Project ACT

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (AD/HD): Learning the Basics

This training provides participants with an overview of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD).  It dispels myths associated with ADHD, reviews current research, diagnostic criteria, red flags and strategies that help children with ADHD to be successful. Core of Knowledge Area: Special Needs (3 hours); Level: Beginner to Intermediate

AD/HD II: AD/HD in Girls

This training is a follow-up to ADHD 1: Learning the Basics.  It begins with a brief review of ADHD as it highlights the different ways ADHD manifests in girls and boys.  Particular attention is paid to the symptoms girls may display and practical strategies for teaching girls who have ADHD.  Core of Knowledge Area: Special Needs (3 hours); Level: Intermediate to Advanced

Asthma and Allergies

During this training, participants learn to identify triggers of asthma and allergies, strategies for preventing asthma attacks and allergic reactions and steps to take in the event of an asthma attack and/or allergic reaction.  Participants will create allergen-free menus, practice using EpiPen trainers and experience an asthma and allergic reaction. Core of Knowledge Area: Health and Safety (3 hours); Level: Beginner to Intermediate

Autism Spectrum Disorders: Helping Children Adapt to the World Around Them

Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders often struggle with completing self-help tasks.  This training provides participants with the skills they need to assist children with increasing their independence by breaking tasks into small sequential steps.  Participants learn how to incorporate everyday living skills into curriculum and provide supports within the community.  Participants interested in this training should take Autism Spectrum Disorders 1: Learning the Basics or have prior knowledge of ASD.  Core of Knowledge Area: Special Needs (2 hours) & Community (1 hour); Level: Intermediate to Advanced

Autism Spectrum Disorders: Connecting the Circle of Friends

This interactive training helps participants to understand the challenges children on the Autism Spectrum may face with communication, play skills and social skills.  Participants will learn strategies and have a chance to practice using augmentative communication, the D.I.R. Floor Time model created by Greenspan and Wieder, and using social stories and social scripts.  Participants interested in this training should take Autism Spectrum Disorders: Learning the Basics or have prior knowledge of ASD.  Core of Knowledge Area: Special Needs (3 hours); Level: Intermediate to Advanced

Autism Spectrum Disorders: Learning the Basics

This training provides an overview of Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) and helps participants understand the complexities related to working with children with ASD.  It reviews current research and types of successful intervention strategies.  Participants learn practical strategies for assisting children with ASD in the classroom.  Core of Knowledge Area: Special Needs (3 hours); Level: Beginner

Autism Spectrum Disorders: M.O.D.E.L.S. for Behavior

This training is geared toward professionals who are working with children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD).  It examines the steps involved in creating effective MODELS for positive behavior, beginning with the Motivation, or the “why” behind the behavior and the impact of Organization during the day. Next, it considers the importance of Documentation to track behaviors and set up reasonable Expectations through establishing and reinforcing guidelines.  Finally, it explains the importance of having an effective Language system and provides possible Solutions for behavior challenges.  Participants interested in this training should take Autism Spectrum Disorders: Learning the Basics or have prior knowledge of ASD.  Core of Knowledge Area: Special Needs (3 hours); Level: Intermediate

BASIC I: Before and After School Inclusion Curriculum (Revised)

This training is designed to introduce participants to the benefits of including children with various disabilities in their before and after school settings.  Participants examine such topics as: A.D.A., definition of inclusion and the benefits of it in before and after school settings, implementing a philosophy of inclusion in a variety of settings, curricular and environmental inclusive adaptations, addressing the needs of staff members and strategies for including families.  Core of Knowledge Area: Development (1.5 hours) & Special Needs (1.5 hours); Level: Beginner to Advanced

Building Early Literacy Through Expressive Arts (Revised)

This training builds participants’ knowledge and understanding of the ways in which the expressive arts can enhance children’s literacy.  Participants learn specific and practical strategies for promoting literacy skills through movement, play, music and visual arts.  These strategies will assist teachers in creating learning environments which promote knowledge acquisition, creativity and positive self-esteem for all children, including those with special needs.  Core of Knowledge Area:  Curriculum (2 hours) & Special Needs (1 hour); Level: Beginner to Intermediate

