Start them early

Our youngest students have an incredible ability to learn and understand. With early education, we can improve future health & wellness outcomes.

Learning Outcomes

Short, engaging videos followed by reflections and activities that put the focus on your wellness as an educator first, then provide tools, strategies, and activities for a wellness-informed classroom.

  • Teaches the relevant neuroscience of resilience & mental health

  • Gives proactive strategies for your personal life and your classroom

  • Provides a framework for using challenges to proactively foster wellness

  • Includes adaptable, suggested tools for conflict resolution, difficult conversations, and empathetic communication

Program Reviews

4 star rating

Informative

Clarissa Moore

I found this program to be very informative and helpful. I was able take away ideas and strategies I can use in my classroom.

I found this program to be very informative and helpful. I was able take away ideas and strategies I can use in my classroom.

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5 star rating

Helpful Scientific Mental Health Information

Suzanne Newcomb

I have read many articles about mental health in adults and children. Your PD gave more of the scientific background as to why and how everything happens wi...

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I have read many articles about mental health in adults and children. Your PD gave more of the scientific background as to why and how everything happens with concerns to mental health and how to apply helpful tips and coping strategies. Your PD was also helpful in that it pointed out that some concerns are out of your control, ie. family history or trauma. I was able to take away strategies and knowledge from this PD.

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5 star rating

Good information for life.

Phyllis Andersen

Good examples for real life.

Good examples for real life.

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5 star rating

Informative & helpful brainfood

Lini Ecker

I really enjoyed this course! It is deceptively simple. I appreciated the way it focused first on us as people and then applying that to the classroom. The c...

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I really enjoyed this course! It is deceptively simple. I appreciated the way it focused first on us as people and then applying that to the classroom. The characters and acronyms are really helpful as well.

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5 star rating

Pathways: Early Childhood Educator PD

Linda Conway

Hello there, I was very pleased with the content as well as the format; I particularly liked the alternating verbal presentations, then followed by printabl...

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Hello there, I was very pleased with the content as well as the format; I particularly liked the alternating verbal presentations, then followed by printable charts and finally reflections. I walked away feeling that this workshop although beneficial to me personally would have been an excellent tool for both of my children during those pre teen and teen years. As an early childhood educator, I was impressed by how these introspective processes were related to the classroom experiences. I have always believed that solid emotional and social well being set the foundation for how young children progress. I give this 5 stars! Linda Conway

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Program Outline

  1. 1

    • Introduction to the Course

    • Reference Guide Download
  2. 2

    • Intro to Neuroscience

    • Activity: Neuroscience

    • Brain Development

    • Activity: The Three Stages of Brain Development

    • Pathways

    • Activity: ABC - 123

    • Activity: Audiation

    • Pruning & Paving

    • Activity: Pruning & Paving

    • The Seven Cs

    • Neurochemicals

    • Activity: Getting Neurochemicals

    • The PFC

    • Activity: The PFC & Executive Function

    • Autonomic Nervous System

    • Activity: The ANS

    • Activity: Combat/ Box Breathing

    • The Four R's

    • Activity: The Four Rs
  3. 3

    • The Resilient Mindset Model Intro

    • The Four S's

    • Activity: The 4 S Framework

    • The 4 Characters of The Brain

    • The Ant

    • The Grasshopper

    • The Glowworm

    • The Dragonfly

    • Activity: 4 Characters in Action

    • R.E.A.C.T.S.

    • Activity: Understanding Your Triggers

    • Mindful Choices

    • Activity: Dragonfly Mindfulness

    • Activity: Applying the Model
  4. 4

    • Mental Health Literacy Intro

    • Mental Health Continuum

    • Activity: Mental Health Statistics

    • Activity: Breaking The Stigma

    • Protective Factors

    • Activity: Protective Factors

    • Risk Factors

    • Activity: Risk Factors

    • Prevention

    • Ant Tools

    • Activity: Understanding The Ant

    • Balanced Decisions

    • Activity: Healthy Decisions Continuum

    • Stress & Threat

    • Activity: Stress and Threat

    • Trauma & The Brain

    • Activity: The Brain's Response to Trauma

    • Three Types of Trauma

    • Activity: Collective Trauma Now

    • Violence, Anxiety, Depression

    • Coping

    • Activity: Coping Strategies

    • Mental Health Perspective

    • Getting Help

    • Resource: Signs & Symptoms

    • Activity: Common Mental Health Disorders

    • Activity: Getting Help

    • Mental Health Literacy: Supplemental Guide
  5. 5

    • Brain-Based Leadership Intro

    • Security & Autonomy

    • Activity: Roots and Wings

    • Leadership Styles

    • Activity: Leadership Styles

    • Scaffolding & Scripting

    • Activity: Scaffolding & Scripting

    • The Resilience Formula

    • Proactive, Not Reactive

    • Planning

    • Activity: The Resilience Formula - Planning

    • Implementing

    • Activity: The Resilience Formula - Implementing

    • Reflecting

    • Reflecting Activity

    • Restorative Justice

    • Activity: Apologies & Restorative Justice

    • Activity: Difficult Conversations & DEI

    • Self-Care for Leading

    • Activity: Self-Care
  6. 6

    • Dragonflying

    • It's a Jungle in There [Read Aloud]

    • The Four S's of Resilience [Read Aloud]

    • The Resilient Mindset Model Coloring Book [Download]

Instructor(s)

Founder of Pathways to Empower

Dr. Donna Volpitta

Always an educator, Dr. Volpitta loves finding ways to translate neuroscience so that people can apply it to their own lives. Her work is grounded in the latest research in neurology, psychology, and education. She is the co-author of The Resilience Formula, author of Neuroworld, co-creator of the Nametags Education Program, and is a sought-after speaker. A former classroom teacher (and mother of 4 adolescents!) with experience in both general and special education, Donna holds a doctoral degree in Learning Dis/Abilities from Teachers College, Columbia University.

Co-Founder/CEO

Jason Schofield

With a strong background in coaching, management, entrepreneurial consulting, and developing products and services in the technology space, Jason brings his creative spirit and forward-thinking mindset to the Pathways products. Jason feels incredibly fortunate to have the opportunity to unite his three main passions, education, health, and entrepreneurship, through Pathways to Empower.