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an ACCRR Workshop
BCACCS offers training and workshops virtually and in-person throughout BC (in-person availability is dependent on public health restrictions). Our workshops are intended to enhance services that are provided to Indigenous families by training Early Childhood Educators (Indigenous and non-Indigenous), ECE students, parents, and volunteers. BCACCS offers online training that is available regularly throughout the year (including a Fall conference and a Spring Conference). Additionally, we provide custom training by request. We prioritize training to Indigenous programs, communities, and early childhood training institutions. We also offer culturally specific training to non-Indigenous service providers and CCRRs.
- Professional Development Certificates are provided to all participants who complete a workshop and can be used towards ECE certificate renewal within BC.
- We offer daytime, evening, or weekend workshops to fit your schedule.
- Some of our workshops can be shortened or lengthened to fit your schedule. Others require a set amount of time to deliver all the content. Please contact us to discuss details.
To discuss the facilitation fee, please contact BCACCS. Indigenous communities and programs, please note, that we will work with you to provide access to your training plans. If your community needs training, we can build a custom workshop for you or introduce a facilitator.
If you would like to learn more or book a workshop, please email [email protected]
All BCACCS Workshops
Cultural Competencies
The ECE Cultural competency project was co-developed by the Musqueam Nation, BC Aboriginal Child Care Society, City of Vancouver, Collingwood Neighbourhood House, and other community partners.
The ECE Cultural competency project was co-developed by the Musqueam Nation, BC Aboriginal Child Care Society, City of Vancouver, Collingwood Neighbourhood House, and other community partners. The end result was a series of five cultural competency video modules for early childhood educators and a supporting booklet, This Land: A Companion Resource for Early Childhood Educators to accompany Five Short Films.
Time: 2-3 hours
Enriching Early Child Care and Education Programs using the BC Aboriginal Child Care Society Cultural Kits
In this interactive workshop you will explore BCACCS Cultural kits which were developed to support the teaching of Indigenous knowledge, values and cultural practices, highlighting in particular our important relationship to land and place.
In this interactive workshop you will explore BCACCS Cultural kits which were developed to support the teaching of Indigenous knowledge, values and cultural practices, highlighting in particular our important relationship to land and place. Participants will discuss important considerations about protocols in sharing cultural knowledge with children, think about how to build relationships with cultural teachers in their communities and have a chance to discuss experiences for children focusing on the materials in two of our BCACCS Cultural Kits.
Moe the Mouse®: Making the Most of Moe
The Moe the Mouse® Speech and Language Curriculum Box is an innovative early speech and language curriculum box that uses Aboriginal toys and stories to enhance speech and language development in children ages 3 to 5.
The Moe the Mouse® Speech and Language Curriculum Box is an innovative early speech and language curriculum box that uses Aboriginal toys and stories to enhance speech and language development in children ages 3 to 5. Making the Most of Moe is a workshop developed, owned and facilitated by Anne Gardner and Margaret Chesterman, the Speech-Language Pathologists who developed Moe the Mouse® for BCACCS. This workshop teaches educators and parents how to use the Curriculum Box, and also reviews the basics of speech and language development in young children, strategies for supporting children’s speech and language development, and strategies for supporting children with speech and language delays in childcare, preschool, and home settings.
Facilitator: Anne Gardner or Margaret Chesterman
Time: One day
PLEASE NOTE that workshop participants do not receive a Moe the Mouse® Curriculum Box as part of the workshop; participants who decide (before or after taking the workshop) that they want to use Moe the Mouse® in their program must purchase the Curriculum Box from BCACCS.
PLEASE ALSO NOTE that BCACCS makes the scheduling arrangements for this workshop, but it is facilitated by outside contractors. We do not deliver this workshop ourselves, and professional fees are charged for the presentation of this workshop.
FOR MORE INFORMATION about purchasing a Curriculum Box and about workshop costs, please click here or contact [email protected]
Ages and Stages Questionnaires®: Social and Emotional (ASQ:SE-2)
The ASQ:SE-2 is another low-cost, reliable assessment tool that helps home visitors, educators, caregivers, parents and service providers to assess children’s social and emotional development.
The ASQ:SE-2 is another low-cost, reliable assessment tool that helps home visitors, educators, caregivers, parents and service providers to assess children’s social and emotional development. The seven key behavioural areas covered by this screening tool include: self-regulation, compliance, adaptive functioning, autonomy, affect, social-communication, and interaction with people. Workshop participants will learn how to use the ASQ:SE-2 with families in their program and learn more about children’s social and emotional development.