Childhood Bipolar Disorder: Understanding Symptoms & Strategies to Promote Success

This training is designed as a follow up to “Understanding Childhood Depression.”  Participants will learn the clinical psychiatric definition of Bipolar Disorder and a practical definition, useful when working with children with special needs.  Interactive examples will clarify observable data such as mood swings, verbal and behavioral outbursts, the difference between “mania ” and “depression,” and the “do’s and don’ts” when working with children displaying symptoms.  Core of Knowledge Area: Special Needs (2 hours) Health, Safety and Nutrition (1 hour); Participant Level:        Intermediate to Advanced

Community Connections: Bridging the Gap between Families, Child Care and Community Resources

Community Connections provides participants with statewide and local resources that can be utilized by caregivers and families.  The training prepares participants to identify family needs and match them to the appropriate agencies and services, and highlights strategies for maintaining communication in the child care environment.  Core of Knowledge Area: Community (3 hours); Level: Beginner to Intermediate

Developmentally Appropriate Art

This training teaches participants how to implement a developmentally appropriate art curriculum and how to create an environment where art is an integral part of the day.  It explores visual arts, how to implement a variety of art experiences for children of all ages, and the educator’s role in facilitating creative art activities and engaging children in conversations.  It also provides strategies for involving parents in art activities at school and in the community.  Core of Knowledge Area: Curriculum (2 hours) & Community (1 hour); Level: Beginner to Intermediate

Developmental Delays

This training provides participants with knowledge and strategies for teaching children with developmental delays.  Participants review characteristics of typical child development from birth through five, discuss “red flags,” developmental screening tools, developmental delays and adaptations to assist children with developmental delays.  Through interactive simulations, participants will gain an understanding of the challenges children with developmental delays face and have an opportunity to develop accommodations they can utilize in their classrooms.  Core of Knowledge Area: Development (1 hour) & Special Needs (2 hours); Level: Beginner to Intermediate

The Essence of Language: Appreciating the Importance of Language Development for Children Birth - 5 Years

This training provides participants with an overview of children’s typical language development from birth through five, possible “red flags” for language delays and how to assist English Language Learners.  Through interactive activities, reviews of research and video, participants share their expertise and gain a comprehensive knowledge of language development and how to assist all children in improving their communication skills.  Core of Knowledge Area: Child Development (1.5 hours) & Special Needs (1.5 hours); Level: Beginner to Intermediate

Fun with Feelings: Activities that Promote Emotional Intelligence

During this training, participants will learn strategies and “fun” activities to assist preschool and school aged children in exploring their feelings for the purpose of promoting Emotional Intelligence.  Participants will learn about the connection between Multiple Intelligences and Emotional Intelligence.  Participants will explore sample “feeling stations,” and learn about potential “red flag” behaviors in children that may need to be addressed by a mental health professional.   Core of Knowledge Area: Special Needs (1 hour) & Development (2 hours); Level: Beginner to Intermediate

Healthy Social Emotional Development in the Young Child Ages 0-5

This training will increase participants’ knowledge of healthy social and emotional development in early childhood.  Participants will gain an overview of healthy development, ways to recognize major milestones, “red flags” which may indicate possible delays, and strategies to use to promote social and emotional competencies in children ages birth through five.  Core of Knowledge Areas: Development (2 hours) & Special Needs (1 hour); Level: Beginner to Intermediate

Healthy Social and Emotional Development in Children Ages 3-5 (Revised)

This training will increase participants’ knowledge of healthy social and emotional development in early childhood.  Through research highlighting the importance of social emotional development for children’s academic success, participants will gain an overview of healthy development, ways to recognize major milestones, “red flags” which may indicate possible delays, and strategies to use to promote social and emotional competencies in children ages three to five.  Core of Knowledge Area:  Development (1 hour) & Special Needs (2 hours); Level: Beginner to Intermediate

Hiring and Retaining Qualified Staff

Learn the “nuts and bolts” that research has shown helps to retain staff and elevate the early childhood education profession to a higher status.  This training provides research, statistics, and ideas that will enable you to make far-reaching impacts within the entire field.  Core of Knowledge Area: Professionalism (3 hours); Level: Intermediate to Advanced

