ZEPEDA LEARNING & LEADERSHIP

Learning Environments & Curriculum

Learning Environments & Curriculum (LEC): Knowledge of the relationship between physical space, activities, experiences, interactions and materials with growth and development. Creating developmentally and culturally appropriate learning environments and curricula to foster optimum growth and development of children.

If one of these trainings interests you, check our schedule. If you cannot find the training you want or if you want to host an in-person training for your program, let us know.

Learning Environments And Curriculum Schedule

Our trainings are online

PRESENTED BY LIVE TRAINERS

In-person trainings do not show the Online Training Icon in the top left corner.
For online trainings you will need a device with a camera, microphone, and speakers to participate.
Classes require active participation to receive a certificate.

Nature and the Arts:

Designing and Evaluating Art Experiences
Trainer Faye Zepeda

Lets get together and design some fun art experiences out in nature and using nature as our inspiration. As we design the experiences we will discuss the evaluation of the experiences, how they fit into your program philosophy, how they can be adapted for all ages. Let’s not forget educating parents and community members about these art experiences.

Set 3

$120

CKC

6HR Learning Environments & Curriculum

Age groups

Infant/Toddler, Preschool, School Age

Register For An LEC Trainings

Beyond Storybooks:

Six Sensational Story Structures
Trainer Faye Zepeda

Explore the basic elements of a story. Review six alternative story structures, methods, techniques, and approaches (Puppets, Flannel board, Painting/Storyboards, Sculpture, Rhyme, and Song). Connect story structures to early literacy skill development. Expand the storybooks you have. Create new resources to tell favorite stories.

Set 2

$120

CKC

6HR Learning Environments & Curriculum

Age groups

Infant/Toddler, Preschool

Register For An LEC Trainings

Developing an Educational Environment in Your Family Child Care Home

Trainer Faye Zepeda

Participants will explore creating a framework to promote an educational environment. You will create strategies in each area of the framework to introduce new content. Explore tools that you and the children in care can use to document their learning experiences.

Set 2

$60

CKC

3HR Learning Environments & Curriculum

Age groups

Infant/Toddler, Preschool, School Age

Register For An LEC Trainings

Don’t Drink the Kool-Aid:

How you can have a play based program in today’s world
Trainer Faye Zepeda

     It is time to stand up and educate parents and policymakers about play-based, developmentally appropriate childhood programs. We will look at theories around designing, implementing, and critically evaluating child-directed play environments. Don’t drink the Kool-Aid. Design your program how you want it, and become articulate and advocate for why it is appropriate for kids.

Set 3

$120

CKC

3HR Learning Environment & Cirriculum

 

3HR Family Community Systems

 

Age groups

Infant/Toddler – Pre-school 

School age

Register For An LEC Trainings

Exploring Cooking Curriculum with Young Children

Trainer Faye Zepeda

We will explore cooking activities that promote development and learning. Participants will practice using cooking tools and strategies to teach math, science, language arts, nutrition, teamwork, fine motor skills and social development. We will explore how to use cooking activities with all ages of children. (classroom, online) 

Set 2

$60

CKC

3HR Learning Environments & Curriculum

Age groups

  Preschool

Register For An LEC Trainings

Exploring Strategies to Promote Development and Learning through Bubble Fun

Trainer Faye Zepeda

Have fun while exploring strategies to promote learning and development blowing bubbles. Everyone loves to blow bubbles, they are amazing to watch and make. This will be fun, hands on training using everyday items and ingredients. You will be surprised how much children are learning and developing while blowing bubbles.

Set 1

$60

CKC

3HR Learning Environments & Curriculum

Age groups

Infant/Toddler, Preschool, School age

Register For An LEC Trainings

Nature-Based Materials and Activities for the Early Childhood Environment

Trainer Faye Zepeda

In this class participants will examine ways to enhance nature exploration in their indoor environment. Participants will explore activities, materials, and resources to engage children with nature and using nature to engage children’s excitement for learning.

Set 2

$60

CKC

3HR Learning Environments & Curriculum

Age groups

No Age-Related Content

Register For An LEC Trainings

Science Fun Strategies For All Ages

Trainer Faye Zepeda

Participants will explore science experiments that promote development and learning. We will examine how teaching fun science experiments, develops children’s development and learning. Science strategies teach math skills, cause and effect, cognitive development, language arts, vocabulary, teamwork, and social skills. We will explore how to adapt science experiments for children of all ages. (classroom, online) 

Set 2

$60

CKC

3HR Learning Environments & Curriculum

Age groups

Infant/Toddler, Preschool, School Age

Register For An LEC Trainings

Strategies to Support Learning and Development Using Technology

Trainer Faye Zepeda

Explore different forms of technology to promote children’s development and learning. Participants will discuss developmentally appropriate ways to use technology with children of all ages. Explore different forms of technology that providers may choose to use in their programs.

Set 2

$60

CKC

3HR Learning Environments & Curriculum

Age groups

Infant/Toddler, Preschool, School Age

Register For An LEC Trainings

The Role of Technology in Nature

Trainer Faye Zepeda

We will explore approaches, strategies, and tools to promote development and learning in nature. We explore using technology as a tool to promote development and learning with nature. Opening the door and exploring the outdoors is a fantastic tool to promote children’s development. Bringing the nature in doors is also a great tool for your program.

Set 2

$60

CKC

3HR Learning Environments & Curriculum

Age groups

Infant/Toddler, Preschool, School Age 

Register For An LEC Trainings

Transforming Storybooks:

Using Alternative Story Structures
Trainer Faye Zepeda

Explore the basic elements of a story. Explore six alternative story structures, methods, techniques, and approaches (Puppets, Flannel board, Painting/Storyboards, Sculpture, Rhyme, and Song). See examples of favorite stories in the different structures and take home designs, templates and patterns to transform storybooks into different structures. 

