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.
Training Opportunities
October 7, 2023 - Connect the Dots: Addressing Challenging Behaviors (IN-PERSON) 9 AM - 3:30 PM
Cost: $20
Core Content Subject Area: 1 – Child growth and development; 2 – Health, safety, and nutrition
CDA Subject Area: 3 –
Audience: Providers working with children ages 2 – 6 years old
Training Level: 1
Description: Connect the Dots is a joint collaboration between multiple early education and mental health professionals across Kentucky to include Division of Child Care, Head Start, and Early Childhood Mental Health Specialists. The collaboration was built to address the need for a concise yet high impact skills-based training for early education professionals on how to address challenging behaviors through learning the basics of social and emotional best practices. During this training teachers will learn to: Ensure Supportive Environments: Identify how a predictable schedule, organized routines and transitions, and age-appropriate physical environment improve a child’s behavior; Encourage Positive Behaviors: Use proven skills to help the child link positive behaviors to positive experiences and feelings; Emphasize Positive Discipline: Demonstrate at least two positive discipline techniques that teach children how to handle their feelings and needs in appropriate ways; Embrace Unique Strengths: Identify how unique temperaments and personality strengths have a critical impact on behavior and relationships. When you use all four steps to address difficult behaviors, you are not just making kids mind, you are growing positive mindsets. Connect the Dots will reduce frustrating and challenging behaviors but more importantly begin the development of strong social and emotional skills critical for success in school and in life!
Instructors: Elizabeth Mays
Location: IN-PERSON ONLY – Kentucky Career Center (8020 Veterans Memorial Dr., Florence, KY 41042)
We are excited to collaborate with NorthKey to provide training for families on Thursday evenings during the month of October at the Kenton County Library – Covington Branch. Please download the flyer for complete information and registration information.
October 16, 2023 - Building Child and Family Resilience: Introducing Tip Sheets for Family Engagement (VIRTUAL) 6:30 - 8 PM
Cost: FREE
Core Content Subject Area: 6 – Family community partnerships
CDA Subject Area: 4 – Building productive relationships with families
Audience: All
Training Level: 1
Description: We know that creating safe, stable nurturing relationships are the key to helping kids overcome life’s challenges. The Joining Forces for Children Early Childhood Channel “Messages of Hope” work group created 5 tip sheets which outline easy, every day actions that help children build resiliency and develop strong, stable relationships. Participants will understand the developmental impacts of early childhood trauma and develop strategies for engaging families in building resilience using the tip sheets.
Instructors: Erin Saul (Joining Forces for Children)
Virtual Only – Zoom
October 13, 2023 - Administrator/Director Training - Partnering with Families in the New Age (IN-PERSON or VIRTUAL) 9:30 AM - Noon
Cost: This workshop is FREE due to a grant from Valmark Financial Group
Core Content Subject Area: 6 – Family community partnerships
CDA Subject Area: 4 – Building productive relationships with families
Audience: All
Training Level: 2
Description:
Instructor: Jennifer Washburn
Location: In-Person (Kentucky Career Center, 8020 Veterans Memorial Dr. Florence, KY 41042) or Virtual (Zoom)
November 4, 2023 - Family Thrive: Kentucky Strengthening Families and Youth (IN-PERSON ONLY) 9 AM - 3:30 PM
Cost: $20
Core Content Subject Area: 3 – Professional development/ professionalism; and 6 – Family community partnerships
CDA Subject Area: 4 – Building productive relationships with families; and 5 – Managing an effective program operation
Audience: All
Training Level: 2
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. Kentucky Strengthening Families and Youth is simply being intentional about what many families instinctively do. 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. The original KYSF training is for only birth to age 5 and does not include the 6 Guiding Premises for working with families and youth.
Instructors: Elizabeth Mays
Location: Kentucky Career Center (8020 Veterans Memorial Dr. Florence, KY 41042)
November 16, 2023 - Pediatric Abusive Head Trauma (VIRTUAL ONLY) 6:30 - 8 PM
Cost: FREE
Core Content Subject Area: 2 – Health, safety, and nutrition.
