Keep scrolling for list of offerings.
For Overcoming Burnout series click on box at bottom of the page.
Testimonials from Participants
“I love Ellen’s energy.”
“Ellen was great. So many specific suggestions for us to take home with us.”
“I would not change a thing.”
“Ellen’s stories are relatable because she actually does the hard work of guiding children and families.”
Early Childhood
Professional Development
With over 27 years of experience in the field of early childhood education and with a strong commitment to child-directed learning, family-centered approaches, strengths-based leadership practices. Positive Spin impacts and inspires early childhood professionals to maximize their potential as educators by encouraging them to create healthy practices to combat burnout and inquiring in a manner that brings positive results to their life and their work.
*New offerings for 2024!
*Getting Curious and Leaning In
Asking families, colleagues, and children the right questions can open the door to learning, understanding, and openness. Join Ellen Drolette as we dive into understanding and guiding the way in which we ask questions. This session offers a strengths-based approach to relationships and understanding that questions can be life-giving.
*Utilizing Motivation Theories as a Tool for Overcoming Burnout
We all want our teachers to feel supported, but how does that play out in the day-to-day? The relationships that teachers build with children, coworkers and families hold a critical role. Join Ellen Drolette to explore the theories that impact these types of relationships, as well as the environmental factors that play into overcoming burnout.
Communication with Families and Coworkers
Communication systems are as valuable as attendance, filing, and diaper-changing systems. Good communication is the foundation for creating a team that works well together. The work of educators is firmly routed in relationships. Let’s chat about difficult conversations and discuss ways to overcome the fear of straightforward communication that is used in a kind and intentional way.
Transforming Workplaces
“Words create worlds; inquiry creates change; images inspire action; we can choose what we study; positive questions lead to positive change.” We transform workplaces through practice and intentional change based on what we want more of. The power is undeniable when we use strengths-based approaches and listen to all perspectives.
This session can be offered in multi-parts, as a staff/board retreat, or through consultation. Reach out for more information and cost.
The Potential that Play Gives
The potential for play is powerful. Creating a playful, joyful environment where all children feel included and supported is imperative in making sure that all children make gains. Join me for play. This is an active session that involves movement and hands-on activities.
Building Positive Relationships
Participants will explore theories that impact relationships, mindsets, and behaviors in the classroom with children, co-workers, and families. We will also explore the role of the environment in overcoming burnout, both the physical space and the energy put out within the program. Building positive relationships with colleagues, families, and children is at the heart of the work we do every day.
In this session, participants will learn about theories in the field that can immediately be applied to their work. Participants can add strategies to their growing toolbox by using the approaches provided. Finally, participants will compare fixed and growth mindsets, learned helplessness, and optimism.
Pivoting, Resilience, and Collective Grief
Pivoting became a trendy word starting in 2019 when the Covid-19 pandemic wreaked havoc on every aspect of our life. So why have these past few years been hard? How is resilience vital as we dig out from under the past three years of pivoting like a ballerina? Join me to learn how grief plays a part in our evolving world and what can be done to keep our minds and spirit healthy and thriving.
Meaningful Family Engagement
Meaningful family engagement and relationships are paramount to the success of an early childhood program. Come learn how to create connections with families. Learn how the values of a program become shared values with families. Learn why sharing outcome goals with families while sharing the program's vision is an asset to the business. This training works well for center-wide staff professional development.
Advocacy for Early Childhood Educators
Learn the most effective way to have your voice heard as your advocate for yourself and your colleagues. Not everyone is born ready to testify to Congress and know that advocacy happens in your home. Everyone learns the importance of advocacy in different ways and at various levels. This training will help you create strategies for advocating for your cause and your passion. Applicable for all levels
Self-Reflection as a Tool for Growth
Self-reflection is deep thinking about your character, motives, and actions. Without self-reflection practice, there is no self-awareness. Guided self-reflection can help people set goals and create a plan for making intentional changes in their work and personal lives. This training applies to all levels and is helpful when creating individual professional development or program improvement plans.
Examining Privilege and Implicit Bias in Early Childhood Settings
In this introductory training, participants will explore what it means to have “white” privilege. As a group, we will explore the simple meaning of anti-bias, implicit bias, and anti-racism. Participants will take a detailed look at their classroom environment to examine it for inclusivity. What do the book area, dramatic play, wall hangings, and other areas have all year round to show diversity in race, color, gender, religion, age, disability, or national origin? Do programs use a tourist curriculum approach? Are families represented? Participants will plan an inclusive environment for young children and explore their practices. Self-reflection questions are presented throughout the training. The trainer is not an expert in anti-racism and can speak on white privilege and the value of knowing our privilege and how this plays a role in perpetuating implicit bias or digging deeper to gain understanding. The trainer will bring books, props, and activity ideas to share.
The Power of Appreciative Inquiry in Early Care and Learning Programs
Appreciative Inquiry (AI) is a positive change management approach that focuses on identifying what is working well, analyzing why it is working well, and doing more. The basic tenet of AI is that organizations, programs, and individuals will grow in whichever direction people focus their attention on. Participants of this training will learn the AI principles and the 4-D model. Then, through questions, storytelling, and continuous dialogue, they will design strategies for creating a program culture that values open and curious mindsets.
Art and Literacy in ECE
Creating open-ended art experiences for children can be messy, loud, and sometimes complicated tasks. So come and join Ellen as participants learn to incorporate stories of famous artists, works of art along with movement, and music into their programs. Participants should arrive ready to move, paint, and play.
