Below is the list of new courses that were released in 2021!
Click on the course title to expand the course description.
Assertiveness Skills: Express Yourself with Confidence (4 hours)
4 Clock Hours of Professional Development (Business and Leadership)
* This course is approved in all accepted states as noted at the bottom of this page.
Being assertive is being able to express yourself with confidence without having to resort to passive, aggressive or manipulative behavior. By developing assertiveness and becoming aware of our own strengths and weaknesses, we can modify our behavior for greater effectiveness in social and business interactions.
This course will provide guidance on how to become more assertive and build self-confidence. With intentional attention to the concepts covered in this course, you will gain the tools necessary to achieve greater work effectiveness and productivity, while putting you in control of your daily activities and making you more able to overcome stressful work situations.
Competency Area: Professional Development and Leadership
* This course is approved in all accepted states as noted at the bottom of this page.
Being assertive is being able to express yourself with confidence without having to resort to passive, aggressive or manipulative behavior. By developing assertiveness and becoming aware of our own strengths and weaknesses, we can modify our behavior for greater effectiveness in social and business interactions.
This course will provide guidance on how to become more assertive and build self-confidence. With intentional attention to the concepts covered in this course, you will gain the tools necessary to achieve greater work effectiveness and productivity, while putting you in control of your daily activities and making you more able to overcome stressful work situations.
Competency Area: Professional Development and Leadership
Learning Objectives:
By the end of the course, you will be able to:
- Explain what assertiveness is and what it means for us and those around us
- Appreciate that everyone has assertive rights
- Take a positive approach in communicating effectively
- Improve your self-esteem
- Appreciate which words to use to get the most out of interactions with others
- Follow a set process for approaching situations in an assertive manner
Bullying Intervention Strategies with School Age Children (2 hours)
2 Clock Hours of Professional Development * School-Age (2 hours)
* This course is approved in all accepted states as noted at the bottom of this page.
It is imperative to be able to recognize bullying behavior and provide support to the children who bully, were bullied, and witness bullying. This course will walk educators through what bullying behavior looks like, how to support children through it, and how to combat any effects.
Competency Area: Interactions with Children/Youth - School Age
* This course is approved in all accepted states as noted at the bottom of this page.
It is imperative to be able to recognize bullying behavior and provide support to the children who bully, were bullied, and witness bullying. This course will walk educators through what bullying behavior looks like, how to support children through it, and how to combat any effects.
Competency Area: Interactions with Children/Youth - School Age
Learning Outcomes:
- Identify the difference between bullying behavior and mean behavior
- Describe the four types of bullying behavior
- Explain how observation and recording can help support bullying behavior
- Discuss how to support children who bully, who were bullied, and witnessed bullying
Cognitive Development for Infants and Toddlers (2 hours)
2 Clock Hours of Early Childhood Education
* This course is approved in all accepted states as noted at the bottom of this page.
Cognitive development is how children think, learn, problem-solve and further understand the world they live in. Due to Jean Piaget's research, we have been able to better understand that infants are not just passive beings and instead are constantly learning and changing in vast leaps. Toddlers are continuing to develop and build on this knowledge and it is the responsibility of educators to provide opportunities for this throughout the day. This course aims to provide an understanding of cognitive development and how teachers can support this crucial domain.
Competency Area: Child Growth and Development
* This course is approved in all accepted states as noted at the bottom of this page.
Cognitive development is how children think, learn, problem-solve and further understand the world they live in. Due to Jean Piaget's research, we have been able to better understand that infants are not just passive beings and instead are constantly learning and changing in vast leaps. Toddlers are continuing to develop and build on this knowledge and it is the responsibility of educators to provide opportunities for this throughout the day. This course aims to provide an understanding of cognitive development and how teachers can support this crucial domain.
Competency Area: Child Growth and Development
Learning Outcomes:
- Discuss developmental psychology and how it relates to cognitive development
- Identify Jean Piaget's 4 stages of cognitive development
- Analyze cognitive activities and classroom supports and how they would be beneficial to your own classroom
Creative Thinking: Fostering Imagination in the Workplace (4 hours)
4 Clock Hours of Professional Development (Business and Leadership)
* This course is approved in all accepted states as noted at the bottom of this page.
Creativity means using your imagination or original ideas to create something new (or even reinvent something existing). If we can apply creative thinking to our work, we can unlock more meaningful, efficient, and exciting results which can alleviate stress personally, while positively impacting our programs. This course has been designed to equip you with the techniques to solve problems creatively in the complex, hectic reality of everyday life.
Competency Area: Professional Development and Leadership
* This course is approved in all accepted states as noted at the bottom of this page.
Creativity means using your imagination or original ideas to create something new (or even reinvent something existing). If we can apply creative thinking to our work, we can unlock more meaningful, efficient, and exciting results which can alleviate stress personally, while positively impacting our programs. This course has been designed to equip you with the techniques to solve problems creatively in the complex, hectic reality of everyday life.
Competency Area: Professional Development and Leadership
Learning Objectives:
- Identify what being creative means and explore the differences between divergent and convergent thinking.
- Understand how our brain works and explore the best "brain state" for creativity.
- Explore the concept of "rivers of thinking" and how small changes can aid the unblocking of creative barriers.
- Discover how playing different roles can improve our divergent thinking and creativity.
