If you are an early childhood educator, director, or the parent of a young child who:

  • Wants to provide a learning environment that inspires young children to explore, discover and create . . . then this course is for you.

  • Desires indoor and outdoor spaces in which children are always inspired and never get bored…then this course is for you.

  • Needs help in assessing, evaluating, and improving your learning environment…then this course is for you.

  • Wants to stop scolding, coaxing, and cajoling children…then this course is for you.

  • Wants to be able to effectively and professionally explain and defend the value and importance of loose parts play…then this course is definitely for you.

  • Is frustrated with the limitations of your classroom as a true learning environment…then this course is for you.

  • Seeks to offer a dynamic outdoor learning environment, no matter where you are or what your current situation…then this course is for you.

  • Finds yourself creatively challenged or at a loss for what to “do” with children day-after-day...then this course is for you.

  • Is inspired to put children in charge of their own learning...then this course is for you.

  • Feels trapped by the same-old-same-old due to budgetary limitations...then this course is for you.

The Creating a Natural Habitat for Learning Course Will Provide
Teacher Tom’s four cornerstones of creating a natural learning habitat that does not cheat young children.
Teacher Tom’s proven method for evolving outdoor and indoor environments that spark creativity, encourage discovery, and function as a true “third teacher” for the young children in your life.
Teacher Tom’s inclusive and comprehensive approach to learning environments that will come to become a part of everything you do with and for young children.

Scroll Down For A Deeper Look At What Will Be Covered In This Course

Module 1:
The Environment as the “Third Teacher”

The well-regarded Reggio Emilia model of early childhood learning describes every child’s three teachers. Adults and other children are teachers one and two, while “the environment” is the “third teacher.” Most of us are not in a position to start from scratch with our learning environments, nor do we want to. In Module 1, we begin by assessing our current learning environments based upon Teacher Tom’s four cornerstones of creating a natural learning habitat that does not cheat young children.

Module 2:
What is a Natural Habitat for Young Children?

We take a deep-dive into what a “natural habitat” for early learning looks like, and not surprisingly, it isn’t a traditional school! We will then take a closer look at what our environments do and don’t do through the prism of landscape architect Simon Nicholson who first proposed the Theory of Loose Parts, a foundational concept in Teacher Tom’s approach to creating learning environments that motivate children to learn at full-capacity.

Module 3:
Thinking about Our Outdoor Spaces

Stereotypically, when we think about school, we envision children indoors, sitting in chairs, faced forward, listening attentively to a teacher. In this module we flip that paradigm around, instead thinking of learning as a full-body, active process that takes place at least as much outdoors and in. In this module, we will explore, in detail, the elements that make great learning habitats for young children. You will come away with new, exciting ideas and be inspired to develop your own.

Module 4:
How a Natural Learning Habitat Impacts Learning

In this module we will explore the transformations you can expect – both in the children and you – from fully partnering with a “third teacher” that is designed to be an ever-evolving natural habitat that does not cheat children. You will learn how and why this kind of third teacher works to motivate and inspire a community of learners.

Module 5:
Making Everything We Say A Loose Part

Based on Teacher Tom’s wildly popular The Technology of Speaking With Children So They Can Think pedagogy (and course), this module explores how the things we say, and how we say them, can shut down thinking and learning. Teacher Tom will explain how The Theory of Loose Parts can even be applied to learning itself, by creating a “space” – or environment – in which children are truly free to think for themselves.

Module 6:
Developing a Loose Parts Mindset

What if we ourselves could become loose parts? In this module we will learn how we, as adults, can most productively and creatively elevate and work with our “third teacher,” making her a true ally. You will discover how you yourself, when you are at your best, are one of the most important loose parts in their lives and why serving children as a loose part is perhaps the most important thing we do for our youngest citizens.

Plus:
Live "Cohort Celebration with Teacher Tom

If you complete this course by the morning of August 24th, you will be invited to a live cohort celebration with Teacher Tom on August 31st (Our system will track your exact progress in order to provide your 4-hour Certificate of Attendance.) This webinar is limited to participants who are 100% complete; you are not required to participate in order to obtain your certificate; this session will not be recorded. *Don’t worry if you have not completed the course by this date; you have lifetime access, so you can work at your own pace or review the episodes whenever you need.

