HomeWeb Workshops

New strategies, knowledge, products and resources for enhancing your early years learning environment! 

Sign up for the latest or watch free recordings of our web workshops and webinars on early childhood education focused on ECE’s, childcare (daycare) centre managers, supervisors and program consultants, as well as for kindergarten, grade 1 and other elementary school teachers. 

At the end of each presentation, you’ll see a link to a form to get a certificate of completion that is then emailed to you. 

Our web workshops are presented by respected thought leaders, authors and instructors who have years of frontline experience.  Email us (events@louisekool.com) if you have a suggestion for a presentation or speaker you’d like to see? 

Upcoming Events

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Get the most from your Outlast Outdoor Blocks

Are you getting the most out of your new Outlast Outdoor block kit? These are versatile and durable outdoor learning resources for STEM, gross motor development and cooperative play. With Outlast students can actually build their own outdoor learning environment every day!

Join us to get inspired, learn curriculum connections and some tips for a long life for your kit. (HINT: Outlast is outdoor wood that’s weatherproof.)

Where: 25 mins

Date: January 25th, 4:00 pm ET| 3:00 pm CT| 1:00 pm PT

Duration: 25 mins

Register here

Get the most from your Outlast Outdoor Blocks

Are you getting the most out of your new Outlast outdoor block kit? These are versatile and durable outdoor resources for STEM that activate gross motor work and cooperative learning. In this session we’ll look at ways your students can explore:

  • Using diverse settings for inquiry and imaginative play
  • Collaborative problem solving
  • Shapes and figure understanding in 2 and 3 dimensions
  • Location and movement of objects and flow

Join us to get inspired, see how students can build their own outdoor learning environment and some tips for a long life for your kit. (HINT: Outlast is outdoor wood that’s weatherproof.)

Where: 25 mins

Date: April 4th, 4:00 pm ET| 3:00 pm CT| 1:00 pm PT

Duration: 25 mins

Register here

Archive - Web Workshop / Webinar Recordings

Room planning for a childcare or daycare

Planning learning areas or zones

Visuals for Rooms and Learning Areas

STEM

Math

Coding

Blocks

Embracing Cultures, Nurturing Identities

First Nations

Multi-Cultural

Outdoor Learning

Art, Loose Parts and More

Guest Speakers

Professional Development Leader @Bridges

Susie Blackstein-Adler

Professional Development
Leader @Bridges

Susie leads the professional learning team at Bridges. She has backgrounds in occupational therapy and education and has over thirty years of experience working in the field of augmentative and alternative communication and consulting to classroom teams concerning access to curriculum. She has done research on computer access, the inclusion of students who have complex learning challenges, and accessible coding. Susie provides professional learning on educational and assistive technology both nationally and internationally.

Manager @Progress Child Care Centre at Centenial College

Janet Burchert

Manager @Progress Child Care Centre at Centennial College

Janet has been an RECE for 41 years and the Manager of Progress Child Care Centre at Centennial College for over 20 years. The childcare centre is lab school of the highly-respected Child Studies program at Centennial College.

Mark Rocamora.png__PID:d65a8fc2-4fe3-4a95-bd8b-f60b0a72f8c7

Mark Rocamora

Registered Early Childhood Educator (RECE) @Centennial College Progress Childcare

A full-Time Registered Early Childhood Educator at Centennial College Progress Childcare for 15 years. He has been supporting ECE students since September 2013, in recognizing the significance of the learning environment as the “3rd Teacher.” His personal philosophy of teaching and learning is that children cannot be categorized, and each child’s uniqueness and diverse differences can be fostered through the celebration of play. He believes that the warm environment of acceptance and encouragement that Progress Childcare strives to create can make a real difference in a child’s life.”

Urban Indigenous EarlyOn Coordinator @Sault Ste. Marie Indian Friendship Centre EarlyOn

Samantha Boyer

Urban Indigenous EarlyOn Coordinator @Sault Ste. Marie Indian Friendship Centre EarlyOn

Samantha Boyer is an Ojibway, Irish woman from Batchewana First Nation and member of the buffalo clan. A graduate of Shingwauk Kinoomaage Gamig and Algoma University, she holds an Honours degree in Sociology, Anishinaabe Studies and Anishinaabemowin. Her passion is working with Indigenous people as a helper; helping to forge a stronger, healthier future for her community and family. Samantha fills the position of Indigenous Cultural Competency Facilitator and Urban Indigenous EarlyON Coordinator for the Sault Ste. Marie Indian Friendship Centre, though she is currently on maternity leave.

Indigenous Teachings Leader @University of Winnipeg Child Care Centre

Tara Myran

Indigenous Teachings Leader
@University of Winnipeg Child Care Centre

Tara Myran is from Long Plain First Nation and has a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Psychology and Rhetoric Communications from the University of Winnipeg. She attended residential school when she was eight years old. She has always been passionate about instilling the importance of education to her five children.