- Look at ways we can ensure a growth mindset whilst we tackle creative problems.
Cultivating Confidence with Preschool and School-Age Curriculum Development (4 hours)
Cultivating Confidence with Preschool and School-Age Curriculum Development (4 hours)
$38.00
Curriculum development can make you want to pull your hair out or leave you stressed. Even the most experienced teachers can get overwhelmed when thinking about their curriculum. This course is designed to help answer some commonly asked questions about preschool and school age curriculum development while providing support through examples of how simple it can be. Educators will work on creating their own lesson plan and weekly theme that they can use in classrooms while still following state learning standards.
Competency Area: Curriculum and Learning Environment
Competency Area: Curriculum and Learning Environment
Learning Outcomes:
- Build a weekly themed lesson plan following a specific theme
- Develop a lesson plan that follows individual state learning standards for preschool or school age children
- Identify what learning standards are and how they are used
- Explain how objectives and assessments are important in lesson plans
Cultural Competency and Inclusion with School-Age Children (3 hours)
3 Clock Hours of Early Childhood Education
* This course is approved in all accepted states as noted at the bottom of this page.
* This course is approved in all accepted states as noted at the bottom of this page.
Having an appreciation for and understanding of cultural diversity helps educators to create a welcoming environment for all learners. This training will cover creating a culturally competent space for all school-age children in before and after-school programs. Culturally competent teachers can better prepare environments for learning, choose materials, and plan experiences that are respectful, stimulating, and valuable for all.
Competency Area: Families and Community
Learning Outcomes:
- Describe some of your own cultural beliefs and practices
- Identify methods for interacting with children in fair, caring and respectful ways
- Define Intentional Teaching
- List 4 teaching strategies to assist in the learning of school-age children
- Explain what it means to promote diversity in your classroom
Developing Resilience: Bouncing Back from Setbacks (8 hours)
8 Clock Hours of Professional Development (Business and Leadership)
* This course is approved in all accepted states as noted at the bottom of this page.
This course is narrated.
Resilience is the ability to cope with the challenges, problems and setbacks you face in life, and to become stronger because of them. Resilience is now recognized as a very important competence to demonstrate in the workplace. In the increasingly complex context of today’s working environment, the resilience of individuals, and organizations becomes critical for business success. Resilience relies on different skills and draws on various sources of help, including rational thinking skills, physical and emotional health, and your relationships with those around you.
Competency Area: Professional Development and Leadership
* This course is approved in all accepted states as noted at the bottom of this page.
This course is narrated.
Resilience is the ability to cope with the challenges, problems and setbacks you face in life, and to become stronger because of them. Resilience is now recognized as a very important competence to demonstrate in the workplace. In the increasingly complex context of today’s working environment, the resilience of individuals, and organizations becomes critical for business success. Resilience relies on different skills and draws on various sources of help, including rational thinking skills, physical and emotional health, and your relationships with those around you.
Competency Area: Professional Development and Leadership
Learning Outcomes:
- Define resilience and explain its importance
- Differentiate between positive and negative thinking
- Challenge the way you think
- Use the ladder of inference
- Develop a resilience grid
- Develop key Emotional Intelligence skills
- Help others to build resilience
Emotional Intelligence at Work (4 hours)
4 Clock Hours of Professional Development (Business and Leadership)
* This course is approved in all accepted states as noted at the bottom of this page.
Emotional intelligence, also referred to as EI, is one of the most important ideas to hit the business world in recent years. It is based on the notion that the ability of individuals to understand their own emotions, and those of the people they work with, is the key to better work performance. Traditionally, the emphasis when evaluating potential performance has been on intellect. Now compelling research indicates that emotional intelligence could be just as important as IQ for outstanding performance. This course sets out to provide you with the fundamental knowledge required to develop your awareness of EI and in doing so help you to perform more effectively.
Competency Area: Professional Development and Leadership
* This course is approved in all accepted states as noted at the bottom of this page.
Emotional intelligence, also referred to as EI, is one of the most important ideas to hit the business world in recent years. It is based on the notion that the ability of individuals to understand their own emotions, and those of the people they work with, is the key to better work performance. Traditionally, the emphasis when evaluating potential performance has been on intellect. Now compelling research indicates that emotional intelligence could be just as important as IQ for outstanding performance. This course sets out to provide you with the fundamental knowledge required to develop your awareness of EI and in doing so help you to perform more effectively.
Competency Area: Professional Development and Leadership
Learning Objectives:
- Be aware of your emotions and their impact on your performance
- Recognize and understand emotions in others and how to adapt your behavior to suit
- Regulate your emotions and so enhance performance
- Handle and inspire emotion in others
Expanding Milestones in Preschool & School-Age Children (3 hours)
3 Clock Hour of Early Childhood Education
* This course is approved in all accepted states as noted at the bottom of this page.
Preschoolers and school-age children can be so much fun day by day! They are both still expanding their language and creating new interests on a daily basis. They are learning to move their bodies more precisely through physical activity and play while their emotions and social connections still need scaffolding from adults to help them understand further. This course will familiarize educators with the milestones that preschoolers and school age children will be working toward as they develop and grow.
Competency Area: Child/Adolescent Growth and Development - School Age
* This course is approved in all accepted states as noted at the bottom of this page.
