Early Childhood Education

We’re here to train and develop early childhood professionals as well as educate families on quality early learning experiences.

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Training for Early Childhood Educators

All EC LEARN training opportunities are Kentucky approved. Credit will be awarded in ECE-TRIS.

View or download Virtual Training Policy

DEI Collaborative Groups Project

Leaders in ECE: Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Collaborative Groups Training (VIRTUAL) 6:30 - 8:30 PM

Cost:  FREE

Audience:  MUST BE A KY LICENSED or CERTIFIED CHILD CARE PROVIDER!

Description: Join us for a six-part, journey to gain a deeper understanding of what diversity, equity and inclusion look like in your community. Work alongside like-minded colleagues and and professional development specialists to develop relationship
building skills and action plans for intentional and positive change in your early care and education program. Family connection sessions will help bridge the gap between families and providers.

Session Content: Month 1: Defining diversity, equity and inclusion; Month 2: Awareness of implicit bias and labeling; Month 3: Avoiding stereotyping & addressing microaggressions; Month 4: Cultural awareness; Month 5: Family/Community feedback (from family connection session which we will offer in the Spring); and Month 6: Action planning and next steps moving forward.

Incentives:
* Each participant will be eligible to receive up to 6 classroom material kits which included developmentally appropriate learning materials provided by Lakeshore Learning. (Participation in session required to receive each month’s kit!)
* Programs will be eligible for additional stipends to spend with Lakeshore Learning.
* Participants will be awarded 12 KY approved training hours for attending all 6 sessions.
* Families attending the family connection sessions will receive a family engagement kit.

Collaboratives: We will offer monthly, two-hour virtual sessions for the following groups: 1). Directors and administrators; 2). Infant and toddler providers; 3) Preschool and school-age providers; and 4) In-home certified family child care providers.

Virtual Only – Zoom

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Must pre-register to attend.  See below to register for sessions.

JANUARY DATES: Leaders in ECE: Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Collaborative Groups Training (VIRTUAL) 6:30 - 8:30 PM

Cost:  FREE

Audience:  MUST BE A KY LICENSES or CERTIFIED CHILD CARE PROVIDER!

Description: Month 1: Defining diversity, equity and inclusion;

  • Directors/Administrators: Monday, January 22, 2024; 6:30 – 8:30 PM – Register Here
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  • Family Child Care: Thursday, January 25, 2024; 6:30 – 8:30 PM – Register Here
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  • Infant/Toddler Providers: Tuesday, January 30, 2024; 6:30 – 8:30 PM – Register Here
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  • Preschool/School-Age Providers: Wednesday, January 31, 2024; 6:30 – 8:30 PM – Register Here

Virtual Only – Zoom

Download Flyer

FEBRUARY DATES: Leaders in ECE: Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Collaborative Groups Training (VIRTUAL) 6:30 - 8:30 PM

Cost:  FREE

Audience:  MUST BE A KY LICENSES or CERTIFIED CHILD CARE PROVIDER!

Title: Month 2: Awareness of Implicit Bias and Labeling

Description: Everyone has a bias or even multiple biases. While implicit bias is human nature, it is also an individual’s responsibility to identify their implicit bias’s, understand where they came from, become aware of them and learn ways to ensure you aren’t letting those biases interfere with your early childhood program management, classroom planning and management and building positive relationships with families. Participants will interact with each other through
facilitated discussions on implicit biases and interactive activities developed to raise awareness of implicit biases. Throughout this two-hour session, participants will utilize an action planning guide to support them as they take this information back to their classrooms and teams to work towards positive and sustainable change.

Objectives: 

  • Identify and be aware of your personal biases.
  • Understand how labeling can be harmful.
  • Discuss ways to ask questions to learn how to support families, children and staff with various needs, cultures, lifestyles, and preferences.

Dates and Registration Links:

  • Directors/Administrators: Monday, February 26, 2024; 6:30 – 8:30 PM – Register Here
  • Infant/Toddler Providers: Tuesday, February 27, 2024; 6:30 – 8:30 PM – Register Here
  • Preschool/School-Age Providers: Wednesday, February 28, 2024; 6:30 – 8:30 PM – Register Here
  • Family Child Care: Thursday, February 29, 2024; 6:30 – 8:30 PM – Register Here

Virtual Only – Zoom

Download Flyer

MARCH DATES: Leaders in ECE: Avoiding Stereotyping and Addressing Microaggressions Collaborative Groups Training (VIRTUAL) 6:30 - 8:30 PM

Cost:  FREE

Audience:  MUST BE A KY LICENSES or CERTIFIED CHILD CARE PROVIDER!

Title: Month 3: Avoiding Stereotyping and Addressing Microaggressions

Description: Like labeling, stereotyping others can be harmful to their social and emotional well-being. As we continue focusing on DEI awareness, we will utilize facilitated discussion and reflection techniques to take a deeper dive into the effects of stereotyping and microaggressions. Throughout this two-hour session, participants will utilize an action planning guide to support them as they take this information back to their classrooms and teams to work towards positive and sustainable change.

