Inspired Minds ECC Consulting Inc.

Build it Up!
2020-02-27 18:30 - 20:30 (America/Edmonton) | Minchau Child Care Centre, 4438 36 Ave NW, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
Designing Creative Block Spaces
Let’s Build! Children express their creativity and their perspective of the world around them in a variety of ways. One of the most popular play areas for this creative expression is in the block centre. In this play space, children become engineers, architects, urban planners, designers and more! Participants will learn the fundamental elements of a high-quality block area along with some fantastic activities ideas that can really challenge the young mind. Block play is for all ages and all stages – a place for every child to construct and put their ideas into a visual form. Have you ever tried adding socks or rolls of tape to this center? Help children develop social-emotional, physical, imaginative and cognitive skills as they explore this amazing play space in your classroom. This workshop will inspire the architect and engineer in all of us!

A Place to Play!
2020-03-04 18:30 - 20:30 | Global Aware Kids Care, 109, 1103 95 Street SW, Edmonton, Alberta, T6X 0P8, Canada
Creating Inspiring Play Spaces for Young Learners
Let me play!!! Children need room to run, climb, jump, get messy, read books, paint masterpieces and build worlds of wonder…how can we fit all of it into one place?! This workshop is designed to spur the imagination of how to effectively transform your everyday classroom into a magical play space for children to have fun and learn. Designing creative floor plans and getting some practical tips and strategies are just some of the activities you will be involved in at this workshop. This workshop will be sure to help you create an inspiring environment where you and your children will love to explore!

CANCELLED ~ Unlocking the Magic of Emergent Curriculum:3 Part Series (6 hours total)
2020-03-10 18:30 - 2020-03-24 20:30 | Riverbend Montessori Child Development Ctr, 536 Riverbend Square NW, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
Observing, Planning, Documenting and Reflecting on
Children’s Play and Learning – 3 Part Series (6 hours total)
Let’s journey further into the magical world of emergent planning – where children are the key! This extended workshop series provides a more comprehensive version of our introduction session to emergent curriculum. One of the best ways to learn new skills is to learn by doing and this is how we dive deeper into understanding emergent curriculum. We will go through each component of emergent curriculum in more detail and with lots of practice trying these strategies out ourselves. What is emergent planning? Is it effective? Will the children still enjoy the activities and learn? How does it work with the Alberta Flight Curriculum Framework? Discover the answers to these questions and much more as we look at some key tips and tricks to implementing an emergent curriculum. These workshops are designed to reveal the mystery and magic of the popular emergent curriculum concept and put it into practice in your classroom. Remember! Not all planning is the same – just like not all children or teachers are the same, so let’s figure out how to do it so it works for everyone!
Part 1: Observing with Wonder and Intentionality (2 hours)
Let’s start with observations! The core component to emergent curriculum is framed around our abilities to observe, record and interpret children’s interests, abilities, needs and learning styles. This first session will allow participants to practice and improve their skills in observations and learn some key elements to recording children’s interests. Identify what to observe, how to observe, when to observe and why this is all an important step in emergent planning. Observing and including all the children in your care will help you get a better understanding of what to plan next in your program.
Part 2: Planning Activities Where Children are the Key (2 hours)
Now, what do we do with these observations? The next session in this series will help participants interpret these observations and use them in their planning. It may sound simple but it’s easy to get side tracked or miss out on some key elements, so let’s try this together! Participants will use their observations to formulate a planning format that works for them. And since every teacher is different, it’s important to find a format that works for you and the children in your care. Think ‘outside the box’ and learn how to plan activities that are reflective of all the amazing things children do and say in your program.
Part 3: Documenting Samples of Play and Learning (2 hours)
The final session, and last component of emergent curriculum, is making children’s learning visible. How can we show what the children playing and learning and why it’s important? Express your creative side as we look at all the different ways to document the process of play – with a focus on documentation boards and learning stories. This make ‘n’ take session will give participants hands-on opportunities to create their own documentation board or learning story. Take your teaching practices to the next level of excellence and enjoy all the pathways in our journey of exploring emergent curriculum.