How to Cope with Bullying Behaviors

Learn to identify the causes and signs of bullying.   Understand the reasons why some children display bullying behaviors. Through movie clips and group participation, participants will receive working strategies for handling children who act as a bully, and children who are bullied, in order to provide a safe learning environment for all children.  Core of Knowledge Area: Health, Safety and Nutrition (2 hours) & Child Development (1 hour); Level: Beginner to Intermediate

Introduction to Diabetes and Obesity in Children

This training provides an overview of the typical health care needs of children with diabetes.  Participants will develop a better understanding of diabetes and the difference between type 1 and type 2 diabetes.  Participants will learn about written care plans and the procedures for routine care of children; and importance of balancing food, exercise, and insulin, along with the signs, symptoms, and treatment procedures for possible diabetic emergencies.  Participants will understand the link between diabetes and obesity, and possible reasons for the increased number of children suffering from obesity.  Core of Knowledge Area: Health and Safety (3 hours); Level: Beginner to Intermediate

Introduction to Inclusion (Revised)

In this interactive training, participants will learn about including children with special needs in their child care.  The civil rights laws that protect persons with disabilities will be reviewed and participants will learn what these laws require of child care settings. 
Participants will become familiar with ideas to utilize when adapting their learning environment to accommodate children of varying abilities and will understand how these accommodations benefit all children and families. Core of Knowledge Area: Special Needs ( 2 hours) & Professionalism (1 hour); Level: Beginner to Intermediate

Leading Without Managing

This training will help participants gain an understanding of the basic principles of effective leadership.  Participants will gain knowledge of different leadership styles and be empowered to answer tough questions through self-evaluations, and build upon the results to become more effective leaders.  Core of Knowledge Area:  Professionalism (3 hours); Level:  Beginner to Advanced

Language: The Key to Literacy

This training showcases the importance of how strong language skills promote literacy.  Through a variety of activities, participants review ways to promote language development as highlighted by key research studies.  Participants will gain a thorough understanding of how language impacts literacy and how to promote learning opportunities so that all children begin school with a wealth of words.  Core of Knowledge Areas: Curriculum (2 hours) Child Development (1 hour); Level: Beginner to Advanced

Managing Stress at Any Age

This training is designed to increase particpants’ knowledge of stress and how to manage its symptoms.  This training introduces participants to “good” and “bad” stress as well as other types of stress such as acute stress and post traumatic stress disorder, and participants will learn initial signs and symptoms of each type of stress.
The participants will also be able to examine the similarities and differences of stress in infants, toddlers, preschool children, school-aged children, adolescents and adults.
Core of Knowledge Areas: Health and Safety ( 2 hours) & Professionalism (1 hour); Level: Beginner to Intermediate

Multiple Intelligences: Discovering Gifts & Empowering Children

This training introduces participants to the theory of Multiple Intelligences and innovative teaching ideas which will assist in making their classroom an enhanced learning environment for children of all abilities.  Participants will learn to identify the unique learning strengths of children and how to apply practical strategies to promote inclusive and empowering learning opportunities for all.  Core of Knowledge Area: Curriculum (1 hour) & Special Needs (2 hours); Level: Beginner to Intermediate

Outdoor Learning Opportunities: Bringing the Classroom Outdoors

This unique training explores the benefits of using the outdoor play environment as a natural extension of the classroom.  Participants develop an understanding of how children gain social, physical, and cognitive competence through outdoor play. Participants plan and design a developmentally appropriate outdoor environment for young children.  Core of Knowledge Area: Health and Safety (1.5 hours) & Curriculum (1.5 hours); Level: Beginner to Intermediate

Promoting Resiliency in Early Childhood

From this training, participants gain an understanding of resiliency, and the important role attachment plays in helping children.  Participants will learn factors that contribute to the formation of attachment relationships and discover intervention strategies that can be used to promote resiliency in children.  Core of Knowledge Area: Development (3 hours); Level: Beginner