Preschoolers and school-age children can be so much fun day by day! They are both still expanding their language and creating new interests on a daily basis. They are learning to move their bodies more precisely through physical activity and play while their emotions and social connections still need scaffolding from adults to help them understand further. This course will familiarize educators with the milestones that preschoolers and school age children will be working toward as they develop and grow.
Competency Area: Child/Adolescent Growth and Development - School Age
Learning Outcomes:
- Describe the difference between development, milestones, and growth for children
- Explain how to monitor and record milestones for preschoolers and school-aged children
- Identify milestones for each developmental domain for preschoolers and school-aged children
- Explore the differences between fine and gross motor skills
- Review the milestones for preschoolers and school-aged children
Growing Milestones in Infants and Toddlers (3 hours)
3 Clock Hours of Early Childhood Education
* This course is approved in all accepted states as noted at the bottom of this page.
The first three years of a child's life are filled with rapid growth and development that will establish each child's future learning and progress. In those few years, they start working on developing different relationships with their families, caregivers, environments, and even with themselves. Their language, cognitive, and physical development all expands tremendously during this time as well. In this course, educators will explore the crucial milestones that children will experience within the first few years of their lives within each developmental domain.
Competency Area: Child Growth and Development
* This course is approved in all accepted states as noted at the bottom of this page.
The first three years of a child's life are filled with rapid growth and development that will establish each child's future learning and progress. In those few years, they start working on developing different relationships with their families, caregivers, environments, and even with themselves. Their language, cognitive, and physical development all expands tremendously during this time as well. In this course, educators will explore the crucial milestones that children will experience within the first few years of their lives within each developmental domain.
Competency Area: Child Growth and Development
Learning Outcomes:
- Describe the difference between development, milestones, and growth for children
- Explain how to monitor and record milestones for infants and toddlers
- Identify milestones for each developmental domain for infants and toddlers
- Explore the differences between fine and gross motor skills
- Review the milestones for young infants, older infants, and toddlers
Hot Buttons: Keeping it Cool (2 hours)
2 Clock Hours of Professional Development (Business and Leadership)
* This course is approved in all accepted states as noted at the bottom of this page.
This course focuses on anger in adults.
Anger is deeply personal. Effective anger management should take into consideration individual anger dynamics and tailor-fit interventions to them. In this course we will discuss what hot buttons are, how to identify your personal hot buttons, and how you can benefit by keeping a personal anger log. Additionally, we will discuss how we can effectively deal with angry people, the Energy Curve, de-escalation techniques, and guidelines on when to back away and what to do.
Competency Area: Professional Development and Leadership
* This course is approved in all accepted states as noted at the bottom of this page.
This course focuses on anger in adults.
Anger is deeply personal. Effective anger management should take into consideration individual anger dynamics and tailor-fit interventions to them. In this course we will discuss what hot buttons are, how to identify your personal hot buttons, and how you can benefit by keeping a personal anger log. Additionally, we will discuss how we can effectively deal with angry people, the Energy Curve, de-escalation techniques, and guidelines on when to back away and what to do.
Competency Area: Professional Development and Leadership
Learning Objectives:
- Know tips in identifying the cause of anger.
- Identify your personal hot buttons.
- Know skills and techniques in making a disagreement constructive, including effective negotiation and solution-building.
- Learn to defuse tense situations.
- Identify ways to resolve differences and find ways of working effectively with difficult people.
Improving Mindfulness (4 hours)
4 Clock Hours of Professional Development (Business and Leadership)
* This course is approved in all accepted states as noted at the bottom of this page.
This course focuses on mindfulness in adults. However, many of the concepts can be applied with children.
Please Note: This course includes a reference to the origins of the mindfulness concept in relationship to Buddhism. Mindfulness techniques discussed include meditation, scanning, and gratitude.
Mindfulness is a way of perceiving, thinking, and behaving. These practices can help an educator, or caregiver, slip into a mindful presence when it’s most needed. This will allow them to pay better attention to the learning environment and the students’ needs within the classroom. Mindfulness and compassion is beneficial to supporting the mental health of early childhood professionals and young children’s social-emotional well-being. Early childhood professionals who practice mindfulness have reported positive outcomes, including significant decreases in workplace emotional exhaustion. By learning to abide in the present, you will adapt a positive outlook and acquire a sense of perspective that can allow you to learn from the past.
Competency Area: Professional Development and Leadership
* This course is approved in all accepted states as noted at the bottom of this page.
This course focuses on mindfulness in adults. However, many of the concepts can be applied with children.
Please Note: This course includes a reference to the origins of the mindfulness concept in relationship to Buddhism. Mindfulness techniques discussed include meditation, scanning, and gratitude.
Mindfulness is a way of perceiving, thinking, and behaving. These practices can help an educator, or caregiver, slip into a mindful presence when it’s most needed. This will allow them to pay better attention to the learning environment and the students’ needs within the classroom. Mindfulness and compassion is beneficial to supporting the mental health of early childhood professionals and young children’s social-emotional well-being. Early childhood professionals who practice mindfulness have reported positive outcomes, including significant decreases in workplace emotional exhaustion. By learning to abide in the present, you will adapt a positive outlook and acquire a sense of perspective that can allow you to learn from the past.