Set 2

$60

CKC

3HR Learning Environments & Curriculum

Age groups

Infant/Toddler, Preschool

Register For An LEC Trainings

Using the Power of Bulletin Boards to Enhance Children’s Learning

Trainer Faye Zepeda

In this fun class we will explore strategies to use bulletin boards in your program as a teaching tool for children and/or parents. Explore approaches to extend children’s learning at home using bulletin boards to demonstrate to parents what children are learning in your program. Discussion of tools, techniques and lots more to promote development and learning. (classroom, online) 

Set 2

$60

CKC

3HR Learning Environments & Curriculum

Age groups

Infant/Toddler, Preschool, School Age 

Register For An LEC Trainings

Check Out our

You can complete these trainings at home at your own pace.

Ensuring all Children Succeed: Differentiating Instruction

Trainer Joyce McCoy

A hot topic in education but what does “differentiated learning” mean in the early childhood environment? Come to this class to examine how to apply differentiated learning and create an environment where every child can become the best learner that they can.

Set 3

$180

CKC

9HR Learning Environments & Curriculum

Age groups

No Age-Related Content

Register For An LEC Trainings

Folk Games and Toys of Early America

Trainer Joyce McCoy

 Come to this class to explore some of the traditional games and toys of the early American settlers. Practice a few games and explore the handmade toys of colonial and pioneer America. Examine ways to enhance children’s understanding of history, culture, and the diversity of the American population.

Set 2

$60

CKC

3HR Learning Environments & Curriculum

Age groups

Infant/Toddler, Preschool, School Age

Register For An LEC Trainings

Get Messy With It!: Messy Play

Trainer Joyce McCoy

Let’s encourage kids to get messy! Come to this class to not just develop an understanding of how getting dirty and making messes is important to children but how to create an environment and activities to support it and have fun doing it!

Set 2

$120

CKC

6HR Learning Environments & Curriculum

Age groups

Infant/Toddler, Preschool, School Age

Register For An LEC Trainings

Gluey, Gloppy, Sloppy, Squishy Art:

Amazingly Awesome Messy Art with Young Children!
Trainer Joyce McCoy

The joy of getting messy is half the fun of creating art when you are young. Come learn about messy art and why it is so important for the development of young children.

Set 2

$60

CKC

3HR Learning Environments & Curriculum

Age groups

Infant/Toddler, Preschool, School Age

Register For An LEC Trainings

Mindfulness for young Children

Trainer Joyce McCoy

Join this class to explore ways to add mindfulness activities to your program. We will practice mindfulness activities for young children of all ages.  Explore strategies to add mindfulness exercises into your daily routine.

Set 2

$120

CKC

6HR Learning Environments & Curriculum

Age groups

Infant/Toddler, Preschool, School Age

Register For An LEC Trainings

Science Center Essentials

This class will explore what are the essential elements to include in the science center of early childhood programs.

Set 2

$60

CKC

3HR Learning Environments & Curriculum

Age groups

Infant/Toddler, Preschool, School Age

Register For An LEC Trainings

Smoothing Transitions

Trainer Joyce McCoy

Transitions can be the most difficult times for young children. In this class, we will explore transitions and transition systems and practice transition activities. Participants will have the opportunity to create and bring home a transition tool and develop their own transition activity to use in their program.

Set 2

$120

CKC

6HR Learning Environments & Curriculum

Age groups

School Age

Register For An LEC Trainings

STEM Learning in the Neurodivergent Young Child

Trainer Joyce McCoy

Participants will look at how they can use their knowledge of child development and STEM learning with neurodivergent learners in their programs. You examine methods to adapt your program to meet the needs of neurodivergent learners implementing STEM best practice techniques.

Set 2

$120

CKC

1HR Learning Environments & Curriculum

2HR Special Needs

Age groups

School Age

Register For An LEC Trainings

Supporting Gifted Learners

of All Ages in Early Childhood Programs
Trainer Joyce McCoy

Join this class to examine giftedness in young children and explore the characteristics of gifted learners. You will develop a plan to support gifted learners in your program.

Set 2

$120

CKC

1HR Learning Environments & Curriculum

5HR Human Growth And Development

Age groups

Infant/Toddler, Preschool, School Age

Book An HGD Trainings

Teaching with Intention in Early Childhood Education:

Constructing Lesson Plans Step-by-Step
Trainer Joyce McCoy

This class will involve exploring each step in the lesson planning process from ideas to objectives to assessing a lesson’s success. Participants will have opportunities to work on each step along the way, ask questions and explore ways to improve their plans. Leave with plans ready to be implemented and some new ideas.

Set 3

$180

CKC

9HR Learning Environments & Curriculum

Age groups

No Age-Related Content

Book An HGD Trainings

Using Cooperative Games to Foster the Development of Cooperative Play

Trainer Joyce McCoy

In this training, participants will explore the theory of cooperative play, examine and practice a variety of cooperative games appropriate for use with young children, learn strategies to enhance teamwork and inclusion, learn to develop and implement games of their own. 

Set 2

$60

CKC

3HR Learning Environments & Curriculum

Age groups

Preschool, School Age

Register For An LEC Trainings

Worksheet free! Integrating Mathematics into the Early Childhood Environment

Trainer Joyce McCoy

Children investigate and develop cognitive skills by touching, handling, doing and exploring. Examine ways to throw out the worksheets and create a math rich environment where children can explore and learn mathmatical concepts naturally. During this training participants will explore ways to bring math activities seamlessly into the early childhood environment. 

Set 2

$60

CKC

3HR Learning Environments & Curriculum

Age groups

Infant/Toddler, Preschool

Register For An LEC Trainings

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