Leaders

Understand the developmental stages of writing, and then learn strategies to use with infants, toddlers and preschoolers to support writing skills at each developmental stage.

This training provides a framework for decision making about language acquisition issues in your program.  Together, we explore new research, as well as critical considerations for establishing a program’s language model.  Evidence-based strategies for program leaders, teachers and families are included.

Discover how to make reading an integral part of children’s everyday experiences.  Learn strategies to use with infants, toddlers and preschoolers to support reading skills at each developmental stage for later reading success.

Based on research concerning how teachers use their daily interactions to instruct and relate with each child in their classroom, this training provides examples of how great teachers create play environments that engage, motivate and stretch children into becoming thinkers and learners.

To make language and literacy an intentional part of each day, this training assists providers in using everyday routines, experiences and environments to help infants and toddlers develop a strong foundation for later learning.

This class explores and celebrates our differences.  By defining culture, bias and stereotypes, participants learn to recognize them as possible roadblocks in our practice and to explore strategies for better working relationships with staff, children and families.

Skilled Dialogue is a framework for communicating that goes beyond active listening to help us respond to difficult situations from a place of deep respect and connection, and to open up new possibilities for resolving conflict.  This workshop introduces participants to the Skilled Dialogue dispositions and strategies, and provides an opportunity to explore how they apply in our work.

This interactive workshop helps teachers build children’s awareness of the sounds of language, and develop children’s vocabulary and oral language skills through engaging phonological activities. 

This training provides a framework for decision making about language acquisition issues in your program.  Together, we explore new research, as well as critical considerations for establishing a program’s language model.  Evidence-based strategies for program leaders, teachers and families are included.

This training supports center directors and managers needing a framework to structure their own program improvements, as well as technical assistant specialists, consultants and mentors working with directors.

Based on research concerning how teachers use their daily interactions to instruct and relate with each child in their classroom, this training provides examples of how great teachers create play environments that engage, motivate and stretch children into becoming thinkers and learners.

This training provides an opportunity for providers to understand Authentic Assessment as a comprehensive system that includes curriculum, assessment and professional development. Participants also develop an appreciation for the importance of assessment and how this information can guide our work with infants, toddlers and their families. 

Children in the 21st Century face very different opportunities and challenges. Plus, the face of our communities has become increasingly diverse. This training explores these dynamics, including foster-parent involvement, techniques to communicate effectively with all families and how to connect rich classroom experiences to the everyday activities children engage in at home.

Research tells us that Phonological Awareness, Oral Language, Print Awareness and Alphabet Knowledge are the four predictors of young children’s later success in learning to read and write. Quality early literacy experiences are key to future academic achievement, higher graduation rates and increased productivity in adult life. This training explores each predictor in depth. Participants have many hands-on opportunities to investigate a variety of strategies and resources to support the development of early literacy skills. Suggestions, examples and demonstrations provide information on how to use age-appropriate activities throughout the day and in all areas of the classroom.

Administrators play a crucial role in creating work environments that have a significant impact on teacher effectiveness and instructional practices in the classroom. Fostering the administrator’s supervisory, managerial and leadership skills help to build and maintain quality environments for teachers, children and families. This course enhances each participant’s leadership skills and builds a powerful Peer Learning Circle committed to teaching and learning from one another. Circles are confidential, supportive and focused on taking action and learning at the same time. An experienced facilitator guides members in exploring topics such as curriculum and instructional design to support positive outcomes for children, understanding the Program Administration Scale (PAS), building teams and community in the program, brain research, supervisory skills, managing change and creating culturally responsive organizations. Other topics are determined based on the interests of the group.

Children are born using science and math skills. They delight in exploration, experimentation and discovery. Early childhood teachers who are skilled in cultivating these natural abilities enable young children to build solid content knowledge, develop higher order thinking, solve problems creatively, and communicate and collaborate effectively – all skills needed as children enter the complex life and work environments of the 21st century. This course focuses on supporting the teacher’s understanding of the scientific process; that is, not having all of the answers but being able to ask good questions and facilitate discovery. Participants also have access to a wide range of materials and activities that can be used in their environments. They practice teaching strategies to help children link concepts across activities and apply them to their everyday lives.

This “learning lab” stresses the importance of teamwork in the Continuous Quality Improvement process, the components of the Qualistar rating, classroom arrangement, the why behind the ERS tools, practical experience and review of personal care routines associated with the ratings. We suggest taking this workshop in conjunction with “Getting Ready For the Ratings” before the Qualistar rating.