Workplace Culture in ECE
Workplace culture is the shared values, beliefs, attitudes, and assumptions that people in a workplace share. Sometimes, these are not always healthy and are referred to as a “toxic work environment.” Changing the workplace culture is not on one person, and the responsibility must be shared. This training will cover tips on creating a more inclusive, welcoming, and positive culture that will improve teacher retention.
Appreciative Leadership in ECE- a two-part training
Part 1- Join Ellen Drolette as she dives into Appreciative Leadership in ECE. Appreciative Leadership is about using the principles and 5-D model as a framework for leading your team, classroom, or program. If you are a headteacher, director, administrator, or run a family childcare program wanting to take on a leadership position or to be empowered to create a program you dream of, then AI can help you achieve this. Between Part 1 and Part 2, Participants will brainstorm what affirmative topic they are ready to tackle with their team. Finally, we will discuss generative questions that are life-giving.
Part 2-Review of Part 1. In Part 2, Participants will move toward taking a deeper dive into the AI practice. As a group, we will reframe problems and learn how to use an AI consultancy tool. This session will be spent in small and large groups and practicing the consultancy and discussing your affirmative topic. After tackling AI independently on a personal or classroom level, you will be ready to discuss it further with others.
Positive Spin’s Leadership Seminar Series and Reflective Practice for ECE
*Each session is 3 hours, followed by reflective practice exercises to be done from home. Potential for 12 hours of PD.
Part 1. In Part one, Participants will explore leadership styles and identify where they would like to see themselves. Participants will be able to identify seven leadership styles. Participants will explore what leadership looks like in today’s technological world. As a group, we will discuss delegating, supporting, directing, and coaching.
Part 1 Reflective Practice exercises
Part 2. In Part two, participants will dive deeper into active listening. Active Listening is a skill or trait that every leader needs. They will also take a look at their vision statement, mission statement, and philosophy. Then, as a group, we will discuss documents, and participants will decide if these statements identify their organizations.
Part 2 Reflective Practice exercises
Part 3 In part three, the group will focus on growing leaders. Many years ago, I was told to start looking for your replacement when you begin your leadership journey. In Part 3, we will discuss ways to grow leadership skills for your organization. Participants will learn how to plant seeds of confidence in future leaders. As a group, we will explore tools and resources.
Part 3 Reflective Practice exercise
Part 4 In Part four, participants will learn about community collaboration and collective impact. Participants will be able to define these two terms and compare and contrast their current practices. Participants will look at how collective impact can create a stronger team and do a deeper dive into how the wider community ties into your organizations. Lastly, each participant will create a leadership plan for the future that will guide their leadership journey.
Resilience, Strength, and Creating Positive Change in ECE
Each of us is in a very different place than we were in 2020. Everyone has a story of vulnerability, courage, bravery, resilience, and strength that brought you to the place you are in today. Undoubtedly, much has changed since we left our workplaces in mid-March of 2020. Let’s dive into the fear and anxieties we all share today and create positive strategies for our eventual glorious return to our little communities. What of these strengths you gain will serve you well in your profession? What healthy habits were formed or forgotten while away from our work? How has the meaning of healthy changed over time? Participants will identify characteristics in themselves that represent resilience, create positive strategies for their return to the ECE workplace, contrast habits formed, and create a plan to work towards a healthy return to work.
Happiness, Joy, and Playfulness in Early Childhood
Have your staff meetings become a checklist of all of the things that people should not be doing? Is there laughter? Does the staff leave the meeting feeling pumped up and ready to face a new day with energy? Learn some techniques to bring back to your staff to help turn around attitudes and create a more joyful, playful environment.
Creating Positive Change, A Curious, Growth Mindset, and an Appreciative Culture
Appreciative Inquiry (AI) is a positive change management approach that focuses on identifying what is working well, analyzing why it is working, and doing more. It is a process for facilitating positive change in human systems. We all are navigating our households and the eventual return to our programs. What mindset are we bringing back with us? Where are we focusing our attention? What questions are we asking? Join me as we take a look at AI principles that can guide you in your work and personal life toward creating a more appreciative and refreshing stance.
Physical Development and Your State’s Early Learning Standards
This dynamic, interactive session will examine the relationship between your state’s early childhood education Standards and physical activity in early education programs. Participants will learn a variety of activities for multi-age groups. We discuss ways to adapt activities for different ages and abilities. Participants will use the standards to create intention when planning for physical movement. Participants should come ready to participate in comfortable clothing to play in. If the weather permits, we will go outside. Prepare for laughter and fun!
Art and Literacy in ECE
Creating open-ended art experiences for children can be messy, loud, and sometimes complicated tasks. So come and join Ellen as participants learn to incorporate stories of famous artists, works of art, movement, and music into their programs. Participants should arrive ready to move, paint, and play.
Inspiring Play and Creativity with Loose Parts Inside and Outside
Participants will explore loose parts, where to find them, how loose parts can be incorporated into different areas of learning in the classroom; Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, Math, and Literacy, as well as using loose parts outside. Ellen will bring all the necessary materials. Participants will learn the theory of loose parts and the low-cost, open-ended benefits of these learning materials.
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For a complete listing of Overcoming Burnout trainings-go to the Overcoming Burnout page below
Positive Spin also customizes early childhood professional development opportunities addressing our other areas of expertise: Early Childhood Workforce Capacity Building; Leadership Development; Appreciative Inquiry; Systems Thinking; Communities of Practice; Advancing ECE as a Formal Profession; Organizational and Systems Change; Community Capacity Building; Collective Impact; Trauma-Informed Practices; Early Childhood Workforce Resiliency and Self-Care, Play, Emergent Curriculum, Outdoor Learning Environments, Inclusive Program, and Organizational Cultures. Don’t see it? Ask me.