How This Course Works

  • If you register in time and get a spot, you'll be joining Teacher Tom’s new cohort for this course!

  • Rather than overwhelming you by sending you the entire course at once, every Thursday, for 6 weeks, you’ll get access to that week's episode and a reflection guide/workbook. Watch any time that's convenient for you.

  • Each week you’ll get about 30 minutes of video. You’ll watch these and spend another 15 minutes filling out your reflection guide/workbook. You’ll invest about 45 minutes each week, for a total of less than 5 hours for the whole course.

  • In parallel, Teacher Tom will encourage you to post your insights, reflections, and questions in our course community area where he will visit and respond daily.

  • Earn and receive a 5-hour Certificate of Attendance signed by Teacher Tom upon completion of the course (i.e., you’ve watched all of the videos and downloaded/filled out each of the six reflection guides/workbooks.)

  • If you keep up with the cohort and complete the course 100% by August 29th, you'll be invited to a live Celebration webinar on August 31st at 8:00 AM Pacific Standard Time. Save the date!

*Even if you do not complete the course by August 29th, you have lifetime access. You'll receive the certificate automatically once you have watched every episode of the course and downloaded and filled-in your reflection guides.

Join Waitlist

About Teacher Tom

Tom "Teacher Tom" Hobson is an early childhood educator, international speaker, education consultant, teacher of teachers, parent educator, and author. He is best known, however, for his namesake blog Teacher Tom's Blog, where he has posted daily for over a decade, chronicling the life and times of his little preschool in the rain-soaked Pacific Northwest corner of the USA.

For nearly two decades, Teacher Tom was the sole employee of the Woodland Park Cooperative School, a parent-owned and operated school, knit together by Teacher Tom's democratic, progressive play-based pedagogy.

Today, Teacher Tom shares his play-based pedagogy through online courses for early childhood educators and parents; produces online early childhood conferences, e.g., Teacher Tom's Play Summit 2021; consults with organizations about his "Family Schools" program; and inspires early years audiences around the world (Greece, UK, Iceland, Australia, China, Vietnam, New Zealand, Canada, and across the US) both virtually and in-person with his engaging views on early childhood education, play, and pedagogy.

He has authored two bestselling books, aptly named Teacher Tom's First Book, and Teacher Tom's Second Book.

Register for
Creating A Natural Learning Habitat

$129 USD / person

WHAT'S INCLUDED

  • Lifetime Access

  • Weekly video modules (delivered every Thursday for 6 weeks, starting July 20, 2023)

  • Six Reflection Guides/Workbooks to record your own thoughts and insights

  • Online community to share questions, insights, and ideas

  • High quality coaching for self directed learning wherever and whenever it's convenient

  • Live Cohort Celebration webinar with Teacher Tom* (must have completed course by August 29, 2023)

  • BONUS: 1 VIP invitation to join our new Teacher Tom's Club as a founding member, with the first two months of membership free (a USD $38 value; can cancel any time). More info in cohort. Club doors open on August 1st! ❤

Group Discount Pricing

Groups of 10 users or morel receive a 20% discount off of the $129.00 per person.

Schools and ECE program directors, please contact [email protected] about larger groups (100 persons and higher) to discuss additional discounts and bespoke PD programs for your community.

What Others Say About

Partnering With Parents

Neil P.

“I had all of our educators take Teacher Tom's training on enhancing our teaching and learning environment during our summer break, and all of us found it to be really motivating! We started the next school year off having made many small but important changes - both to our attitudes and to our indoor and outdoor spaces - with the result that each of us was inspired and energized, and our whole group got on the same page. Highly recommend as a team PD activity”

Mindie C.

"As a parent, I can't recommend this enough. Helped me understand the stress teachers have been under, and gave me lots of new ideas for dramatically improving the relationship dynamic; even our 4-year old noticed that I am calmer and more fun!"

Katarina D.

"Loved this so much. Reminded me that creating magical environments is really very achievable without a lot of effort, but - at least for me! - with a huge amount of additional intentionality!"

Peter H.

