Workshops

Morning Workshops

M-1. BEYOND FILLING IN THE BOXES: RETHINKING CURRICULUM PLANNING FOR PRESCHOOLERS
"I need a creative for Thursday and a sensory for Tuesday." If this sounds familiar and you are looking for ideas to help make your programming less tedious and more meaningful join us for this practical look at curriculum planning.

TRICIA DUMAIS is an ECE who has been presenting workshops for 5 years. She is a Senior Kindergarten teacher at Mooredale Preschool with 10 years experience. CHRISSY BELFOUR is presently completing her ECE at George Brown College. She’s a senior kindergarten assistant teacher at Mooredale Preschool.

M-2. CLUBS AND ADVENTURES – SCHOOL AGE
School age children love clubs and adventures! Clubs build skills and enhance knowledge which is one reason why they are a hit with school age children. You’ll participate in a “SPARK” activity which motivates children to become interested in a club. Participants will leave this workshop with a large selection of club and adventure ideas. This workshop includes group brainstorming, how to implement clubs and adventures, as well as some “hands on” experience.

HOLLY GERRITS has been the Manager for the London School Age Program (London Children's Connection) for 15 years. She currently manages 62 before and after school programs in London. She developed the curriculum for the “School Age Child Care Post Diploma Certificate” courses at Fanshawe College and teaches these courses through continuing education. Holly has presented for conferences in the United States, and across Ontario.

M-3. “CAN’T WAIT FOR SATURDAY??”
Does a colleague you work with have any of the following symptoms of Saturdayitis? Do they: watch the clock, call in sick often, resist changes to the curriculum or routines, resent it when you are away, show little joy in the children's accomplishments, show frustration easily when children misbehave, fail to show up at staff social functions, refuse to help with overtime? Come and join an interactive workshop as we look at the major causes and most effective cures for this disease. You may be able to help that colleague gain some enthusiasm and feel more satisfied with their job. Or, maybe they need to work somewhere else!!

PAT CAMPBELL is currently supervising a lab school childcare centre, teaching in the undergrad program, as well as 3 courses in the Day Care Management Certificate at George Brown College. As a therapist, early childhood and family life educator, she has designed and supervised programs for children and families in daycare, family resource centres, schools and hospitals. She runs her own consulting firm "Caregiver Care” which delivers on-site training to childcare staff and boards.

M-4. LITERACY AND MATH IN KINDERGARTEN
In Child Care we have the ideal opportunity to help children develop important literacy and math skills. These early skills play a tremendous role in a child’s success in school. This workshop will give you an overview of the progression of skills in math and literacy development. You will have the opportunity to learn fun and exciting hands-on activities to develop these skills. You will explore the benefits of using phonics in the classroom to build reading and writing skills, and self-esteem. You will also receive resources to take home at the end of the workshop.

KAREN MONAGHAN’s passion for teaching young children and her interests have led her to pursue a degree in Drama in Education, an ECE diploma, and training in Signed English and ASL. She has been teaching Junior and Senior Kindergarten for five years at N’sheemaehn Child Care Centre.

M-5. STRENGTHEN THE STRONGEST LINK
The success of any preschool or childcare centre comes from the strength of its professional team. Our workplace should be a caring community of professionals who support and appreciate each other. Together, we will explore how to continue building upon thaat successful team. We will examine the tips and tools, which will lead your team through identifying trouble spots, and help you with creative problem solving. These skills will enhance the team experience, build positive relationships, and improve morale. TARGET AUDIENCE – Directors/Supervisors

JOY LERMAN is the Professional Development Coordinator for Toronto & District PCPC, who has worked as a facilitator/ trainer in the field for several years. She provides workshops for professional staff, Boards of Directors, and parents. Joy’s interactive style provides workshops that are creative, dynamic, and energetic.

M-6. BLOCK PLAY BUILDS BODIES AND MINDS
This hands-on workshop focuses on the block centre. Children’s overall development can be enhanced through extended engagement with blocks and other accessories. Marvel in the complexity of young children's creative expression.

CINDY GREEN is a professional development consultant with Toronto & District PCPC and a professor in the School of Early Childhood Education at Seneca College. In addition, she has taught in the Resource Teacher/Early Intervention Program and the Early Childhood Educator Inclusion Practices Program. She has worked front-line and at a supervisor level. Cindy has created and hosted numerous workshops for staff, students, colleagues and families. At this time, Cindy is also a student in a Holistic Health Practitioner Program and passionate about health and well-being.

