Attachment A – List of Trainings by Topic Area

ATTACHMENT A - Trainings By Topic Area

Child Screening and Assessment

Ages and Stages Questionnaire: Social Emotional 2nd Edition In this training, participants will learn about the features of the ASQ SE 2 and learn how to administer, score and discuss results with families. This workshop will cover the updates and revisions to the new ASQ: SE 2 for screening young children at risk of social emotional delays. The workshop will also cover effective strategies that promote social-emotional development.

Ages and Stages Questionnaire This two hour Information Session educates participants on the benefits of using developmental screenings with children, and explains the local and state mandate regarding developmental screenings with School Readiness children. It describes the ASQ 3rd Edition, and offers practice completing and scoring the ASQ-3 in accordance with Law 7165. In addition, information will be provided regarding the Early Learning Coalition Hillsborough County mandate on submitting and maintaining completed ASQ’s, as well as your partnership with the School Readiness Screening & Assessment team.

Teaching Strategies GOLD (TSG) – What’s New? Does your program already use Teaching Strategies GOLD (TSG) for ongoing child assessment of learning? If so, this training will explore the changes made to TSG as it switched to My Teaching Strategies. We will discuss what is new and what has remained the same.

Observation, Documentation and Intentionality in Early Childhood Classrooms (Also offered in Spanish) This learning event will provide information on writing purposeful, objective observations of children. Participants will have many opportunities to distinguish between subjective and objective observations and practice writing factual, purposeful observations. We will explore a variety of strategies for recording, organizing and using observations to inform planning, assessment and communication with families. These activities will benefit early childhood teachers using any curriculum or assessment of learning. a fun raffle giveaways.

Developmentally Appropriate Curricula and Character Development

Implementing the Project Approach in the Preschool Classroom The Project Approach (called “Studies” in the Creative Curriculum for Preschool) is the method of children learning by doing based on topics that are relevant and interesting to them. Project work encourages children to develop curiosity, inquiry, exploration, experimentation, independence, and problem solving skills in addition to content knowledge. This learning event will address the teacher’s role in project work by exploring the process of choosing a topic, developing and planning for projects, facilitating childdirected learning experiences, and promoting creativity, in-depth thinking and engagement in the project topic.

Creative Curriculum for Infants, Toddlers and Twos During this two-day training participants will explore the three volumes of the Creative Curriculum for Infants, Toddlers and Twos in order to understand the importance of responsive care and to learn how to incorporate the 38 research- based objectives for development and learning in order to focus on what matters most for young children.

Creative Curriculum for Preschool During this two-day training participants will explore the five volumes of the Creative Curriculum for Preschool in order to understand the importance of responsive care and to learn how to incorporate the 38 research-based objectives for development and learning in order to focus on what matters most for young children.

Guiding Your Staff with Sensory Play Materials Sensory activities facilitate exploration and naturally encourage children to use scientific processes while they play, create, investigate and explore. The sensory activities allow children to refine their thresholds for different sensory information helping their brain to create stronger connections to process and respond to sensory information. This workshop will also give the attendees an opportunity to participate in and create a number of projects to develop first-hand experience in what thinking skills are involved in appropriate sensory activities.

Hands on Literacy for Infants and Toddlers Learn how to provide opportunities for infants and toddlers to build the foundational skills upon which all later language and literacy is built through developmentally appropriate activities.

Sensory Play as a Tool for Learning Sensory activities facilitate exploration and naturally encourage children to use scientific processes while they play, create, investigate and explore. The sensory activities allow children to refine their thresholds for different sensory information helping their brain to create stronger connections to process and respond to sensory information. This workshop will also give the attendees an opportunity to participate in and create a number of projects to develop first-hand experience in what thinking skills are involved in appropriate sensory activities.

Building Future Engineers through STEM This training is specifically designed to educate practitioners on how to solve design challenges with young children. Practitioners will have the opportunity to make and tinker while learning how to conduct design challenges which include Math and Literacy using NAEYC’s Making & Tinkering with STEM.

Planning for Instruction Now that you are writing objective observations on the children, what’s next? Observations are a way for teachers to plan for instruction. Understanding the interest and needs of your children is key to planning activities and meaningful experiences that will enrich their learning. In this training we will use your observations to create lesson plans that will be intentionally created to meet the needs of the children in your classroom.