“Taking your training on creating an optimal and supportive "3rd teacher" in our school. Had no idea how much this would impact both my attitude, as well the children's comfort. I was shocked that having modified our spaces in very small ways would have such a big impact on both my ability and patience as an educator and on the children's ability to stay relaxed and curious! Thank you so much Teacher Tom"

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

  • Who is this course for?

    While it is specifically designed for early childhood educators, directors, and childcare owners, parents and grandparents of young children will also find it invaluable too.

  • What will the course cover?

    We will explore the notion of a child’s environment as a “teacher”; Teacher Tom’s four cornerstones of a creating Natural Habitats for Learning; what it means for a place to be a natural habitat for learning; the Theory of Loose Parts and how not to cheat children; the nuts and bolts of creating both outdoor and indoor learning environments; how the language we use can restrict or expand the effectiveness of a learning habitat; and how well-considered learning environments can greatly reduce, and even eliminate many of the frustrations and conflicts that arise between young children and the important adults in their lives.

  • What will I learn?

    Like with anything worth doing, you will get out of it what you put into it. This course is designed in the spirit of play-based learning in that I avoid direct instruction, “how to’s,” tick boxes, and lists of learning objectives. Instead, my approach is to assume that you are a motivated, intelligent, committed adult. I share my best thinking, tell stories, and ask probing questions intended to make you think about yourself, the families in your school life, and what you can do given your own unique situation. As a result you will feel both inspired and empowered to take action.

  • Do I need any special qualifications?

    Absolutely! This is a course for self-motivated enthusiastic educators who want their learning environment to become the most empowering "third teacher" in the lives of the children in their care. This is also a great course for self-motivated parents, grandparents, and caregivers who want to transform their home areas into natural learning habitats for the young children in their lives.

  • Will this course really offer you something better and different?

    I guarantee that you have never taken a course like this one. It will challenge you, it will probably even make you mad at times, but it will also cause you to think and grow. Most importantly, you will feel empowered and enabled to transform your place of learning into the very best "teaching partner."

  • When does the course start?

    This cohort kicks off on July 20th, 2023

  • How does it work?

    Starting Thursday, July 6th, and on every Thursday for the following six weeks, you’ll receive access to one module of the course along with a work book. You can watch that week’s module at any time that’s convenient for you, as long as you do so prior to the following week. We will all be working through the material together as a cohort, week-by-week. (If you can’t watch it that week that’s ok too, since you have lifetime access, but you’ll have more fun if you keep up with the cohort.)

  • How much time will I need to spend?

    At the start of each week, you’ll get about a half hour of video. You’ll watch it and then spend another 15 minutes or so each week filling out your reflection guide/workbook. In total, you’ll be investing about 45 minutes every week between July 20th and August 29th.

  • Do I have to attend at a particular time?

    No. :-) You can watch the sessions and work through the reflection guide any time that is convenient for you; after that you can share your insights and ideas at any time in our online community area and Teacher Tom will comment and “cheer you on.”

  • How long will I have access to the content?

    You will have lifetime access and can go back to it as often as you like.

  • Where does the course community connect?

    Our virtual meet-up place is the dedicated course community associated with our course on Thinkific.com, where we will share insights, ask questions, and celebrate successes.

  • What about the live graduation webinar?

    If you've kept up with the cohort and have completed the course 100% by midnight on August 16th, you will be invited to attend a live Zoom graduation webinar on August 17th at 8:00am PST. Save the date.

  • Will we be tracking your progress?

    You bet! Not only is this necessary for issuing your proof of completion certificate, but it is part of keeping us all accountable.

  • Will I get personal feedback from Teacher Tom?

    Yes! I will do my best to respond to all comments in our online course community in Thinkific, so please participate! You'll get more out of it, and you'll have more fun.

  • Can I get professional development credits?

    Yes! After you complete the course, you will automatically receive a 5-Hour Certificate of Attendance signed by me, Teacher Tom

  • What does the course cost?

    The cost is USD $129. But the great news is, you get a bonus just for taking the course. You will be the very first members I welcome into my brand new Teacher Tom's Club, and I'm gifting you the first month (worth USD $19) for free. I will send you a lot more info about the club during the course, and our doors open on August 17th, 2023. I can't wait.