Talking With Other Educators
Interviews with other educators will show you how the Pyramid Model affects children and educators as they move through the process.
How long have you been working in education?
Participant 1: I have been working full-time for about twelve and a half years.
Participant 2: Just under three years.
Participant 3: 15+/- Years
Participant 4: I graduated from NSCECE in 2015 and went on to obtain a degree in Child and Youth Studies from Mount Saint Vincent University in 2019. I’ve worked as an early childhood educator with all age groups in a variety of settings (regulated child care, in home child care, private nanny) and as an inclusion coordinator before becoming a Pyramid Model Inclusion Coach.
Please explain your approach to teaching social-emotional skills to young children.
Participant 1: It depends on the child. Some children need more one-on-one where you sit and talk about what all those things mean; for some, you can do large groups and talk about it casually, and they get it.
Participant 2: My approach to teaching social-emotional skills focuses on modelling emotional expression, supporting self-regulation, and promoting empathy through guided interactions. I create a nurturing environment where children can safely express their emotions and learn to manage them using tools like calm-down spaces and sensory materials. I encourage cooperation and positive social behaviours through group experiences, role-playing, and storytelling while using simple language to help children identify and communicate their feelings. By providing individualized support, I ensure that all children, including dual-language learners and those with delays, are included in social-emotional learning.
Participant 3: Respecting children's emotions, providing them with every tool and method to help them learn to manage emotions and to form important social bonds with others. Helping them to become confident.
Participant 4: My approach to teaching social-emotional skills to young children is rooted in building strong relationships with both children and their families, as emphasized in the Pyramid Model Framework. I believe that a positive learning environment is essential for social-emotional development. My experiences as an Inclusion coach have deepened my commitment to creating engaging learning opportunities that promote these skills and focus on breaking down the steps of each skill through intentional teaching.
What do you know about the Pyramid Model? Tell me what you know about the pyramid model. What are your initial thoughts on it?
Participant 1: A lot of the practices within the Pyramid Model from what I know are things that are already done within our center. So, when it was first introduced, I may not have seen the point. I mean I obviously do not get coached because I am not in a classroom, so, I don't know the coaching side of it, so I don't know if that makes a big difference with it.
Participant 2: The pyramid model is based on evidence-based practices that promote children’s social and emotional development. It is a coaching tool for educators, families, and children to ensure that the child can gain the skills needed to manage and express their emotions with others effectively. My initial thoughts on the pyramid model were that as educators we are constantly providing support to those around us, and it was exciting to learn that there was an opportunity for us to receive support with this important area of development for us as well as our children.
Participant 3: Framework that through teamwork, resources, training, helps educators to give children/families best outcomes.
Participant 4: At its core, the Pyramid Model promotes social and emotional development through systematic teaching that helps all children thrive. It emphasizes building nurturing relationships, creating supportive environments, and using effective teaching strategies to ensure every child develops essential social-emotional skills. When I first learned about the Pyramid Model Pilot program in Nova Scotia, I felt a sense of excitement. I recognized the need for a framework focused on promoting social and emotional development in early years, and I was eager to learn how to adapt these practices in my work with children before becoming a coach.
Have you seen or completed any of the online modules? If so, do you think the online modules were an excellent introduction to the Pyramid Model?
Participant 1: I started the modules back in like 2018, when it was like first introduced. I took them maybe 2019, because covid is actually why we stopped, so yeah maybe 2019. Right from the get go, a lot of what they talked about was things we were already doing, but it was good to get the information. Then doing the modules fully once we started having coaches within the centers. I was able to take more out of it and use it in the classroom. For someone who is not already doing the practices, yes, because it would give them an entirely new perspective on strategies.
Participant 2: I’ve completed all the Pyramid modules online and found that, while the content introduced was important, it could feel overwhelming—especially for staff unfamiliar with it. The material is valuable, but the delivery lacked engagement, mainly due to the presenters’ lack of enthusiasm.
Participant 3: Not yet.
Participant 4: I have completed the Birth-5 modules, and I believe they provide an excellent introduction to the Pyramid Model. They offer a valuable starting point for Early Childhood Educators to reflect on their current practices and deepen their understanding of social-emotional development. I found the modules to be rich with practical suggestions, strategies, and tools that I could incorporate into my daily interactions with children, enhancing my program planning significantly. I’ve also completed the other training offered by pyramid model including: Trauma Informed Care and the Pyramid Model, Prevent Teach Reinforce for Young Children, and Culturally Responsive Practices to Reduce Implicit Bias, Disproportionality, Suspension & Expulsion
What ideas or practices stood out to you?
Participant 1: The Pyramid Model talks a lot about hot buttons, which are a big one because a lot of the times when you are talking about children you focus on the children and what they need and what they want, and there is not a whole lot of talk about what the educator needs or what the educator is feeling. So, to take a moment to sit down and think about your own hot buttons so that you can recognize them in the moment and what you're feeling I think is really beneficial.