Super Friend to the Rescue It’s a bird. It’s a plane. No….It’s Super Friend! Super Friend is a character who teaches our toddlers and preschoolers how to be “super friends”. This session is jam packed full of fun ideas on how to include Super Friends into lessons. Super Friends teaches kids how to share, take turns, ask for a toy, follow rules, and even how to clean-up.

Growing Up Wild Growing Up Wild is an early childhood education program that builds on children’s sense of wonder about nature and invites them to explore wildlife and the world around them.

Hook ‘Em with Books (Also offered in Spanish) Let’s dive into this wonderful resource for new and veteran preschool teachers. Participants will spice up literacy activities with teacher-created and developmentally appropriate materials and activities. Participants will learn how to create a literacy-rich environment preparing preschoolers for Kindergarten.

Baby Talk: Communicating with Infants (Offered in Spanish) This session will focus on the importance of communicating with babies and toddlers in the early stages. Participants will gain an understanding of communication skills and desire to connect with the world around them. Participants will identify strategies to promote the use of language as they consider the natural progression of development. Participants will enhance their knowledge through videos that show significant interactions with adults during routine and play.

Back to School Bash Summer is over, so let’s get back to school! Join us for this fun and interactive session where we explore best practices for setting up classrooms and transitioning children out of summer mode. Leave this session with ideas and materials to use in your program as you gear up for back to school season. Dust off those back packs and let’s go back to school!

Math Explosion Didn’t like math in school? Not sure how to implement math activities for your preschool children? This is the training for you! Participants will learn engaging activities that assist preschool teachers in creating environments in which children are eager to explore and learn about math.

Onset, Rime, Alphabet Time! This learning event is designed to discuss the many hands on methods for teaching emergent literacy skills to preschool aged children. We will discuss skills such as writing in the preschool years and the differences between phonological awareness and phonics skills

Infant Toddler Development – The Total Package The training will go into in-depth review of infant and toddler development. Each session of this five part series will cover one major area of development form birth through age 3. Participants will receive research-based information and data on child development related to each area of development, the progression of developmental milestones, embedding age-appropriate strategies into curriculum activities to support skill development and scaffolding to promote learning through observations of children.

Communication is Key: Strategies for Unlocking Language The focus of this workshop is on understanding the importance of communication and how it impacts our interaction with toddlers/preschoolers with and without developmental delays. A framework will be shared to help understand behavior and how adults and activities support social and communication skills. Practice activities with video samples will allow participants to better interpret challenging behavior and unlock the behaviors communicative message.

Learning Environments for Infants, Toddlers and Twos Providing high quality experiences for infants is vital to their unique development. As children grow, those experiences with their environment shape what and how they learn. This session will focus on the importance of providing children under the age of three with a high quality learning environment. Teachers will learn about ways to provide developmentally appropriate activities which will allow children to learn in an environment

Teacher-Child Interactions

Making the Most of Classroom Interactions (MMCI) Preschool MMCI helps early childhood professionals engage with the Classroom Assessment Scoring System (CLASS) as they identify and understand the interactions that increase children’s learning and development. Participants will: examine the impact of teacher-child interactions and relationships on

children’s learning, identify teacher- child interactions that affect child outcomes, and learn how to use the CLASS observation tool for considering teaching practices and guiding observations of classroom videos and real-life interactions.

Making the Most of Classroom Interactions (MMCI) Infant and Toddlers MMCI helps early childhood professionals engage with the Classroom Assessment Scoring System (CLASS) as they identify and understand the interactions that increase children’s learning and development. Participants will: examine the impact of teacher-child interactions and relationships on children’s learning, identify teacher- child interactions that affect child outcomes, and learn how to use the CLASS observation tool for considering teaching practices and guiding observations of classroom videos and real-life interactions.

Reflective Practice Group- PreK Making the Most of CLASSroom Interactions (MMCI) Emotional Support This two hour interactive session is designed as a forum for sharing and questions for those practitioners who have completed MMCI training and have had an opportunity to put into practice those skills related to Positive Climate, Teacher Sensitivity, Regard for Student Perspective in their preschool classroom. Participants will be encouraged to reflect on and share experiences, successful strategies, and questions they have as they work to develop and maintain effective teacher child interactions.

