Working With Families Who Have Different Values

Navigating relationships with families who have differing values or parenting styles can be challenging yet rewarding. This workshop provides nannies with practical tools to foster respectful, professional relationships with families, even when personal values differ. Participants will learn strategies for maintaining boundaries while adapting to diverse household dynamics.

Jordan, a Placement Manager at Adventure Nannies, has worked as a Private Educator and English teacher, developing a deep understanding of child development and family dynamics. Jordan holds a 200-hour yoga teacher certification, a Bachelor's Degree in Communication, an ESL Certification, and is currently pursuing her Master's in Education. Jordan's passion for fostering growth and development shines through in her work at Adventure Nannies. She is dedicated to building genuine connections and ensuring a smooth and successful placement experience for both childcare providers and families. When she's not connecting nannies with families, you can find Jordan expressing her creativity through playing the ukulele, reading, writing, cooking, slack-lining, gardening, and embracing any activity that allows her to connect with nature.

Take a Look, It's in a Book

This course is designed for educators looking to enrich their math and science instruction through the use of read-alouds. By integrating storytelling into STEM education, nannies can engage charges' imaginations, enhance their understanding of concepts, and make learning more accessible and enjoyable. Discover the power of storytelling in STEM education—join us for this course and learn how to make math and science come alive for your charges through read-alouds!

Edith Patel has been a public school educator and administrator in Cypress-Fairbanks ISD for over two decades. She has taught high school, middle school, and elementary school all in CFISD and while in the classroom, Edith, was named Teacher of the Year in 2012 and in 2019. Edith Patel earned her Bachelor of Arts from the University of Houston and her Master's in Educational Leadership and Administration from Texas A& M University. She is currently the Curriculum Coordinator for the Early Learning Centers.

Planting Seeds of Independence: Montessori Principles for Nannies

What greater gift can we give children than the ability to think and act for themselves? While children rely on the adults who care for them, they also have the potential to develop self-confidence by learning skills for self-care, taking care of their environment, and showing care for others. In this workshop, we’ll explore what independence looks like at different stages of early development—starting with the curiosity and skills of a 6-month-old, then moving through the active exploration of a toddler, and finally to the growing autonomy of a preschooler. Join us as we explore how to nurture this important seed of independence at every age.

Lynne has been a Montessori educator for over 30 years. She has worked at the Infant and Toddler, Elementary, and Teacher Education levels in private and public institutions. Currently, Lynne is the Infant and Toddler Level Coordinator for Houston Montessori Center, a teacher education program. Lynne has also been a practitioner of Compassionate Communication (CC) for over 10 years. She has led several courses and workshops to introduce the basic tenets of CC to a variety of groups and
individuals. Lynne has 5 grown children, and many exchange student “children.” She enjoys reading, playing with
her dog, Jazzercise, walking with her long-time friends, and telling stories.

Seeds for the Future - Growing Tiny Humans

Quality outdoor interactions are integral to a child's development. Learn how to implement outdoor learning using the tools that you already have. This session will focus on gardening and literacy with small children as we integrate all of the core areas of child development in the seeds (physical and metaphorical) planted in our gardens. All participants will receive a free children's book to use with their clients.

Amy Musick, M.Ed., MS is the Co-Executive Director of SMART Family Literacy. She is a certified teacher and child care health consultant. She is also a TECPDS Registered Trainer, Project WILD Faciliator (Texas Parks and Wildlife), and a Monarch Steward with the National Wildlife Federation. She is a nationally credentialed child care director and holds a certificate in early childhood outdoor learning environments.

As the Garden Specialist for SMART Family Literacy, Paula helps children aged 4-8 to tend to their own gardens using the outdoors to promote all aspects of child development - from literacy to motor skills and social-emotional learning. Paula also motivates parents, caregivers, and teachers to bring children outside more often and to have their own gardens to get little ones excited about eating veggies.