Learn how authentic assessment can ensure that children are on track with their development by assessing strengths, growth and needs.  Understand how to use authentic assessment to make instructional decisions and to support communication with parents.

ITERS-R overview is an introductory training that explores the seven major subscales in the Infant Toddler Environment Rating Scale tool.  Participants will learn how individual indicators are scored and how an overall score is derived.  We discuss commonly missed indicators along with strategies and suggestions on how to create a quality environment in the classroom.

This training is an in-depth study of the School-Age Care Environment Rating Scale tool and how it’s designed to increase quality in before- and after-school programs. We discuss the interpretation of specific indicators, the research and rationale for the requirements, and provide suggestions on how to meet the tool’s criteria. Participants engage in hands-on activities – like how to create welcoming, exciting environments in these school programs – and learn how individual indicators are scored and an overall score is derived.

Over the course of this training, participants learn about the Infant Toddler Environment Rating Scale tool, the interpretation of specific indicators, the research and rationale for the requirements and how to meet the tool’s criteria. Participants engage in hands-on activities  – like observing and scoring video snapshots of early childhood classrooms – and learn how individual indicators are scored and an overall score is derived.

In this in-depth study of the Early Childhood Environment Rating Scale tool, we discuss the interpretation of specific indicators, the research and rationale for the requirements and provide suggestions on how to meet the tool’s criteria.  Participants engage in hands-on activities – like observing and scoring video snapshots of early childhood classrooms – and learn how individual indicators are scored and an overall score is derived.

Interactions between children and teachers are critical in achieving positive outcomes for children across all developmental domains. The Classroom Assessment Scoring System™ (CLASS™) is an observation tool that can help teachers focus on interacting effectively with the children in their classroom to enhance each child’s learning. The CLASS™ is organized into three domains: Emotional Support, Classroom Organization and Instructional Support. There are three options for learning more about this tool and specific classroom practices that support children’s social/emotional development, analytical and thinking skills, and language and literacy skills by increasing learning opportunities throughout the day.

During this intensive training program, participants learn how to observe classrooms using the CLASS. Following the successful completion of an online reliability test, you are certified as a Pre-K CLASS Observer for one year.

Join us for interactive group discussions by certified playground safety instructors about why gross motor play is so critical for a young child’s development.  Together we will explore the S.A.F.E. model for playground safety, and then expand on the importance of proper playground supervision, age-appropriate equipment, fall-surfacing requirements and equipment maintenance. We also identify general playground safety standards and become familiar with ASTM and CPSC standards for playgrounds.

Discover how to maximize your outdoor play space, and expand children’s play and learning while supporting their physical, emotional, cognitive and social development outdoors. We discuss how to implement nature-based learning areas into existing playgrounds using the Dimensions Educational Research Foundation’s 10 guiding principles for natural outdoor classrooms.  Ideas for nature-based activities and opportunities to design outdoor play spaces are also included. 

This training explores why room design is important in a quality classroom and how it impacts children’s behavior. We discuss how to create an ample, organized classroom that allows for movement, independence and productive play. Participants also discover Lakeshore’s classroom designer on-line tool and you can design a classroom with assistance from the Environment Rating Scale team.

How do we as educators encourage children’s language and reasoning development?  During this training we will discuss simple language strategies, such as modeling, self- talk, parallel talk, imitating, facilitating play, and observe, wait and listen.  These strategies can be immediately implemented into the classroom to encourage and expand children’s communication and concept development.  Participants will also role-play asking open-ended reasoning questions while using educational materials.

This interactive training reviews how to score a classroom or child care home using the Environment Rating Scale expanded score sheet.  We review report-writing guidelines and give tips on how to produce a report that gives detailed, specific recommendations for quality improvement, as well as pointing out the provider’s unique strengths. Strategies and suggestions on how to have a positive successful consultation with teachers, directors and administrators are also discussed. A report-writing disk is also distributed.

Review the criteria of Personal Care Subscale of the Environment Rating Scale Tools and resolve commonly encountered issues for programs.  Together we also discuss why this subscale is important and discover current research regarding the health of students and staff in child care.

Examine how biases can affect your everyday life as well as how we look at early childhood classrooms. Discussion topics include describing yourself culturally, understanding why we are biased, identifying stereotypes, recognizing our own biases, looking at how these biases affect us both in life and with the use of the Environment Rating scales, and other biases relating to the different types of child care programs. Participants leave with a better understanding of who they are and how they relate to their world, both as a person and as an evaluator.