Participant 2: Individualized intervention stood out to me, we understand that all children are incredibly different and that all practices will work for everyone, It was interesting to learn about how to identify specific behaviors and which tools are effective in which situations.
Participant 3: N/A
Participant 4: I personally really enjoyed learning about the concept of ‘Hot Buttons’ and how our perception and reaction to specific behaviors can greatly influence the relationships we have with young children.
Are you being or have been coached? If so, has coaching changed your understanding of the Pyramid Model?
Participant 1: No, because I am not in a classroom.
Participant 2: I am currently being coached and have had coaching in my classroom since 2022. Much of my time in education has involved working with Pyramid Model practices, and I’ve always felt that I had a good understanding of the model and its benefits. Receiving coaching has given me a deeper insight into intentional practices and how to implement them effectively.
Participant 3: No.
Participant 4: I am an inclusion coach
What have you found most helpful so far?
Participant 1: The top of the pyramid model when it actually starts introducing the intensive interventions for those that need that kind of intervention, as well as the flip side of that where it really has to start at the bottom. Some people try to start in the middle and you don't get anywhere with it, you have to start at the bottom and build that good foundation of social-emotional development and build those relationships with them, because if you don't have that you can't get the other pieces.
Participant 2: I have found the encouragement from my couch and colleagues extremely helpful. Coaching observations and goal setting can be overwhelming and stressful, being surrounded by people who encourage and believe in you makes a difference.
Participant 3: N/A
Participant 4: N/A
Have you reached fidelity?
Participant 1: N/A
Participant 2: I have not yet reached fidelity as I began being coached in August of this year, I am hopeful that reaching fidelity following my next observation is a goal that I can achieve.
Participant 3: N/A
Participant 4: N/A
What kind of training have you received in the Pyramid Model?
Participant 1: Just the online modules.
Participant 2: I have been trained in the Pyramid Model through coaching and online modules (Birth to 5 ePyramid Modules)
Participant 3: General introduction through school/work.
Participant 4: As a Pyramid Model Inclusion Coach, I have received training in practice-based coaching to help Early Childhood Educators implement the evidence-based practices of the Pyramid Model. To effectively measure implementation, I am certified in the Teaching Pyramid Observation Tool and the Teaching Pyramid Infants and Toddlers Observation Tool, which guide my coaching through objective data collection. Additionally, I have been trained in Motivational Interviewing, which enables me to engage in collaborative conversations that clarify and strengthen individuals’ motivation and interest in changing behavior and teaching practices.
Did you think anything was missing from the online modules?
Participant 1: I would have to think back on that, I was the first person in the center to complete them. It was a while ago. I don't remember feeling like anything was missing, but again it was a while ago.
Participant 2: The online modules were very content heavy with many topics covered within; I feel as though everything was covered but I wish the delivery was different.
Participant 3: N/A
Participant 4: I believe the modules provide a solid overview of the Pyramid Model. However, I feel that the "Unpacking the Pyramid" module textbook serves as a valuable extension, offering additional insights and practical ideas for enhancing Pyramid practices.
What kind of feedback do/did you find helpful if you have received coaching?
Participant 1: N/A
Participant 2: I find that feedback through a one-on-one discussion is beneficial while being coached. It provides an opportunity to ask questions and receive clarification on ways to improve in the future
Participant 3: N/A
Participant 4: N/A
How is/has coaching helping you in your practices?
Participant 1: N/A
Participant 2: Coaching encourages me to slow down in my busy day-to-day experiences and reflect more on my practices and how my classroom supports the people in it.
Participant 3: N/A
Participant 4: N/A
What practices have you implemented in your practices?
Participant 1: There was never a point I ever thought that I saw this in the Pyramid Model.
Participant 2: I have implemented practices relating to encouraging children to work cooperatively with one another by providing positive descriptive feedback to acknowledge their efforts and share resources with families to encourage cooperation at home.
Participant 3: Establishing expectations, reviewing routines.
Participant 4: As a coach, I have supported Early Childhood Educators in implementing various evidence-based practices from the Pyramid Model. Some of my favorite practices to coach around include developing clear expectations and rules, using positive directions to communicate the expectations and rules, encouraging self-regulation through the Turtle Technique, and teaching the steps and solutions of problem-solving.
What are you working towards at the moment?
Participant 1: The Pyramid Model has other modules up now, around working with children who have certain needs, and I am going to start those.
Participant 2: I am currently working towards setting developmentally appropriate expectations for circle time in our classroom.
Participant 3: Communication between children, transitions, self-help.
Participant 4: As a coach, my current goal is to create infographics that help Early Childhood Educators better understand the evidence-based practices of the Pyramid Model. Recognizing that every adult learns differently, I aim to incorporate adult learning principles by presenting information clearly and allowing for self-directed exploration. By using visuals, I hope to engage various learning styles and foster collaboration, ultimately empowering educators to implement these practices in ways that resonate with their individual preferences.
What practices are you excited to implement?
