Kim James, Certified Birth Doula

Kim James

Certified Birth Doula

Certified Childbirth Educator

Expectations for CBE Class Observers/Assistants

I welcome observers into my classroom to act as my assistants during my Lamaze, Great Starts and Saturday series. First priority is given to childbirth educators actively pursuing their ICEA or Lamaze certifications. New doulas and childbirth educators looking to further their own education are also encouraged to observe and assist. Here are my ground rules and expectations while you are observing and assisting my series:

Arrive by 6:40 pm to put out water, and help set up supplies. Arriving early allows me to go over each night’s game plan with you before class members arrive. Be prepared throughout the series to bag ice, warm rice socks, light candles, retrieve birth balls, fill water pitchers and DJ my Ipod.

Keep up with the readings and e-mail assignments as if you were an actual participant in class.

Have a goal/desire/question in mind for each class. What do you want to get out of each class?

During class, watch class participants and notice their reactions to the content and my teaching method. Think about how you might do things differently. I’ll ask for your feedback at the end of each class.

When in class, stay primarily in the observer role. You will have knowledge that is above and beyond the other class participants and while I will occasionally call on that knowledge, I want our families to feel they own the class. So, bottom line, do not be the first one with your hand up when I ask a question.

Be prepared to offer honest feedback on my teaching. I will ask for it. Let me know what was unclear, teaching methods that could have been different/improved, etc..

Bring a snack for the group on the first class. Be prepared to feed 20 people.

I Want to Observe You!

If you'd like to be added to the waiting pool to observe and assist my next series, please send me an email to kim@kimjames.net with this information:

* Your name and where you live

* Your current work within the doula and childbirth educator community

* What your goals are for observing my childbirth education series.

The authors of Pregnancy, Childbirth and the Newborn are instructors at Great Starts/Parent Trust for Washington Children:

Penny Simkin, Ann Keppler, Janet Whalley, April Bolding, Janelle Durham