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GB Staff Continue to Learn

NEW! Introduction

Introduction

Gingerbread Staff Continue To Learn

Each year, Gingerbread staff participate in 55 hours of Staff Development.  This includes attending workshops and conferences as well as Early Childhood Educators coming to Gingerbread and training staff on-site and in our classrooms.

We believe to provide the best for our children and families, we must incorporate current research and practices from the Early Childhood field.

School Year 2007/08

This fall staff participated in three workshops:

Why YOGA in the Classroom? – Under the direction of Mollie Schrodie, certified YOGA instructor, staff learned about how they can incorporate YOGA as part of their classroom daily routines.  Current research shows how the practice of YOGA helps children socially and emotionally through teaching them how to “self-regulate” and ” self-soothes” as well as physically in the development of their core. 

On the Road to Writing – Robin Treto of Building Blocks Inc. presented to staff a workshop about the foundational skills needed to support children in future writing.  Specifically, the importance of developing large muscle groups which in turn will assist in the development of the small muscle development in the hands.  Staff learned about the importance of spatial awareness and helping children understand and use directional vocabulary such as top, bottom, middle etc.  Robin also gave staff an overview of the Handwriting without Tears curriculum that we began using last year.

“Continuing the Work of Engaging, Intentional and Purposeful Communication in the Classroom.” – presented by Jennifer Murphy, Speech and Language Pathologist.  This year Jennifer is training staff on the use of Expressive and Receptive Language and Social Emotional Skills.  This fall she presented a workshop on Expressive Language which is the words a child uses to communicate.   This includes the length of their utterance, vocabulary, and grammar used.  Staff learned how to help and support children in the use of expressive language.  Jennifer will be providing technical assistance in the classroom, helping staff practice the techniques presented in this workshop.

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