Learning Together
I enjoy creating engaging and inclusive learning communities. I believe people learn best when they feel comfortable in their environment and with their peers. That’s why I carefully design activities with a strong emphasis on respect and equity. My goal is to highlight and celebrate each participant’s unique talents, experiences, and knowledge. I also strive to share information that is accurate, relevant, and up-to-date. Ultimately, I want participants to feel at ease in our learning space while being thoughtfully challenged to explore new perspectives on quality care for children and youth.
Some of My Favorite Topics
From the Weikart Center for Youth Program Quality: The suite of 10 workshops, aligned to the SEL PQA and Preparing Youth to Thrive, are hands-on workshops that provide participants with SEL skills geared to improve the quality of staff interactions with youth and support youth SEL skill development.
Social-Emotional Learning
Because the AYD field traditionally values community, experiential learning and whole child development, we are positioned to play an important role in supporting young people with inquiry-based learning opportunities that inspire a passion for STEM.
Afterschool STEM
From the Weikart Center for Youth Program Quality: Built on more than 50 years of research and practice in positive youth development, these 10 interactive workshops are modeled on the Weikart Center’s pyramid of program quality & designed to give point-of-service staff practical skills they can implement immediately.
Youth Program Quality Methods
Since 2012, I've been lead author and a primary trainer of the 30-hour Basics course for new staff at licensed child care programs. These Basics are based on the Washington State Core Competencies for School-Age Child Care and Expanded Learning Professionals. They cover everything from working with families to program planning. Schedule me for any topic you are interested in, whether at the very basic level, or to help your staff go deeper.
The Basics of School-age Child Care
Play is more than fun; there's a significant body of research that tells up it's actually critical to both learning and to mental health. Even adults need play. Learn more about the research and strategies that support play, for children and/or adults.
The Power of Play
In Afterschool and Youth Development, we work with young people who spend hours of their day in school. Their experiences there impact their time with us and vice versa. Programs who have strong connections to school day personnel can offer many benefits to the youth and families they serve. We really are better together.
Partnering with Schools