Circle Time Magazine - Cultivate Learning

An accessible, friendly, and fun professional development web series focused on early learning in action

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Welcome to Circle Time Magazine

Circle Time Magazine is a dynamic professional development web series and magazine for early childhood educators, parents, and providers that seeks to make Cultivate Learning's research accessible, friendly, and fun. It is created and produced by Gail Joseph, PhD, founding director of Cultivate Learning. Each episode features guest experts sharing their knowledge, ideas for using everyday materials, favorite books, and high-quality examples of learning in action. Join our hosts as they discuss topics related to the work providers do with young children every day.

Topics

English Español Somali

English

Season 1: Math Edition
Season 2: Positive Behavior Support Edition
Season 3: Inclusion Edition
Season 4: Big Kid Edition

Español

Somali

Circle Time Magazine, the show!

English Español

English

Español

Each Circle Time Magazine episode includes an educational video delivered in a talk show format. Watch this overview to preview Season 4 inclusion topics we have planned for you.

Circle Time Magazine, in print!

Check out our print magazines, available with each episode, for more information related to each topic, along with hands-on teaching strategies and tips for taking care of YOU!

Meet Our Hosts

Dawn Williams, PhD

Math, Positive Behavior Support, and Inclusion Editions Host

Learn More about Dawn

Dawn is a former teacher and has worked in the field of early childhood for more than 15 years. She learned a great deal from visiting many different Head Start classrooms when working as disabilities and education content specialist for the Office of Head Start.

She is currently a Curriculum Specialist at Cultivate Learning and a doctoral student at the University of Washington studying education policy, organizations, and leadership. Dawn has two BAs from the University of Michigan, one in elementary education and the other in African & African American studies, and an MA degree in human development and psychology from Harvard University.

Virginia Tse

Math Edition Host

Learn More about Virginia

Virginia started her early learning journey as a Head Start teacher in her home community of South Seattle. The foundation laid in her early years as an educator is what drives her passion for the work she does at Cultivate Learning. She loves working with children, their families, and the amazing early learning educators who influence the youngest learners every day. She is currently the Assessment Lead for Early Achievers Ratings and a doctoral student at the University of Washington where she studies learning and human development.

Kristin Ainslie

Positive Behavior Support and Inclusion Editions Host

Learn More about Kristin

Kristin began her Early Childhood Special Education career in the mid-1990's after volunteering at the Experimental Education Unit (EEU) at the University of Washington. Since then, she has been a teacher, a supervisor, and a Curriculum Specialist with the Head Start Center for Inclusion and the National Center for Quality Teaching and Learning. Today, she is back working directly with young children and their families as a Family Support Coordinator at the University of Washington's Haring Center.

Kristin received her MA degree in Early Childhood Special Education from the University of Washington.

Sophie Biddle

Big Kid Edition Host

Learn More about Sophie

Sophie Biddle has rich experience working with young people, ages 5 - 18 years old, in non-traditional educational and expanded learning opportunity spaces. She is currently the project lead for Cultivate Learning’s Expanded Learning Opportunities (ELO) team, where she supports providers in offering high quality before and after school learning spaces for young people ages 5 – 18 years old.

She has a BA in Sociology and Elementary Science Education from Portland State University. Sophie also leads Cultivate Learning’s youth engagement work, partnering with young people in Washington State to create empowering, equity-centered ELO spaces.

Sheely Mauck

Big Kid Edition Host

Learn More about Sheely

Sheely Mauck has extensive experience in youth development and expanded learning opportunity (ELO) programs. For nearly 10 years, she ran education and teen programs at both Boys & Girls Clubs and YMCAs throughout the Puget Sound region. In 2012, Sheely began working part-time as a program quality trainer, coach, and external assessor for School’s Out Washington (SOWA) and became a Field Consultant for the David P. Weikart Center for Youth Program Quality. Sheely now serves as the Statewide Quality Education Director at SOWA where she seeks to deliver a dependable and responsive system of professional learning and continuous quality improvement supports for ELO professionals across Washington State.

Sheely has a B.A. in Psychology from Pacific Lutheran University and a Master of Public Administration & Nonprofit Management from Seattle University. Sheely is passionate about creating and providing accessible, equitable, and culturally responsive learning opportunities to ensure high-quality and impactful programs for children and youth.

Samira Noor

Positive Behavior Support Somali Edition Host

Learn More about Samira

Samira Mohamud is a Bilingual Professional Development Specialist at Cultivate Learning. She has worked with Cultivate Learning for eight years. Samira brings extensive experience in providing trainings and developing materials in Somali to support providers, staff and directors.

Samira completed her BA in Early Childhood and Family Studies and her M.Ed. in Curriculum and Instruction.

Samira currently lives in Tukwila with her family and enjoys traveling and spending time with her nieces and nephews.

Maryam Diriye

Positive Behavior Support Somali Edition Host

Learn More about Maryam

Maryam Diriye is a Professional Development Specialist at Cultivate Learning. She has worked with Cultivate Learning for seven years and has worked directly with the Early Achievers Team and Seattle Preschool Program.

Maryam demonstrated and maintained reliability on all of the Environment Rating Scale assessment versions. Maryam facilitates and leads Environment Rating Scale trainings, information sessions, and communities of practice webinars. She has conducted and developed training in both Somali and English.

Maryam has completed her Bachelor’s degree in Political Science and a Master’s degree in Social Work. Maryam enjoys traveling and spending time with her family.

Contact Us

Please contact us at cultiv8@uw.edu if you have questions about Circle Time Magazine. Like Cultivate Learning on Facebook and Instagram to stay connected to our latest work.

Professional Learning

Research & Evaluation

Quality Recognition

Professional Learning

Research & Evaluation

Quality Recognition

An accessible, friendly, and fun professional development web series focused on early learning in action

An accessible, friendly, and fun professional development web series focused on early learning in action

Welcome to Circle Time Magazine

Topics

Circle Time Magazine, the show!

Circle Time Magazine, in print!

Meet Our Hosts

Contact Us