The ECE Classroom with Susie Beghin

In this episode of the ECE Classroom Podcast, host SusieBeghin reflects on the past year, sharing highlights from 2025 episodes and the five lessons she's carrying forward as an educator and lifelong learner. The episode emphasizes the power of storytelling, emotional well-being, behavior ascommunication, the importance of movement in learning, and the value of partnerships in education.

Chapters:

00:00 Introduction and 2025 Reflection

01:10 Storytelling as a Relationship

02:27 Emotional Well-being in Education

03:53 Behavior as Communication

05:06 Learning Through Movement

06:10 Building Partnerships

Music by Mykola Odnoroh from Pixabay

In this episode of the ECE Classroom podcast, host Susie Beghin is joined by Kate Woodward-Young and Carrie Casey from the Child Care Conversations podcast. They discuss the importance of building partnerships between educators and parents, understanding cultural expectations, and the role of community engagement in early childhood education.

The conversation emphasizes the need for curiosity in educators, realistic expectations for child development, and the use of assessment tools to guide discussions with parents. The episode concludes with practical tips for involving the community in children's learning experiences.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Early Childhood Education Insights

04:15 The Importance of Parent Engagement

12:29 Building Relationships with Families

18:06 Educating Parents on Developmental Expectations

24:13 Engaging the Community in Early Education

Music by Mykola Odnoroh from Pixabay

About our Guests

Kate Woodward Young, M.Ed., and Carrie Casey are educators, authors, and leadership coaches with more than 60 years of combined experience in early childhood education. Since 2019, they’ve hosted ChildCare Conversations with Kate and Carrie, a twice-weekly podcast with over 300 episodes and more than 25,000 downloads. Each episode offers practical strategies, real-world insights, and encouraging stories that help early learning professionals lead with confidence, strengthen teams, and build sustainableprograms.

They are also bestselling authors of 11 books on earlychildhood leadership and administration, used internationally in professional development and higher education. Their writing and training focus on helping directors and owners create positive cultures, retain staff, and grow thrivingprograms.

🎧 Listen to ChildCare Conversations with Kate and Carrie atwww.childcareconversations.com

In this episode of the ECE Classroom podcast, host SusieBeghin speaks with Stefanie Hohl from ABC See, Hear, Do about innovative strategies for teaching early literacy through movement.

They discuss the importance of incorporating physical activity into reading lessons, creating a literacy-rich environment, and engaging parents in the learning process. Stefanie shares practical tips for educators and parents to make reading funand accessible for all children, emphasizing the need to adapt teaching methods to different learning styles.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Early Literacy and Movement

1:43 Incorporating Movement in Reading

05:24 Engaging Children with Books

06:44 Creating a Literacy-Rich Environment

10:50 Making Reading Fun and Inclusive

12:30 The Role of Parents in Early Literacy

18:00 Understanding Different Learning Styles

20:30 Resources for Early Readers

22:40   Susie’s Insightson Learning to Read Through Movement

About our Guest

Stefanie Hohl holds a Master of Education in Curriculum and Instruction with an emphasis in Children’s Literature from Penn State and an MFA in Writing for Children and Young Adults from Vermont College of Fine Arts. After years of teaching preschool co-ops, homeschooling, and guiding her first four children through the process of learning to read, Stefanie realized she needed a new approach for her fifth child. Through extensive research and testing, she developed the ABC See, Hear, Do Method, a fun and effective way to teach early reading skills. www.abcseeheardo.com

Link to Learn Letters with Confidence mini-course.

https://susie-beghin-academy.thinkific.com/products/courses/teach-letters-with-confidence

Music from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!):

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In this episode of the ECE Classroom podcast, host SusieBeghin discusses the challenges and strategies for navigating the busy month of September in early childhood education.

She emphasizes the importance of preparation, managing transitions, creating calm spaces for children, maintaining open communication with parents, and supporting educators during this hectic time.

The episode provides practical tips for fostering strong relationships with both children and parents, ensuring a smooth start to the school year.

