Circles from the Start: Magical Inclusive Early Education

Your co-teachers
Dr. Kristie Pretti-Frontczak

Revolutionary thought leader
Educator’s educator
Fierce play advocate
An accomplished author, sought-after speaker, and educator’s educator, Dr. Kristie Pretti-Frontczak spent 16 years as a tenured professor in Higher Education at Kent State University before leaving to lead a {r}evolution in early childhood education. She has spent over 50,000 hours teaching adults best practices in early childhood care and education in locations from Cincinnati to Singapore. She’s also been teaching adult learners on-line since 1997.
Dr. Julie Causton

Magical Circle Maker
keynote story teller
prolific author
An inspiring author, speaker, and inclusion advocate, Dr. Julie Causton spent 14 years in Higher Education at Syracuse University before leaving to become the CEO of Inclusive Schooling. She has spent the past 20 years studying best practices for inclusive education. Her dynamic presentations focus on engaging ways to educate learners, regardless of age, ability, and/or location.
Session-by-Session resources
October 22 - Co-Teaching and Collaboration
Definition of Inclusion Handout [pdf]
Co-Teaching Models & Structures [pdf]
Day 14 Ideas for One Teach/One Make Multi-sensory [pdf]
Lesson Design Checklist [pdf]
Co-Teaching Lesson Design Template [pdf]
- Google Drive Templates
Co-Teaching Roles and Responsibilities [pdf]
Program Planning Matrix [pdf]
Blank templates for embedding schedules/matrixes [DRIVE]
Printable blank embedding schedule/matrix [pdf]
- Introduction to activity schedules (embedding schedules) [video]
- Evolution of activity schedules (embedding schedules) [video]
- Next generation of activity schedules (embedding schedules) [video]
Turning Problems Into Possibilities [link]
Differentation in ECE [Vimeo]
Lesson Design in ECE [Vimeo]
Environment as 3rd Teacher
-
- Enviornmental re-design with Dr. Isela Garcia and Dr. Kristie Pretti-Frontczak [YouTube]
- Enviornment observation checklist [Google Drive doc]
- The early learning environment with Dr. Isela Garcia and 100s of tips [Google DRIVE doc]
- Clean Sweep Training [link to request]
Tenets of the ECE Revolution [pdf]
ASCD article – Ready…Set…Success: A Formula for Leading Schools with Love or [pdf]

Series Inspiration
Circles from the Start 4-Part Series
Session 1 - Circles from the Start: Inclusive Early Learning Experiences (click to access)
Session 1 Resources
- Instructional Steps Infographic
- Definition of Inclusion
- List of Supplemental Supports
- Teach Before the Peak of the Storm
- Clarification about the green zone [podcast]
- Four S’s
- Planned Ignoring [podcast] [blog]
- Seeing the Child Behind the Behavior
- Zig Zag Process [pdf]
- Relationships [link]
- Download (page 9 and 10)
- Bridging the P-3 Divide [link]
- FB live video
- Download
- Show notes (related resources)
PBS Videos
- Circle Makers https://vimeo.com/462652898
- Because of Oliver https://vimeo.com/467375445
- Mistake https://vimeo.com/469027384
Behavior Charts
- Three reasons you should bag behavior charts [blog]
- Listen to podcast about the use of praise, rewards, and punishment
- It’s Time to Flip Behavior Cards and Charts to Stop [link]
- Flip Behavior Management Upside Down [video]
- Bagging Behavior Charts [video]
- PreK Teach And Play Podcast Episode 36- Three Strikes and You’re Out: Why We Don’t Use Behavior Charts with Children [link]
- To ABA or Not To ABA, That Is The Question [blog]
- Beyond Treats and Timeouts: Humanistic Behavioral Supports in Inclusive Classrooms [pdf]
- The Boy on Red and the Problem with Public Behavior Charts [link]
- Tear Down the Behavior Chart [link]
- Death to the Behavior Chart! 3 Reasons to Resist the Lure of Punishments and Rewards [link]
- Getting preschool on board with school-wide positive supports [pdf]
- Therapist Neurodiversity Collective Updated Resources [link]
- All about PDA [pdf]
- Tips about PDA [pdf]
- Visual Supports [pdf]
Calendar and Centers
- Linear calendars from Tools of the Mind [blog]
- Calendar time routines [link to podcast]
- Learning centers [link to podcast]
- Circle as a choice [link to podcast]

