Class Descriptions

Communicating Effectively in the Workplace

2.5 hours with optional additional PLC to discuss challenges and successes of applying new skills

Description: We all know that the words we use are important when we speak to children.  Additionally, professional and respectful communication affects all other aspects of a workplace including relationships with clients and coworkers.  Learn the strategies of active listening, non-judgmental words, and how to address a conflict.  Practice using these strategies and discuss the situations when the words one uses matters the most.  This workshop can be following by one or two 1.5-hour PLCs to practice and listen to respectful, non-judgmental, professional communication.

Core Competency: Professionalism and Leadership

Designing and Facilitating Workshops for Early Childhood Educators

3 hours with optional additional PLC to discuss challenges and successes of applying new skills

Description: Designing workshops and professional development events require careful planning.  Learn about how adults learn and are motivated to implement their learning into their work.  We'll examine the basic components of an effective workshop and discuss the do's and don'ts of facilitating workshops.  This training will be offered through Zoom, and the Zoom learning tools will be demonstrated as well.   Following this 3-hour training, there is an option to meet again for two Professional Learning Communities where participants will begin to plan your own workshop on a topic of your choice.

Core Competency: Professionalism and Leadership

Early Intervention and Family Child Care:  Collaborating for Children

5 hours/ .5 CEU

Description:  Early Intervention provides additional services for children whose development is delayed or at risk for delay in any of the developmental domains.  When Early Intervention services are offered in a family child care setting, the child, families, and family child care educators all benefit.   Find out all that Early Intervention does for children ages birth to 3 and the importance of collaborating with EI professionals who come to your program.  Learn what your responsibilities are and how to balance your own program needs as you support the needs of children receiving services. 

This course is on a topic of "diverse learners."

Core Competency: 3. Partnering with Families and Communities

QRIS Alignment: Standard #4: “Family and Community Engagement.” 

Creating a Framework for Your Mixed-Age Program

5 hours

Description:  Caring for and educating a mixed-age group of children can be challenging!   What types of activities and materials can you provide so that infants, toddlers, preschoolers, and even school-age children can be involved in some way?  How can you take traditional activity plans and adapt them for a wide range of ages and skill levels?  And finally, how can you manage all these children at once?   Although there are no "magic wands," to make your job easy, there are strategies and management techniques to help you FRAME a high quality mixed-age program where all children learn and thrive!  This training will share best practice for mixed ages as well as sharing your ideas for what works. You'll go home with great activity ideas to implement in your mixed-age program!

Core Competency: Learning Environments and Curriculum

Engaging with Diverse Families

5 hours/ .5 CEUs    also available in a 2.5 hour abbreviated version

Description: Family involvement is an essential component of a quality early childhood program.  However, it can be challenging when parents and families come from diverse cultures and backgrounds, resulting in differences in values, behavioral expectations, and communication.  Participants will examine their own cultural beliefs, their origins, and explore how to better connect with and engage with all parents and families.

QRIS : (Family Engagement at all QRIS levels)


Core Competency: Partnering with families and communities

Effective Home Visits with Family Child Care Educators

10 hours/ 1.0 CEUs

Description: The professionals who visit family child care programs require skills such as communication, modeling, motivation, and organization in order to be successful.  Whether your job is to advise, monitor, assess, or observe, you will encounter challenging situations, as well as opportunities to notice unique strengths.  This training series will offer tools and strategies to professionals who want to support, and encourage family child care providers through effective home visits.

Taught in four 2.5-hour sessions:
Part 1. Your Job as Home Visitor (roles and responsibilities, using your senses on the job)
Part 2. The Home Visitor as a Professional (managing time, balancing authority, maintaining ethics and confidentiality)
Part 3. Communication (communication styles, listening, responding when there is conflict)
Part 4. Home Visitor Essentials (notes/documentation, and safety concerns, resources and motivation)

Core Competency: Professionalism and Leadership

Sweet Dreams or Nightmare: Making Naptime Work for Educators and Children

3 hours

Description: Sleep is an important aspect of a child’s physical and mental health. (source). Naptime is an important part of any child care routine. . . when it works!   This workshop will explore why rest and sleep are important to any child and how to plan your routine and environment to meet the needs of both sleepers and non-sleepers.  Educators will share their own tried-and-true strategies for successful naptime and gain new ideas and resources to make naptime a dream.

Core Competency:  Health, Safety, and Nutrition

Outdoor Play and Learning Throughout the Year

Available in a 3-hour or 5-hour format with optional addi.tional PLC for discussing challenges and successes of implementation.