DAP Trivia Time!
2020-03-11 18:30 - 20:30 | Spruce Grove Playschool, 447 King St, Spruce Grove, Alberta, Canada
DAP Trivia Time:
Understanding Best Practices in Early Child Care
Are you DAP? What is DAP? This hands-on, full participation workshop is designed to get you involved in understanding Developmentally Appropriate Practices, Alberta Accreditation Standards and the Alberta Flight Curriculum Framework. What exactly is DAP? How does it affect my classroom and children’s learning? Come find out the answers to these questions and much more as we discuss the cornerstones of developmentally appropriate practices and learn how to implement these strategies in the classroom. Instead of just a discussion though, let’s follow the child’s lead and play! Get your teams ready as we transform this workshop into a game show extravaganza that makes learning fun

OSC FOCUSED ~ Let's Be Friends!
2020-03-12 18:30 - 20:30 | St. Albert Day Care Society, 6 Cunningham Rd, St. Albert, Alberta, Canada
OSC FOCUSED ~ Let’s Be Friends!
Building Positive Relationships through SEL and Bullying Prevention
In good times…in bad times…I’ll be on your side forever more! That’s exactly what children need – positive relationships and quality friendships. But it’s not as easy as it sounds. This workshop will help you understand children’s social development and how using social emotional learning (SEL) promotes positive friendships and strengthens an anti-bullying classroom. As we take at the 5 core components to SEL, we will learn how to implement these concepts through practical, fun hands on activities that will work for you and the children in your program. Learn a few tips and strategies that can work with the children in your program to build lasting relationships and get them on the right path to demonstrating positive social skills.

CANCELLED ~ Unlocking the Magic of Emergent Curriculum
2020-03-18 18:30 - 20:30 | Delton Early Learning & OSC, 12126 90 St NW, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
Unlocking the Magic of Emergent Curriculum:
An Introduction to the Emergent Curriculum Approach
Step into the magical world of emergent planning – where children are the key! The way we plan activities for children is changing as we focus on the interests and abilities of the children as the core concept behind planning classroom activities and plan activities with the children. What is emergent planning? Is it effective? Will the children still enjoy the activities and learn? How does it work with the Alberta Flight Curriculum Framework? Discover the answers to these questions and much more as we look at some key tips and tricks to implementing an emergent curriculum. This workshop is designed to reveal the mystery and magic of the well-known emergent curriculum concept and put it into practice in your classroom. Remember! Not all planning is the same – just like not all children or teachers are the same, so let’s figure out how to do it so it works for everyone!

CANCELLED ~ No Waiting! Get Them Shaking!
2020-03-26 18:30 - 20:30 | Discovery Land Child Care, 2562 Guardian Rd NW, Edmonton, Alberta, T5T 1K8, Canada
No Waiting! Get Them Shaking!
Learning Effective Transition Strategies
Oh, those lovely transition times…where chaos seems to reign, and things get a little crazy! But this doesn’t have to be the case if we learn how to provide effective transitions! Children are not able to sit and wait…or line up perfectly-every time…so why not make it fun for them and a smoother transition for you as well! Participants will identify the 3 core concepts behind effective transitions and practical ideas and activities to support each concept: Plan it – Provide Warnings – and Engage! We will touch on everything from visual daily routine schedules to fun transitional activities. This session is sure to increase your library of transitional strategies that will smooth that chaos and stress and turn it into an enjoyable part of your day. Get ready to shake, sing and be innovative as we brainstorm fun transitional activities that will inspire you and the children in your program.

ONLINE WEBINAR~ Building Stronger Teams Together!
2020-04-08 18:30 - 20:00
Building Stronger Teams Together:
Effective Team Communication in Early Childcare (1.5 hours)
Join us for a session of fun, learning and team building activities that help us to build stronger teams together. This session includes strategies and activities that will encourage you and your colleagues to work together, learn about your own communication behaviors, communication style and how to overcome obstacles and effectively resolve conflicts in order to move your team forward. Effective communication and working together as a team are the foundations to providing a quality early childhood environment that is fun for everyone!