Time: 3 hours (often paired with ASQ-3™ for 6 hours)
PLEASE NOTE that workshop participants do not receive the ASQ-SE-2 screening tool at the workshop; participants who decide (before or after taking the workshop) that they want to use the tool in their program must purchase the ASQ-SE-2 from Brookes Publishing. To find out more about the ASQ-SE-2 go to this link: http://agesandstages.com/products-services/asqse-2/
Ages and Stages Questionnaires ®
The ASQ-3™ is a low-cost, reliable assessment tool for screening infants and young children for developmental delays during the crucial first 5 years of life.
The ASQ-3™ is a low-cost, reliable assessment tool for screening infants and young children for developmental delays during the crucial first 5 years of life. The questionnaire covers five key developmental areas: communication, gross motor, fine motor, problem solving, and personal-social. Workshop participants will learn how to use the ASQ-3™ screening tool with families in their program or community.
Time: 3 hours (often paired with ASQ:SE-2 for 6 hours)
PLEASE NOTE that workshop participants do not receive the ASQ-3™ screening tool at the workshop; participants who decide (before or after taking the workshop) that they want to use the tool in their program must purchase the ASQ-3™ from Brookes Publishing. To find out more about the ASQ-3™ go to this link: http://agesandstages.com/products-services/asq3/
Bringing Tradition Home: Aboriginal Parenting in Today’s World – Facilitator Training
Bringing Tradition Home (BTH) is a traditional Aboriginal parenting program designed upon traditional values.
Bringing Tradition Home (BTH) is a traditional Aboriginal parenting program designed upon traditional values. Delivering BTH in your community will require the input and expertise of local knowledge keepers who can add their knowledge and cultural teachings to the course for the benefit of parents. This workshop is designed as a facilitator training and will work with participants to consider how best to deliver the BTH parenting program in their own community. The training will also review ways to provide support and guidance to parents as they gain skills for supporting the development of young children.
Time: 6 hours
Understanding and Supporting Children with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder
Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) is a brain difference that is often invisible and affects 1% of all children born.
Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) is a brain difference that is often invisible and affects 1% of all children born. Children who have been born exposed to alcohol benefit greatly from early intervention and supports.
In this workshop we will cover:
• An introduction to FASD
• New diagnostic terms
• Strengths and Challenges commonly associated with individuals with FASD
• Strategies for supporting children and families
Time: 6-12 hours
Culturally Focused Early Childhood Programs
Learn to develop and implement culturally focused curriculum and resources that draw upon local First Nations cultures.
Learn to develop and implement culturally focused curriculum and resources that draw upon local First Nations cultures. Locally developed curriculum relies on input from parents, community members and knowledge keepers and is accepted and used more meaningfully by caregivers and child care centres. Participants of this workshop will be introduced to some the new cultural resources soon to be available through the BCACCS resource centre.
Time: 3 hours
Making Language Come Alive: Ideas for using Language Masters with Young Children
This workshop aims to assist educators to revitalize language with the support of the Language Master®. Many programs have a Language Master® in your storage room, long forgotten and underutilized.
This workshop aims to assist educators to revitalize language with the support of the Language Master®. Many programs have a Language Master® in your storage room, long forgotten and underutilized. In this workshops we will inspire you to dust it off and put it to work. The facilitators will share ideas for:
• Supporting your storytelling
• Teaching key new vocabulary, and
• Providing more opportunities to hear Elder’s voices
The Language Master® can support children to be educators, by being in control of their language learning through the use of this flexible tool.
Time: 1.5-2 hours
Team-Building, Leadership, and Management
This workshop aims to assist educators to revitalize language with the support of the Language Master®. Many programs have a Language Master® in your storage room, long forgotten and underutilized.
This participatory, interactive workshop explores and examines the topics of team building, leadership and management. Participants will learn about and discuss strategies and activities to promote teamwork, build a strong team, and become an effective leader. Come prepared to ponder and discuss questions such as: Why teamwork is important, what makes a team effective, and how can you develop and enhance your own leadership and management skills as well as encourage and nurture those skills in your colleagues? The session will include handouts as well as group discussions and activities to promote your knowledge, skills and awareness. This workshop can be adapted to explore the particular issues and topics that you want to focus on for your team. Please discuss with our specific needs with one of our Advisors when scheduling the workshop.
Time: 3 hours
Learning to Read Each Other: Teaching Emotional Literacy to Children
The strong development of social and emotional skills in children is one of the best predictors of academic and life-long success.
The strong development of social and emotional skills in children is one of the best predictors of academic and life-long success. In this age of technology children spend less time in face-to-face interactions which has an effect on their ability to develop critical emotional literacy skills. In this interactive workshop, participants will be introduced to a wealth of children’s literature that can be used as a jumping-off point for teaching Emotional Literacy. Together we will brainstorm and share ideas for expanding emotional content found in books, stories or legends and come up with ways to extend that teaching to other aspects of your program. Participants will leave with a book list and the generated ideas of how to get started right away.
