With some self-reflection, and willingness to grow, you can find the joy in teaching again!
Upcoming Conferences & Workshops
Check back for updates soon!
Early Empowerment Conference
Warwick, Rhode Island
Healing Harmonies
Cultivating Resilience Through Mindful Practices
This training provides hands-on, research-based strategies that educators can integrate into their personal and professional lives as well as the added benefit of being part of a community.
Harmonizing Self-Care:
Using Music for Self-Regulation and Burnout Prevention
As early childhood educators, we are always keeping our students’ best interests at heart. But what about our own mental health. Did you know that according to a study performed by Teaching Strategies, 45% of early childhood educators report suffering from extreme stress and burnout?
Thankfully, there are strategies and daily practices that can be put into place to help teachers reduce stress and self-regulate. Self-regulated teachers promote self-regulated students.
I am happy to be offering a new workshop focused on helping teachers practice techniques to promote self-regulation in teachers. Through activities such as singing, dancing, journaling, meditating, and breathwork, teachers can reduce work-related stress and bring the joy back in teaching. I am available select dates in the fall, and accepting bookings into 2025.
Some of the schools I have trained recently are:
- Hackensack Early Childhood Development Center
- Townley Preschool
- Mountain Lakes Country Day School
- Passaic Family Head Start
- The Learning Studio
- Parsippany Child Day Care Center
- Presbyterian Church Nursery School
- The Goddard School of Randolph
Conferences where I have recently presented:
- New Jersey Association for the Education of Young Children State Conference 2022 & 2023
- Family Childcare Providers Annual Conference 2023 ( Keynote Speaker)
- Piper M. Olsen Excellence in Leadership Conference 2023
- National Association for the Education of Young Children Annual Conference 2023
Still worried this isn't the answer you've been looking for?
Here's what some of my preschool teacher clients have to say...
Gracias Brenda por tus ideas, actividades y conocimiento que compartes en cada una de tus presentaciones."
Hello there, my fellow exhausted teacher.
I remember working on my lessons for hours, trying to find the right music, the right activities to implement in my classroom. I scrolled video, after video, some with questionable content.
“This is suppose to be for preschool kids?”
I remember sitting at circle time, trying to capture my students’ attention, but Leo was rolling on the floor, Katelyn was yelling at Sarah, and Michael was curled up in a ball because it was too loud.
I chimed, “1,2, 3, eyes on me….”crickets.” I added marbles to the jar, tried the clipcharts. Nothing was working. I decided to do a little research. I realized something needed to change. There had to be a better way.
The fatigue is real.
The countless hours scrolling through Pinterest, the wasted hours on YouTube, scouring Teachers Pay Teachers, searching for strategies on classroom management,SEL (social emotional learning), music, and movement, and ALL OF THE THINGS.
It’s so frustrating.
You’re facing challenging behaviors that you’ve never seen before. You’re at your wit’s end.
Please know, you’re not alone.
90% of teachers state that they are experiencing burnout. 90%!
But you need to spend less time planning and researching, and more time actually teaching! With the proper techniques, you can address the issues you’re facing, and reignite your love of teaching.
I’m here to help you do just that. As a preschool music teacher, I’ve learned that a key factor in the challenging behaviors we’re seeing in our students is that these pandemic babies haven’t had the opportunity to socialize with other children. Many children have stressed out parents who are still recovering from trying to balance working from home while tending to their kids.
It’s time we all take a breath, show each other some grace, and use the tools that are developmentally appropriate to help young children thrive, while addressing our own need to heal from burnout. Let’s have fun in preschool again!
Why Brenda?
I’ve been a music teacher and early childhood specialist for 27 years. I have worked with young children in schools, in parent/ child classes, and in outdoor programs.
My expertise is being the link between teachers and their students.
Every day, I get to sing, move, play, and read with early learners. I’ve seen what works, and what doesn’t.
And given our current, unprecedented struggles, I’ve been doing extensive research on sensory output and input, and I’ve developed strategies to help children regulate themselves, so they can take in the information you’re sharing.
Recently, a teacher friend confided in me that she was tired of all the hours of planning, and asked me if I could share my music lessons with her. Word began to spread, and I currently help dozens of preschool owners by providing them with songs and strategies they can use. I focus on self-regulation songs that help young children gain control of their little bodies.
When children struggle with self regulation, it’s difficult for them to sit still, concentrate, and participate in learning activities. (Young Children, 2015)
Can you imagine how powerful that would be for your classroom? Kids actually listening and engaged? All because of music? Oh the places that classroom can go …
Still worried this isn't the answer you've been looking for?
Here's what some of my preschool teacher clients have to say...
As a teacher, my number one priority has been to help young children thrive.
The Music and Mindfulness Connection – A Musical Approach to Self Regulation in the Early Childhood Classroom
In the meantime, subscribe to my email list, and If you’d like to reignite your love of teaching, come hang out with me.
Let’s get you loving teaching littles again!