Collaboration for Inclusion (C4I)
Workshops for Preschool Staff

The following are a sample of faculty and administrator workshops available through the Cooke Center Preschool’s Collaboration for Inclusion program.

Preschool Special Education: What every administrator needs to know

This is an in-depth and step-by-step look at the referral and evaluation process. It highlights preschool special education services, benefits of inclusive settings and common concerns. Each participant will leave with a "tool kit" to establish and manage preschool special education services within their building.

Circle Time: It's time to gather around, learn and have fun!

This workshop explores the primary purpose of circle time, which is for children to gather and share experiences that are significant to them. Teachers are presented with guidelines for structuring and creating goals. This workshop also addresses transitions for the large group.

Play-Based Assessment: What are children learning through play?

Teachers participate in hands-on activities to observe and categorize play behaviors into areas of development (social-emotional, language, cognition and motor). This workshop highlights how to create activities within interest areas to target New York State Common Core Learning Standards pre-kindergarten learning objectives.

Sensory Integration: Much more than just the five senses

This workshop is designed to develop an understanding of sensory integration and sensory dysfunction in preschool children.  Participants learn about ways to identify sensory needs and how they play a role in classroom behavior. Cooke facilitators present hands-on strategies to address specific sensory-integration issues. Participants also learn techniques to modify classroom environment and activities to address individual needs.

ABCs of Behavior: Strategies to create a supportive classroom environment

Teachers learn to objectively define challenging behavior, examine its causes and create behavior modification plans to lead to positive classroom environments. The focus is the discussion of strategies to promote positive behaviors while decreasing negative behaviors.

Teaching Out of the Box:  Multi-sensory approaches to lesson planning

Teachers are presented with background information about Howard Gardner's [AH1] multiple intelligences theory — which proposes that individuals have learning style preferences — and how it can be applied to the classroom environment.  Facilitators create opportunities to apply knowledge through small group hands-on activities, which require participants to design a multi-sensory lesson plans related to a specific theme.

Play Scripts: Putting drama back into play

The connection between language and play during preschool years is explored, highlighting the different developmental stages of each. Participants learn the different functions of language, the importance of dramatic play and strategies to promote language in play. Small groups work to develop play scripts typical for preschool settings.

Helping Children Manage Their Emotions

Teachers are presented with social-emotional developmental milestones for children ages 3-6. Participants are asked to work in small groups, with Cooke facilitators, to identify strategies for intervening in difficult behavioral situations.

For more information, or to schedule a workshop for your preschool or staff group, please call (212) 280-4473 or email XXXX@cookecenter.org.