Center-Approved PD

Hope and Direction: Helping Children Understand Diversity

Children notice differences in others starting at birth. This includes awareness of variances in physical appearance and abilities, gender, culture, and families (Derman-Sparks, L., 2009 & York, S., 2016). Teachers may notice that children use stereotypes and social labels when interacting with others (or avoiding them). As cognitive abilities advance, children question differences regarding race and culture. During this time, a child’s experiences and perceptions influence the development of acceptance or prejudice.

In this training, we will explore stages of children’s developing awareness of differences from infancy through age 5. This will include discussion of children’s developing awareness of diversity, attitudes toward race and culture, and their tendency to exclude and include others based upon certain stereotypes. Participants will explore strategies to teach children about diversity and a respect for differences.

Making Circle Time Count

This workshop is a bit of a “Part 2” to my training entitled Circle Time: It’s More than Calendar and Weather, as its focus reaches beyond Circle Time in general, and offers ways to align the 5 components of math (Number and Operations, Classification and Patterns, Measurement, Geometry and, last but not least, Time) into a developmentally appropriate Circle routine.

Curriculum Unpacked

Teachers are often expected to not only implement an existing curriculum but also to design appropriate supplemental activities to meet the needs of individual children. In many cases, teachers lack the deep understanding of developmentally appropriate practice that they need in order to implement curricula effectively and meet children’s needs. The purpose of this course is to provide early child care professionals with a deep understanding of what is meant by the term curriculum and what is included in a high-quality curriculum. Participants will explore the many facets that are considered to be a part of the curriculum in the early childhood field, including the importance of developmentally appropriate practice and play. In addition, participants will review several examples of prominent early childhood curricula and gain an understanding of how different child development theories guide best practice in the early childhood field.

Principles of Quality Teams

This course is designed to provide a foundation for establishing a quality team, which is a team that focuses on quality improvement. Participants will explore the elements and benefits of quality early childhood programs, how the dynamics of change impacts the successful achievement of quality improvements, and the key considerations for establishing a quality team.

To Expel or Not to Expel

Participants will explore the conditions and risk factors that lead to expulsion and suspension, strategies to promote social-emotional development in children and personal well-being in educators, ways to develop trusting partnership with families, and discipline practices that reduce the risk of suspension and expulsion.

Teachers Telling Tales

Learn to re- tell stories orally, without the book using spoken communication techniques including expressive language, use of voice, gesture & facial expression to convey meaning, audience engagement & participation, use of puppets, felt boards and other props to enhance the storytelling experience.

Basics of Inclusion

According to the Council for Exceptional Children’s Division of Early Childhood, practically speaking, “inclusion is children of all abilities learning, playing, and working together.” While this sounds great, teachers and parents may wonder if inclusion is really the best choice for a child. Will the child with disabilities struggle and the child without disabilities fall behind? This course introduces learners to the value of inclusion, steps to creating an inclusive classroom, laws regarding inclusion of children with disabilities, benefits to everyone involved, and the importance of teamwork with families. Participants will create their own inclusion policy and will practice pre-admissions conversations with parents.

Creating Positive Connections

The love and nurturing that a child receives in the first few years of life can have effects on development that last a lifetime. As educators learn more about children and how they develop, they understand more clearly that warm, nurturing relationships based on respect, understanding, and acceptance are essential for children’s optimal development. Through interactive learning activities, group discussion forums, videos, reflective writing exercises, scenarios, and a field assignment, participants will learn to create an environment where relationships flourish.

The Impact of Emotions in the Classroom — Emotional Intelligence De-Mystified

This workshop will focus on how a teacher’s emotions can have a significant impact on the overall classroom environment. Participants will gain an understanding of the five skills related to emotional intelligence as well as how they can create and sustain an emotionally safe classroom for their children.

The Toxic Impact of Stress on a Child’s Brain and Body: What Can We Do in Our Daily Practice?

While stress is a normal (and actually, necessary) part of life, high levels of chronic stress factors can have extremely negative impacts on a child’s brain and body. This workshop will focus on the ways that stress impacts young children and offer strategies about how to combat this impact. Some of these strategies include creating and sustaining supportive relationships, a responsive environment, and mindfulness techniques.

Circle Time: It’s More than Calendar and Weather!

A “good” Circle Time can set the tone for an early learning program’s day, as it can set the stage for learning, offers the children opportunities for sharing and listening, and enables children to experience many content areas within a supportive group environment. When not done well, Circle Time can be an ineffective, inefficient time of the day because a teacher may have unrealistic expectations of the children.

