The ECE Classroom with Susie Beghin

Susie Beghin

The ECE Classroom explores key topics in early childhood education. Each episode offers insightful discussions and practical advice and is designed to inspire, inform, and empower educators, home care providers, and parents alike. As an educator and daycare owner, Susie Beghin is passionate about nurturing young minds and supporting those who work tirelessly to shape the future generation.

  1. S03 Ep. 4: Inside the Zones of Regulation: Helping Children Understand Their Emotions

    2D AGO

    S03 Ep. 4: Inside the Zones of Regulation: Helping Children Understand Their Emotions

    In this episode, Susie Beghin interviews Emily Walz, theDirector of Learning at the Zones of Regulation. They discuss the importance of emotional regulation in early childhood education, the framework of the Zones of Regulation, and how it can be used to support neurodiverse learners. Emilyemphasizes the need for educators to teach emotional literacy and regulation skills, and the importance of creating a compassionate and understanding environment for all learners. The conversation highlights the significance ofrecognizing and normalizing all emotions, and the role of co-regulation in helping children develop these essential skills. Chapters  00:00 Introduction to Zones of Regulation 01:35 What is the Zones of Regulation? 05:40 Exploring the Four Colour Zones 07:43 Normalizing all emotions and creating safe environments 12:15 How to Use Zones for Neurodiverse children 15:28 Seeing Behaviour Differently and Co-regulation 20:34 Susie’s Reflection on Today’s Topic About Our Guest Emily is a licensed Special Education Teacher with over 20 years of experience in the field of education. She spent the first 15 years of her career teaching special education and leading social-emotional learning (SEL) initiatives in New York City and the Minneapolis-St. Paul metro area. Emily’s role as Director of Learning Experience & Innovation at The Zones of Regulation allows her to use her rich experience to be hands-on in developing curriculum content and training for Zones leaders, as well as consulting with schools, districts, and organizations in the U.S. and abroad.www.zonesofregulation.com Music by Mykola Odnoroh from Pixabay

    22 min
  2. S03 Ep. 2: Why Finland Gets Early Learning Right (And What We Can Learn From It)

    FEB 15

    S03 Ep. 2: Why Finland Gets Early Learning Right (And What We Can Learn From It)

    In this episode, Susie Beghin interviews Anu Guttorm, the owner of Moomin Language School, to explore the unique aspects of Finland's early childhood education system. They discuss the importance of emotional learning, the role of play in education, and the innovative approach of language immersion. Anu shares insights into how Finnish educators prioritize social skills and emotional development over academic skills in early childhood, and how her school utilizes digital tools to facilitate language learning. The conversation highlights the significance of nurturing curiosity and creativity in young learners, as well as the potential for technology to enhance educational experiences.Chapters 00:00 Introduction to Early Childhood Education in Finland 03:26 Approach to Early Childhood Education in Finland 07:30 Structure of the Day in Finnish Early Childhood Education 10:00 Emotional Learning and Social Skills in Finnish Education 11:22 The Importance of Free Play and Child-Led Learning 14:15 Digital Language Immersion: A Unique Approach to Learning 22:40 Future of Language Learning and Technology in Education 25:10 Susie’s Reflection on Today’s topic About Our Guest Anu Guttorm is the founder and CEO of Moomin Language School, where they blend Finnish education principles with safe, innovative technology. Through stories and play, they help children and educators discover the joy of language — and prepare young learners for meaningful connections in the future.www.moominls.comhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/anuguttorm/

    27 min
  3. S03 Ep1: Screen Time Isn’t the Enemy: Here’s What Matters Instead

    JAN 20

    S03 Ep1: Screen Time Isn’t the Enemy: Here’s What Matters Instead

    In this episode of the ECE Classroom podcast, host SusieBeghin welcomes Will Maurer from Children's Media Research and Reform to discuss the critical topic of screen time for children under two. Will shares his journey from working in media and entertainment to focusing on the impact of screen use on young children, particularly during the pandemic when he became a parent. He emphasizes the alarming effects of overstimulating content, which can lead to dopamine imbalances and addictive behaviors in children, likening it to the first addiction in their lives. Will highlights the gapbetween existing guidelines that recommend no screen time for children under two and the reality that many children are exposed to screens at a young age. The conversation delves into the characteristics of qualitycontent versus harmful media, with Will advising parents and educators to look for slower-paced, developmentally appropriate programming that encourages co-viewing and interaction. He critiques popular media, including platformslike YouTube, for their rapid pacing and overstimulation, which can hinder a child's ability to learn and develop. Will advocates for a shift in how children's media is produced, emphasizing the need for content that supports language development and meaningful engagement between parents and children.The episode concludes with a call to action for better funding and support for creating high-quality media for young children, echoing the legacy of educational pioneers like Fred Rogers. Chapters 00:00 Introduction to Screen Time and Early ChildhoodEducation 03:02 Current Research on Screen Use for Children Under Two 06:20 Identifying Quality Content for Young Children 08:30 The Evolution of Children's Media 10:25 The Impact of Fast-Paced Programming 14:15 Co-Viewing: Bridging the Gap Between Screens andLearning 15:55 Evaluating Popular Shows: The Case of Miss Rachel 21:29 Guidance for Educators and Parents on Screen Use 23:30 Susie’s Reflections on Today’s Topic  Music by Mykola Odnoroh from Pixabay About Our Guest - Will Maurer Media and Education | TEDx Speaker on Children’s Media Reform | On a Mission to Positively Impact the Lives of Families Around the Worldwww.cmrrl.org

