Ditch stressful circle times and worksheets and confidently transition to play-based, child-led education.
You’re tired of attempting to get children to sit still and listen for 20 minutes of circle time.
Stressed out printing worksheets, spending lunch breaks cutting out crafts and pre-gluing, and sifting through stacks of generic curriculum papers.
You're frustrated having to constantly search for new kinder-ready activities and ways to keep kids engaged (but your class never seems interested).
Worried because every day you’re dealing with behavior challenges and it only seems to be getting worse with each new group of students.
And you're feeling defeated after pouring hours into setting up a new monthly theme just to have children get bored minutes later.
It's time to rethink how we teach in the Early Childhood Classroom
For the children’s sake, and for your sanity.
You may have heard about the importance of play and read the articles. You've seen the "play is best" comments in Facebook groups and you know deep down inside that...
Children are built to move, to create, to explore, and to PLAY.
Play is how children are built to learn.
You deeply desire to have a classroom filled with children who feel free to be creative, who problem-solve and think critically without you having to spoon-feed them all the answers.
You want to have your own magical moments that all these other “Instagram teachers” seem to be having.
But it feels out of reach for you and your classroom.
How do you make sure the children trusted in your care are actually learning?
What are you supposed to do as the teacher if everything is child-led?
How do you justify kids playing 24/7 to your director or parents?
How do you keep structure and routine in a play-based classroom so it doesn't desolve into chaos?
“Play-led” and “child-led” seem like things for those teachers but not for you.
And that’s where the Beyond Circle Time membership comes in.
We understand that breaking free from the norms of a “traditional” early childhood classroom is no easy task.
This membership was created to help early childhood educators on their journey as they make the transition from adult-led activities, to a child-centered, play-based classroom.
We’ll guide and support you as you let go of calendar time, product art, and rotating learning centers, and replace them with spontaneous learning opportunities, joy, and play.
Here’s a breakdown of the program:
Topics include:
- What is play? (play schema, stages, and types of play)
- The role of teachers in a child-led, play-based classroom
- Getting started making the transition from an academic to play based classroom
- The playful environment
- Play and child-led trailblazers
- The power of observation
- Talking to parents about play
- Reggio, Montessori, and Waldorf
- Budget-friendly guide to stocking your classroom
- and more
If it’s not a good fit you can cancel your membership at any time.
Pricing is available for directors/admin making purchases for staff. Click HERE
Select Your Tier
Become a member by selecting a membership tier below.
*Bonus* if you become a member within the first 48 hours
Get access to our popular Beyond Rice: Sensory Play Training! Learn how to integrate sensory play into your classroom to support behavior management, more engaged learning, and neurodiverse children
We’ve heard from dozens of educators who want to embrace play in their classrooms, but are afraid about not preparing their children academically.
This concern comes from a well-meaning place. It’s because you care!
Beyond Circle Time Membership gives you the expertise to understand how and why play is by far one of the most effective ways to prepare students for an academically rich and successful future (the research proves it!).
You’ll learn how to facilitate and guide critical thinking, scaffold their learning experiences, prepare the environment, and spot opportunities to expand a child’s knowledge.
It’s like watching the classroom through a whole new set of eyes.
Once you start to see just how much children learn and absorb while playing – it’s hard to not recognize it!
But why a membership instead of a one-time course?
Our own personal experience from starting our careers in academic-based classrooms has shown us that this isn’t a one-and-done process.
Just like you, we were taught learning and play were separate things.
Sure you can have some play time but you need to have dedicated “learning” time too.
We also used to do 20-minute circle times repeating weather songs and numbers.
We pulled children aside to complete worksheets and rotated between “science time”, “art time”, and “math time” every 15 minutes.
We did flashcards and worried endlessly about getting children "kinder-ready".
We’re helping educators make this transition from a place of experience because we had to go through it too!
While taking different trainings and learning more is important, a key part of effectively transforming our classrooms and teaching philosophy was in the conversations and support we got from others.
When questions, doubts, and challenges came up, being able to reach out to a like-minded mentor or peer helped us stay on track and continue to learn.
It would be overwhelming and impossible to stuff everything about play-based learning into a few training modules.
The membership allows you to really take the time to implement what you learn and build a community to support you while you do!
Inside the exclusive community that comes with the membership you get access to:
- Q&A sessions
- Support and guided reflections
- Play inspiration
It’s time to get back to research-based, developmentally appropriate practices - and all arrows point back to play.
Make the switch from flashcards and trying to corral children to sit still and do worksheets, to a child-led, play-based classroom. You’ll see:
- More joy and fun in the classroom
- Reduction of behavior challenges
- Immediate and long-term academic benefits
- More meaningful, authentic moments
- Less stress and pressure
This membership is perfect for:
- New educators who want to start off their career using developmentally appropriate practice
- Veteran educators who want to try something different and break from the “traditional” classroom
- Educators in the middle of transitioning to play-based and want a supportive community and play-inspiration
- Directors/admin who want to grow their knowledge and understanding of play-based so they can support their staff better
FAQ's
How much of a time commitment is this?
The course material is online and completely self-paced. Complete it at your convenience, day or night. The online coaching sessions and Q&A’s are scheduled and announced in advance Though it’s highly encouraged to join, you are not required to participate and replays are posted in the membership lounge.
How is the membership material delivered?
The course training and PDF’s are all online and can be accessed in the membership lounge. Once you become a member, you’ll be asked to create an account. New PD and content are added on a regular basis.
Does switching to play-based mean I have to let my children misbehave and do whatever they want?
This is a common misconception. Though play-based often requires adults to reflect and let go of their assumptions and power struggles, it does not mean the classroom has no expectations, rules, or structure. Classroom management and discipline in a child-led environment is a topic we’ll discuss inside of the membership.
Is there group pricing available for multiple staff members?
Absolutely. Fill out the form to request group access by clicking this link: https://forms.gle/LSfYu1Yz1DAS3VTt7
What if I don’t like the membership?
Cancel at any time!
Will I get professional development hours?
Certificates for professional development hours are available at the end of the training material. Double-check with your state registry about the requirements for PD hours.
Does this align with Quality Rated Assessment tools?
Yup! If your center/program participates in a quality-rated program, the assessment tools value regard for student perspective, accessibility and free play, engagement, and developmentally appropriate practices. The skills and knowledge you and/or staff will learn inside the membership align with these higher-level scores.
Get ongoing support and professional development to create a magical and impactful early childhood experience for the kids in your care.
(While also reducing the stress on your shoulders and reigniting your passion for teaching)
Join Beyond Circle Time Today!
Become a member by selecting a membership tier below.