Welcome to True Nature Teaching

I offer professional development workshops, speaking, presentations, consulting, and custom professional development support in five interdependent aspects of a vital and restorative learning community—Mindfulness, Social Emotional Learning, Healing Centered (Trauma Informed) Practices, Equity, and Restorative Practices.

This work as a consultant was not part of any career plan—it rose up out of a deep dedication and love for the students and teachers around me. While one of my strengths is offering practices and approaches that can result in immediate, positive change, I don't offer a magic bullet or the next great initiative. I offer a shift in how we view the act and art of teaching, learning and responding to disruption—a restorative pedagogy. This shift is based on the understanding that if we experience safety, belonging, voice and respect we can thrive as a learner and help others thrive. This shift moves us from deficit- to strengths-based thinking and from a punitive to a restorative mindset. This shift can transform classroom and schools and requires attention to how we communicate with everyone in the school building.

As a consultant, I bring a large tool box filled with over 25 years of circle work experience, extensive Restorative Practices training, a M.Ed. in Mindfulness for Educators, Advanced Training in Trauma Informed Practices, 180 hours of clinical training at a therapeutic high school for challenging youth, eight years as a classroom English teacher, and two years in school leadership.

I am constantly seeking new learning, reaching out to experts all over the globe to find new ideas, courage and inspiration. I am specifically focused on improving my understanding of how to weave separate initiatives into one integrated approach.

To this end, I am developing a 3-course Certification program. for teachers and leaders, in Holistic Restorative Practices through Saint Michael's College. Visit here for more information.

Visit here for endorsements and here for more information about True Nature Teaching.

NEW Holistic Restorative Education Certification Program

I am happy to announce I've collaborated with Saint Michael's College to start Vermont's first Certification Program in Holistic Restorative Education. Each course below also provides micro-credentials in discrete skills.

Course sequence offered annually:

• Transforming Teaching & Learning Through Mindfulness and Restorative Practices (Summer, Winter & Spring)
• Creating Equity-Focused, Healing Centered Classroom and Schools (Summer)
• Prevention and Response to Harm through a Holistic Restorative Approach (Fall)

Visit here for more information about this program or write to me at info@truenatureteaching.com

Custom Professional Development Offerings

Alongside presenting to large groups with the goal of informing and energizing schools and districts, I have a special dedication to supporting teachers and schools with unique professional development goals. Visit here for a list of PD events I have designed and led this past year.

One of my strengths is helping school leaders with messaging around professional development and teacher buy-in. My eight years as a professional editor and writer support me in this role, as does my career as a classroom teacher.

I had the pleasure of taking one of Annie's workshops last year. I left my time with her that day with a new sense of relief and understanding. To date no one had clearly articulated the philosophy behind Restorative Practices until Annie so eloquently weaved together my understanding. At the district opening event this year Annie took it a step further and synthesized the why behind restorative practices in a way that made me want to jump to my feet and scream "Amen!" The work of being an educator is the work of being human. To do it well we must listen deeply and carefully and ultimately be completely vulnerable. Annie models this with passion and in partnership.
- Megan McDonough, Principal
For more endorsements visit here.

Here are a few of my current offerings. If you have a special need within the areas of Mindfulness or Restorative Practices, please contact me to talk about your needs. annie@truenatureteaching.com

Restorative Communication

A 90 minute to all-day training

Positive school change begins with shifting how we view student behavior, respond to in-the-moment disruptions, and resolve class conflict AND this depends on changing how we communicate. During this training we learn the fundamentals of restorative communication, practice the language, and reflect on our own default response styles.

Creating a Healing Engaged Classroom

A 90 minute to all-day training

Central to restorative work is providing every educator with the knowledge, perspective, and skills necessary to see behavior through a trauma informed lens. Restorative work cannot be done with a student who is too dysregulated to access their "thinking brain." Students with trauma cannot learn if they do not feel safe. Creating a healing engaged classroom attends to all children's learning needs.

The Restorative Classroom

A 90 minute to 3 hour training

In this PD offering participants examine their relationship to the core principles of Restorative Practices, learn about the role of Restorative Practices and Mindfulness in working with traumatized and dysregulated youth, and explore how our own habits of communication and reactivity influence our classroom. With longer trainings I include an experiential exploration of Restorative communication.

Trauma Informed Restorative Practices

A 90 minute to 3 hour training

With 6 years of work at a therapeutic high school and over 200 hours of clinical training in working with challenging and traumatized youth, I help educators understand how Restorative Practices can support our most challenged youth and how to implement RP with special attention to the needs of those students. In addition to the use of circles I provide educators with the skills to communicate with disruptive students in a way that leads to collaboration and responsibility.

The Art of Tier 1 Classroom Circles

A 90 minute to 3 hour training

In this training teachers get to experience the simplicity of the community building circle and gain confidence in leading their own.

Introduction to Restorative Practices

Time can vary

In this presentation designed primarily for administrators and stakeholders, I offer an overview of Restorative Practices and why it works, the evidence that it does work, an experiential understanding and an overview of the different ways schools have implemented it.

Mindfulness for Educators

Times can vary

In this training I provide theoretical, experiential and research-based understanding of the importance of Mindfulness in a teacher's life and the classroom. This training often has a powerful effect on the lives of teachers!

Email me at annie@truenatureteaching.com with your questions and needs. For more on services and fees visit here.