Center-Approved PD

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.

Practicing Peace in Early Childhood

Participants will learn about practicing peace with young children (ages 3–6). Activities, projects, songs, and experiences will be shared through a combination of slides, active demonstration, and work samples. Participants will be introduced to a framework for supporting peaceful problem solving, align peaceful classroom practices with RIELDS, and discuss family engagement.

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.

Teacher Time Series

Teacher Time is a web-based professional development series that explores topics relevant to today’s early childhood educators. The recorded webinars focus on: (1) implementing a responsive curriculum, (2) fostering social and emotional skills in children, (3) promoting children’s development and learning for school readiness, and (4) using inquiry and experimentation through STEAM (science, technology, engineering, art, and math) to strengthen academic skills. The series includes separate episodes for infant/toddler teachers and family child care providers and for preschool teachers and family child care providers. The series are available in English and en Español.

Certificate of Completion: No

¡Mírame! Celebremos los Indicadores del Desarrollo y Compartamos las Inquietudes

Como proveedor de cuidados y educación tempranos, usted tiene un rol fundamental en la salud y el bienestar de los niños. También está en una excelente posición para ayudar a identificar a los niños que tal vez necesiten ayuda extra en su desarrollo. Este curso de capacitación en línea lo ayuda a desempeñar ese rol al proporcionarle las herramientas y las mejores prácticas para monitorear el desarrollo de los niños que usted cuida y hablar de eso con sus padres.

Certificado de Finalización: Si

ERS 101 Online Training

Developed and delivered by the authors as an introduction to the Scales! Each course is self-paced, so you can start and stop as often as needed. In total, each course takes about 5 hours to complete. Checks for understanding are embedded, along with the ability to email questions directly to the authors! You can be assured you are receiving an accurate and up-to-date training! Most courses are also available en Español.

Teaching Strategies® Online PD Courses

Teaching Strategies® offers robust online courses that provide early childhood educators with the opportunity to extend their learning in ways that fit their schedule and allow them to earn CEU credit upon completion. Each course contains learning activities (e.g., tutorials, applications, and knowledge extension articles) that are organized into several different topics, called “interests.” The courses are designed in a flexible and modular format so that users can complete the course “interests” in the order that best suits their individual needs.

Teaching Strategies® online courses can be completed by individual teachers or purchased by programs for program-wide PD initiatives. Courses are available for family child care educators, program administrators, preschool and Pre-K teachers, and infant and toddler teachers. Each course is 10 hours; participants can complete the courses at their own pace.

Early Learning Language and Literacy Series

This professional development series helps early childhood educators recognize and foster the language and literacy development of young children. The online learning modules provide educators with current research and evidence-based strategies related to early language and literacy development. Each module provides accompanying activities, handouts, and readings. The 14-module series can be watched in its entirety (14 hours) or individually (1 hour per module).

Better Kid Care Lecciones en Español

Better Kid Care, una iniciativa de Pennsylvania State University ofrece entrenamientos en línea en salud y seguridad, como responder a las necesidades de las familias, las áreas de ciencias, diversidad, prácticas de cuidado de bebe, la investigación y mucho más. Para acceder los entrenamientos debe de abrir una cuenta en el sistema de Better Kid Care On Demand.

Certificado de Finalización: Si

Early Childhood Investigations Webinars

Early Childhood Investigations is an ongoing series of conference-quality free webinars for early childhood educators. These engaging webinars are presented by many of the thought leaders and experts in the field of early care and education. The webinars explore critical topics that offer new ideas and insights to early childhood professionals. You can participate in live webinars or view recorded webinars.