Center-Approved PD

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.

Better Kid Care On Demand Web Lessons

Better Kid Care provides evidence-informed professional development to early care and education professionals to improve the quality of their care and educational practices. Its On Demand Distance Education system offers more than 200 online modules that are approved by the Center for professional development in Rhode Island. To view and complete modules, and receive PD hours, users must create an account. Better Kid Care is operated by The Pennsylvania State University’s Cooperative Extension program.

Certificate of Completion: Yes

NAEYC Trainings and Webinars

Build professional skills and knowledge and explore important topics in the early childhood education field with online trainings and webinars. NAEYC provides upcoming and recorded webinars.

Certificate of Completion: No

Teaching Strategies® On-Demand Webinars

Teaching Strategies® offers recorded, on-demand webinars on diverse topics, including language and literacy, child development, teacher-child interactions, curriculum, inclusion, and family engagement. Early childhood educators can access the webinars for free and watch them anytime, anywhere.

Child Development Virtual Laboratory School

The Virtual Lab School empowers professionals to build their knowledge and skills around research-based practices in child and youth care and development. Each online course features research-based content, authentic video, and relevant learning materials. The school offers six distinct tracks for different types of professionals, including infant and toddler teachers, preschool teachers, and family child care providers. Each track offers several courses, each comprised of several lessons. Each lesson includes opportunities to Learn, Explore, Apply, and Demonstrate learning. Each lesson closes with an online assessment and a list of references and resources.

Certificate of Completion: No

Front Porch Series Broadcast Calls

The Front Porch Series Broadcast Calls are recorded presentations featuring national experts discussing current research and topics in early childhood education. The recordings cover a broad range of topics—from parent engagement to social and emotional competence in young children—and provide practical, everyday applications for the research findings. The Front Porch Series also provides related materials and resources. The broadcast calls are available in English and en Español.

EarlyEDU Alliance Online Courses

Watch Me! Celebrating Milestones and Sharing Concerns

As an early care and education provider, you play a critical role in the health and well-being of children. You are also well positioned to help identify children who might need extra help in their development. This online training course from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) helps you fulfill this role by providing tools and best practices for monitoring the development of children in your care and talking about it with their parents.

Certificate of Completion: Yes

Supporting Children and Families Experiencing Homelessness

The National Center on Parent, Family and Community Engagement has developed a new interactive learning series to enhance your knowledge around family homelessness and the McKinney-Vento definition of “homeless” as it refers to children and youths. The series also explores other relevant federal regulations for Head Start, Early Head Start, and Child Care and Development Fund (CCDF) programs.

This series includes eight modules. Each module takes approximately 30 minutes to complete. You can spend as much or as little time as needed, depending on your level of experience. A Certificate of Completion can be printed after you complete all sections of each module.

Module Topics

• Overview of Family Homelessness
• Understanding Family Homelessness
• Understanding the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act’s Definition of “Homeless”
• Determining a Family’s Homeless Situation
• Identifying and Reaching Out to Families Experiencing Homelessness
• Enhancing Program Access and Participation for Children Experiencing Homelessness
• Building Relationships with Families
• Connecting with Community Partners

Key Features

• Transcripts: Printable text versions of the modules
• Resources: Helpful handouts available for download
• Federal policies: Direct links to the federal legislation and regulations referenced in each module
• Knowledge checks: True/false and multiple-choice activities
• Practice scenarios: Activities offering useful guidance for program staff members serving young children and school-age children

Target Audience

• Professionals in Head Start, Early Head Start, and child care programs
• Early childhood and school-age child care providers
• CCDF lead agency or designated entity staff
• Other key stakeholders

Using Motivational Interviewing Techniques to More Effectively Partner with Parents

This webinar examines the importance of developing strong relationships with families. Highlighting the techniques of motivational interviewing, the webinar provides information and strategies on how to more effectively partner with families to foster relationships and support children’s growth and development. This webinar is available in English and en Español.

Certificate of Completion: No

Strategies to Support and Encourage Healthy Active Living Course

This online, interactive self-study course was developed to advance the skills and knowledge of Head Start and Early Head Start staff. However, with a focus on healthy, active living for children and families, this course is relevant for anyone working in the early care and education field. Practice building skills to effectively communicate and engage with families around creating and maintaining a healthy, active lifestyle. This course is available in English and en Español.