Session 2 - Circles of Support: Learners with Diverse Behavioral Needs (click to access)
Session 2 Resources
- Needs vs. Wants [podcast]
- Give them What they Need [pdf]
- How to Weather the Storm in Public [video]
- What to do if they run? [video]
Stress Detective and Boat Captain Resources
- Stress Detective Checklist
- RESEARCH BRIEF on the impact of stress
- The role of stressors on development and learning (9:09) [video]
- What is stress – Self-reg myth #10 (9:10)[video]; myth #4 (11:38) [video]
- Practice Point about stressors [pdf]
- The 5 domains of stressors [pdf 1] [pdf 2]
- Reducing stressors [pdf]: A “Brain Architects” Guide For Reducing ECE Stressors is an informational guide for you to communicate with your children to reduce signs of stress (1 page).
- Getting Children On Board [blog]
- Examples of how to reduce stressors when it comes to transitions [blog]
- More strategies for reducing stressors [pdf]
- Mindfulness Webinar [link to register for free] [link to request handouts] – PPT slides
- CEC/DEC webinar on being a stress detective [link]
Other Resources
- ZOOM Makeover tips
- Teaching with a rubber chicken [pdf]

Session 3 - Circles of Support: Joyful and Differentiated Instruction for Diverse Learners (click to access)
Session 3 Recordings [Vimeo link] [Youtube with CC]
Key PPT slides [pdf]
Session 3 Resources
- 10 K-Readiness Essentials That Have Nothing to Do With Reading, Writing, and Arithmetic [blog]
- Kindergarden Readiness Toolkit [link]
- Every Child is a Triangle [video]
- Embedding Resources [Supplemental Dashboard]
- Differentiation Strategies [pdf]
- Power Packs – Supplemental Dashboard [download based upon app]
- Visual Supports
- Sun Diagram [link] – description includes additional training support
- List of movements for all ages [pdf] [Facebook live broadcast]
- Open snack [podcast]

Session 4 - Widening the Circles: Collaboration and Solution Seeking (click to access)
Session 4 Recordings – [Vimeo link] [Youtube with CC]
Session 4 Resources
- Core Values [blog] [activity directions]
- Resources to support children’s growth and development in times of uncertainty [link]
- Turning Problems Into Possibilities [blog]
- Triggering the PEA (examples) [Google DRIVE doc]
- Offering Lifelines [blog]
Collaboration and Meeting Resources
- Day 1: Team Building Checklist [pdf]
- Day 2: Classroom Vision [pdf]
- Day 3: Goal Setting [pdf]
- Day 5: Making Time When There Isn’t Time [pdf]
- Day 6 Co-teaching Role Cards [pdf]
- Day 6 Do Not Disturb Sign [pdf]
- Day 7 Co-Teaching Meeting Dos & Don’t [pdf]
- Day 7 Power Phrases for Positive & Productive Meetings [pdf]
- Day 8 Team Meeting Notes [pdf]
- Day 8 Team Meeting Notes complete [pdf]
- Day 14 Ideas for One Teach/One Make Multi-sensory [pdf]
I Think There’s Been a Mistake Video [link]
Shared during the live session
- Resources on embedding schedule: https://prekteachandplay.com/embedding-schedule-resources
- IEP resources: https://kristiepf.com/top-tips-iep-season/
- Directions and demo of the 5-minute problem solving process: https://kristiepf.com/turning-problems-into-possibilities part-1/

THE CIRCLE MAKER SERIES
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INCLUSIVE EDUCATION MEANS we no longer accept that separate classrooms, separate schools, and separate lives are in the best interest of any student. Separating peoplevby ability disadvantages everyone. Belonging is a human need. Our educational system, practices, and spaces, need to be reimagined.
INCLUSIVE EDUCATION MEANS every student is valued because of their strengths, gifts, and even challenges. As disability is simply… diversity. Everyone benefits from meaningful participation and opportunities to learn grade level content with diverse peers. We must trust that all students come to us as incredible whole people who do not need to be fixed.
