THIRTEEN early childhood education graduates and two professors from the George Brown College in Toronto this week delivered a series of workshops to over 125 teachers from Westmoreland and Hanover.

The participating teachers represented more than 100 schools and the issues covered included:

* the importance of self-esteem in the early years

* the implications of relationships and the environment on brain development

* behaviour guidance strategies that reflect a respectful, empowering interaction between teachers and students as well as techniques for parents;

* the importance of both indoor and outdoor environments for early learning

* as well as teachers brainstorming to find ideas to support them in creating spaces in which students can learn across all areas of the curriculum.

The 13 visiting students worked with local teachers in small groups to deliver a wide range of workshops in various areas of the curriculum. Workshops were in music and movement, earth science, math strategies, literacy and storytelling, arts and crafts and physical and dramatic play.

Throughout the workshops, the Toronto students used a wide range of learning aids, which were given to local teachers at the end.

The recent workshops were a culmination of one year of planning and fundraising by the students and faculty of the George Brown College. They received support from corporate donors in Toronto as well as from the local Jamaican community. George Brown College and the seven childcare centres it operates were also instrumental in providing the visiting students with support and financial aid.

Students and faculty have used the funds raised to purchase teaching resources and materials for the local students including items such as crayons, markers, scissors, workbooks, posters, paper, chalk, and slates. These items have been distributed in the schools in which the 13 students have been doing volunteer teaching, including Negril Basic and All Age School, Westend, Sangster Child Care Centre, and Whitehall.

And dozens of early childhood education textbooks and written materials have been left in the Resource Centre in Savanna La Mar.