Reflective Practice Group- PreK Making the Most of CLASSroom Interactions (MMCI) Classroom Organization This two hour interactive session is designed as a forum for sharing and questions for those practitioners who have completed MMCI training and have had an opportunity to put into practice those skills related to Behavior Management, Productivity and Instructional Learning Format in their preschool classroom. Participants will be encouraged to reflect on and share experiences, successful strategies, and questions they have as they work to develop and maintain effective teacher child interactions.

Reflective Practice Group- PreK Making the Most of CLASSroom Interactions (MMCI) Instructional Support This two hour interactive session is designed as a forum for sharing and questions for those practitioners who have completed MMCI training and have had an opportunity to put into practice those skills related to Concept Development, Quality of Feedback, Language Modeling in their preschool classroom. Participants will be encouraged to reflect on and share experiences, successful strategies, and questions they have as they work to develop and maintain effective teacher child interactions.

Walk Like an Egyptian... Over to the Pyramid – Using Universal Practices to Support the PWPBS Pyramid Model This workshop will focus on creating universal social-emotional supports for all children. Come learn from teachers who will share how they implement the Pyramid Model and use strategies and supports to promote clear expectations, schedules/routines, friendship skills and problem solving. Make-and-take materials will be provided.

Ain’t Misbehavin’ – Supporting Children with Challenging Behaviors through the Interactions and Empathy Ain’t Misbehavin’ is an interactive class that will assist learners in understanding the role trauma plays in child development and behavior, with a focus on how offering empathy can impact children’s behaviors. Learners will gain new strategies to improve their interactions with children which will promote socialemotional health and development.

What do you do with the MAD that you feel? (Also offered in Spanish) During four evening sessions, learners will participate in activities to help children understand their angry feelings, learn appropriate strategies to assist children in managing those feelings and helping children to develop self-control. This learning event is based on Fred Roger’s beliefs and ideas about children and angry feelings.

Estrategias para guiar el comportamiento de los niños pequeños y prescolares (Strategies to guide the behavior of young and preschool children)

With this learning event, participants will identify strategies to guide the behavior of young children and preschoolers, taking into account the developmental needs of children. Participants will also analyze challenging behaviors and identify which strategies should be applied to achieve a more effective response in which teachers will teach children how to modify and control their own behavior as they grow and mature.

Be a Behavior Boss: Solutions for a Challenging Behavior Challenging behaviors can be frustrating and stressful for teachers. This training session will focus on figuring out why challenging behaviors occur and how we can teach and reinforce behaviors that are more desirable. Participants will learn a process to determine why the behavior is occurring and how to create a plan to address the behavior. Video examples will be used to practice these skills. Tools and ideas will be shared so teachers can begin utilizing the tips in their classroom.

Using Puppets to Make Social Emotional Magic Happen This session will focus on the benefits of using puppets in early childhood education settings to teach social-emotional skills. Participants will learn about a variety of puppets for different age groups, embedding puppet use in routines, and tips for using puppets in the classroom. There will be videos to demonstrate fun puppet play and make and take activities.

Look at that Baby Grow! From in Our Arms to Cruising Around As babies grow, they learn how to move and groove through their environment. This session is all about how to position and physically support babies to promote engagement. Babies are soaking in all their surroundings and during their first 20 months their physical development is continually blossoming. We will share ways to both promote babies motor development, while also getting them to interact with their environment.

Age-Appropriate Discipline Practices

Biting, Scratching, Tantrums, Oh My! Participants will gain knowledge about why toddlers engage in biting, scratching, tantrums, and other problem behaviors. In addition, participants will also learn how to respond to these challenging behaviors, understand the behaviors, and develop strategies to support children experiencing these behaviors.

Tell Them What You Want, What You Really, Really Want: Teaching Rules and Expectations Do you feel like some young children don’t follow the rules or you have to tell them directions over and over of what to do? Teaching rules and how to follow directions can be hard when your kiddos have only been on the planet for one to five years. Participants will learn fun and easy lesson ideas to incorporate rules and expectations into their daily routines through video samples and make-and-take activities that can be implemented the next day in their classrooms.

Health and Safety

Safe Baby Training Safe Baby offers hospital and community-based education to teach parents/caregivers about direct actions that they can take to protect babies from the main causes of preventable infant deaths in Hillsborough County. Protective practices include how to choose a safe caregiver, prevent Shaken Baby Syndrome, and promote safe sleep practices.