M-7. PROSOCIAL BEHAVIOUR TEACHING SOCIAL SKILLS
Why teach social skills? Come and discover the benefits of teaching prosocial behaviour by teaching social skills. The latest research on social skills development will be discussed, as well as how you can programme pro-actively rather than re-actively to the behaviour of young children.

CAROLYN HADCOCK has been involved in the Early Childhood Education field for 25 years. Her experience includes motherhood, front line staff and supervisor for 10 years at a co-operative nursery school. Carolyn is currently teaching part-time at Seneca College and consulting for Toronto & District PCPC. Carolyn is also a student of meditation and spirituality.

M-8. FUNDRAISING IDEAS
Fundraising is very important to our child care centres. It’s just as important to get staff and parents involved. This interactive workshop will offer many fundraising ideas for your centre to try! You will receive handouts to take away.

DARLENE SULLIVAN has worked for 20 years in the daycare field. She’ll be team teaching with 7 year veteran, TARA HAFFIZULLA. They both currently work as ECE’s at Sunny Faces Childcare.

M-9. STRESS MANAGEMENT FOR CHILD CARE STAFF
How many jobs in our society require that you be socially, emotionally, intellectually, creatively and physically active for virtually the entire time you are at work – NOT MANY! If not dealt with, the stress and burnout can be debilitating. In this workshop we will explore the common causes of stress and some ways of dealing with it effectively. Self-awareness and self-examination will be the focus of our session. Each participant will be asked to set personal goals.

ANNE MACIVER has spent 25 years working in the childcare field as a teaching staff, followed by several years as a centre supervisor. In addition to her full time work for municipal government, Anne provides workshops on a wide variety of topics relating to the work environment.

M-10. GETTING THE BEST OF BOTH: COMBINING THEME-BASED PROGRAMMING WITH EMERGENT CURRICULUM IN THE CLASSROOM
This workshop will discuss both theme based programming and emergent curriculum. Participants will find out how they can still program with themes but incorporate ideas that emerge from them.

LORI FOREHT is the Supervisor of Wychwood Tigers Daycare. She has a degree in Psychology. FLORENCE KIRCHNER is Assistant Supervisor of Wychwood Tigers Daycare and holds a degree in Sociology.

M-11. STOP THE BULLYING
This program utilizes a unique approach to provide educators with expertise about bullying and to assist in understanding and dealing with bullying. Participants will learn the basics about creating Second City Ambassadors at their centres. Participants will be split into groups who work together to coordinate a series of sketches depicting common bullying situations. Working closely with a Second City company instructor, participants will take their messages back to their centres and continue to spread the word.

JODY BISHOP is President and founder of Second City Education Company. He has extensive experience in education and business. Jody and his instructor will work closely with all participants.

Afternoon Workshops

A-1. FUN WITH PERSONALITY DIMENSIONS (TRUE COLOURS)
Personality Dimensions offers us a new way of understanding ourselves and others. Participants will gain a deeper understanding of challenges and conflicts in their lives as well as an appreciation of the different preferences of others. This workshop is a lot of fun and an excellent tool for team building.

DENISE KILBRIDE has worked 20 years in the field of Early Childhood Education, holding varied positions in centres with diverse populations including: inner city, rural communities and the private school system. She also coordinated the opening of a new innovative flexible part-time child care centre at York University. In addition to ECE, Denise has her Performing Arts Certificate which enhances the fun, interactive style of her workshops.

A-2. EVERYDAY SCIENCE
Science can be an intimidating aspect of any curriculum. This workshop will assist you in delivering a science component that will instil a sense of WONDER in the children. This presentation is a compilation of science activities that can be executed with everyday materials. Participants will have an opportunity for hands-on approach to simplified science. Come prepared for a fun, learning experience.

A-3. THE PARENT COMPLAINT DEPARTMENT -Much too big for a suggestion box.
Parents are our clients as well as our best advocates and public relations tools. Some parents are an ongoing challenge. Nothing you say or do seems to help. They can also be a great joy and present an opportunity to learn about different family styles and values. We need to support them in the difficult work of holding a job and raising children, often in a strange culture. This interactive workshop will focus on questions to find out ‘stuff’, strategies to resolve ‘stuff’ and resource materials, more stuff.

