Today we’d like to introduce you to Rebecca A. Weiner, M.Ed.
Rebecca, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
I am passionate about learning through play with children, empowering families and communities, and elevating excellence and inclusion. I explored these passions as an undergraduate, graduate, resident, and fellow, and I shared what I learned as a classroom educator, in-home interventionist, and community-based resource room director. Throughout the journey, I saw something missing. I saw learning undone in the carpool lane because teachers and families did not understand each other’s strategies. I saw families investing in enrichment and therapies without understanding how they worked, what their rights were, or how they could participate. I saw siblings living in the backseats of cars and in therapy waiting rooms desperate to be seen and heard.
The missing pieces were connection, communication, and collaboration. I created my educational consulting practice, Learn Play Grow, to foster connection within families, communication between colleagues, and collaboration among teams of families, therapists, and schools. Learn Play Grow brings the goals and strategies from school and therapy into the home and out in the community using developmentally appropriate play that includes siblings and empowers families. It is a true honor to use my passions to cultivate connection, communication, and collaboration and to help children and families of all abilities learn, play, and grow to success at home, at school, and in the community.
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
It has been a learning journey! My mantra now is “Live in your courage. Claim your space. Create your dream.” For many years, I allowed fear to stop me and kept myself small worrying about other peoples’ opinions. I longed to be courageous and creative in a way that harnessed my passions and built on my strengths.
I started Learn Play Grow to partner with families, therapists, and schools and provide play-based learning for young children with diverse abilities, parent coaching for their families, and school consulting for excellence and inclusion. Since starting my practice, I have learned so much about so many things I did not know I did not know.
Mentoring is so important for raising people up to their greatest potential! I am eternally grateful to my mentors who empowered me, and I love empowering educators and sharing what I have learned as an entrepreneur. Here is what I know for sure: Be clear about who you are, what you offer, and how you want to be treated, and trust that the greatest lessons come from taking risks, taking responsibility, and giving back to others.
Please tell us about Learn Play Grow.
Learn Play Grow is a private educational consulting practice specializing in play-based learning for young children with diverse abilities, parent coaching for their families, and school consulting for excellence and inclusion. As an educational consultant and owner of Learn Play Grow, I work directly with children by creating play-based learning sessions for families in their homes and in the community. I coach parents on how to promote positive behavior, and I support them through assessment and intervention processes for their children with exceptionalities. I also work with schools training educators, providing classroom coaching, and advocating for inclusion for learners of all abilities.
Learn Play Grow is transformative education and advocacy. I bring goals and strategies from school and therapy into the home and out in the community using developmentally appropriate play that empowers families and cultivates collaboration with teachers, therapists, and schools. The uniqueness of Learn Play Grow is life-changing for children and families and game-changing for teachers, therapists, and schools!
Often it feels as if the media, by and large, is only focused on the obstacles faced by women, but we feel it’s important to also look for the opportunities. In your view, are there opportunities that you see that women are particularly well-positioned for?
Women have the power to create and reshape their own opportunities!
Contact Info:
- Website: www.learnplaygrowconsulting.com
- Phone: 832-215-3592
- Email: rebecca@learnplaygrowconsulting.com
- Instagram: learnplaygrowconsulting
- Facebook: Learn Play Grow with Rebecca A. Weiner, M.Ed.
Image Credit:
Natalie Hebert Photography and Andie Palagi
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