No Bullies Here — Preventing Bullying Behavior in Early Childhood Settings

As early childhood teachers, we have the capability to teach children the appropriate social skills that will prevent bullying from occurring. This training will examine the four characteristics of bullying and will introduce some strategies to prevent bullying behaviors from further developing before they become a problem.

Growing Up WILD

Growing Up WILD builds upon children’s natural sense of wonder about nature. Early childhood educators will discover and experience a range of nature/science activities that are developmentally appropriate for ages 3 to 7. Participants will receive the Growing Up WILD guide and skills to complete these activities with their students.

This is offered jointly by the Audobon Society of Rhode Island and Roger Williams Park Zoo.

Disciplining Children Positively by Preventing Challenging Behaviors

This training explores the four “P’s” of positive discipline: (1) a positive attitude about children and behaviors, (2) providing supports, (3) being proactive, and (4) preventing concerns before they occur. Participants learn specific strategies they can use to prevent and address challenging behaviors and make improvements in early childhood and school-age programs.

The Assessment Circle

Curriculum is like a road map = it helps you get where you want to go. Assessment is what fuels that journey. Attend this two-part series to learn how curriculum and assessment go hand in hand, how to implement assessment techniques as a process of documenting and evaluating growth and development, and how to effectively communicate with parents regarding assessment.

Active Bodies, Active Minds: Incorporating Nutrition and Physical Activity into Each Day

This training explores the links between nutrition, physical activity, and children’s health and well-being. Participants learn about and practice fun, educational activities they can incorporate into their classroom schedules and environments to promote wellness among children.

Child Development 101 – What’s “Typical,” What’s Not? Regarding Social-Emotional Development

Social and emotional milestones are often more challenging to understand than stages of physical development. Research shows that social skills and emotional development (reflected in the ability to pay attention, make transitions from one activity to another, and cooperate with others) are a very important part of school readiness.

Creating IPDPs with Your Staff: It Can be Fun!

Individualized Professional Development Plans (IPDPs) are written plans that are designed to help individuals develop and continue their professional growth. The process of developing and carrying these out plans can seem like a daunting task, not only for a busy child care center director but for the teachers as well. However, IPDPs are important because they guide professional growth and help teachers reflect on how that growth changes over time in meaningful ways. Attend this workshop and learn about the 4-step process of developing IPDPs that will actually help improve quality for children and make portions of your job easier!

Building the Bridge: Creating meaningful school to home connections using book bags

Building quality and meaningful school to home connections is important, but how do we do it? Come learn about why family engagement is crucial for the development of the children in your care and create a way to send home your curriculum home in a fun, family-friendly way.

Building Bridges to Math and Science through Block Play

This workshop will help teachers explore the 6 stages of block play, while learning to incorporate various components of STEAM.  Teachers will also identify social-emotional strategies (such as problem-solving, negotiation skills, and communicating) to help young children plan and carry out activities that are linked to math and science outcomes, while playing and learning in the Block Center.

Keep Your Teeth on Your Own Body (Tips for Toddlers and Biting and Beyond)

This training will explore the myriad reasons why a toddler may bite, and offer solutions for how to prevent and/or appropriately respond to biting, as well as offer practical ideas on ways to communicate with parents about biting.

Healthy Bodies/Healthy Minds

Health and nutrition are important for more than children’s physical development. They are also crucial components to learning. Let’s work together to encourage the healthy habits children need to succeed.

The target audience for this training is educators working with toddler through preschool age children.

Feeding Infants in the Child and Adult Care Food Program

This training will equip Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) sponsors with the information they need to successfully feed infants in their care. Topics include: assessing developmental readiness for solid foods, hunger and fullness cues, handling breastmilk and formula, supporting infant self-feeding, and crediting infant foods in CACFP.

From Food to Physical Activity

Participants will explore the importance of healthy eating, proper nutrition, and physical activity in the early childhood setting. The strategies for minimizing the development of childhood obesity issues will be identified. In addition, the topics of responding to and accommodating food allergies in young children will be addressed. This course will meet the new Child Care Development Fund (CCDF) training requirements for providers and teachers.

CDA Planner

Prepare for the Child Development Associate (CDA) Credential: build your portfolio, identify critical resources, and understand the necessary requirements for the CDA. This course guides participants through the entire CDA process. Upon course completion, participants will have prepared their documents and materials to apply for the CDA, and they will know what to expect out of the CDA Verification Visit and CDA Exam.