Description:  Children learn best outside! Evidence indicates that being outdoors is a low risk for passing the COVID-19 and supports children’s physical, cognitive, and sensory development. This workshop will discuss why outdoor learning can be best and reflect on our own practices for adapting your schedule, supplies, and policies to increase your amount of outdoors.  Participants will plan and share ideas for play and learning, even in cold and rainy weather.  This training includes topics that address "diverse learners.

Core Competency: Learning Environments and Curriculum

Hands On Math for Infants, Toddlers, and Preschoolers

2.5 hours

Description:  Math learning starts when children first begin to explore world.   Learn what "mathematics" looks like for an infant and how math skills gradually develop as the child grows and prepares for kindergarten and beyond.  Gain some ideas for developmentally appropriate, easy-to-plan math activities that can be adapted for mixed aged groups or children at differing skill levels. 

Core Competency: Learning environments and curriculum

Stretching Story Time: Using Children's Literature to Expand Learning and Plan Activities

2 - 2.5 hours

Description: The storybooks you read to children every day can be a rich source of learning! We'll explore the "treasures" to be found in children's books and discuss strategies for engaging children in story time, including children of diverse skill levels, attention spans, and languages.  We'll expand each book by brainstorming activities that can be planned for all learning domains.

Core Competency:  Learning Environments and Curriculum

Planning Activities for Childcare: From Teachable Moments to Intentional Teaching

5 hours

Description: Meeting the educational and developmental needs of young children can be happen throughout the day through play and exploration.  But it's also important for educators to be purposeful and intentional when they plan for a balanced curriculum including all the learning domains.  It can be challenging for educators to write an activity plan that reflects play, exploration and teacher-led learning experiences.  Learn how to transform those "teachable moments" into an intentional, developmentally appropriate activity plan that meets the needs of the children in your program.

Core Competency: Learning environments and curriculum

Planning and Implementing Activities in a Mixed-Age Program

5 hours

Description:  Children grow and learn naturally in mixed-age groups. Younger children watch and learn from the “experts,” including important cognitive and social skills.  Older children can explore the same materials more deeply and gain self-confidence by teaching and interacting with younger children. However it can be challenging to balance safety, active learning, and the individual needs of each child.  Participants will explore what the research shows about mixed-age groups in early childhood, and, through discussion and interactive activities, plan to meet the needs of a mixed-age group of children.  This course includes topics on “diverse learners.” 

Core Competency: Learning environments and curriculum

Professional and Supportive Communication with Families

4 hours

Course Description: Helping families get involved as partners in their children’s learning starts with listening and responding. (Nemeth, 2015).   Establishing and maintaining trusting relationships and communication can be challenging and rewarding, especially considering the rapidly changing expectations of programs, families and modes of communication.  Explore and share a variety communication strategies, both written and verbal, and ways to develop trusting and supportive relationships while maintaining a professional relationship.

Core Competency: 3. Partnering with Families and Communities

Record Keeping for Family Child Care Programs

5 hours / .5 CEU

Description: Here’s your chance to get organized and stay on top of your record keeping!  Keeping accurate records and documents is not only required by The Department of Early Education and Care, but affects the families you serve, the quality of your program, your professional liability, and even your net income.  Participants will learn about required and recommended records and suggested methods for organizing your records and maintaining them as part of your ongoing business routines.

QRIS :  (all levels)

Core Competency: Program Planning and Development

Understanding and Implementing EEC Regulations for Family Child Care

5 hours

Description:   In your role as a licensed family child care provider, it is essential to adhere to the regulations and policies established by The Commonwealth of Massachusetts. We will focus on a selection of commonly  overlooked regulations, providing ample time to address any specific questions. We’ll start with a “guided tour” of the regulations and include some fun and interactive learning games.  Participants will receive electronic files of the current EEC regulations and a Course Guide for note taking and resources. By participating in this training, you will enhance your understanding of the requirement and improve the quality of the care you provide, ultimately benefiting the children under your supervision.

Participants will be able to:

•Read and review the regulations and policies set forth by The Commonwealth of Massachusetts for family child care providers.
•Apply the regulations and policies in your own unique situations, ensuring full compliance with the state's requirements.
•Identify and address frequently missed regulations, ensuring you are fully aware of all aspects of the guidelines.
•Examine ways to implement the regulations and policies to enhance the overall quality of care provided to the children under your supervision.
•Create and maintain safe, nurturing environments that align with the state's regulations and prioritize the well-being of children.

Core Competency:  Program planning and development