Relationships are at the core of our work as Early Childhood Teachers. Cultivating and maintaining positive relationships in our classrooms helps decrease discipline problems and increase learning. This training will give teachers tools based in Restorative Practices to support them in cultivating classrooms filled with positive relationships. This work will also support children as they develop social and emotional intelligence, communication skills, problem solving abilities, and conflict resolution skills.
This interactive training will include:
a brief overview of the goals and framework of Restorative Practices
specific practices to support us in the work of cultivating positive relationships in Early Childhood environments with and between our students
a deep dive into cultivating a classroom culture of listening which is a foundational practice of a peace classroom
clear conflict resolution strategies you can begin using in your early childhood classroom right away
valuable alternative to traditional discipline measures that can help repair relationships and teach young ones valuable skills along the way
This training will take place adjacent to Carolina Friends School’s Durham Early School campus.
“Lots of gratitude for all the prep, how you showed up, how you shared yourselves, how you held the space, were curious and caring!”
Presenters:
Susanna Lambert (she/her) is in her twentieth year as an early childhood educator, currently teaching fours at the Durham Early School of Carolina Friends School. Her experience studying early childhood practices and policies in Norway deeply influenced her professional values. An avid advocate for children’s rights, she envisions a future in which all children are empowered as citizens: free to engage with their community, explore their physical surroundings, share their thoughts, pursue their curiosities, and construct their own understanding. She works towards this vision daily, guided by the democratic Reggio-Emilia approach.
Susanna holds a bachelor’s degree in Psychology and an M.Ed. in Leadership, Policy, and Advocacy in Early Childhood. She also holds a Birth-K and K-6 North Carolina Professional Educators’ License and a Level 12 Early Educator Certification with the NC Institute for Child Development Professionals.
Susanna and her husband live in Durham. They have three children and can recommend Restorative Practices as a very helpful tool for raising teenagers.
Olynda Smith is a Certified Montessori Early Childhood teacher, Simplicity Parenting Family Life Coach, Certified Yoga Teacher for children and adults (RYT E-500) and Mother. Olynda has fifteen years of experience working with children and their parents. She has a deep love of the Montessori method and an understanding of the philosophy and method honed by her many years spent as a Montessori teacher. Olynda serves as the Early Childhood Education Coordinator for Peaceful Schools NC and she is the Early Childhood advisor to Tiny Earth Toys. She brings to all of her work a rich background in different parenting styles, educational practices, and most of all a deep respect for all parents, teachers, and children. Several of Olynda’s articles about work with children and yoga have appeared in Montessori Life Magazine. In all of her work, Olynda considers herself to be a “connection advocate” – helping people connect more deeply to themselves, each other, and the planet.
Olynda lives in Durham, North Carolina with her husband, two young children, and their goldfish Steev. She loves hiking, gardening, making herbal home remedies, and curling up with a good book.
Sara Orphanides is an early childhood educator who holds a strong vision of all children as competent and capable, with endless potential for building peace. This has led her to a 20+ year career in teaching and learning with three- to- six- year-olds, most recently at Carolina Friends School. Sara holds a Masters of Science in Education from Bank Street College of Education where she discovered the power of children, teachers, and families engaging in shared learning and research through multi-disciplinary projects. In addition to her work with Peaceful Schools NC, Sara serves on the leadership team of the North Carolina Reggio Emilia Collaborative, an organization that connects and trains early educators who wish to deepen their Reggio Emilia-inspired teaching practice through shared learning, reflective discussion, and hands-on explorations.
Registration:
Early Bird registration, before May 20: $140
Standard registration: $175
Group rate: Send four educators for the price of three
Additional 20% discount for schools in the Peaceful School Network
We are committed to making these workshops available and accessible to all. Email peacefulschoolsnc@gmail.com to submit a request for sliding scale registration rates.