ChildCare Education Institute Offers No-Cost Online Course on Preventing Sexual Harassment in the Workplace

ChildCare Education Institute® (CCEI), an online child care training provider dedicated exclusively to the early care and education workforce, offers PROF107: Preventing Sexual Harassment in the Workplace as a no-cost trial course to new CCEI users April 1-30, 2023.

In this era of “MeToo” and “Time’s Up”, people are becoming increasingly aware of institutionalized sexual harassment. While these two movements helped bring women’s struggles in the workplace to the forefront of people’s thoughts, neither movement pioneered sexual harassment awareness.  The “MeToo” and “Time’s Up” movements brought to light a huge gap in people’s understanding of what exactly is considered sexual harassment. Many things that previously may have been considered commonplace or acceptable are now understood to be inappropriate and a violation of policies against workplace sexual harassment.

There are two forms of unlawful sexual harassment in the workplace. They are quid pro quo and hostile work environment.  Quid pro quo is the most universally recognized form of sexual harassment, however, a hostile work environment occurs the most, often going unreported. This is due to the fact that quid pro quo harassment often feels easier to prove in the eyes of the law, where people may find justifications for actions that create a hostile work environment.

While sexual harassment has two categories under the law, there are five types of conduct that may constitute sexual harassment. They are gender harassment, seductive behavior, sexual bribery or favoritism, sexual coercion, and sexual imposition.  When it comes to conduct that violates policies against workplace sexual harassment, it doesn’t just end at face-to-face interactions. Electronic sexual harassment is becoming increasingly common as technology grows, it currently includes emails, cell phone calls or texts, internet or intranet posts, online comments, blog posts, and social media

This course is designed to help early childhood education staff to better understand conduct that will violate policies against workplace harassment. Participants will learn what sexual harassment is, what some of the laws are, what to do if they feel they are being harassed or witness harassment, and how to prevent such conduct from occurring.

“Sexual harassment affects everyone involved: the victim, the harasser, and the company,” says says Leslie Coleman, Education Director of CCEI.  “Employees need to be trained in what sexual harassment is, how to avoid it, and how to report it.”

PROF107: Preventing Sexual Harassment in the Workplace is a one-hour, beginner-level course and grants 0.1 IACET CEU upon successful completion.  Current CCEI users with active, unlimited annual subscriptions can register for professional development courses at no additional cost when logged in to their CCEI account. Users without subscriptions can purchase child care training courses as block hours through CCEI online enrollment.

For more information, visit www.cceionline.edu or call 1.800.499.9907, prompt 3, Monday – Friday, 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. EST

ChildCare Education Institute, LLC

ChildCare Education Institute®, provides high-quality, distance education certificates and child care training programs in an array of child care settings, including preschool centers, family child care, prekindergarten classrooms, nanny care, online daycare training and more. Over 200+ English and Spanish child care training courses are available online to meet licensing, recognition program, and Head Start Requirements. CCEI also has online certification programs that provide the coursework requirement for national credentials including the CDA, Director and Early Childhood Credentials.  CCEI, a Council for Professional Recognition approved training partner, is accredited by the Distance Education Accrediting Commission (DEAC), is recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) and is accredited as an Authorized Provider by the International Accreditors for Continuing Education and Training (IACET).

ChildCare Education Institute Launches HLTH114: Building and Physical Premises Safety: Outdoor Environments

ChildCare Education Institute® (CCEI), one of the largest online training providers dedicated exclusively to the early care and education workforce, is pleased to introduce its newest course, HLTH114: Building and Physical Premises Safety: Outdoor Environments.

HLTH114 identifies common outdoor injuries and appropriate ways to prevent them. Students will learn about the various components of playground safety and hazards and the steps that must be taken to prevent accidental poisoning. Upon completing this course, students should be able to identify common outdoor-related injuries to children and describe appropriate ways to avoid these injuries, list the four necessary components of playground safety, identify playground problems and potential hazards and identify the ways children may be exposed to poisons.

“Outdoor play plays a crucial role in early childhood development, but it can also be unsafe,” says Leslie Coleman, Education Director for CCEI.  “As a caregiver, it is important to be aware of the dangers children face outside, so you can work to minimize the risks.”

Since its founding in 2005, CCEI has launched more than 500 online childcare training courses to meet state licensure and Head Start requirements, as well as online certificate programs for nationally recognized credentials, including the Child Development Associate (CDA).

HLTH114: Building and Physical Premises Safety: Outdoor Environments is a two-hour, beginner-level course and grants 0.2 IACET CEU upon successful completion.  Current CCEI users with active, unlimited annual subscriptions can register for professional development courses at no additional cost when logged in to their CCEI account. Users without subscriptions can purchase child care training courses as block hours through CCEI online enrollment.