Ouch and Yuck! This session will take a look at the health and safety practices in early childhood settings. From playgrounds to air vents, we will explore best practices to keep young children safe and secure in their environment so that they can reach their fullest potential. Learning happens when children are healthy

No More Boo Boo’s Playground safety is a big concern for not only owners and directors but also teachers. The emotional and financial cost can be draining. The goal of this training is for providers to understand and identify playground safety issues and to implement strategies that can make the outdoor play area a safe and effective learning environment. This is a great training for everyone who supervises an outdoor play space.

Nutrition

No Bake Cooking for Preschoolers This engaging session will explore the benefits of cooking in the classroom with young children. We will examine the ways that cooking supports all areas of development through healthy recipes that engage all senses. Participants will create food samples from child friendly recipes that are tasty and nutritious.n.

No Bake Cooking for Preschoolers - Holiday Edition This engaging session will explore the benefits of cooking in the classroom with young children while exploring Holiday traditions. We will examine the ways that cooking supports all areas of development through healthy Holiday recipes that engage all senses. Participants will create food samples from child friendly recipes that are tasty and nutritious.

Family Engagement

Mind in the Making Mind in the Making is a training that shares the science of children’s learning with families, and professionals who work with closely with them. This interactive workshop promotes the Seven Executive Function Life Skills, which are evidenced-based skills essential for children’s success in the short- and long-term

Effectively Communicating with Families This learning event is designed for preschool teachers and directors, particularly those with developmental differences. This learning event will assist you in developing effective communication skills with families in order to successfully support inclusion for all children.

Connecting with Families As early childhood professionals, one of our first objectives is to find out how a family’s values and beliefs relate to their goals for their children. In order to meet this objective, just as we get to know each child and their needs, we should learn the needs and priorities of individual families. Participants will receive strategies for connecting with families through a variety of experiences.

Supporting Families through a Team Approach Priorities, issues, and concerns expressed by families of young children with challenging behavior are fundamental to teaming with families. We will discuss family-centered practices that respect each individual family’s values, strengths, and needs. Families are seen as equals in a team process and share in developing and implementing goals for their children.

Inclusion and Special Needs

CARA’s Kit for Preschoolers: Creating Adaptation for Routines and Activities CARA’s Kit is designed for teachers who are involved in providing early care and education for preschool children, particularly those with developmental differences. The kit provides linkages to Pre-K Learning Standards and curricula and provides a matrix of adaptations that can benefit all children. This training is co-sponsored by Inclusion Support Services and the Early Learning Coalition for VPK teachers and

CARA’s Kit for Toddlers: Creating Adaptation for Routines and Activities CARAs Kit is designed for teachers who are involved in providing early care and education for toddlers, particularly those with developmental differences. The kit provides linkages to Learning Standards and curricula, and provides a matrix of adaptations that can benefit all children. This is a great training for those who have already attended the CARAs Kit for Preschoolers!

The Invisible Suitcase: A Glimpse into Trauma Participants will become aware of possible trauma(s) a child/children may have experienced in early childhood. They will learn about the effects of those traumas on children’s behavior. Join us to learn about the importance of creating a safe environment, secure relationships, and providing coping skill to young children who have experienced trauma.

Understanding Sensory Processing and Behavior Some children process sensory information differently than others and their behavior may reflect either an over or under sensitivity to sensory information. Come learn about how sensory integration affects you and the children you serve. Strategies for helping all children develop their sensory systems will be included in this fun and interactive workshop

Why, When, How and What? Teaching Social/Emotional Skills Teaching social/emotional skills is an important part of learning for all children. This workshop will explore why teaching social and emotional skills is so important. Make and take activities and video examples will help participants identify how and what to teach. Participants will leave with ideas and tools to effectively teach children in their classroom.

Management and Administration

Foundational Management Part 1 - Emergency Preparedness Emergencies happen. Is your program prepared? During this training participants will discuss the basic requirements that must be part of every program’s emergency preparedness plan, brainstorm with others on ideas on how to handle emergencies, and practice writing policies and procedures to develop a concise working document.

