
Engage in a hands-on experience with a specific material (optional)
Morning Meeting/Circletime
Discuss how to use this group time to build a community, strengthen literacy concepts, and support conversation and curriculum
Learn how to take this time from just classroom jobs to being the anchor of your day
Behind the Scenes: Intentional Planning in a Progressive Classroom
Learn systems and planning components to keep your classroom organized and intentional
Discuss beginning-of-the-year preparations, classroom environments, and observational/note-taking strategies
Holidays Through the Reggio Lens
Discuss how to plan for upcoming religious and secular holidays while keeping the children’s best interests at heart
Brainstorm big ideas, essential questions, and potential provocations/initiations for each holiday
Classroom Portfolios for Each Individual Child
Learn how to organize, track, and document the journey of each child through your school year
Discuss a variety of components that could be considered for the portfolio
Identify how to fit this expectation into your existing responsibilities
Sample Staff Meeting
TOPIC: Classroom Environments
Discuss and explain the environment as the third teacher
Learn key components to include in any classroom space
See examples of inspiring spaces
“We can choose to design spaces for miracles, not minimums.” - Anita Rui Olds
OVERVIEW:
In this presentation, we will discuss the meaning of the Reggio phrase, “the environment as the third teacher.” We will examine some of the key components of inspiring, child-centered, play-based spaces and view supporting images. Some of these concepts include seeking balance, including visual and physical accessibility, and incorporating nature. We will brainstorm changes to make to our existing classrooms and then break off into teaching teams to do the hard work! The coach will circulate through the school, helping teachers with challenging spaces and supporting their new ideas. We will wrap up the staff meeting with a tour of the re-invigorated classroom spaces.
What Participants Are Saying
“The most important thing is that the work we’ve done with Yeshnaya has been amazing - everything she touches turns to gold. The teachers have been so inspired by her!”
“I just want you to know how much I enjoy your visits. You help me see things that I might not otherwise see because I’m so in it, and you’re motivating my teachers to make changes, which isn’t always so easy to do.”
“I came away from our day of learning more prepared and eager to start the year. One of my staff called afterward and had the nicest things to say about your presentation, our ongoing professional development and validation about her pedagogy.”
“The work that Jennifer has done with us has been truly amazing. She has helped to move our school forward in a wonderful way.”
“THANK YOU for facilitating an incredible workshop with our staff!! The teachers came up to us afterwards and had such wonderful comments to say about the workshop. They had so much fun exploring and were also really inspired for their classrooms. The toddler teachers in particular went back and completely changed their materials on their shelves! ”
“We received some very positive feedback from the faculty about you yesterday! They really enjoyed having you visit the rooms. The meeting went very well and I noticed today as I walked around that both teachers in several classrooms were sitting together and fully engaged in meeting time with the children!”