ONLINE WEBINAR ~ I Like to Move It! Move It!
2020-04-09 18:30 - 20:00
I Like to Move it! Move it! Enhancing Physical Literacy in the Classroom
1.5 hours
Jump! Run! Stop! Crawl! Go! Children are definitely busy bodies and need a variety of activities to keep their bodies and minds healthy. In this workshop, participants will review what physical literacy means, skills we can promote through active play and learn practical and fun ways to implement these activities into their daily classroom routines. Come with a water bottle as we will all want to try out these activities ourselves!

ONLINE WEBINAR ~ Tinkering and Toying with STEM!
2020-04-16 18:30 - 20:00
Tinkering and Toying with STEM:
Engaging Activities to Support Science, Technology, Engineering and Math with Young Children (1.5hrs)
Boing! Tink! Rumble! Roll! These are the sounds of engineers and designers in the making! But where can we start to promote and support these creative minds? Through STEM! Supporting children on their journey of investigation, predicting and exploring can be a daunting task or a great way to spice up your early childhood classroom! Put on your thinking cap as we discover, tinker and toy with different ways to promote intellectual thinking with young children through hands-on and engaging activities! Let’s follow the children’s natural interests, sense of wonder and curiosity as they put on their thinking caps with these amazing science, technology, engineering and math activities designed specifically with them in mind! Let your creative mind flow as we build on our own ideas, abilities and materials that support these young thinkers.

ONLINE WEBINAR ~ Rocks and Sticks and Wonderful Things!
2020-04-23 18:30 - 20:00
Rocks and Sticks and Wonderful Things:
Creative Outdoor Play Experiences for Young Children (1.5 hrs)
It’s time to go back to our ‘roots’ and get outside to discover the wonders and adventures that the great outdoors has for us! Outdoor play and nature play give children an opportunity to learn in ways that develop their minds and bodies. This workshop will give you some great ideas of how to promote these wonderful learning experiences for children in creative and simple ways! Whether its bark rubbing, freezing bubbles or hopping and jumping through mud puddles – every child deserves a chance to freely express themselves and connect with nature.

ONLINE WEBINAR! Know No No's Overview
2020-05-07 18:30 - 20:00
Know No No’s:
Supporting Children with Difficult and Challenging Behaviours Using Positive Guidance Strategies – Overview
Expressions and difficult behaviours of young children can baffle us sometimes when we struggle to understand them. The key to remember is that all behaviour is a form of communication…we just have to figure out what they are trying to say! Which is sometimes easier said than done. This introduction session to positive guidance strategies is an interactive and informative workshop about why children engage in challenging and difficult behaviours and how we can get to the core of this style of communication. Understanding each child and being pro-active in our approach to guiding behaviours will help keep a calm and encouraging environment for young minds to explore and learn. We will identify the communication behind the behaviours, how to build resiliency, activities to promote self-awareness and self-regulation, activities to build positive social skills and what to do when the big emotions overwhelm the children. Learn some practical strategies that can help you and the children in your room. Our goal is not to fix the behaviour but to support the child in learning more positive ways to communicate their needs, wants and ideas through positive behaviours.

ONLINE WEBINAR! Beautiful Oopsies!
2020-05-13 18:30 - 20:00
Beautiful Oopsies:
Exploring the Creativity of Open Ended, Process Oriented Art Experiences
Ready to explore your creative side? Ready to help the children explore their creative side? Creativity and creative expression are different for everyone, so it’s important to provide a variety of creative outlets for children to express their own personal creativity. Providing open ended art experiences is one of these creative outlets for children. In these experiences, the focus is on self-expression, sensory exploration and the process of discovery and creativity. In this hands-on, make-and-take style workshop, you will get to explore and understand the beauty of open-ended, process-oriented art experiences through various materials and styles of creativity. Learn not only how creativity affects child development but also learn some great new ideas and strategies to try in the classroom. Learn how to balance those crafty activities with open ended activities. Don’t forget to take home your own masterpiece to inspire the children in your program! Time to get messy, explore and learn!