Competency Area: Professional Development and Leadership
Learning Objectives:
- Define mindfulness
- Develop techniques to make oneself more attuned to the present moment
- Understand the value and utility of one’s emotions
- Learn how to identify and counter distorted thinking
- Learn how to cultivate genuine positive emotions
- Become more fully present in social interactions
Inclusive Classroom Communities for Infants and Toddlers (2 hours)
2 Clock Hours of Early Childhood Education
* This course is approved in all accepted states as noted at the bottom of this page.
An inclusive classroom environment sets the stage for success not only for children with disabilities, but for everyone involved in the classroom. This course will cover the topic of inclusive classroom environments for infants and toddlers. We will focus on what it takes to create an inclusive program that values equity for all children.
Competency Area: Interactions
* This course is approved in all accepted states as noted at the bottom of this page.
An inclusive classroom environment sets the stage for success not only for children with disabilities, but for everyone involved in the classroom. This course will cover the topic of inclusive classroom environments for infants and toddlers. We will focus on what it takes to create an inclusive program that values equity for all children.
Competency Area: Interactions
Learning Outcomes:
- Discuss the differences between equity and equality
- Identify the five groups that benefit from an inclusive classroom environment
- Explain how to modify classroom activities to accommodate children with varying disabilities
- Discuss common similarities between inclusive program settings
Inclusive Classroom Communities for Preschoolers (2 hours)
2 Clock Hours of Early Childhood Education
* This course is approved in all accepted states as noted at the bottom of this page.
An inclusive classroom environment sets the stage for success not only for children with disabilities, but for everyone involved in the classroom. This course will cover the topic of inclusive classroom environments for preschool age children. We will focus on what it takes to create an inclusive program that values equity for all children.
Competency Area: Interactions
* This course is approved in all accepted states as noted at the bottom of this page.
An inclusive classroom environment sets the stage for success not only for children with disabilities, but for everyone involved in the classroom. This course will cover the topic of inclusive classroom environments for preschool age children. We will focus on what it takes to create an inclusive program that values equity for all children.
Competency Area: Interactions
Learning Outcomes:
- After reading through the differences between equity and equality, participants will be able to discuss what the main differences are through the peer discussion.
- After reading about the five groups that benefit from an inclusive classroom, participants will be able to identify these five groups through a multiple choice quiz.
- After reading about modifying classroom activities to accommodate children with varying disabilities, participants will be able to explain how they would modify the classroom through open-ended scenario questions.
- After reading about common similarities between inclusive program settings, participants will be able to discuss what these similarities are through the peer discussion.
Increasing Happiness in the Workplace (4 hours)
4 Clock Hours of Professional Development (Business and Leadership)
* This course is approved in all accepted states as noted at the bottom of this page.
Increasing ones happiness can be done through the power of positive thinking. That is one skill that this course will touch on to teach you how to be happier. Happiness will spread throughout your organization, and have a positive effect on everyone. This course will offer helpful ways to increase your happiness. This will have a robust effect on your professional and personal lives. It will improve your communication skills, increase productivity, and lesson absenteeism at work.
Competency Area: Professional Development and Leadership
* This course is approved in all accepted states as noted at the bottom of this page.
Increasing ones happiness can be done through the power of positive thinking. That is one skill that this course will touch on to teach you how to be happier. Happiness will spread throughout your organization, and have a positive effect on everyone. This course will offer helpful ways to increase your happiness. This will have a robust effect on your professional and personal lives. It will improve your communication skills, increase productivity, and lesson absenteeism at work.
Competency Area: Professional Development and Leadership
Learning Objectives:
- Discuss how planning ahead cultivates workplace happiness
- Create a nightly routine and daily plan
- Relate more effectively to others in the workplace
- Understand how the workspace environment impacts happiness
- Think more positively
- Take actions that will create greater workplace happiness
Interpersonal Skills (4 hours)
4 Clock Hours of Professional Development (Business and Leadership)
* This course is approved in all accepted states as noted at the bottom of this page.
Interpersonal skills are often referred to as social intelligence. They depend on reading the signals others send and interpreting them accurately in order to form a response. How we interact and communicate with others is essential in determining how healthy our relationships will be, at work and socially. Building our interpersonal skills can, undoubtedly, improve our relationships. In the workplace, having good ‘people skills’ is seen as a cornerstone of success. In this course, you will learn how your behavior affects others when you communicate and how best to overcome barriers to effective communication.
Competency Area: Professional Development and Leadership
* This course is approved in all accepted states as noted at the bottom of this page.
Interpersonal skills are often referred to as social intelligence. They depend on reading the signals others send and interpreting them accurately in order to form a response. How we interact and communicate with others is essential in determining how healthy our relationships will be, at work and socially. Building our interpersonal skills can, undoubtedly, improve our relationships. In the workplace, having good ‘people skills’ is seen as a cornerstone of success. In this course, you will learn how your behavior affects others when you communicate and how best to overcome barriers to effective communication.
Competency Area: Professional Development and Leadership
Learning Objectives:
- Describe interpersonal skills and behavior cycles
- Apply the concepts of transactional analysis
- Use language patterns to show positivity
- Build rapport to help build positive relationships
- Use the principles of persuasion to influence others
Physical Development for Infants and Toddlers (2 hours)
2 Clock Hour of Early Childhood Education
* This course is approved in all accepted states as noted at the bottom of this page.
