Before We Teach, We Become: The Inner Work of Educators
Hosted and Facilitated by Maha Abbas ECC Coach | Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Specialist
Event Details
A reflective Learning Lounge on awareness, identity, and the unseen work that shapes our practice
This ECC Learning Lounge offers educators a rare and much-needed pause — a protected, relational space to gently turn inward and explore the inner world that shapes how we show up with children, families, and colleagues every single day.
So often in early childhood education, we focus on what we do: strategies, environments, plans, and practices. But this session invites us to explore something deeper and more powerful: who we are being while we do the work.
Together, we will explore how our beliefs, stories, nervous systems, lived experiences, and unconscious patterns influence our interactions, our decision-making, and our relationships — often without us even realizing it.
This is not a space for fixing, judging, or evaluating yourself.
This is a space for noticing — with compassion, curiosity, and care.
Because awareness without shame is where real growth begins.
Location
Online Webinar on Zoom
Date + Time
Thursday, July 9th, 2026
6:30pm - 7:30pm EST
Fee
This event is $10.00.
Who is this session for?
- Licensed and unlicensed family childcare providers
- Home daycare educators and operators
- Early childhood professionals working in home-based settings
- Providers who are feeling overwhelmed, stretched thin, or disconnected from their “why”
- Anyone looking to create more sustainable, supportive, and fulfilling daily practices
Meet Our Host & Facilitator!
Maha Abbas
ECC Coach | Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Specialist
Maha Abbas is an RECE with more than a decade of experience in the early years sector, having worked with infants, toddlers, preschoolers, kindergarteners, and school age children in licensed child care and before and after school programs, as well as supporting children and families as an RECE Facilitator and Family Support Facilitator in EarlyON Child and Family Centres. She currently serves as a Curriculum Coordinator with PLASP Child Care Services, supporting over 240 programs through coaching, resource development, and professional learning initiatives, and is pursuing her Master of Arts in Early Childhood Studies at Toronto Metropolitan University, focusing on anti-racism, culturally and developmentally responsive pedagogy, reflective community-building, and the therapeutic influence of nature and the arts.
Grounded in the belief that education is inherently political and that educators are social justice advocates, Maha’s work is rooted in relationships where creativity, identity, and belonging are nurtured, and she is committed to designing learning experiences that honour children, families, and educators as knowledge holders and create environments where people feel seen, heard, valued, and empowered to lead with courage.
Meet Your Workshop Producer!
Sophie Rayner-Grignon
ECC Coach & Workshop Producer
Email: sophie@anishatheecc.com
Each session is supported by a dedicated Workshop Producer who helps ensure a smooth, welcoming, and well-organized experience for all participants. Your Workshop Producer will be available to support with registration questions, technical assistance, and any needs that arise before or during the event.
They also work behind the scenes alongside the host to help facilitate the flow of the session, allowing presenters to focus fully on delivering an engaging and meaningful learning experience.
Explore what “inner work” really means in the context of early childhood education.
Notice personal patterns, triggers, and default responses that show up in daily practice.
Reflect on how identity, experiences, and emotional worlds shape professional interactions.
Strengthen self-awareness as a foundation for relational, inclusive, and responsive practice.
Reconnect with themselves as humans — not just professionals
Leave feeling more grounded, intentional, and aligned in how they show up each day.
What You'll Learn:
Why attend this event?
Notice what’s really driving your responses in practice
Explore how your beliefs, lived experiences, and internal patterns shape how you respond to children, families, and colleagues so you can begin to notice what’s happening beneath automatic reactions.
Reconnect with who you are beyond the educator role
Reflect on how your identity, values, and personal story influence how you show up in your work, and what it means to bring more of your authentic self into practice.
Create space for slower, more intentional professional growth
Step out of constant “doing” and into reflection so you can feel more grounded, aware, and aligned in your practice.
Understand your nervous system in everyday moments of care
Learn how stress and emotional load show up in your body and behaviour so you can recognize your own cues earlier and respond with more presence.
Strengthen relational and inclusive practice from the inside out
Explore how self-awareness impacts connection, communication, and belonging in your learning environments and everyday interactions.
FAQ
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Are there any membership fees to join The ECC Learning Lounge?
Nope, there are no membership fees to join The ECC Learning Lounge.
Instead, there will be a $10 admission fee for this event.
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Will there be a recording available of this event?
For virtual events, yes, recordings will be available.
However, it's important to note that not all events will be recorded. Details regarding recording availability will be shared upon registration for each specific event. The recording will be made available through our Podia platform. Details on how to access the recording will be sent to all registered attendees after the event.
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How can I contact the ECC Learning Lounge team for further inquiries?
You can contact here or email us directly at info@anishatheecc.com. We're here to assist you with any questions or concerns you may have.
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What topics are covered in The ECC Learning Lounge events?
Our events cover a wide range of topics relevant to early childhood education, including but not limited to child development, curriculum planning, social-emotional learning, cultural competence, inclusive practices, and leadership skills.
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How can I suggest topics or speakers for future ECC Learning Lounge events?
We welcome suggestions for topics and speakers! You can submit your ideas by contacting us directly with your recommendations via email at info@anishatheecc.com.
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