Online Webinar! Ooey Gooey Messy Fun!
2020-06-04 18:30 - 20:00
Ooey Gooey Messy Fun! Designing Sensational Sensory Stations
Learning through the senses is exactly what children need to explore the world around them. So, let’s respond to these needs and get messy with Ooey gooey sensory stations! This workshop will give participants hands on opportunities to explore a variety of sensory stations for all ages and stages. In addition to these fun activities, we will also cover why it’s so important to have multiple sensory play experiences for children and how it enhances their learning and development. We will cover the main five senses as well as the additional two senses that aren’t as commonly known but are equally important to children’s sensory experiences. So, roll up your sleeves and let the messy play begin!

ONLINE WEBINAR: Laughter and Learning with ABCs!
2020-06-10 18:30 - 20:00
Laughter and Learning with ABCs! Planning Exciting & Engaging Language and Literacy Activities
Do you sing the ABC Rock and Roll song? Have you read the story, Chicka Chicka Boom Boom Boom? Do you have natural letter blocks? These are great tools for children for learning language and literacy skills and there’s way more out there for them! Letter and Literacy are everywhere in a child’s world! From street signs, to labels on food to songs, to our communication with children. Children are constantly exposed to a world rich of robust language and literacy. So, how can we support this natural learning environment with intentionality and play with children? Let’s explore together! This workshop throws away those worksheets, flashcards and tracing pages to really focus on the natural process that children learn language and literacy – through fun, hands-on activities! Find out developmentally and age appropriate activities to spark children’s interest in the process of language and literacy learning. Let’s play, read, sing and learn together!

Online Training ~ Caring Connections
2020-09-16 19:00 - 20:30 | Online!, Alberta, Canada
Caring Connections ~ Interactions that Matter

The comfort of an encouraging smile. The caring reassurance after a fight with a friend. The excitement of co-celebration as they discovery a new skill. How we interact with children has a huge impact on children’s growth and development, not only their social emotional development, but also in their abilities to problem solve, resolve conflict, and take risk because they feel safe! Children rely on positive, supportive and encouraging adults in their live to show them they are respected, safe and loved. This type of interaction doesn’t happen just by supervising, asking questions or giving direction. It comes from a deep connection between the adult and the child. A connection that takes time to build and takes intentional interactions. Let’s learn some strategies of how to build this connection with ALL children – from the ones we struggle with to the ones who love us the moment they come through our doors. Understanding what each child need to feel a connection will help us establish that bond with each child and continue to see that relationship blossom. Connection is key!

Online Training ~ We All Belong (Inclusion)
2020-09-24 19:00 - 20:30 | Online!, Alberta, Canada
We All Belong ~ Inclusion Practices in the Early Years

We live in a world that is wonderfully diverse – not only culturally but also in our unique abilities. Some of us can sing while others can solve Sudoku in a couple minutes. Children all learn at their own rate and in their own way. It’s up to us, the important adults in their lives, to help them on this journey they are travelling on. In order to do this effectively, we need to understand what these abilities are, how they are unique to each child, and what we can do to support them. This is what we discuss in this session! Let’s talk about all the different learning styles of children, from extrovert to introverts, to children with Autism, hearing impairments or with sensory processing disorder. Every child can learn! Every child belongs! Let’s make sure we can set up our environment for every child and get them on their path to the future!

Online Training ~ Wonderful World of STEM
2020-09-29 19:00 - 20:30 | Online!, Alberta, Canada
Wonderful World of STEM: Exploration and Discovery Through STEM, STEAM & STREAM

STEM – Science, Technology, engineering and Math; STEAM – Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Math; STREAM – Science, Technology, Reading, Engineering, Arts and Math. No matter which acronym you use, STEM activities are bound to be a hit with children as they encourage problem solving, exploration, creativity, discovery, trial and error and collaboration! Children are naturally curious and want to try things out to see what happens. So, it’s up to us to provide these rich, playful learning opportunities to build on this natural instinct to explore and learn. Let them take the reigns on these activities as we take a step back and move away from teacher demonstrations to child led explorations!

Online Training ~ From Crying to Smiling
2020-10-06 19:00 - 20:30 | Online!, Alberta, Canada
From Crying to Smiling: Understanding Challenging Behaviors

Ever wonder WHY some children react in ways we just don’t understand? The screaming, biting and hitting came from no where! When a seemingly small situation throws them right into a major meltdown. Feeling like you’re at a standstill of what to do next? Well, then this webinar is for you! Join us as we discuss the why’s behind children’s difficult and challenging behaviors and how we can support them during these difficult moments. Learn what happens in a child’s brain when the are dysregulated and take away some tools that can help you bring them to a responsive state of mind. It’s not easy sometimes…but YOU are the one who can make a difference. YOU can help them move from reacting to responding by making meaningful connections and adding some great activities and strategies that everyone can use!