Sensory Sensitivity

This training provides participants with an understanding of sensory integration, sensory integration dysfunction, and how sensory issues can impact children with autism spectrum disorders.  It discusses ways to include ‘sensory diets’ and sensory activities that assist children with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) to be successful in their learning environments.  Participants interested in this training should take Autism Spectrum Disorders: Learning the Basics or have prior knowledge of ASD.  Core of Knowledge Area: Special Needs (2 hours) & Curriculum (1 hour); Level: Beginner to Intermediate

Steps to Literacy: Building Phonological and Phonemic Awareness

This training is part of a series on early literacy.  It highlights the importance of phonological and phonemic awareness as a key to literacy.  Participants learn about phonological and phonemic awareness and how they can assist children in developing these skills, including children who are learning more than one language.  Core of Knowledge Area: Curriculum (3 hours); Participant Level:  Beginner to Intermediate

Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS)

This training is designed to promote awareness and understanding of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS).  Participants explore the risk factors associated with SIDS, as well as the “safe sleep standards” and practices.  Additionally, policies and procedures for developing a SIDS-free action plan and emergency plan will be outlined.  A variety of resources will be identified that relate to SIDS including agencies that offer grief support.  Core of Knowledge Area: Health and Safety (2 hours) & Professionalism (1 hour); Level: Beginner to Intermediate

Sun Safety: It Is Not Just a Summer Thing

This training is designed to promote sun safety and protection for children to reduce the risk of developing skin cancer as adults.  The ABC’S of sun protection and the sun protection factor (SPF) of sunscreens will be examined to identify the most effective sunscreen.  Participants will also discuss ways to make their school or home environments healthy for children and parents.  Fun activities for several curriculum areas will be explored and developed to reinforce the concept of sun safety.  Core of Knowledge Area: Health and Safety (1.5 hours) & Curriculum (1.5 hours); Level: Beginner to Intermediate

Time In: Understanding and Preventing Behavior Issues

 During this training, participants will explore reasons for behavior and possible motivators of behaviors.  Participants will utilize tools to help in identifying the reason for the behavior and ways to prevent future issues, so that they can provide a nurturing learning environment for all children. Participants will explore preventive strategies to implement in their classrooms and how these affect children’s behavior.  Core of Knowledge Area: Special Needs (3 hours); Level: Beginner

Traumatic Events: Helping Our Children Cope During and After a Crisis

This informative and interactive training provides an understanding of personal/family, community and global traumatic events as well as how such events may possibly affect children in their development.  Practical strategies are provided focusing on ways to help children feel safe, empowered, and eager to engage in regular activities.  ** It is recommended, but not required, that participants take “Promoting Resiliency in Early Childhood” prior to receiving this training.**  Core of Knowledge Area: Health, Safety and Nutrition (2 hours) & Special Needs (1 hour); Level: Intermediate to Advanced

Understanding Learning Disabilities

During this training, participants will gain knowledge of different types of learning disabilities. Through simulations and video clips, participants will explore the challenges of having a learning disability and how frustrating it can be for a child.  This presentation will highlight some of the red flags in young children that might lead to a later diagnosis of a learning disability; and highlight teaching strategies and specific accommodations that meet the needs of all children, especially those children with learning disabilities.  Core of Knowledge Area: Special Needs (3 hours); Level: Beginner to Intermediate

Understanding Oppositional Defiant Disorder (ODD) (Revised)

This training introduces participants to Oppositional Defiant Disorder (ODD).  Participants will understand the possible causes of ODD and the common behavioral characteristics that often accompany this disorder.  Through interactive discussions and video clips, participants receive insight into the thought processes of a child with ODD.  This training discusses recommendations for managing the behaviors of children with ODD as well as guided role playing scenarios for reducing oppositional behaviors in the classroom.  Core of Knowledge Area: Special Needs (3 hours); Level: Beginner to Intermediate

Understanding Temperament: Implications for Working with Young Children

In this training, participants will learn the definition of temperament and its nine traits, the three main types of temperament and the term, ‘goodness of fit.’  Through partner discussions, chart activities and case scenarios, participants will actively investigate the best ways to create an environment that will allow for differences in temperament.  Temperament as it relates to children with special needs will be explored along with strategies to encourage peer-modeling and the building of social skills.  Core of Knowledge Area: Development (1.5 hours) & Special Needs (1.5 hours); Level: Intermediate