Chapters

00:00 Welcome to the ECE Classroom

01:14 Planning and Preparation is Key for September

05:31 Creating a Calm Space for Overwhelmed Students

14:03 Parent Communication From Day One

16:50 Teacher Overwhelm & Emotional Exhaustion

21:15 Building Strong Relationships with Children

Music from #Uppbeat (free forCreators!):

⁠⁠⁠https://uppbeat.io/t/fortune-cookie/golden-summer-lenny-b⁠⁠⁠

License code: STFPDU3XL7ZR4CHA

In this episode, Susie Beghin and Erica Saccoccio discuss thevital role of play in early childhood education and the importance of leadership in fostering a supportive learning environment.

They explore the challenges of educating parents about the value of play, the significance of role modeling for educators, and the need for clear communication and accountability in leadership.

The conversation also touches on creating playfullearning environments, the dynamics of intergenerational teams, and the essential qualities of effective educators.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Early Childhood Education andLeadership

02:37 The Importance of Play in Learning

06:20 Educating Parents on Learning Through Play

08:04 Role Modeling and Scaffolding in Education

11:24 Creating a Playful Learning Environment

15:12 The Role of Educators in Learning

17:30 Building a Supportive Team Culture

20:18 Balancing Freedom and Accountability in Leadership

25:32 Intergenerational Dynamics in Education

29:10 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

About Our Guest

Erica is a motivational speaker with 23+ years of experienceas an entrepreneur. Erica is the owner of a multi-location child care centre called “Family Tree” in Rhode Island, USA. Erica is a passionate leader in the early childhood education industry and hosts a podcast called, The Child Care Director’s Chair.

www.stellarbusinessconcepts.com

https://www.instagram.com/ccdcpodcasthttps://www.youtube.com/@childcaredirectorschair690

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⁠⁠⁠https://uppbeat.io/t/fortune-cookie/golden-summer-lenny-b⁠⁠⁠

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In this episode of the ECE Classroom podcast, host SusieBeghin speaks with Christine Devane, a former educator and author of the children's book 'Elephant Beach.'

They discuss the importance of storytelling in teaching children about kindness and acceptance, the themes present in Christine's book, and how to engage children in learning through interactive activities.

Christine shares her experiences as a teacher and how they influenced her writing, emphasizing the need to respect individual differences among children and the importance of fostering a love for reading.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction

02:44 The Power of Storytelling in Teaching Kindness

04:43 Exploring 'Elephant Beach' and Its Themes

08:06 Classroom Experiences and Engaging Activities

9:43 Creating Story Kits for Enhanced Learning

11:18 The Significance of Elephants in Children's Literature

12:40 Influence of Teaching on Children's Literature

13:40 Teaching Empathy and Inclusion in Early Childhood

16:15 Respecting Individual Personalities in Education

19:30 Encouraging Lifelong Reading and Learning

24:10 Susie’s Reflections on Today’s Topic

About Christine DevaneChristine is the mom of three children, former early childhood educator and author of the children's book, "Elephant Beach". Her book is available on Amazon and Barnes and Noble online.Music from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!):

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://uppbeat.io/t/fortune-cookie/golden-summer-lenny-b⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

License code: STFPDU3XL7ZR4CHA

In this episode of the ECE Classroom podcast, host SusieBeghin discusses the importance of managing transitions during the summer months in daycare settings.

She emphasizes strategies for helping childrenadjust to changes and manage difficult transitions, the significance of outdoor learning environments, and therole of outdoor creative activities in fostering development.

The episode also covers welcoming new students and celebrating milestones like graduation, highlighting the emotional aspects of these transitions for both children and parents.

Chapters

 00:00 Introduction

01:18 Managing Transitions

03:40 Creating Outdoor Learning Environments

09:35 Welcoming New Students to Daycare

13:00 Celebrating Milestones: Graduation in Daycare

Music from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!):

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://uppbeat.io/t/fortune-cookie/golden-summer-lenny-b⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

License code: STFPDU3XL7ZR4CHA

In this episode of the ECE Classroom podcast, host Susie Beghin and guest Amanda Da Costa discuss the importance of embracing silliness in early childhood education.