Objectives

  • Define stereotyping.
  • Define microaggressions.
  • Discuss ways to be proactive to prevent stereotyping and microaggressions in your early education program.

Dates and Registration Links:

  • Directors/Administrators: Monday, March 18, 2024; 6:30 – 8:30 PM – Register Here
  • Classroom Teachers: Thursday, March 21, 2024; 6:30 – 8:30 PM – Register Here
  • Classroom Teachers: Tuesday, March 26, 2024; 6:30 – 8:30 PM – Register Here
  • Family Child Care: Thursday, March 28, 2024; 6:30 – 8:30 PM – Register Here

Virtual Only – Zoom

Download Flyer

Training Opportunities

March 14, 2024 - Your Attitude Matters: Reflecting on Your Attitude as a Leader of Staff, Children and Families (VIRTUAL) 6:30 - 8:00 PM

THIS SESSION HAS BEEN CANCELLED FOR THE JANUARY 18TH DATE DUE TO LOW ENROLLMENT, WE WILL RESCHEDULE LATER IN THE YEAR!

Cost:  $5

Core Content Subject Area:  3 – Professional development/professionalism

CDA Subject Area:  6 – Maintaining a commitment to professionalism 

Audience:  Directors/Administrators

Training Level:  2

Description: This session will look at how our attitude plays a role in how our day goes in the early childhood environment and how our attitude can impact those around us, including co-workers and children. We will discuss ways to improve our attitudes and how this can help learn to better outcomes for children.

Instructors:  Beth Morton

Virtual Only – Zoom

Register Here

March 16, 2024 - Family Thrive: Kentucky Strengthening Families and Youth (IN-PERSON ONLY) 9 AM - 3:30 PM

Cost:  $25

Core Content Subject Area:  3 – Professional development/professionalism; & 6 – Family and community partnerships.

CDA Subject Area:  4 – Strategies to establish productive relationships with families; & 5 – Strategies to manage an effective program operation. 

Audience:  All

Training Level:  3

Description: Kentucky Strengthening Families and Youth creates a collaborative community to improve outcomes for young children and families. The goal is for all organizations to incorporate protective factors, which are the opposite of risk factors, into how they work with families. Research suggests that families in all walks of life improve their chance for success and their ability to cope with stress when protective factors are present. This “Family Thrive Training” is an expansion of the previous “Kentucky Strengthening Families Overview Training” as it encompasses Protective Factors across the entire lifespan to include adolescents, and young adults. This overview workshop focuses on the 6 Guiding Premises for working with families and youth.

Instructors:  Elizabeth Mays

Location:  In-Person ONLY, Kentucky Career Center; 8020 Veterans Memorial Dr., Florence, KY  41042

Register Here

March 27, 2024 - Providing Guidance for Infants and Toddlers: Meeting Their Developmental and Emotional Needs (VIRTUAL) 6:30 - 8:00 PM

Cost:  $5

Core Content Subject Area:  1 – Child growth and development

CDA Subject Area:  3 – Supporting children’s social and emotional development

Audience:  Infant/Toddler

Training Level:  2

Description: Curiosity, exploration, and discovery are aspects of infant and toddler development that take place as they interact with and learn more about the world around them. This exploration and discovery can sometimes look like challenging behavior as they put objects in their mouths, practice cause and effect by pushing objects (including peers), disregard verbal requests to stay focused, and even bite others to see what might happen next. By understanding infant and toddler development, in addition to the values, beliefs, and expectations for the young children and families you support, you can better predict and understand behaviors you might observe and experience. In this session, participants will discuss typical behaviors of infants and toddlers, identify their developmental and emotional needs and discuss the role providers play when it comes to the guidance of our youngest learners.

Instructors:  Sandy Woodall

Virtual Only – Zoom

Register Here

In-Person Orientation Opportunities

 

Saturday, April 6, 2024 - In-Person Orientation for Early Care and Education Professionals – 6 hour training, $50/participant

Cost: $50

Audience: All

Description:  This mandatory training focuses on Health, Safety, and Sanitation, Recognizing and Reporting Child Abuse, and Recommended Practices. This session is required for all child care employees and must be completed within the first 90 days of employment.

Time:  9 am – 3:30 pm with a half-hour lunch break

Location: 8020 Veterans Memorial Dr. Florence, KY 41042;  Training Room

Instructor:  Lynn Hallenberg

Register Here

Online Training Opportunities

(Partnership with The Learning Professor)

 

Understanding and Using the Ages and Stages Questionnaires

3.0 hours; $30

Audience:  All

Description:  This course is designed to help you understand and use the Ages and Stages Questionnaires to monitor children’s progress and to make sure that all children have the supports needed to succeed. Participants will learn the purpose of these screeners, when and how to use them, how to score and interpret, and best practice for communicating results with families.