Participant 1: N/A
Participant 2: I am looking forward to seeing the changes in circle time where they become more engaging, and the children begin to understand and experience in 4 importance of circle and the learning that can happen during that time of day.
Participant 3: Problem-solving Skills.
Participant 4: N/A
How has implementing the Pyramid Model affected your relationships with your students or families?
Participant 1: Maybe with children that hit hot buttons for me, I was able to work with them differently after watching the modules.
Participant 2: The Pyramid Model motivates me to actively seek more family engagement in our classroom, emphasizing that connections with families are just as important as those with children. It’s vital for families to feel seen and represented in our environment. By offering social-emotional support and strategies to children, I’m able to strengthen bonds and build trust, which I’ve noticed growing since implementing the Pyramid Model.
Participant 3: Not yet.
Participant 4: Implementing the Pyramid Model has strengthened my relationships with Early Childhood Educators by fostering a collaborative environment. Through practice-based coaching, I prioritize building trust and focusing on their strengths. This approach encourages open communication, allowing educators to share challenges and successes more freely. As a result, our connections deepen, enhancing their confidence and improving the social and emotional development outcomes for the children in their care.
What changes have you noticed in your classroom since implementing Pyramid Model practices?
Participant 1: I have noticed changes, thinking back to the classroom I was in more often than not. When Pyramid Model first came to that room there was a different mood in the room for the better.
Participant 2: Since implementing the Pyramid Model, a major change I’ve noticed in my classroom is smoother transitions, largely due to the use of visuals. Our classroom environment is less stressful overall, and the children now have a clearer understanding of the routine, often referring to the "First, Then" sign.
Participant 3: More responsiveness, engagement, enthusiasm.
Participant 4: When educators implement pyramid model practices in their classroom, I can see many changes in their teaching style and practices. When the bottom tier of the pyramid is solid, relationships are strong and the enviroment is a supportive 3rd teacher. This allows the educators to spend less time ‘managing’ the classroom and children as there is a clear, consistent routine and the expectations and rules are clear and understood by everyone. This foundation fosters a sense of security and belonging among the children, which enhances their willingness to engage and explore. As a result, educators can focus more on teaching in targeted social emotional skills like self-regulation, emotional literacy, friendship skills and much more.
What aspects are you finding difficult? Why?
Participant 1: Sitting down to watch them. I don't like to sit still and listen to a lecture, I like to be up and doing it. So, to have to sit and listen and read and retain, that is like my biggest struggle.
Participant 2: Something I am finding challenging is goal setting. There are many ways to improve, and while some things work while others do not, I find it difficult to select just one area to focus on at a time.
Participant 3: N/A
Participant 4: As a coach, a challenge that often comes up for programs implementing the Pyramid Model is a lack of time and staffing, which can hinder educators' ability to consistently engage in reflective practices, receive ongoing training, and effectively implement strategies for promoting social and emotional development. This limitation may lead to a slower integration of the model's principles and a reduced capacity to provide the individualized support that children need to thrive.
What educational supports do you think are helpful to educators as they implement the Pyramid Model?
Participant 1: I watched the modules and that was really it. I had the binder.
Participant 2: It’s important to have a clear understanding of Pyramid Model, and research/participate in the professional development that they offer such as Trauma Informed Care and Culturally Responsive Practices. These online modules are a great way to better understand intentional practices and their benefits to children, educators, and families.
Participant 3: N/A
Participant 4: I think that as educators focus on bringing Pyramid Model practices into their teaching and classroom, they need to be sufficient given programming time to reflect on, plan, and prepare the required materials needed, ensuring that they can effectively implement these strategies and create a supportive atmosphere for all children. This dedicated time allows educators to collaborate, share insights, and develop resources that enhance their practice and ultimately lead to better social emotional development outcomes for all children.
What are your next steps?
Participant 1: The new modules.
Participant 2: My next steps are to continue setting goals in the areas where my classroom needs extra support. By focusing on goal setting and implementing best practices in social-emotional learning, I’m confident that my classroom will reach fidelity in the near future.
Participant 3: N/A
Participant 4: N/A
Is there anything you want to say to someone who has yet to be introduced to the Pyramid Model?
Participant 1: Learn about it. I would tell them it is worth while, it is defiantly worth learning about it and the resources, putting it into your practices because it does help. Even though I am not being coached I reached out because we had children struggling in a room and we talked and we had things turned around in like three days with their support.
Participant 2: As educators we are always learning, The Pyramid Model provides more opportunities to learn best practices to support our children and support to do so with a coach who is always on your side.
Participant 3: N/A
Participant 4: An important takeaway message for someone new to the Pyramid Model Framework is that it provides a structured approach to promoting social and emotional development in young children by focusing on building strong relationships and supportive environments. The model emphasizes a tiered system of support: starting with universal practices for all children, then targeted interventions for those who need extra help, and finally, individualized strategies for children with significant challenges. This framework not only enhances children's emotional well-being and social skills but also empowers educators to create a positive, inclusive classroom culture.