At the University of Winnipeg Child Care Centre she volunteers her time where she teaches the children Indigenous teachings once a week. She does this through reading Indigenous books, puppet shows, teaching the 7 sacred teachings and the Ojibway language of each of the animals. She believes that the 7 teachings are universal and therefore can be adapted to different cultures and the importance of these teachings are lifelong. While pursuing her undergraduate degree she was part of the Indigenous Summer Scholar Program (ISSP) where she participated in field research for a project that delved into mental health issues and outcomes for Indigenous women throughout pregnancy, “Indigenous Doulas for First Nation’s Women Who travel for Birth”. The importance of having an Indigenous Doula present to incorporate traditional practices and knowledge into the birthing process is of particular interest for Tara.

She’s currently pursuing a Master's in the Development Practice program at the University of Winnipeg. She hopes to incorporate her Indigenous knowledge and experience when working in First Nation communities with sustainable development to address health-related issues that many Indigenous communities face. 

Early Years Support Specialist (RECE) @London District Catholic School Board

Amanda Trimmer-Benton

Early Years Support Specialist (RECE) @London District Catholic
School Board

An RECE from London, Ontario, with over 25 years of experience, Amanda currently is the Early Years Support Specialist at the London District Catholic School Board supporting fellow RECE’s in Kindergarten programs. Amanda also teaches in the Child Development Practitioner program at Fanshawe College.

In collaboration with Strive (London/Middlesex/Elgin’s professional learning organization), Amanda has facilitated various professional learning opportunities on topics including: Loose Parts, Deconstructing Provocations, Early Years Math, Outdoor Learning Community of Practice and Continuous Professional Learning. In 2017, Amanda was invited to the FRP Canada National Conference: The Power of Play to team facilitate a ‘Walk Shop’ that provided interactive learning about playgroups in the forest and exploring the outdoors with families. Amanda has a passion for sharing and developing engaging learning environments for young children that provoke and inspire inquiry.

Teacher Librarian @TDSB

Lesley Pike

Teacher Librarian
@TDSB

Lesley is a Toronto based educator who has taught Kindergarten to Grade 6 and worked centrally as a Math Coach for 5 years. She is currently beginning a new chapter in her career this fall by working outside of the classroom in a support role as a Teacher Librarian. Her main areas of interest are math and coding, she also loves looking for new and exciting picture books to use in her classroom.

@TDSB

Melissa Seco

@TDSB

Melissa has been both a teacher and Instructional Leader in Mathematics/Numeracy (K-8) and Early Years (K-2). Melissa’s main areas of interest include: early years, visual arts, mathematics, STEM, and inquiry-based learning. Currently she is a Grade 1/2 teacher and Digital Lead Learner (DLL), and she occasionally teaches AQ courses at OISE.

OCT

Usha Shanmugathasan

OCT

Passionate about the early years with a focus on mathematics, S.T.E.A.M and coding Usha was part of the original Faculty that opened Fraser Mustard Early Learning Academy, the all-kindergarten school. There she was the Lead Math Teacher and created innovative programs such as Math Studio and Expressive Arts. Formerly a K-12 Learning Coach for the Toronto District School Board with Masters of Education at OISE/UT in Educational Leadership and Policy, today she teaches JK-1, delivers and facilitates professional development for educators across Ontario.

RECE

Diane Kashin

RECE

Diane is a registered early childhood educator in the province of Ontario and retired ECE professor. Diane taught at both the degree and the diploma level for over 30 years. Diane’s doctoral thesis on emergent curriculum was published in 2008 and she has co-written three ECE textbooks, Empowering Pedagogy in Early Childhood Education (2016), Playing and Learning in Early Childhood Education (2019) and Outdoor and Nature Play in Early Childhood Education (2019).

Hélène Pouliot-Cleare

Hélène Pouliot-Cleare

Passionate about education, Hélène Pouliot-Cleare has worked in education for over 40 years in Central-Southwestern Ontario, in addition to leading workshops and training at the provincial, national and international, in French and in English. Her lectures cover a wide variety of topics related to early childhood, language learning in a minority setting, leadership and personal motivation. 

Iain Wallace

Iain Wallace

National Sales Manager@Louise Kool

Iain started his career in education 20 years ago, working in a school for students with special needs. He has worked in many capacities, and since 2016 has held the position of National Sales Manager for Louise Kool & Galt and Bridges. He has presented and been an exhibitor at domestic and international conferences and loves any opportunity to talk with people about the products and services we represent. As a father of two young boys, he stays very active in his spare time working to tire them out and enlists them as quality testers for any new products we bring in.

Iain Wallace

Bogdan Pospielovsky

Director of Marketing @Louise Kool

Bogdan has been working with educators for almost 25 years including marketing, training, system implementation, product development and curriculum localization. A teacher by training, he taught in Ontario, Moscow, and Chicago before being drawn to technology and curricula for students with special needs. Since 2016 he’s been Director of Marketing for Louise Kool & Galt and Bridges. He has spoken and presented at conferences across Canada and in the US and has written articles for several Canadian and US publications. When not blogging for LKG and Bridges he can be found in the block area of LKG’s showroom building his dream ski hill/moon colony/dance palace.

Iain Wallace

Anna Coules

Product Manager @Louise Kool

Anna Coules has a knack for finding wonderful furniture and resources that are crafted to enhance children’s learning. This OISE grad had an exciting teaching career as a Special Education teacher in England. After her return to Canada, she spent time gaining experience in furniture manufacturing, partnering with retailers and product curation. In early 2022 she decided to combine her unique experiences, joining Louise Kool & Galt as our Product Manager.