The details
I want to work with real issues. And I would rather be flexible with the course and meet your needs rather that talk at you. This course should be a co-creation working as the title says playing children at the heart of the matter.
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The cost is $350 per teacher and I will run for a minimum of 10. If you are also with me providing Parent infant classes on the same day, then I want to work with you and I would be happy to do for $350 but ONLY minimum of 5.
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This course is excellent for Professional growth cycle, as we can complete it for REAL change over 5 months, where you can make room, centre or relationship changes between sessions.
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I have been studying through the Pikler Institute for many years and only Pikler can do Pikler. The more important consideration is placing children at the heart of the matter. Looking at your philosophy and making your environment the best match for children.
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This course can be run quickly over 5 consecutive weeks or my preference ; once a month for 5 months.
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I can create a Thinkific online course with reflective questions for you team to consider as they start to make any changes
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Each session is not only me talking but more importantly you feeling, through the use of experientials that will get you thinking from the child's point of view
I'm Donna founder of Peaceful Beginnings
Peaceful Beginnings is my baby created with love
This me when I was Village kaitaiki of an ECE village about 3 years ago. My passion has always been supporting the adults to support the children.
I'm a keen observer both of my own journey and those around me. And as I have observed the people that I have worked with I have JUST NOTICED patterns. Which has helped me develop my theories in supporting teachers using my understanding of attachment theory, brain science and how the nervous system is developed. You will be surprised how much we bring into out own teaching without realising it.
I'm a little bit older and greyer BUT still just as passionate about supporting teachers
My courses are unique because of my unique education background
Before my own children, I was an intellectual disabilities nurse from the UK. I specialised in working with the most severe challenges working out what people needed in their lives. With the birth of my own children, I became hugely interested in child development. I never thought this would be where my new career would develop as an ECE teacher and then a parent educator. But my thirst for knowledge and supporting people has only grown.
WHY am I unique
Because my career has taken me from Learning disabilities nurse specialising in changing behaviour, through to anECE, teacher, leader and manager and now adult educator.
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A Pikler Pedagogue candidate through the Pikler Institute in Budpaest 8 years complete of a 10 year course (last case study and my thesis to do).
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Circle of Security Facilitator
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Stuart Shanker Self-Reg Facilitator
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InInterplay facilitaor (Working with parent/child trauma through play) studying to become a senior facilitator so that I can guide educators in ECE settings
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So as you can see I can gently weave attachment theory, brain, nervous system development and trauma into the relationship of adult and child. Making complex theories easy to understand.
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Everything I do is about connection, growth and relationships
Working with and alongside Donna has been a real journey of reflection, joy and passion
Emma owner Little Pioneers Bombay
Donna has made me reflect on who I am as a mother, woman and a teacher. I have learnt to looker deeper into what I am doing for and with the children to ensure I am offering my best for these young souls. Donna has supported me to find my “why” too so much of what I do with the children, as a mother and an ECE teacher. She has made me see beautiful relationships with all aged children and that if you ,listen you can hear what they need and want from you. The bonding of relationships is crucial and children need to be heard. We need to be advocates for our children without smothering them. Donna has taught me that there is so much significance and meaning to what we do with our children. We need to support them to prepare for the world ahead. Donna is wise beyond her words and her knowledge is deep and true. She holds true desire for all that she does and if you are lucky enough to be a part of her journey of knowledge you are blessed. I truly have grown through Donnas words and wisdom!
A head teachers reflection of me
I met Donna earlier this year when I joined her Circle of Security course. I had already heard much about Donna and the courses she ran which changed parent's way of parenting and also teacher's ways of teaching for the better. Her course supports parents, caregivers and teachers how to understand oneself, children and their relationships with clearer eyes, leading to more harmonious experiences for all.
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After many colleagues had highly recommended her Circle of Security course, I dived in and haven't looked back as I am now journeying with her as she test runs facilitating her new course which will incorporate her knowledge of Circle of Security, the Pikler method and Stuart Shankers Self Reg.
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Donna's knowledge of these topics is tremendous. As she facilitates the courses, she not only delivers the information clearly, but also helps participants to understand themselves better, therefore intwining an ability to personalise her course for each person within the group setting which I find to be a unique skill.
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I came away from the Circle of Security course with many 'aha' moments as I related and reflected upon the information transferred and continue to have 'aha' moments within my workplace as an ECE teacher 8 months later, making me, I believe, a better teacher and stronger advocate for young children.
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When Donna announced she would be looking for volunteers to participate in the trial run of her latest course, which incorporates all her learnings, I jumped at the opportunity knowing that Donna's knowledge is vital for creating positive change in the care of young children. The knowledge which Donna is imparting is very clear to understand, very relate-able and again, her skill to personalise the training to each participant within the group setting is remarkable. I am already using the knowledge I have gained in both my personal and professional life. But perhaps the most important gift I have received from Donna's courses is that I am becoming a more vocal advocate for the care of children as I now have the training and literature to back up what I have always felt was what quality teaching should look like.
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My hope is to have as many teachers as possible complete Donnas courses as the information is so important for our most vulnerable citizens who deserve the people caring for them to be knowledgeable of best practices within our early childhood centres.
Infant teacher I mentored
Donna has a way of BEing that supports you to look deep into your practice as an educator, helping you to develop your own “why” and see the beauty in all tamariki. I feel so lucky to have been trained by Donna; she is the reason I have stayed in ECE and has helped me to form many beautiful connections and respectful relationships with not only tamariki and whanau but also with myself. I highly recommend this course to all teachers in ECE or thinking of going into an ECE service. You won’t regret it!
From Ashleigh
I met Donna earlier this year when I joined her Circle of Security course. I had already heard much about Donna and the courses she ran which changed parent's way of parenting and also teacher's ways of teaching for the better. Her course supports parents, caregivers and teachers how to understand oneself, children and their relationships with clearer eyes, leading to more harmonious experiences for all.
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After many colleagues had highly recommended her Circle of Security course, I dived in and haven't looked back as I am now journeying with her as she test runs facilitating her new course which will incorporate her knowledge of Circle of Security, the Pikler method and Stuart Shankers Self Reg.
-
Donna's knowledge of these topics is tremendous. As she facilitates the courses, she not only delivers the information clearly, but also helps participants to understand themselves better, therefore intwining an ability to personalise her course for each person within the group setting which I find to be a unique skill.
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I came away from the Circle of Security course with many 'aha' moments as I related and reflected upon the information transferred and continue to have 'aha' moments within my workplace as an ECE teacher 8 months later, making me, I believe, a better teacher and stronger advocate for young children.
-
When Donna announced she would be looking for volunteers to participate in the trial run of her latest course, which incorporates all her learnings, I jumped at the opportunity knowing that Donna's knowledge is vital for creating positive change in the care of young children. The knowledge which Donna is imparting is very clear to understand, very relate-able and again, her skill to personalise the training to each participant within the group setting is remarkable. I am already using the knowledge I have gained in both my personal and professional life. But perhaps the most important gift I have received from Donna's courses is that I am becoming a more vocal advocate for the care of children as I now have the training and literature to back up what I have always felt was what quality teaching should look like.
-
My hope is to have as many teachers as possible complete Donnas courses as the information is so important for our most vulnerable citizens who deserve the people caring for them to be knowledgeable of best practices within our early childhood centres.