Time: 2-3 hours
Introduction to Program Evaluation
Program evaluation is a tool used to measure whether a program is doing what it aims to do. It is an opportunity to improve and build on the existing program and to showcase our strengths.
Program evaluation is a tool used to measure whether a program is doing what it aims to do. It is an opportunity to improve and build on the existing program and to showcase our strengths. Through a combination of lecture presentation, small group work and hands-on activities, this workshop outlines the basics of program evaluation and discusses issues such as:
- Why we would want to evaluate our programs,
- What areas or aspects of our programs might we choose to evaluate, and
- How do we choose the methods and approaches that are best suited to our particular program?
Workshop participants will also be invited to look at some tools and strategies currently used for program evaluation in Aboriginal early childhood settings, and will be provided with reference materials and handouts to take back to their programs.
Time: 3-6 hours
The Importance of Positivity: Strategies to Increase Children’s Positive Behaviour
Educators who work with toddlers often struggle with how to deal with behaviour like biting, hair-pulling, pushing and grabbing. This workshop assists participants to understand the motivation behind this type of challenging behaviour.
Educators who work with toddlers often struggle with how to deal with behaviour like biting, hair-pulling, pushing and grabbing. This workshop assists participants to understand the motivation behind this type of challenging behaviour. We practice strategies that can assist with responding in the moment of crisis but most importantly we look at ways educators can promote problem solving and positive communication. Participants should come with an open mind, ready to share their stories and experiences and with energy to make changes in their practice.
Time: 3 hours
Enhancing Family and Community Participation in IELCC Programs
This workshop will help participants think about strategies to involve parents and community members in their Indigenous early learning and child care (IELCC) program.
This workshop will help participants think about strategies to involve parents and community members in their Indigenous early learning and child care (IELCC) program. There will be discussion about the importance of cultural safety, community protocol, and identifying useful local resources.
Time: 2-3 hours
EECERS/ITERS
Early Childhood Environmental Rating Scale (ECERS-R) and Infant Toddler Environmental Rating Scale (ITERS) are tools used to assess quality in Early Childhood Programs.
Early Childhood Environmental Rating Scale (ECERS-R) and Infant Toddler Environmental Rating Scale (ITERS) are tools used to assess quality in Early Childhood Programs. In this workshop participants learn how to use the tools in order to observe and determine program quality and provide recommendations for growth and improvement. Through this process, staff and program leadership learn about the ECERS/ITERS Assessment Tool and how to utilize the Scales for future program assessment planning and quality reviews.
Time: 3-6 hours
Creating Successful Environments and Curriculum for Infants and Toddlers
In the first three years of life children experience the most intensive brain development in their lifespan. In order to capitalize on this critical period of development very young children need to be in supportive, nurturing and engaging environments.
In the first three years of life children experience the most intensive brain development in their lifespan. In order to capitalize on this critical period of development very young children need to be in supportive, nurturing and engaging environments. In this workshop participants explore how to design dynamic and interactive learning environments. Together, we explore beautiful programs and activities created by other educators, share our own success stories and brainstorm new ideas. Participants review the benefits of observation and discuss how to adapt the environment and curriculum to best meet the needs of young children.
Time: 2-4 hours
Creating Storytelling Props Utilizing the Scan n’ Cut
Children’s language learning is supported when we can communicate in multiple modes at the same time. In this hands-on workshop we will learn about an exciting new tool (Scan n’ Cut) that will make creating felt boards and other paper visuals quick and easy.
Children’s language learning is supported when we can communicate in multiple modes at the same time. In this hands-on workshop we will learn about an exciting new tool (Scan n’ Cut) that will make creating felt boards and other paper visuals quick and easy. This workshop will help cultural workers, and educators create beautiful storytelling props. Participants are encouraged to bring their own stories and photocopied images you would like to make into a felt story.
Time: 2-3 hours
Creating Storytelling Props – Needle Felting
Learn how to create props to support storytelling for young children. In this workshop, participants will learn a simple way to felt by shaping natural fleece with a felting needle.
Learn how to create props to support storytelling for young children. In this workshop, participants will learn a simple way to felt by shaping natural fleece with a felting needle. Participants will leave the workshop with an animal they have created.
Time: 2 hours
Navigating Children’s Conflict
Educators often struggle with how to support child who are demonstrating behaviour such as biting, hair pulling, pushing and grabbing. This workshop assists participants to understand the what these types of behaviour may be communicating.
Educators often struggle with how to support child who are demonstrating behaviour such as biting, hair pulling, pushing and grabbing. This workshop assists participants to understand the what these types of behaviour may be communicating. Together we discuss ways educators can promote problem solving and positive communication as well as review strategies that can assist with responding in a moment of conflict. Participants should come with an open mind, ready to share their stories and experiences and with energy to make changes in their practice.