A-4. YOGA, AN EXPLORATION INTO BREATH
Stress exists. And it affects us all – even children. As a mother of two, Colette acknowledges this and realizes the importance of equipping our children with the life skills they will need to manage stress. Increased self-awareness, mental focus and flexibility are just a few of the benefits we can all gain with the practice of yoga. Through this experiential yoga workshop we will deepen our awareness of our breath and how it affects our mental and physical states. We will also explore imagery as a tool for captivating the attention of children, and ourselves!

COLLETTE GAUVREAU has been a practitioner of yoga for over 15 years. She is currently training at The Esther Myers Yoga Studio in Toronto. Teaching children and adults, Colette’s focus of instruction is stress reduction through awareness of breath and the principals of hatha yoga.

A-5. THERE IS NO “I” IN TEAM
Each of us has multiple team memberships, the work team(s), the home team, school/volunteer teams and others. In some teams we are team leaders and in some we are team members. In each team we have an important role to fulfill! In this interactive workshop we will discuss the essentials of teamwork, focusing on the role each person has in a team. We will discuss some strategies for team members to consider implementing to result in positive changes in how their team functions.

A-6. PERFORMANCE APPRAISALS – ARE YOU COACHING, COUNSELING OR CRITICIZING?
Performance Appraisals should be more than just an annual review of the past but about developing an action plan for the future. They can be a partnership process where staff members are encouraged to be active participants. Staff can learn to manage and measure their progress throughout the year. This interactive workshop will help you discover how valuable coaching can be in motivating and inspiring professional staff to achieve their personal best. TARGET AUDIENCE – Directors/Supervisors

A-7. ADVENTURES IN PEACEMAKING -SCHOOL AGE
You will learn how to initiate a “social contract” with older school age children and create a “peaceable being” with the younger school age children, as tools for involving children in developing and following the expectations of the school age program. In addition, you will discuss prevention, intervention, and invention methods for responding to conflicts. You’ll share ideas for building a sense of community in a school age program and explore the setting up of a “peace place” in the program room.

A-8. SIGN LANGUAGE FOR PRESCHOOLERS
Come and uncover the benefits of Sign Language for hearing children. Discover fun and interactive ways to incorporate Signed English in your preschool classroom. By learning signed words and the alphabet, you will discover how Sign Language can improve hearing children’s listening, attention, language, and fine-motor development. You will explore how to incorporate Sign Language throughout their preschool programs such as circle, transitions, and learning experiences. You will actively learn signs for familiar songs and games. Signed English dictionaries will be available for purchase. You will also receive resources to take away at the end of the workshop.

A-9. THE BENEFITS OF A DIVERSE MUSIC PROGRAM
This hands-on workshop will look at the benefits of music and how it affects early childhood development. We will explore many ways to make your music circle dynamic and demonstrate how music is the perfect teaching tool for enhancing all facets of child development. Participants will learn how to construct a diverse music program that will keep a child’s attention and understand some of the factors involved in creating a stimulating and interactive music event. Participants will learn how to boost a child’s self-esteem, increase their creativity and enhance memory development.

MICHAEL ANDERSON has been working in child care for over 20 years and has promoted music in other settings such as The Clarke Institute of Psychiatry, Earlscourt Child and Family Centre, Youthdale Treatment Centre, and The Redwood Shelter for spousal abuse. Michael was responsible for managing the Toronto District School Board’s Seamless Day Program at Parkdale Child Care, as well as Unicorn Day Care. He now operates Monkey Business Creative Services which provides music programs and presentations to over 50 child care centres in Toronto. He is currently finishing his third music CD.

A-10. STRATEGIES FOR CHALLENGING CHILDREN – BEHAVIOUR MANAGEMENT
This workshop will look at the whole environment as well as the child. In small groups, we will explore the temperament and personality of the children and staff, and problem solve challenging behaviours and situations. Helpful tips and ideas will be offered.

BETHELENE HART DA COSTA has worked for the Toronto District School Board for over 13 years in special education and as a Parent Worker. Bethelene is also employed as a childcare consultant with the Child Development Institute, formerly The Creche. She has been a workshop facilitator for over 15 years.

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