As an Advocate for Children, Families & Early Childhood Educators I will always follow the diversity-informed tenets for work with infants, children and families developed by the Irving Harris Foundation:
PRINCIPLE FOR DIVERSITY-INFORMED PRACTICE
1. Self-Awareness Leads to Better Services for Families
STANCE TOWARD INFANTS, CHILDREN, AND FAMILIES FOR DIVERSITY-INFORMED PRACTICE
2. Champion Children’s Rights Globally
3. Work to Acknowledge Privilege and Combat Discrimination
4. Recognize and Respect Non-Dominant Bodies of Knowledge
5. Honor Diverse Family Structures
PRINCIPLES FOR DIVERSITY-INFORMED RESOURCE ALLOCATION
6. Understand That Language Can Hurt or Heal
7. Support Families in Their Preferred Language
8. Allocate Resources to Systems Change
9. Make Space and Open Pathways
ADVOCACY TOWARDS DIVERSITY, INCLUSION, AND EQUITY IN INSTITUTIONS
10. Advance Policy That Supports All Families
Professional Development for Early Childhood Educators
At Transforming Early Childhood Education LLC, we believe early childhood professional development should be filled with laughter. It should also be engaging, collaborative, hands-on, and meaningful. If we want to do better for our students, we need to take the time to reflect upon and grow our teaching practices.
Early childhood programs and organizations can choose from our extensive catalog of workshops covering various early childhood topics, from curriculum development and social-emotional learning to growth mindset and parent education. Each workshop is research-based and geared towards the adult learner weaving hands-on experiences, discussion, lecture, and small group work.
Play is Learning!
“All children and young people need to play. The impulse to play is innate. Play is a biological, psychological and social necessity, and is fundamental to the healthy development and wellbeing of individuals and communities.” (Playwork Principles Scrutiny Group)
At Transforming Early Childhood Education, we are early childhood specialists who advocate for children, families, and early childhood educators. We view children (of all ages) as competent and capable of guiding their own learning. We believe in providing children with boundaries where they can use their voices and make choices. We strive to create connections and build bridges between home and school.
Hi! I’m Carrie Becker the Founder of Transforming Early Childhood Education LLC. I am an over-thinker. I came out of the womb that way. When I reflect on how I describe myself and the work I do, I notice how I have evolved over the years. I have developed strong skills in self-reflection, communication, and adapting to new challenges, ultimately learning to find my true voice.
I could share the number of years I’ve been in the field, my time as a classroom teacher, and the many expensive pieces of paper that "prove" my qualifications, but I don’t think that truly reflects who I am. Instead, I’d rather highlight why I do this work—what tugged at me in the classroom drew me into this path. Even in the most difficult moments, I find the purest sense of joy, curiosity, and wonder, knowing I get to touch the lives of so many children through their incredible teachers.
I don’t believe in traditional education for young children. So why would I ever spend my time being a traditional educator of educators? I don’t view myself as a “trainer.” I'm an early childhood professional who supports colleagues in their work.
I want our time together to feel like I am hanging out on the floor with you in your toddler classroom, because that is what we will actually do. No keynote to stare at, just us spending time laughing, reflecting, and learning from one another.
We play, because that’s the way all humans learn. In my jeans, t-shirt, and tennis shoes, we take a reflective journey together. We strengthen our bonds as early childhood educators. We nurture our creative spirits and learn how to celebrate the little moments. We remember that we have the absolute privilege of being one or more chapters in the novel of a child’s and their family's lives.
Whether you're new to my work or have been here from the beginning, I’m glad you're part of this journey. We’re all in this together. Remember, asking for help is a strength—we are stronger together.
“To enter into a style of teaching which is based on questioning what we’re doing and why, on listening to children, on thinking about how theory is translated into practice and how practice informs theory, is to enter into a way of working where professional development takes place day after day in the classroom”