Professional Development

Overview

Heather Jackson, RECE, is our professional development coordinator and can assist you in customizing a workshop to meet your team’s needs. Heather has been to Italy twice on the North American and first Canadian study tour of the schools of Reggio Emilia.

The Sunflower School provides professional development workshops and study tours for early childhood educators who are interested in expanding their practice.

Workshops will include: The Theory of Loose Parts, The Big Idea and How To Get There, Sewing and Weaving with Young children, Working with Clay, Open Ended materials for young children, The One Languages of Children, Creating a classroom culture,  and how to incorporate them into your program, and an overview of the Reggio Emilia Approach to early childhood education.

Please watch the study tour video from the New Frontiers School Board of their visit at The Sunflower School.


Stay tuned for information on our upcoming workshops and seminars.


Programs available: (September–May)

Educator Tours (40 min tour of facilities & 20 min question/answer, $40/ person)

Observations (60 min, $40/person)

Tour and Observations (1.5- 2hrs, $50/person)

Professional Development Morning ($50/person):

8:30-9:00 Welcome/ Guided Tour

9:00-10:30 Classroom observations

10:30-11:00 Coffee and Conversation

11:00-12:00 Reflection and Professional Development Presentation

All funds for these tours and observations go to the Professional Development of our Educators.

Examples of presentation topics:

Heather Jackson, RECE and Director of The Sunflower Schools is the presenter.

• The Theory of Loose

• The Big Idea

• The “Whatness” of Materials

• Construction and Deconstruction of Materials

• Environments as the Third Teacher

• Provocations and Invitations in a Reggio Inspired Environment

• Full details can be emailed (kathleen@thesunflowerschool.ca) if interested

• Other topics available upon request

Should you wish to bring a group of students, please contact us a minimum of two weeks in advance. Students are welcome for reduced rates as we hope to be part of their learning and development as educators.

Heather Jackson our Director will do on-site workshops at your centers/schools.

We would love to share our school with you – please contact us at kathleen@thesunflowerschool.ca.

Workshops can be delivered at The Sunflower School or in your school/centre.

Please contact Heather by filling out the form below.