Physical development is how children learn to use and control their bodies. Infants are born with few innate physical skills and rely on both their senses and adults to further this development. Toddlers are continuing to develop and build on what they have learned and it is the responsibility of educators to provide opportunities for this throughout the day. This course aims to provide an understanding of physical development and how teachers can support this important domain.
Competency Area: Child Growth and Development
* This course is approved in all accepted states as noted at the bottom of this page.
Physical development is how children learn to use and control their bodies. Infants are born with few innate physical skills and rely on both their senses and adults to further this development. Toddlers are continuing to develop and build on what they have learned and it is the responsibility of educators to provide opportunities for this throughout the day. This course aims to provide an understanding of physical development and how teachers can support this important domain.
Competency Area: Child Growth and Development
Learning Outcomes:
- Review the senses that are linked to physical development
- Identify what motor skills are and how they are tied to physical development
- Analyze scenarios to understand the differences between gross and fine motor skills
Producing Healthy Habits in School-Age Children (2 hours)
2 Clock Hour of Early Childhood Education
* This course is approved in all accepted states as noted at the bottom of this page.
The obesity crisis in our country is not only affecting adults but children as well. In this course we will investigate how this impacts school-age children and what those working in after school programs can do to help. We will discuss the data surrounding this issue, repercussions later in life, and what educators can do in their classrooms and communities to foster a healthy lifestyle for the children they work with.
Competency Area: Safety & Wellness - School Age
* This course is approved in all accepted states as noted at the bottom of this page.
The obesity crisis in our country is not only affecting adults but children as well. In this course we will investigate how this impacts school-age children and what those working in after school programs can do to help. We will discuss the data surrounding this issue, repercussions later in life, and what educators can do in their classrooms and communities to foster a healthy lifestyle for the children they work with.
Competency Area: Safety & Wellness - School Age
Learning Outcomes:
- Discuss the common causes of obesity in school-age children
- Identify the four focus areas of creating healthy lifelong habits
- Recall four of the health repercussions that research indicates are connected to childhood obesity
- Discuss challenges associated with limiting screen time for children
Reducing Stress with Infant and Toddler Curriculum Development (4 hours)
4 Clock Hour of Early Childhood Education
* This course is approved in all accepted states as noted at the bottom of this page.
Curriculum development can make you want to pull your hair out or leave you stressed. Even the most experienced teachers can get overwhelmed when thinking about their curriculum. This course is designed to help answer some commonly asked questions about infant and toddler curriculum development while providing support through examples of how simple it can be. Educators will work on creating their own lesson plan and weekly theme that they can use in classrooms while still following state learning standards.
Competency Area: Curriculum and Learning Environment
* This course is approved in all accepted states as noted at the bottom of this page.
Curriculum development can make you want to pull your hair out or leave you stressed. Even the most experienced teachers can get overwhelmed when thinking about their curriculum. This course is designed to help answer some commonly asked questions about infant and toddler curriculum development while providing support through examples of how simple it can be. Educators will work on creating their own lesson plan and weekly theme that they can use in classrooms while still following state learning standards.
Competency Area: Curriculum and Learning Environment
Learning Outcomes:
- Build a weekly themed lesson plan following a specific theme
- Develop a lesson plan that follows individual state learning standards for infants or toddlers
- Identify what learning standards are and how they are used
- Explain how objectives and assessments are important in lesson plans
Scaffolding Relationships with Infants and Toddlers (2 hours)
2 Clock Hours of Early Childhood Education
* This course is approved in all accepted states as noted at the bottom of this page.
Relationships are a key aspect in children's lives from infancy through the rest of their lives. Relationships, that are built early on, impact all other relationships and provide a safe base for children to learn and explore from. This course will explain how important positive relationships are with infants and toddlers, how temperament and separation anxiety play a role in various relationships, and how to support the building of relationships with peers.
Competency Area: Child Growth and Development
* This course is approved in all accepted states as noted at the bottom of this page.
Relationships are a key aspect in children's lives from infancy through the rest of their lives. Relationships, that are built early on, impact all other relationships and provide a safe base for children to learn and explore from. This course will explain how important positive relationships are with infants and toddlers, how temperament and separation anxiety play a role in various relationships, and how to support the building of relationships with peers.
Competency Area: Child Growth and Development
Learning Outcomes:
- Identify how positive relationships help future relationships with infants and toddlers
- Explain how temperament can play a role in helping or hindering caregiver relationships
- Discuss how separation anxiety and temperament impact relationships
- Reflect on Erik Erikson's stages of social emotional development
- Identify how play and relationship with peers are interrelated
- Explain how development is supported through relationships
Splat, Wham, Boom: Introducing Graphic Novels to Children (1 hour)
1 Clock Hour of Early Childhood Education
* This course is approved in all accepted states as noted at the bottom of this page.
Graphic novels are becoming increasingly popular as children are enjoying them more and more. They pique children's interests, play off of their learning styles, and are just plain fun. In this course, you'll learn how to introduce graphic novels into the classroom and what children are learning from them. You'll hear from authors of popular graphic novels and look through a few lesson plans. By the end of the course, you'll understand the benefits and hopefully want to include one or two in your classroom.
Competency Area: School Age - Learning Environment and Curriculum (1 hour) * School-age/Youth*
(This course is 1-clock hour. Minnesota requires that courses are a minimum of 2 hours. Therefore, this course is not approved to meet the requirements in MN)
* This course is approved in all accepted states as noted at the bottom of this page.
