Transition Strategies Using Visuals (3 Hours CUR)
Learn how to use your daily schedule and other visuals to make transitions easier, more efficient and engaging for children. Establishing and creating a predictable schedule and routine can reduce the stress of transitions and change for children. Explore varied strategies to teach children schedules and routines, predict transitions and changes in routines in this workshop. ​Participants will identify how to use transition strategies and schedules to teach while also minimizing transitions and wait time.
Transition Strategies for Individuals and Families (3 Hours CUR)
Transitions can be difficult for both adults and children. This workshop focuses on establishing routines to support daily transitions into and out of the program. Educators can partner with families to ease the stress that often accompanies transitions. Understanding and supporting all children at times of change, transitions or separation can positively influence both the school and home environment.
Tinkering with STEM (3 Hours CUR)
Investigating Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) is a wonderful way to engage children in developmentally appropriate activities in your program. Participants will learn about activities and strategies that support children’s exploration of STEM experiences, props and materials. Exploration of how making and tinkering extend the understanding of STEM concepts and practices and identify specific strategies that can be used in a variety of settings.
Building a Social and Emotional Foundation to Minimize Challenging Behaviors (3 HoursCUR)
Early childhood educators are always looking for new tools to help their program run smoothly. This training will give you strategies and information to put in your “toolbox” to minimize challenging behaviors. Strategies to make your classroom a calmer, more mindful place for children and teachers. Strategies will include visuals, strategies for preventing challenging behavior, ways to teach children to safely express themselves and learn to self-regulate.
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Signing Made Simple (2 CUR, 1 SN)
Want to communicate better with children? Signing Made Simple is for you! This course about using American Sign Language (ASL) will show you over 25 basic signs in a classroom setting. It will help you better understand the emotional needs of children, babies to school-age, as well as aide in enhance classroom management.
Celebrating and Valuing Diversity (3 Hours CUR)
Building positive identities and a respect for differences means weaving diversity into the fabric of children's everyday lives.  Through intentional practices in the childcare program and partnerships with families, early childhood educators can lay a foundation for children to celebrate and value diversity.  Educating children to respect and value people regardless of the color of their skin, their traditions, or the language they speak also empowers them to be proud of their unique personality, culture, and abilities.
Successful Relationships Begins with Friendships (3 Hours CUR)
Why are relationships so important? Think about how often you see children arguing over toys or vying for attention. In this class you will learn how to support the interactions between children into the day. Discover strategies to teach social skills and how to develop safe secure relationships with the children in your care.
Taking Learning Outside (3 Hours)
The childcare professional will increase their understanding of how outdoor learning environments and play space can assist with development and learning through activity planning, environment design, and material and equipment selection. Participants will develop strategies to plan intentional learning and developmental activities in the outdoor environment.
Developmentally Appropriate Practice (including children with special needs) (3 Hours)
The childcare professional will define developmentally appropriate practice based on national standards. The participant will identify and develop strategies to promote children's learning and development.
Creating Quality Feedback Engagement (2 Hours)
This training will help participants intentionally develop, plan, and create environments that expand learning and understanding and encourage participation for their students. Participants will utilize a variety of teaching strategies including feedback loops, scaffolding, prompting thought processes, expanding information, and encouragement and affirmation. Participants should have an understanding of developmentally appropriate strategies for engaging children in learning environments and a familiarity with the CLASS® tool.
Resources that Guide Daily Planning (3 Hours)
The child care professional will be introduced to learning frameworks, standards, guidelines and approved curriculum that will promote quality programming and enhance learning. The childcare professional will demonstrate how lesson planning using resources can improve instruction and support ongoing development for school readiness and success.
Intentional Relationships and Curriculum Planning (3 Hours)
This training will explore best practices and instructional strategies that support learners in multi-age groups. Participants will complete a series of activities designed to illustrate the importance of a developing strong relationships and intentionality in the classroom. These practices support children’s development, the inclusion of children with specials needs, and cultural responsiveness. This course will provide participants with tools they can immediately incorporate into their daily interactions and lesson planning, regardless of the type of curriculum used. Prerequisite training should include building relationships with children, play as a teaching strategy and curriculum planning.
Environmentally Friendly Approaches to Learning (2 Hours)
Let’s help save the planet! The childhood professional will be introduced to using cost effective recyclables to build an environmentally friendly approach to learning. Participants will create engaging, age-appropriate activities and games utilizing eco-friendly materials reinforcing the importance of preserving the earth’s natural resources.
Creating Inviting and Engaging School Age Environments (3 Hours)
The childcare professional will be introduced strategies that help maximize the engagement and manage the behavior of the older elementary child in mixed age group school age environments.
Using Projects in School Age Programs (3 Hours)
The childcare provider will recognize the connection between project based learning and essential life skills. In this interactive training, participants will be introduced to how projects support student independence, individual interest, differentiated planning and cooperative work habits.
High Level Questioning to Encourage Thinking (2 Hours CUR)
Utilizing developmentally appropriate high-level questions with young children can expand their learning by encouraging complex thinking.  In this interactive workshop, you will learn about developmentally appropriate strategies that promote and support open ended questions, multi word responses, and problem-solving skills. Practice using the high-level questioning strategies to plan ways to include the strategies in daily classroom routines 2 Curriculum
STEM with Infants and Toddlers (2 hours) NEW!!!
Training Description: Experiential STEM learning begins at birth. As caregivers and teachers, we recognize that infants and toddlers are very active learners and that we need to introduce the principles of STEM to them in different ways than we do with older children. In this training we will address how infants and toddlers learn, what is the role of the caregiver and teacher and how do we support STEM learning in young children, as well as what are some STEM activities for our youngest learners.
There's a Monster in My Closet - Identifying Fears, Phobias and Anxiety in Preschoolers (1 SN, 1 CD, 1CUR)
Participants will distinguish the difference between fears, phobias and anxiety. Identify strategies, games and activities to help young children learn to cope with anxiety. Recognize important triggers and signs to be able to assist children in coping with stress.
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Making Access Happen – Developmentally Appropriate Practice (6 hours) (3HRS Curr, 2 HRS CD, 1 HR Comm)
Discover ways to create a learning environment which supports developmentally appropriate practices. Participants will explore ways that our settings support DAP, understand how we can use activity centers to enhance children’s learning, and recognize how building relationships with the children in our care and their families helps promote and strengthen learning and development.