Certificate of Completion: Yes

Traumatic Childhood Experiences: Homelessness

This one-hour webinar, presented by SchoolHouse Connection in partnership with Sesame Street in Communities, provides important information on how to help children experiencing homelessness. SchoolHouse Connection is a national organization working to overcome homelessness through education, and Sesame Street in Communities provides multi-media resources for families and providers on several topics aimed to support young children’s growth and development.

Caring Connections Podcast Series

The Caring Connections podcast series offers eight (8) podcasts that provide quick and useful information on topics relevant to early childhood educators and families with young children. Topics include physical health, social and emotional development, routines, and much more. The podcasts may be accessed by computer, smartphone, or other mobile device. The podcasts are available in English and en Español.

Certificate of Completion: No

Digging Deeper: Looking Beyond Behavior to Discover Meaning

Digging Deeper: Looking Beyond Behavior to Discover Meaning includes four lessons that explore and apply the Responsive Process—Watch; Ask “I Wonder” Questions; and Adapt: Using “Flexible Responses”—to the behaviors of very young children. Developed by the Early Head Start National Resource Center, the lessons are delivered in easy-to-read, accessible language and include voice-over narration, written scripts, video examples of appropriate practice, and reflective questions. Program staff, education coordinators, and trainers may use this information to build or refresh their observation skills and responses to children’s behaviors. The lessons are available in English and en Español.

Integrating Early Childhood Social and Emotional Development into Early Childhood Systems

This presentation reviews the fundamentals of early childhood mental health and the implications of young children’s social and emotional development for their long-term outcomes. The importance of early brain development and caregiver mental health (especially depression) are highlighted.

Certificate of Completion: No

Training Module: Executive Function

The module discusses the science of executive function and self-regulation and how adults can help children build these skills. The module takes about 90 minutes to complete, and users can stop and resume participation, as needed.

Certificate of Completion: No

Building a Dynamic Brain: The Influences of Music, Movement, and Nutrition

This webinar examines brain and motor development as it relates to the prenatal period and then ages birth to 3. The webinar investigates the relationship between the developing brain, nutrition, and the motor, movement, and music development of infants and toddlers. The webinar also identifies ways that early childhood educators, administrators, and families can support such development in young children. This webinar is available in English and en Español.

Certificate of Completion: No

Devereux Center Upcoming and Archived Webinars

The Devereux Center for Resilient Children offers both live and archived webinars for early childhood educators. Early childhood development experts share information on promoting social skills for children, healthy emotional development, and resilience. From the website, you can access and view recorded presentations, or register for upcoming live webinars. Downloadable handouts also are available. Webinar topics include supporting early learning with challenging behaviors, promoting resilience in adults who care for children, and promoting resilience in children and families involved in the child welfare system.

Beyond Bottles and Baby Food: Setting the Nutritional Foundation for Lifelong Wellness

This webinar provides important information for families, caregivers, and communities to have about nutrition and feeding for infants and very young children. Developed as part of the Little Voices for Healthy Choices Initiative, the webinar features Paula Mydlenski, a registered dietician, and teaching artists from the Wolf Trap Institute for Early Learning Through the Arts. This webinar is available in English and en Español.

Certificate of Completion: No

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.

Early Essentials Webisodes Series

The Early Essentials Webisodes series offers key messages and helpful resources on the foundations of early childhood. The focus is on infants and toddlers and their families. Managers can use Early Essentials to design orientation experiences, or staff can participate on their own. The nine webisodes explore such topics as components of quality, building relationships, school readiness for infants and toddlers, learning environments, responsive interactions, and self-care and professionalism. Each webisode is about 20 minutes long and is accompanied by a Quick Start Viewer Guide. The series also includes a few short videos and accompanying practice guides that viewers can use to reflect on their practice. The webisodes are available in English and en Español.

Healthy Child Care America

The American Academy of Pediatrics has created specific health-related webinars, online modules, and other resources that can assist early childhood professionals in gaining specialized skills in health and safety. These webinars offer strategies and tips on how to keep children, their families, and early childhood educators healthy.

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

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).