Online Training ~ The Daily Struggle (Conflict Resolution)
2020-10-14 19:00 - 20:30 | Online!, Alberta, Canada
The Daily Struggle: Facilitating Conflict Resolution

Conflict is something that we all experience on a daily basis. We all have our own perceptions and experiences and opinions, and with children…these opinions can get very vocal! It’s up to us, the adults in their lives, to facilitate how to resolve conflicts constructively so that our children can grow into success problem solvers and engage in healthy conflicts! It’s not an overnight process, but with positive supports, children will start to understand different perspectives and understand how to resolve conflicts in a healthy manner. Let’s help them on this journey of success and understanding!
Note: This session is for adults working with children ages 3 years+

Online Training ~ For the Love of Language
2020-10-22 19:00 - 20:30 | Online!, Alberta, Canada
For the Love of Language ~ Creating Joy Through Language and Literacy

It is one of the best moments we can experience with children ~ sitting down with them or laying under the shade of a tree and reading a book together! How often do we actually do this with children though? Language and literacy though is much more then just reading a book a week, practicing writing skills and memorizing letters, phonics and spelling. Oh no! There’s way more enjoyment to be had with enhancing our love of language. So, throw out those tracing pages and flashcard phonic cards and let’s bring back playfulness in language learning! Let’s explore some songs, poems, games, hands-on activities and movements that we can show children how much fun it is to listen, talk, read and write. Through children’s natural desire to understand the world around them and communicate with those in their lives, we can create an environment that is filled with rich and robust opportunities to explore language and literacy! So let’s spice up our love for language and get ready to have fun!

Online Training ~ Adventures of Play
2020-10-27 19:00 - 20:30 | Online!, Alberta, Canada
Adventure of Play ~ Exploring Risky Play

Taking risk is a necessary part of play. It’s part of how children assess what they can do, what challenges them and what to leave until a later date to try. However, many of us face obstacles, barriers and reluctance to accept this into children’s play. Join me as we discuss what risky play is, how it promotes development and how to overcome those barriers and obstacles. Let’s take a look at all the different levels of risk children engage in during their play and how we can help provide an environment that allows children to explore naturally – with risk!

Online Training ~ Mighty Transitions
2020-11-03 19:00 - 20:30 | Online!, Alberta, Canada
Mighty Transitions ~ Discovering Transitions that Work!

Oh those transitions! From here to there and back again. They could be a time of chaos or a time of calm – which one do we plan for?! That’s right! Transitions can be calm, fun and effective if we intentionally plan for them! A planning goes a long way when it comes to helping children transition throughout the day through multiple types of transitions. And since not every strategy works with every child, we need a whole pocket full of ideas (or a backpack full). So let’s get some ideas stashed away in our back pocket to pull out when we need them the most. During this session, we will brainstorm, practice and play some unique transition ideas that will be sure to add some zen and some flavor to your transition times.

Online Training ~ Observing with Intent (Emergent Curriculum)
2020-11-12 19:00 - 20:30 | Online!, Alberta, Canada
Observing with Intent ~ Enriching your Emergent Curriculum Approach

Every take the time to sit back and simply observe children playing? The conversations they have, even by themselves. The curiosity they show when they are exploring something new. The expressions of satisfaction when they are deep in thought in play and when they reach a personal goal. These observations of play tell us so much about the children’s perspective and learning journey, that we need to write this down and capture it! There are so many discoveries and ‘ah-ha’ moments throughout the day that it’s sometimes difficult for us to figure out what to write down though. So let’s learn together as we discuss strategies of intentional observations and practice how to conduct intentional observations that assist us in enriching our environment by implementing the emergent curriculum approach.