Graphic novels are becoming increasingly popular as children are enjoying them more and more. They pique children's interests, play off of their learning styles, and are just plain fun. In this course, you'll learn how to introduce graphic novels into the classroom and what children are learning from them. You'll hear from authors of popular graphic novels and look through a few lesson plans. By the end of the course, you'll understand the benefits and hopefully want to include one or two in your classroom.
Competency Area: School Age - Learning Environment and Curriculum (1 hour) * School-age/Youth*
(This course is 1-clock hour. Minnesota requires that courses are a minimum of 2 hours. Therefore, this course is not approved to meet the requirements in MN)
Learning Outcomes:
- Identify ways graphic novels are useful within the classroom
- Create a lesson plan using a graphic novel
- Discuss plans on introducing graphic novels with children
Tame Your Temper with Communication and Negotiation (2 hours)
2 Clock Hours of Professional Development (Business and Leadership)
* This course is approved in all accepted states as noted at the bottom of this page.
This course focuses on anger in adults.
Anger is not just personal. It can be relational as well. When managing anger that involves other people, it helps to have a problem-oriented disposition, setting personal matters aside. This way the issue becomes an objective and workable issue. In this course, we will discuss ways to separate people from the problem. Specifically, we will discuss the difference between objective and subjective language, ways to identify the problem, and how to use I-messages.
Competency Area: Professional Development and Leadership
* This course is approved in all accepted states as noted at the bottom of this page.
This course focuses on anger in adults.
Anger is not just personal. It can be relational as well. When managing anger that involves other people, it helps to have a problem-oriented disposition, setting personal matters aside. This way the issue becomes an objective and workable issue. In this course, we will discuss ways to separate people from the problem. Specifically, we will discuss the difference between objective and subjective language, ways to identify the problem, and how to use I-messages.
Competency Area: Professional Development and Leadership
Learning Objectives:
- Identify styles of communication.
- Understand the difference between objective and subjective language.
- Know tips in identifying the cause of anger.
- Express a feeling or position using I-messages.
- Know skills and techniques in making a disagreement constructive, including effective negotiation and solution-building.
The Nature of Anger (2 Hours)
2 Clock Hours of Professional Development (Business and Leadership)
* This course is approved in all accepted states as noted at the bottom of this page.
This course focuses on anger in adults.
When it seems all you’re feeling is anger, it’s helpful to identify any “hidden” thoughts and feelings. In these “trigger” situations, even parents and educators may feel helpless, scared or overwhelmed at times. Before we discuss specific anger management strategies for adults, it is helpful to first understand the nature of anger. While most are familiar with this emotion, not everyone is aware of its underlying dynamics. In this course, we will discuss the cycle of anger, the fight or flight response, and common myths about anger. We will cover the dos and don’ts in responding to anger.
Competency Area: Professional Development and Leadership
* This course is approved in all accepted states as noted at the bottom of this page.
This course focuses on anger in adults.
When it seems all you’re feeling is anger, it’s helpful to identify any “hidden” thoughts and feelings. In these “trigger” situations, even parents and educators may feel helpless, scared or overwhelmed at times. Before we discuss specific anger management strategies for adults, it is helpful to first understand the nature of anger. While most are familiar with this emotion, not everyone is aware of its underlying dynamics. In this course, we will discuss the cycle of anger, the fight or flight response, and common myths about anger. We will cover the dos and don’ts in responding to anger.
Competency Area: Professional Development and Leadership
Learning Objectives:
- Define the 6 phases of the anger cycle
- Demonstrate an understanding of anger dynamics in terms of the anger cycle and the fight or flight theory
- Know common anger myths and their factual refutations
- Know the helpful and unhelpful ways of dealing with anger
- Recognize what happens to our bodies when we perceive a threat
The Other Senses: Vestibular System, Proprioception and Interoception (3 hours)
The Other Senses: Vestibular System, Proprioception and Interoception (3 hours)
$28.50
Most of us are quite familiar with the five senses; taste, touch, smell, sight, and sound. However, there are three more senses that are just as important and often go unnoticed. These senses are proprioception, interoception, and the vestibular sense. These are necessary parts of our day to day lives and affect things like our balance, sensation of feeling hungry, and interactions with objects in our environments. Like any other area of development, the senses grow leaps and bounds over the first few years of life. This course will explore the basics of these other senses and how we as educators can support them and recognize delays to better serve the young children and families we work with.
Competency Area: Child Growth and Development
Competency Area: Child Growth and Development
Learning Outcomes:
- Review how proprioception, interoception, and the vestibular system impacts development in infants and toddlers.
- Identify potential sensory delays in proprioception, interoception, and the vestibular system for infants and toddlers.
- Analyze lesson plans and activities to support proprioception, interoception, and the vestibular system senses for infants and toddlers.
Utilizing Social Learning for Staff Development in Early Education (5 hours)
Utilizing Social Learning for Staff Development in Early Education (5 Hours)
$47.50
Knowledge sharing starts with social learning. We are continually placed in social learning situations. People learn best through hands-on experiences, interacting with peers and managers. Whether it is for continuing education, learning new skills at work, or participating in a club; learning often takes place in social settings. By fully understanding the process of social learning, it is possible to enhance both social and learning skills to reap the full benefits of any social learning situation. This course will discuss the value of social learning through mentorships, collaborations, peer interactions, and social media.