CDA Subject Area: 1 – Planning a safe and healthy learning environment
Audience: All
Training Level: 1
Description: This training was designed for child care providers and staff on recognition and prevention Pediatric Abusive Head Trauma. Participants will learn the early signs of maltreatment and the various injuries and conditions that may result from vigorous shaking, slamming or impacting the head of an infant or young child. They will also be provided tools for dealing with a crying infant and ways to share information with parents to prevent abuse from occurring. Training objectives are to review the statistics of abusive head trauma; to define and describe abusive head trauma and its associated injuries; to discuss risk factors and prevention, and to understand the outcomes for victims. Curriculum developed by Dr. Melissa Currie in compliance with House Bill 285 which states mandatory training on recognizing and preventing Pediatric Abusive Head Trauma (PAHT).
Instructors: Olivia Thompson
Location: Virtual (Zoom)
November 29, 2023 - Overview of the Early Childhood Environment Rating Scale, 3rd edition (ECERS-3) (VIRTUAL) 6:30 - 8:30 PM
Cost: FREE
Core Content Subject Area: 4 – Learning environment and curriculum; and 7 – Program management and evaluation
CDA Subject Area: 5 – Managing an effective program operation; and 6 – Maintaining a commitment to professionalism
Audience: Preschool
Training Level: 1
Description: The third edition of the ECERS is the long-awaited new version of the widely used Early Childhood Environment Rating Scale designed to assess the quality of programs and classrooms serving children three through five years of age. Join us for this workshop to look at the six key differences between ECERS-R and ECERS-3 as well as to dig deeper into the scales thirty-five items organized into six subscales. Participants will leave with an understanding this comprehensive, internationally recognized assessment tool which evaluates environmental factors and teacher-child interactions that affect young children’s developmental needs.
Instructors: Karali Stamper (Child Care Aware of Kentucky)
Virtual Only – Zoom
In-Person Orientation Opportunities
Saturday, October 14, 2023 - 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
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.
Equity, Equality, & Diversity: Social Justice in ECE
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.
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.
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.
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.
Creating Your Science Curriculum
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.
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.
Health and Safety Training Opportunities
EC LEARN will be adding First Aid and Pediatric CPR Certification & Epi-Pen and Blood Borne Pathogens Training soon. Please check back later for updated information.
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. When registering, please make sure it is for your specific region/county.
FCCN Northern Bluegrass Region
Boone, Bourbon, Campbell, Carroll, Gallatin, Grant, Harrison, Kenton, Nicholas, Owen, Pendleton, and Scott Counties
Saturday, October 21, 2023 - 2nd Annual EC LEARN FCC Provider Appreciation Day - Preventing Burnout in Family Child Care: Creating Systems and Healthy Boundaries - 9 - 11:30 A
Audience: Registered or certified in-home providers in the Northern Bluegrass Region (Boone, Bourbon, Campbell, Carroll, Gallatin, Grant, Harrison, Kenton, Nicholas, Owen, Pendleton, and Scott Counties) and part of the Salt River Train Region (Anderson, Franklin, Henry, Oldham, Shelby, Spencer, Trimble and Woodford Counties)
Location: In-Person (Kentucky Career Center, 8020 Veterans Memorial Dr. Florence, KY 41042) or Virtual (Zoom)
Description: In this session we will discuss how to create systems that will make running your in-home child care business easier. We will also discuss the need for routines and boundaries for yourself as a owner of this business. Creating a work/life balance is essential to your wellness! All participants will win prizes!
Cost: FREE
FCCN Salt River Region
Anderson, Franklin, Henry, Oldham, Shelby, Spencer, Trimble and Woodford Counties
Saturday, October 21, 2023 - 2nd Annual EC LEARN FCC Provider Appreciation Day - Preventing Burnout in Family Child Care: Creating Systems and Healthy Boundaries - 9 - 11:30 AM
Cost: FREE
Audience: Registered or certified in-home providers in the Northern Bluegrass Region (Boone, Bourbon, Campbell, Carroll, Gallatin, Grant, Harrison, Kenton, Nicholas, Owen, Pendleton, and Scott Counties) and part of the Salt River Train Region (Anderson, Franklin, Henry, Oldham, Shelby, Spencer, Trimble and Woodford Counties)
Location: In-Person (Kentucky Career Center, 8020 Veterans Memorial Dr. Florence, KY 41042) or Virtual (Zoom)
Description: In this session we will discuss how to create systems that will make running your in-home child care business easier. We will also discuss the need for routines and boundaries for yourself as a owner of this business. Creating a work/life balance is essential to your wellness!
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?
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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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