Online Training ~ Playful Planning (Emergent Curriculum)
2020-11-19 19:00 - 20:30 | Online!, Alberta, Canada
Playful Planning ~ Enriching Your Emergent Curriculum Approach

Playful learning experiences promote a sense of curiosity, exploration, and confidence, which are what we all strive to achieve when we plan for our early childhood environment and our children’s experiences. To achieve this, one of the most popular and best approaches is the emergent curriculum approach. This approach let’s the child lead the playful experiences and follow their own learning path. Our job, as early childhood educators, is to observe their interests and plan to extend on these interests. Being intentional on how we prepare the environment for these extensions is a key element to emergent planning. Join me as we discuss planning strategies that work for everyone. There is no ‘one size fits all’ when it comes to planning for children’s play, so let’s explore what your journey is with the children and how you can plan for play!

Online Training ~ Reflections of Playful Learning (Emergent Curriculum)
2020-11-26 19:00 - 20:30 | Online!, Alberta, Canada
Reflections of Playful Learning ~ Enriching your Emergent Curriculum Approach

After a full day of play, everyone is exhausted! Oh, but what fun we had! What learning transpired! It was a success! Before we forget of all the adventures and discoveries, it’s time to reflect. Reflection is a main factor when enriching your emergent curriculum approach. Reflection has many facets, and looks different for each educator and each group of children. In this session, we will look at the many different ways to reflect on playful learning; from documentation boards and learning stories to brainstorming for future experiences and revamping our environment. Personal reflection, team reflection and reflection with the children are all elements of this process. It’s time to capture the moments of play and joy in early childhood!

Online Training ~ Cultivating Creative Hearts and Minds
2020-12-09 19:00 - 20:30 | Online!, Alberta, Canada
Cultivating Creative Hearts and Minds ~ Open Ended Art Experiences for Young Children

Creativity is intelligence having fun! Alberta Einstein had it right with his quote on creativity. Children are natural artists, as all their masterpieces are a visual representation of how they see the world around them. Let us foster this self expression through open-ended creative art experiences! For children, the focus on art is the process of creativity, not the end result. So, let’s provide an environment full of creative materials that allow children to enjoy the creative journey and show us their colorful world!

Online Training ~ The Me, The You, The We (SEL)
2020-12-17 19:00 - 20:30 | Online!, Alberta, Canada
The Me, The You, The We ~ Facilitating Social Emotional Learning

Feelings! Feelings! And more Feelings! The everyday struggles of identifying and understanding big emotions is a tough gig for young children. It’s all so hard! But with the right positive supports, people and environment, children can thrive and build those skills required to manage these big emotions. SEL, Social Emotional Learning, is all about understanding the self, building empathy and build skills to understand and communicate effectively with others. Time to fill our SEL toolbox as we explore different activities, strategies and conversations to have with children to build their competencies. Let’s get together and learn how we can provide a place of vitality so every child can build the skills needed in SEL!

We All Belong!
2021-01-12 19:00 - 21:00 | Online!, Alberta, Canada
Inclusive Practices in the Early Years
We live in a world that is wonderfully diverse – not only culturally but also in our unique abilities. Some of us can sing while others can solve Sudoku in a couple minutes. Children all learn at their own rate and in their own way. It’s up to us, the important adults in their lives, to help them on this journey they are travelling on. In order to do this effectively, we need to understand what these abilities are, how they are unique to each child, and what we can do to support them. This is what we discuss in this session! Let’s talk about all the different learning styles of children, from extrovert to introverts, to children with Autism, hearing impairments or with sensory processing disorder. Every child can learn! Every child belongs! Let’s make sure we can set up our environment for every child and get them on their path to the future!

The Magic of Loose Parts
2021-01-20 19:00 - 21:00 | Online!, Alberta, Canada
Promoting Play with Loose Parts
Loose Parts! The possibilities are endless when we provide an arrange of loose parts (open ended) materials for children to explore. Remember the possibilities of a cardboard box?! Was it a den? A space ship? Or a 3D canvas to paint and draw on? The possibilities are endless! Join me as we learn the advantages of including loose parts in your early learning environment and how to promote creativity and adventure with children through loose parts. True play and imagination really shine when we add these valuable materials to our classrooms – the learning opportunities are endless! The experiences and memories are priceless!