Competency Area: Professional Development and Leadership
Learning Objectives:
- Define and use social learning
- Identify social learning tools
- Manipulate group dynamics and culture
- Craft and lead role play scenarios
- Practice being a mentor
- Understand modeling and observation
Workforce Accountability in Early Education (4 Hours)
4 Clock Hours of Professional Development (Business and Leadership)
* This course is approved in all accepted states as noted at the bottom of this page.
Accountability helps to ensure that every employee will take responsibility for their performance and behaviors, and continue to manage this responsibility. Workplace accountability applies to directors, teachers, assistant teachers, family child care providers, and school-age staff; as well as all other professions. When we implement goals and communicate with one another, we can achieve powerful results. Building an accountable workplace requires strong teamwork and collaboration. Every team member must have a strong understanding of the values of the company and recognize the importance of their dedication, in order to attain success. This course will provide you with informative tools and practical strategies that can be used to help empower the team to work towards achieving the benefits of accountability. Accountable employees will fuel performance and productivity, and generate an enhanced workplace.
Competency Area: Professional Development and Leadership
* This course is approved in all accepted states as noted at the bottom of this page.
Accountability helps to ensure that every employee will take responsibility for their performance and behaviors, and continue to manage this responsibility. Workplace accountability applies to directors, teachers, assistant teachers, family child care providers, and school-age staff; as well as all other professions. When we implement goals and communicate with one another, we can achieve powerful results. Building an accountable workplace requires strong teamwork and collaboration. Every team member must have a strong understanding of the values of the company and recognize the importance of their dedication, in order to attain success. This course will provide you with informative tools and practical strategies that can be used to help empower the team to work towards achieving the benefits of accountability. Accountable employees will fuel performance and productivity, and generate an enhanced workplace.
Competency Area: Professional Development and Leadership
Learning Objectives:
- Define accountability and personal accountability
- Differentiate between ownership and accountability
- Use feedback as a tool to enhance performance
- Explain the barriers of workplace accountability
- Effectively set SMART goals
- Identify the components of the cycle of accountability
- Identify specific accountability guidelines that pertain to early childhood educators
Stress Management (4 hours)
4 Clock Hours of Professional Development
* This course is approved in all accepted states as noted at the bottom of this page.
Positive and negative stress is a constant influence on all of our lives. The trick is to maximize the positive stress and to minimize the negative stress. This workshop will give participants a three-option method for addressing any stressful situation, as well as a toolbox of personal skills, including using routines, relaxation techniques, and a stress log system.
* This course is approved in all accepted states as noted at the bottom of this page.
Positive and negative stress is a constant influence on all of our lives. The trick is to maximize the positive stress and to minimize the negative stress. This workshop will give participants a three-option method for addressing any stressful situation, as well as a toolbox of personal skills, including using routines, relaxation techniques, and a stress log system.
Learning Outcomes:
Research has consistently demonstrated that when clear goals are associated with learning, it occurs more easily and rapidly. With that in mind, let’s review our goals for this course.
Research has consistently demonstrated that when clear goals are associated with learning, it occurs more easily and rapidly. With that in mind, let’s review our goals for this course.
- After watching a video about stress in child care, participants will be able to recall how teacher's reactions to stress impact children through a multiple choice quiz.
- After reading about the concept of eustress, participants will be able to discuss and recall examples of when they have experienced this through the peer discussion and a multiple choice quiz.
- After reading about ways to create a stress-reducing lifestyle, participants will be able to identify these strategies through a multiple choice quiz.
- After reading about the Triple A Approach to stressful situations, participants will be able to apply this knowledge to realistic scenarios through open-ended questions.
- After reading about the importance of knowing your circle of support as part of a stress-reducing lifestyle, participants will be able to identify their own circle of support through a written assignment.
- After watching a video and reading about the causes of burnout, participants will be able to recall this information through a multiple choice quiz.
Goal Setting and Getting Things Done (4 hours)
4 Clock Hours of Professional Development (Business and Leadership)
* This course is approved in all accepted states as noted at the bottom of this page.
Goal Setting is one of the most basic and essential skills someone can develop. However, it is not an easy task, and without a realistic plan, you can fall short. In this course we touch on the characteristics of goals, time management, what to do when setbacks occur, and help you set goals at work that are smart and actionable.
Learning Objectives:
Research has consistently demonstrated that when clear goals are associated with learning, it occurs more easily and rapidly. With that in mind, let’s review our goals for this course.
Research has consistently demonstrated that when clear goals are associated with learning, it occurs more easily and rapidly. With that in mind, let’s review our goals for this course.
- After reading about strategies for completing undesirable tasks, participants will be able to identify their own difficult work-related tasks and how to accomplish these through an open-ended question.
- After reading about overcoming procrastination, participants will be able to identify solutions to their own obstacles through an independent written assignment and multiple choice quiz.
- After reading about successful goal setting strategies, participants will be able to apply these to their own goals and identify these strategies through an independent written assignment and multiple choice quiz.
- After reading about the tips for time management, participants will be able to explain how they can apply this to their own work through the peer discussion.
- After reading about the chunk, block, and tackle method of working on projects, participants will be able to apply this to their own tasks for greater success and habit creation through an open-ended question.
- After reading about SMART goals, participants will be able to identify this acronym and its meaning through a multiple choice quiz.