Register Here

Equity, Equality, & Diversity: Social Justice in ECE

social justice principles

2.0 hours; $20

Audience:  All

Description:  Learn about the concepts of social justice, privilege, what a single story is, how to avoid it, and how to avoid a tourist-y approach to diversity. Only by understanding all of these concepts can we truly provide an equitable experience for all children.

Register Here

Creating Culturally Inclusive Infant Toddler Classrooms

2.0 hours; $20

Audience:  Infants/Toddlers

Description:  Is your infant or toddler classroom structured specifically for that age group, or is it more like a watered-down version of the preschool classrooms in your program? Programming specifically for children from birth to 36 months of age is vital.

Register Here

The Uniqueness of Infants Toddlers Classrooms

2.5 hours; $25

Audience:  Infant/Toddler

Description:  Every family has a unique culture. But what exactly is culture? This course explores the definitions of culture, values, beliefs, and assumptions. Having a strong understanding of these concepts helps to establish a strong foundation for partnerships with families.

Register Here

Using the Brigance Early Childhood III Screening Tool

3.0 hours; $30

Audience:  Preschool

Description:  This course is designed to help you understand and apply the screening tool to assist in the development of child-focused plans of action. We will go over the purpose of the tool, how to use the tool, how to apply the results to your classroom, and how to share the results with parents.

Register Here

Creating Your Science Curriculum

Preschool Science

3.0 hours; $30

Audience:  Preschool

Description:  This workshop will explore the types of science experiences that are appropriate for preschoolers. You will learn about the 3 areas of science curriculum that should be part of every early childhood classroom and walk away with lots of ideas on science activities.

Register Here

Creating Your Math Curriculum

3.0 hours; $30

Audience:  Preschool

Description:  This workshop will help you understand the types of math experiences that preschoolers should have access to in a preschool classroom. You will learn about number sense, algebra, geometry, measurement, and data analysis.

Register Here

Health and Safety Training Opportunities

Click Here to Download PDF Flyer

March 2, 2023 - First Aid and Pediatric CPR Certification & Epi-Pen and Blood Borne Pathogens Training (IN-PERSON) 9AM - Noon

Cost: $70

Audience: All

Description: This face-to-face training session provided by Northern Kentucky EMS which utilized the American Safety & Health Institute standards is approved to meet licensing and certification requirements and includes training on the following:

  • CPR (Adult, Child, and Infant)
  • Relief of Foreign Body Airway Obstruction (Adult, Child, and Infant)
  • Signs of Heart Attack, Cardiac Arrest and Stroke
  • Use of the AED for Adults, Children, and Infants
  • Preventing bloodborne pathogens spread and exposure incidents
  • First Aid (Patient assessment, wound care, bleeding control, head/eye injuries, heat & cold emergencies, chest & abdominal injuries, shock, burn, fractures/sprains/strains, seizures)
  • Epi-pen administration

Time:  9 am – Noon

Location: 8020 Veterans Memorial Dr. Florence, KY 41042;  Training Room

Instructor:  NKEMS

Register Here

Family Child Care Training Opportunities

Training for Family Child Care Network (FCCN)

Family Child Care Network Training – these titles are for Registered, Certified and Type II providers caring for children in their home in Kentucky.  Content will pertain to infants, toddlers, preschoolers and young school age children as well as the business side of running an in-home program. These training opportunities are FREE and funded through the Family Child Care Network and will be region specific. 

FCCN Northern Bluegrass Region – Boone, Bourbon, Campbell, Carroll, Gallatin, Grant, Harrison, Kenton, Nicholas, Owen, Pendleton, and Scott Counties

FCCN Salt River Region – Anderson, Franklin, Henry, Oldham, Shelby, Spencer, Trimble and Woodford Counties

ONSITE Did you know that EC LEARN can bring training to your program for in-person or virtual workshops to fit your staff’s needs?

 

Training Color-Code Key

At EC LEARN we value the importance of meeting your specific needs through professional development. We have categorized our training by color to indicate the appropriate audience for each session. Please see the color codes and definitions below:

Training For All!

These titles are for all providers (including family child care) and will pertain to all age groups – Infant, Toddler, Preschool, and young School-Age age children.

Infant/Toddler

These titles are best suited for infant and toddler teachers and will pertain to infants and toddler-aged children.

Preschool

These titles are best suited for preschool teachers and will pertain to preschooler aged children.

School Age

These titles are best suited for providers caring for school age children and the content will pertain to school age children.

Administrators

These titles are best suited for administrators, directors, owners, or those supervising staff.

Family Child Care Network

These titles are for Registered, Certified and Type II providers caring for children in their home in Kentucky.  Content will pertain to infants, toddlers, preschoolers and young school age children as well as the business side of running an in-home program. These training opportunities are FREE and funded through the Family Child Care Network and will be region specific.  When registering, please make sure it is for your specific region/county.

View or download the color-code PDF.

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