Professional Development
As an early childhood educator for over 40 years, Diann Gano has extensive experience as a consultant, keynote speaker, workshop leader, blogger, and parent educator. She provides school districts, preschools, family childcare providers, Head Start programs, and resource and referral networks with the tools and current educational research to meet their training and continuing education goals. With her down-to-earth approach and hands-on teaching methods, Diann will inspire and motivate teachers and parents with her fun-filled energetic presentations and keynotes. Some of her most sought after include:
Nature Sparks! Supporting Infant and Toddler Development Outdoors
Young children learn through their senses and what better way than in the outdoors. Discover how to give our youngest the time, space, and opportunities to explore and investigate a wide variety of natural and creative materials that provide meaningful experiences. Learn how to design outdoor learning environments that create areas of curiosity, challenge, wonderment, and movement. Celebrate the power of outdoor learning for young children and their families.
Art Smart With Loose Parts
Children use art to express and work through their ideas, feelings, their dreams, and their fears. Adding loose parts offers children the materials and tools to tell their stories, enhance their creativity and help extend their ideas and questions. Filling your indoor and outdoor settings with open-ended resources encourages creative expression in every moment of the day. We want to create an environment that honors, supports, and values children by using natural and recycled materials that provide endless possibilities to develop imagination and deepen critical thinking and problem-solving skills. This workshop will encourage educators, parents, and directors to re-think art in early childhood play.
Trees, Bees & Skinned Knees: The Impact of Nature on Brain Development
Develop rich outdoor learning environments that stimulate curiosity, sustain active investigation, foster creativity, and excite the senses. Discover how nature provides cognitive benefits and why playing outdoors is so important to brain development. We will discuss useful strategies and resources that will be shared to effectively integrate nature into your outdoor classroom. We will participate in activities that share the wonders of nature with children. Discover how to provide an environment that encourages learning through appropriate risk-taking while supporting children’s need to see what they can accomplish with their bodies and their imaginations. This workshop is packed with evidence-based research on how outdoor play and nature affect brain growth. We will discuss the benefits of schemas, risky play, and what children really want in their outdoor play spaces!