    26 min
  4. S02 Ep 11: The Power of Partnership: Connecting Educators, Parents & Community

    2025-11-15

    S02 Ep 11: The Power of Partnership: Connecting Educators, Parents & Community

    In this episode of the ECE Classroom podcast, host Susie Beghin is joined by Kate Woodward-Young and Carrie Casey from the Child Care Conversations podcast. They discuss the importance of building partnerships between educators and parents, understanding cultural expectations, and the role of community engagement in early childhood education. The conversation emphasizes the need for curiosity in educators, realistic expectations for child development, and the use of assessment tools to guide discussions with parents. The episode concludes with practical tips for involving the community in children's learning experiences. Chapters 00:00 Introduction to Early Childhood Education Insights 04:15 The Importance of Parent Engagement 12:29 Building Relationships with Families 18:06 Educating Parents on Developmental Expectations 24:13 Engaging the Community in Early Education    Music by Mykola Odnoroh from Pixabay About our Guests Kate Woodward Young, M.Ed., and Carrie Casey are educators, authors, and leadership coaches with more than 60 years of combined experience in early childhood education. Since 2019, they’ve hosted ChildCare Conversations with Kate and Carrie, a twice-weekly podcast with over 300 episodes and more than 25,000 downloads. Each episode offers practical strategies, real-world insights, and encouraging stories that help early learning professionals lead with confidence, strengthen teams, and build sustainableprograms. They are also bestselling authors of 11 books on earlychildhood leadership and administration, used internationally in professional development and higher education. Their writing and training focus on helping directors and owners create positive cultures, retain staff, and grow thrivingprograms. 🎧 Listen to ChildCare Conversations with Kate and Carrie atwww.childcareconversations.com

    29 min
  5. S02 Ep 10: Learn to Read in Motion: Teaching Literacy Through Movement

    2025-10-15

    S02 Ep 10: Learn to Read in Motion: Teaching Literacy Through Movement

    In this episode of the ECE Classroom podcast, host SusieBeghin speaks with Stefanie Hohl from ABC See, Hear, Do about innovative strategies for teaching early literacy through movement. They discuss the importance of incorporating physical activity into reading lessons, creating a literacy-rich environment, and engaging parents in the learning process. Stefanie shares practical tips for educators and parents to make reading funand accessible for all children, emphasizing the need to adapt teaching methods to different learning styles. Chapters 00:00 Introduction to Early Literacy and Movement 1:43 Incorporating Movement in Reading 05:24 Engaging Children with Books 06:44 Creating a Literacy-Rich Environment 10:50 Making Reading Fun and Inclusive 12:30 The Role of Parents in Early Literacy 18:00 Understanding Different Learning Styles 20:30 Resources for Early Readers 22:40   Susie’s Insightson Learning to Read Through Movement About our Guest Stefanie Hohl holds a Master of Education in Curriculum and Instruction with an emphasis in Children’s Literature from Penn State and an MFA in Writing for Children and Young Adults from Vermont College of Fine Arts. After years of teaching preschool co-ops, homeschooling, and guiding her first four children through the process of learning to read, Stefanie realized she needed a new approach for her fifth child. Through extensive research and testing, she developed the ABC See, Hear, Do Method, a fun and effective way to teach early reading skills. www.abcseeheardo.com Link to Learn Letters with Confidence mini-course. https://susie-beghin-academy.thinkific.com/products/courses/teach-letters-with-confidence Music from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!): ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://uppbeat.io/t/fortune-cookie/golden-summer-lenny-b⁠⁠⁠⁠ License code: STFPDU3XL7ZR4CHA

    25 min

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About

The ECE Classroom explores key topics in early childhood education. Each episode offers insightful discussions and practical advice and is designed to inspire, inform, and empower educators, home care providers, and parents alike. As an educator and daycare owner, Susie Beghin is passionate about nurturing young minds and supporting those who work tirelessly to shape the future generation.