They explore how being silly can enhance connections with children, support social emotional development, and create apositive learning environment.

The conversation also highlights practical ways educators can incorporate silliness and singing into their daily routines to foster engagement and joy in the classroom.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Early Childhood Education andEmbracing Silliness

02:58 The Importance of Embracing Your Silly Side

06:45 Silliness and Social Emotional Development

09:25 Building Connections Through Playfulness

13:15 Practical Ways to Incorporate Silliness

18:38 The Power of Singing in Early Childhood

23:50 Favorite Songs and Games for Educators

28:28 Susie’s Summary and Takeaways

Music from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!):

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://uppbeat.io/t/fortune-cookie/golden-summer-lenny-b⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

License code: STFPDU3XL7ZR4CHA

In this episode, we’re diving into the heart of every early childhood classroom and learning space—circle time!

Susie talks to Jacky Sheppard, Early Years Consultant, about how to turn this daily routine into a powerful moment of connection, learning, and joy through creative music and movement activities and imaginative storytelling.

As an educator, you'll walk away with fresh, playful ideasto keep little ones engaged and excited to participate. From fingerplays and movement songs that boost coordination to storytelling that sparks curiosity and language development, you’ll learn how to transform circle time into a magical experience filled with inquiry, discovery, and exploration.

Get ready to sing, move, and make some circle time memories!

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Circle Time

02:58 Why is Circle Time Important in the Early Years

06:00 Components of a Successful Circle Time

09:12 Benefits of Circle Time for Transitions

11:42 Spontaneous Circles

14:50 Music and Movement Ideas

21:27 Storytelling Ideas

29:14 Susie’s reflection and takeaways

About Jacky Sheppard

With over 45 years of experience in early childhoodeducation, Jacky Sheppard is a trailblazer and passionate advocate for high-quality child care. As the visionary behind the Streetsville Children’s Centre and Streetsville Academy, she has dedicated a lifetime to nurturing young minds and supporting families.

An influential voice in the industry, Jacky serves on the Executive of the Private Daycare Operators Group and is an active member of the Education Minister Advisory Committee, where she champions policies that put childrenfirst. In addition to operating outstanding child care centres, she consults and trains early childhood educators, equipping the next generation of professionals with the tools and inspiration they need to thrive. She continues to shape the future of early learning through advocacy, mentorship, and asteadfast commitment to excellence in early years education.

If you would like to book a workshop with Susie and Jacky, visit www.susiebeghin.com for more information.

Music from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!):

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://uppbeat.io/t/fortune-cookie/golden-summer-lenny-b⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

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In this episode of the ECE Classroom podcast, host SusieBeghin welcomes behaviour specialist Andy Baker to discuss effective strategies for managing challenging behaviors in early childhood education classrooms.

Andy emphasizes the importance of understanding the underlying reasons for behaviors. He introduces his Six-Stage Target Model for behavior management, which focuses on proactive strategies and building trust with children.

The conversation highlights the significance of a person-centered approach in education, recognizing that each child's needs and responses are unique. Andy shares practical advice for educators on fostering trust and connection with young children, especially those experiencing separation anxiety. The episode concludes with insights on the profound impact educators have on children's emotional development and behaviour.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Early Childhood Education and Behaviour Management

03:25 A shift in language from 'challenging behaviors' to'behaviors that challenge"

07:14 Attention-seeking Behaviour

11:51 The Six-Stage Target Model for Behaviour Management

14:47 Practical Strategies for Educators

19:29 Building Trust with Young Children

26:12 The Importance of a Person-Centered Approach

31:17 Susie’s reflection and takeaways

About Andy Baker

Andy Baker is a renowned Behavior Specialist, author,and entrepreneur with over 20 years of expertise in health and social care. A leading voice in the field of human behavior, Andy combines deep professional insight with a proven track record in business innovation. His latest book, Targeting the Positive, launched in November 2024, offers transformative strategies for personal and professional growth.  

https://www.able-training.co.uk/Music from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!):

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