Become a Truly Likable Boss and a Great Leader (4 hours)
4 Clock Hours of Professional Development (Business and Leadership)
4 Clock Hours of Professional Development (Business and Leadership)
* This course is approved in all accepted states as noted at the bottom of this page.
Being a leader is challenging no matter what type of team you are leading, but this is especially the case in early childhood education. Becoming a better boss begins with you focusing on becoming a better leader. When you become a better leader, you will change the response that you get from your staff and the parents. The job of leading staff in an early childhood program is complex, demanding and requires many different skill sets. This course will give you the tools to grow personally in leading others to high quality care of young children and families.
This course is designed for those who have the role of program supervisor, assistant director, director or anyone wanting to build leadership skills.
Learning Objectives:
Research has consistently demonstrated that when clear goals are associated with learning, it occurs more easily and rapidly. With that in mind, let’s review our goals for this course.
Learning Objectives:
Research has consistently demonstrated that when clear goals are associated with learning, it occurs more easily and rapidly. With that in mind, let’s review our goals for this course.
- After watching a video about great leadership, participant will be able to identify the roles of their team through a multiple choice quiz.
- After reading about leadership structures, participant will be able to understand how to develop leadership qualities through a multiple choice quiz.
- After reading about SMART goals and watching a video about motivation, participant will be able to choose inspirational and engaging tasks for themselves and others through an independent assignment and multiple choice quiz.
- After reading about delegating and anxiety, participant will be able to explain how to delegate effectively through a multiple choice quiz.
- After reading about values and mission statements, participant will be able to use wisdom and understanding to lead others through an independent assignment and open ended questions.
- After reading about trust, participant will be able to describe how to trust others and earn their trust through a multiple choice quiz.
Communicating with Body Language (4 hours)
$38.00
4 Clock Hours of Professional Development (Business and Leadership)
* This course is approved in all accepted states as noted at the bottom of this page.
As early childhood educators, we commonly substitute verbal language for body language when working with children. Your facial expressions, gestures, posture, and tone of voice are powerful communication tools. In this course, you will learn to read and use body language to build better relationships at home and work.
Learning Objectives:
Research has consistently demonstrated that when clear goals are associated with learning, it occurs more easily and rapidly. With that in mind, let’s review our goals for this course.
Research has consistently demonstrated that when clear goals are associated with learning, it occurs more easily and rapidly. With that in mind, let’s review our goals for this course.
- After watching a video about the basics of body language, participants will be able to identify and discuss how they use body language currently in their classroom through the peer discussion.
- After reading about head positions and how these nonverbal signs send messages to others, participants will be able to apply this information to real world scenarios through open-ended questions.
- After reading about the zones of personal space, participants will be able to identify which zone best fits specific social scenarios through open-ended questions and a multiple choice quiz.
- After reading about genders and body language, participants will be able to discuss how they prevent gender stereotyping in their classroom through the peer discussion.
- After reading about posture communication and correct postures, participants will be able to identify this information through a multiple choice quiz.
- After reading about power and confidence in body language, participants will be able to apply this information to specific scenarios through open-ended questions and a multiple choice quiz.
Solving, Identifying, and Exploring: Discovering STEM (15 hours)
15 Clock Hours of Early Childhood Education
* Course approval pending in the following states: NY
Multiple studies have shown that using a blended approach to teaching has shown to increase interest for children's future as well as help support all areas of development in children. This course will walk through the components of STEM learning from infants to school age children. The course includes ways to support each age group through science, technology, engineering, and mathematics, how to incorporate STEM in the classroom, and possible activities for each age group.
The information provided in this course is standard practice. Be sure to follow the specific regulations mandated by the state or county for your program.
Learning Outcomes:
- After reading about the importance of STEM, participant will be able to describe it through peer discussions.
- After reading about the importance of teaching science, participant will be able to identify this through a multiple-choice quiz.
- After reading through how to support children in science exploration, participant will be able to identify this through open ended questions.
- After reading through how to support scientific method with children, participant will be able to identify this through open ended questions.
- After reading through how to include science in the classroom, participant will be able to identify this through open ended questions and a multiple-choice quiz.
- After reading through how science is incorporated in everyday life, participant will identify this through multiple choice questions.
- After reading about the importance of teaching technology, participant will be able to identify this through a multiple-choice quiz.
- After reading through how to support children in technology, participant will be able to identify this through open ended questions.
- After reading through how to include technology in the classroom, participant will be able to identify this through open ended questions and a multiple-choice quiz.
- After reading through how technology is incorporated in everyday life, participant will identify this through multiple choice questions.
- After reading about the importance of teaching engineering, participant will be able to identify this through a multiple-choice quiz.
- After reading through how to support children in engineering, participant will be able to identify this through open ended questions.
- After reading through how to include engineering in the classroom, participant will be able to identify this through open ended questions and a multiple-choice quiz.
- After reading through how engineering is incorporated in everyday life, participant will identify this through multiple choice questions.
- After reading about the importance of teaching mathematics, participant will be able to identify this through a multiple-choice quiz.
- After reading through how to support children in mathematics, participant will be able to identify this through open ended questions.
- After reading through how to include mathematics in the classroom, participant will be able to identify this through open ended questions and a multiple-choice quiz.
- After reading through how mathematics is incorporated in everyday life, participant will identify this through multiple choice questions.
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