Learning Together with Infants and Toddlers
This 2-day institute led by Deb Curtis and Lorrie Baird from Harvest Resource Associates, is focused on the inspirational and practical realities that working with our youngest children offer. Join us for lively conversation and engaged participation with props and stories. This workshop is geared towards those who work with children from infants - 3 years but those who work with preschool children will also benefit from attending the institute. Overview of Content
Negotiating the complexity of working with infants and toddlers
- Consider multiple perspectives
- Use a Thinking Lens to reflect on your work
- Enhance the joy and intellectual engagement in your work
- Design an engaging physical and social emotional environment
- Provided with interesting materials
- Observe the details of children's activities to seek their points of view
- Transform your view of infants and toddlers
- Use your power on behalf of children's lively minds
- Meet up with children's minds by focusing on schemas and approaches to learning
Morning snacks and lunch will be provided.
The Institute will be facilitated by the following Harvest Resource Associates:
DEB CURTIS is a passionate advocate for children and childhood. She has spent over 35 years working with children and teachers in early childhood programs, observing and studying children and child development. Her experiences have led her to a deep respect for children and their abilities, and a strong commitment to work in their behalf. Along with teaching children, Deb teaches teachers both in college settings, seminars and institutes within the United States and internationally.
LORRIE BAIRD has been working in the early childhood field for over twenty five years as a classroom educator, program and curriculum director, College Instructor and workshop facilitator. Currently she holds the position of Associate Executive Director with Kawartha Child Care Services in Peterborough, Ontario; an innovative large multi site organization inspired by the work of educators in Reggio Emilia. Lorrie has spent much of her professional career researching and exploring the principles of Reggio Emilia and Emergent Curriculum. She has a great passion for learning and offers workshops and Institutes that focus on reflective practice, pedagogical documentation, Communities of Practice, learning stories, and facilitating adult learning. Lorrie is an inspiring facilitator that connects theory and practice in her engaging sessions. Lorrie sits as a Director of Ontario Reggio Association, and is an Associate with Harvest Resources.
WENDY CIVIDANES as a former preschool and school age teacher has over 25 years of experience working with young children and families. For over 15 years Wendy was an administrator for a large non-profit child care program where she worked with a staff of 35 and 175 families. Wendy currently works as a training specialist and consultant for a variety of preschool and school age programs throughout the Washington DC metropolitan area. A particular area of interest for Wendy is working with staff and administrators to design structures and supports for reflective professional development. Other training interests include cultural sensitivity, team building, partnering with families, and staff coaching and mentoring. Wendy received her BA and MA in Human Development from Pacific Oaks College.
DEBBIE LEBO has over 25 years of experience working with children in a variety of settings: as an infant/toddler and early childhood educator, a hospital child life specialist, and a child care director. She also helped launch a child development program serving at-risk single parent families, and was a preschool teacher and curriculum coordinator there for 5 years. She holds a B.S. in child development and an M.A. in human development, and she is working on her doctoral degree studying reflective teaching and learning in early childhood education. In addition to topics around reflective practices, her training interests include pedagogical documentation (observing and studying children's development and learning), culturally sensitive curriculum, working with families, facilitating adult learning, team building and communication, and visionary leadership.