Workshops

LET US HELP YOU CREATE A MEANINGFUL, EFFECTIVE EXPERIENCE FOR YOU.
CONTACT US AND WE'LL MAKE IT HAPPEN!

Small group activity
Response board

Our workshops, presentations and keynotes have been seen at conferences, seminars, or on clients’ sites. All workshops are tailored to fit your needs.

Depending on the time available, we can do more than one workshop in a day.

In a 3 day seminar series, we include several different areas.  We have offered several of these workshops over two and three day sessions.

We usually exceed expectations.  When you see ongoing positive change, you will be another happy client.

HILLTOP Early Childhood SERVICES’s primary consultant and keynote, Ellen Cogan, is a member of the NYS Cadre of Master Pyramid Model Trainers, offering several Pyramid Model Modules, parenting series, and coaching.  See the about us for more information on her credentials for training.

In the Spring of 2019, she offered one of the Westchester  AEYC Spring Workshops on Centers –  setting them up for enhancing children’s creativity.  In the fall of 2022, together with her colleague, Dr. Cecilia Scott-Croff, she offered a workshop at the national NAEYC conference Titled “Don’t Teach Science to Infants and Toddlers”  – how their own explorations help them learn and how to share this with other adults – families, staff members, etc.

Workshops are offered on each area of a typical classroom, using hands-on materials.

 

Here are key early childhood ideas:  How will all of them work together?  

  • Children need to play throughout the day.
  • Ongoing assessment helps us know where they are and what they need.
  • Social/emotional development is critical for success.
  • Learning activities should fit the needs of the actual children in the class. (Developmentally appropriate.)
  • Children learning English and those with special needs are included.
  • There are standards that have to be met (Head Start Performance Standards, NAEYC accreditation standards, etc.)

How can you bridge the gap between understanding all of these ideas and making it happen in YOUR program???
In a half-day, full day, or multiple days, we can make it happen in your center, with your staff.

Language and Literacy - some of our workshops are:

  • Integration of literacy throughout every area of the classroom
  • Integration of literacy throughout every time period of the day
  • Components of literacy
  • Invigorating story time
  • Language aquistion – speeding the time to learn new words by agreeing on common classroom terms

Math and mathematical concepts - some of our workshops :

  • Math is more than counting: other components of mathematic learning for preschoolers.
  • Piaget and math: keeping math expectations within children’s developmental abilities
  • Integration of math throughout every area of the classroom
  • Integration of math throughout every time period of the day
  • Integration of math with other specific content areas – for example, math and dramatic play
  • If they can’t count forwards to 5, how will they count backwards? More appropriate choices of math activities.

Other curriculum areas:

Making the discovery area (science) work for children and for staff

Social studies, science and weekly planning – or science and/or social studies are not learnd by making an “art” project.

Health and nutrition – implementing and improving family style, nutritous, culturally appropriate meals and snacks

Art – age and developmentally appropriate materials, media, environment -what NOT to say to children about their art

CURRICULUM – implementing an inquiry based curriculum. Note: none of the curriculum seminars, workshops, etc. provided by HILLTOP Early Childhood SERVICES are affiliated with or endorsed by any publishers of any currently available curriculum systems.  Furnishing examples of constructivist curriculum titles and/or trademarkss do not constitute endorsement of or connection to either the products or our services.  Based on constructivist curriculums such as Creative Curriculum, Bank St, High Scope and others and combined with the Project Approach, as well as Studies (Teaching Strategies’ name for the project approach), teachers learn that children really do learn more effectively when:

  • Curriculum evolves from their interests and abilities – it is not preplanned by people who never met these children
  • Children who are not interested in the central project are included in related activities or are engaged in another project
  • Active learning includess movement and children’s spontaneous conversations
  •  The entire learning day is viewed as part of the curriculum including routines
  • Learning is documented for and by the children
  • VERY few whole group activities take place
  • Children’s observational drawings are included
  • Relationships are deepened by meaningful conversations
  • Families are involved and engaged in the learning process
  • Cultural factors are included and appreciated
  • Staff is involved and engaged in the learning
  •  The process skills involved in learning are consciously taught – usually individually or in very small groups of children who need exactly those skills
  • Social competence and behavior skills are taught and encouraged daily
  • Required standards and regulatory requirements are met and exceeded
  • Learning is celebrated within the group and within the program as a whole
  •  Ongoing observations and assessments are reflected in curriculum experiences offered 

The triplets of Time, Space, and Learning

  • Space and time for meals
  • Classroom routines and transitions
  • Strategies to reduce children’ waiting times
  • Routines of the day
  • Routines for special events
  • If the wait is imposed, making it more fun
  • Room arrangement and classroom management
  • What’s on your walls?  Making displays appropriate and meaningful to children

 

  • Techniques to go with each area and the outdoors
  • Appropriate expectations for ages and stages of development
  • Age does not equal ability
  • Integrating special needs children in a typical classroom
  •  Multi-age classes
  • Active learning
  • The new director
  • Being “too nice” may be harmful to your center
  • Staff/staff or staff/parent conflicts
  • Creating and nurturing a climate of change
  • Working with Boards and/or being part of a larger organization entity
  • TEAM BUILDING and OVERCOMING RESISTANCE TO CHANGE
  • Helping Staff help children to cope with death and other trauma