Early Childhood Enrichment Program
Community Cultural Collective, Joint Initiatives, and Simple Gift Schoolhouse collaborate to address the gap in Early Childhood Education Workforce.Â
The Early Childhood Enrichment teacher training program offers skills to Family, Friend, Neighbor (FFN) Groups, educators, and care providers through workshops and coaching that combine music, movement, and early reading skills. The program emphasizes risk taking, fun, team building, and creativity while teaching
Educators Competencies
Our teacher training program provides Family, Friend, and Neighbor (FFN) caregivers, early childhood educators, and care providers with hands-on workshops and coaching designed to enhance teaching methods through music, movement, and literacy development.
Our partnership with Joint Initiatives for Youth and Families connects us with school districts, regional childcare centers, and certified caregiver partners, ensuring that SG Scholar training can be used as stackable credits for career advancement, increased pay, and workforce retention.
With this initiative, we aim to serve 500+ early childhood educators through in-classroom, onsite, and offsite training sessions.
Creative Teaching
Tools
Learn how to use music and movement to enrich the classroom and engage young learners in new and exciting ways.
Professional
Development
Training aligns with Colorado’s pre-kindergarten standards, providing educators with essential growth opportunities.
Cognitive & Social Development Techniques
Focus on literacy, numeracy, motor skills, and emotional intelligence to support well-rounded child development.
Immediate Classroom
Application
Teachers can implement new methods right away to create a more engaging and effective learning experience.
Community & Networking Opportunities
Connect with fellow educators, caregivers, and mentors to build long-term professional relationships.
Simple Gift Playgroups
Fostering Social Connections.
Beyond the classroom, Simple Gift Playgroups provide enrichment opportunities for Family, Friend, and Neighbor (FFN) caregivers, parents, grandparents, and community childcare providers. These bi-monthly sessions encourage learning through play while fostering social connections among caregivers.
Why Join a Playgroup?
Enhance Early Literacy – Learn how to use music, movement, and storytelling to support reading skills.
Build Community – FFN caregivers often experience social isolation—these playgroups create a support system.
Free for Participants – Thanks to community support, there is no cost to attend.
Expanding Reach – Our goal is to engage 500+ FFN caregivers across El Paso and Teller Counties and expand outside of downtown Colorado Springs.
Train the Trainer Program
Supporting the Next Generation of Learners.
To sustain and expand the impact of Early Childhood Enrichment, we are developing a Train the Trainer initiative to cultivate future instructors and mentors. This program is designed to equip experienced educators with the necessary skills and resources to train new teachers, ensuring that effective teaching methodologies continue to spread throughout the community.
Program Goals
Develop a network of trained mentors to strengthen early childhood education.
Partner with schools & institutions to provide hands-on teaching experience.
Create internship opportunities to help young educators gain real-world classroom experience.
Implement peer coaching & leadership training to build confidence and teaching effectiveness.
By empowering educators to become trainers, we ensure a sustainable model that benefits teachers, students, and the broader community.