Observation of Staff In this training participants will develop an understanding of the importance of conducting consistent staff observations and feedback based on established performance expectations and goals. We will share observation tools and techniques, effective communication of outcomes and ways to support staff in establishing strategies for continuing professional development

The Building Blocks of Attracting and Keeping Quality Staff The most important element in operating a high quality child development program is the people who implement it on a day-to-day basis: your staff. This learning series will address key elements and strategies for recruiting, hiring and retaining quality staff, beginning with establishing a healthy, organized and supportive work environment. This training will help participants develop guidelines and practices for recruitment and hiring that include developing job descriptions, searching for candidates, formatting job applications, interviewing and the selection process, making a job offer, orientation of new staff, and establishing professional development. Participants will also reflect on and evaluate the role of leadership, communication, supporting staff and team building in retaining a quality staff.

Diversity in the Workplace In this training participants will gain a clear understanding of what diversity is, raise a greater awareness and sensitivity to diversity issues that go well beyond the assumed categories, and learn behavioral tools

Anti-Bias Education: Equal Education for all Children This session will explore the topic of equality for all children as it relates to the children we serve in our community. We will use the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) stance on anti-bias education to guide discussions related to equality, equity and identity within our own teaching practices and beliefs.

NAEYC Code of Ethical Conduct The “NAEYC Code of Ethical Conduct” was developed and published by the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) to support early childhood practitioners when making professional decisions related to the children and families in their care. During this training participants will become familiar with the “NAEYC Code of Ethical Conduct”, explore several sample ethical issues and practice a process when faced with ethical dilemmas.

Overview of the Florida Core Competencies for Early Care and Education Participants will explore the “Florida Core Competencies for Early Care and Education Practitioners” to learn how this tool can support a progression of professional development that allows an individual to build knowledge and skills in a cumulative manner from introductory training to advanced level education.

Hiring Quality Staff The most important element in operating a high quality child development program is the people who implement it on a day to day basis: your staff. The decision of whom to hire is one of the most essential decisions you will make. The hiring process should demonstrate the kind of organization you want to create and should be consistent with your mission, philosophy, and goals. This training will help participants develop guidelines and practices for the hiring process that include developing job descriptions, searching for candidates, the format of the job application, interview fundamentals, the selection process and official job offers.

Orientation of New Staff The orientation process is an important ‘next step’ after hiring. It ensures clear communication of program expectations and confirms that they are understood, it is the foundation of the center’s professional development system, and it sets the stage for working relationships between staff, families and children. Whether reviewing a current orientation process or starting from scratch, this training will help participants develop an effective orientation program that will benefit both the center and the employee..

Data Driven Coaching of Staff This training builds on content from the “Observation of Staff” training, where the focus was on collection of data on teacher practice in the classroom. Once observed data is collected, the question becomes how to use it to coach teachers in self-reflective practice, clarifying needs, building on strengths, and empowering them to take responsibility for their own professional development. This training will focus on using data to conduct a coaching conversation with the observed teacher about professional practice, selecting a focus for future goals and instructional improvement.

Program Evaluation

Introduction to the Infant Toddler Environment Rating Scale (ITERS-3) This training is for infant and toddler teachers or center directors to learn about how both the environment and interactions play an important role in the development of children. The ITERS-3 focuses on the full range of needs of infants and toddlers and provides a framework for improving program quality. Participants will explore ways to enrich the experiences of the children for whom they care from infancy through 36 months of age.

Introduction to the Early Childhood Environment Rating Scale (ECERS-3) This training is for preschool teachers and center directors to learn about how both the environment and interactions play an important role in the development of children. The ECERS-3 focuses on the full range of needs of preschool age children and provides a framework for improving program quality. Participants will explore ways to enrich the experiences of the children for whom they care from three to five years of age.

Introduction to the Family Child Care Environment Ration Scale Revised This training is for family child care providers to learn about how both the environment and interactions play an important role in the development of children. The FCCERS-R focuses on the full range of needs of infants through school age children and provides a framework for improving program quality. Participants will explore ways to enrich the experiences of the children for whom they care.

What You Should Do With Your CLASS Observation Navigating the Classroom Assessment Scoring System (CLASS) tool can be unfamiliar territory for child care practitioner. This hybrid session will give teachers, directors and family child care home providers the opportunity to ask questions about the CLASS observation process, requirements and scores. A panel of CLASS observers will be available to help you understand CLASS scores for continuous quality involvement.