Time: 3 hours
Connections: A Strength-Based, Family-Centred Approach to Assessment
This introductory workshop, based on the “Connections: A Strength-Based, Family-Centred Approach to Assessment” BCACCS resource, highlights strength-based practices that support educators to increase their knowledge of screening and assessment tools and methods used in early childhood development.
This introductory workshop, based on the “Connections: A Strength-Based, Family-Centred Approach to Assessment” BCACCS resource, highlights strength-based practices that support educators to increase their knowledge of screening and assessment tools and methods used in early childhood development. Participants will receive an overview of the BCACCS resource and learn about the continuum of assessments and screening tools through practical and interactive activities. There is an extra cost of $30 for participant manuals.
Time: 6 hours
Community Asset Mapping
This workshop will help participants make the most of their community resources as supports for their ECE/ECD program.
This workshop will help participants make the most of their community resources as supports for their ECE/ECD program. The Asset Mapping tool helps a community recognize gaps in services so that funding needs become clearer and partnerships can be developed. Participants will practice using the tool through various activities. The Community Asset Mapping workshop may be partnered with the Introduction to Proposal Writing workshop.
Time: 2-3 hours
Caring for the Caregiver
This interactive workshop covers topics such as: How to recognize signs of stress and caregiver burnout and develop a self-care plan.
This interactive workshop covers topics such as: How to recognize signs of stress and caregiver burnout and develop a self-care plan. Participants explore ways to rebuild enthusiasm in your work life by reviewing self-care activities, dealing with feelings of anxiety and being overloaded, and creating positive support systems. The workshop will incorporate teachings from the Medicine Wheel and other cultural traditions. Participants will do a self-care make and take activity to support their wellness.
Time: 3 hours
Best Practices in Aboriginal Early Childhood Programs
This workshop is an overview of supportive practices in Aboriginal early childhood programs.
This workshop is an overview of supportive practices in Aboriginal early childhood programs. Topics discussed include implementing culturally focused curriculum, teaching traditional languages, networking, program policies and procedures, program evaluation and child assessments and screening. Participants should bring examples of program resources and materials for sharing. Participants can purchase their own copy of the BCACCS publication Handbook of Best Practices in Aboriginal Early Childhood Programs (2011 edition)($20 each for participants at the workshop).
This workshop is intended for newly developed programs or programs wanting to update their practices.
Time: 6-12 hours
Assessment, Evaluation and Programming System® (AEPS®)
The AEPS® is a comprehensive intervention and evaluation system for children from birth to six years old that allows ECE/ECD professionals to assess and monitor six key developmental areas: Fine Motor, Gross Motor, Cognitive, Adaptive, Social-communication, and Social.
The AEPS® is a comprehensive intervention and evaluation system for children from birth to six years old that allows ECE/ECD professionals to assess and monitor six key developmental areas: Fine Motor, Gross Motor, Cognitive, Adaptive, Social-communication, and Social. The AEPS® will assist in identifying educational targets tailored to each child’s needs, formulating developmentally appropriate goals, conducting before and after evaluations to measure the progress of interventions, and involving families in the entire process. Participants new to AEPS® will need to take further training before being able to use the tool fully. To ensure learning needs are met, the workshop is limited to a maximum of 25 participants. Participants are encouraged to bring their AEPS® manuals with them.
Time: Introduction or review 6 hours / full training 12 hours
PLEASE NOTE that workshop participants do not receive the AEPS® tool at the workshop; participants who decide (before or after taking the workshop) that they want to use the tool in their program must purchase the AEPS® from Brookes Publishing. To find out more about the AEPS®, go to this link:http://www.brookespublishing.com/store/books/bricker-aeps/index.htm
Utilizing Design Guidelines to Assist in Creating Quality IELCC Programs
Learn more about how to design a safe, culturally reflective, and healthy facility supported by the design guidelines created by the City of Vancouver and the City of Richmond.
Time: 3-6 hours
Understanding Anxiety: Learning How Fear Impacts Behaviour
Anxiety is a deceptive disability that masks the true feelings and motivations of individuals.
Anxiety is a deceptive disability that masks the true feelings and motivations of individuals.
Children’s real or perceived fears will often show up in challenging forms of behaviour. If we as caregivers react to these behaviours we only cement the underlying anxiety and end up increasing the overall problem. In this interactive workshop we will explore: how anxiety sometimes looks in children, how to see beyond the surface behaviour, and how to understand the underlying fears. We will discuss strategies that support all children in reducing anxiety and learning to take appropriate risks.
Time: 3 hours