For more information on these courses, as well as CCEI’s entire catalog of 200+ offerings, click here or call 1.800.499.9907, prompt 3, Monday – Friday, 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. EDT

About ChildCare Education Institute

ChildCare Education Institute® provides high-quality, distance education certificates and child care training programs in an array of child care settings, including preschool centers, family child care, prekindergarten classrooms, nanny care, online daycare training and more. Over 500 hours of English and Spanish child care training courses are available online to meet licensing, recognition program, and Head Start Requirements. CCEI also has online certification programs that provide the coursework requirement for national credentials including the CDA, Director and Early Childhood Credentials. CCEI, a Council for Professional Recognition approved training partner, is accredited by the Distance Education Accrediting Commission (DEAC), is recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) and is accredited as an Authorized Provider by the International Accreditors for Continuing Education and Training (IACET).

ChildCare Education Institute Launches HLTH113: Building and Physical Premises Safety: Indoor Environments

ChildCare Education Institute® (CCEI), one of the largest online training providers dedicated exclusively to the early care and education workforce, is pleased to introduce its newest course, HLTH113: Building and Physical Premises Safety: Indoor Environments.

HLTH113 covers many actions caregivers should take to keep children safe in the early childhood environment. All of the steps covered in the course are vital to maintaining a safe learning environment. However, the most important thing teachers can do is ensure proper supervision at all times. Careful supervision can help caregivers spot potentially dangerous situations and work to prevent them.

“Most of these accidents can be prevented, particularly in child care centers, where strong safety policies and careful supervision can make all the difference,” says Leslie Coleman, Education Director for CCEI.  “This new course provides practical information and tips to help you maintain a safe indoor environment for young children.”

Since its founding in 2005, CCEI has launched more than 500 online childcare training courses to meet state licensure and Head Start requirements, as well as online certificate programs for nationally recognized credentials, including the Child Development Associate (CDA).

HLTH113: Building and Physical Premises Safety: Indoor Environments is a two-hour, beginner-level course and grants 0.2 IACET CEU upon successful completion.  Current CCEI users with active, unlimited annual subscriptions can register for professional development courses at no additional cost when logged in to their CCEI account. Users without subscriptions can purchase child care training courses as block hours through CCEI online enrollment.

For more information on these courses, as well as CCEI’s entire catalog of 200+ offerings, click here or call 1.800.499.9907, prompt 3, Monday – Friday, 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. EST

About ChildCare Education Institute

ChildCare Education Institute® provides high-quality, distance education certificates and child care training programs in an array of child care settings, including preschool centers, family child care, prekindergarten classrooms, nanny care, online daycare training and more. Over 500 hours of English and Spanish child care training courses are available online to meet licensing, recognition program, and Head Start Requirements. CCEI also has online certification programs that provide the coursework requirement for national credentials including the CDA, Director and Early Childhood Credentials. CCEI, a Council for Professional Recognition approved training partner, is accredited by the Distance Education Accrediting Commission (DEAC), is recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) and is accredited as an Authorized Provider by the International Accreditors for Continuing Education and Training (IACET).

ChildCare Education Institute Offers No-Cost Online Course on Children and Grief

ChildCare Education Institute® (CCEI), an online child care training provider dedicated exclusively to the early care and education workforce, offers SOC111: Children and Grief as a no-cost trial course to new CCEI users March 1-31, 2023.

Loss, including the death of a loved one, is a universal and inevitable part of the human experience. In other words, it happens to everyone. We all lose people we love and care about due to death.  Unfortunately, we can experience loss and death as early as infancy. Early childhood educators often feel unprepared to help children grieve losses so early in life. This course is designed to help educators be more prepared and confident in supporting children when instances of loss occur.

Although children can experience a variety of losses, the death of a loved one is one of the most difficult losses any person will experience. Loss, especially a death, can be hard for adults to understand and face. How children react to loss will be affected by what they know about loss.  Culture and family beliefs will also influence how children grieve. In other words, children’s understanding of loss (and death) depends on their experiences with loss, how people around them react, and what others tell them about loss. Children’s understanding of loss also depends on their age and developmental level. It can be helpful for childcare professionals to know about different types of loss to better understand what the children in their classrooms are experiencing in their lives. This understanding can, in turn, help educators to respond in ways most likely to meet students’ needs.

This course will explore how children experience grief and loss during the early years. Participants will explore recommended practices for helping children cope with the death of a loved one and other associated losses. Participants will learn how to be more culturally responsive to students and families who are grieving. Participants will discover the potential impact of supporting others in their grief and self-care strategies for teachers will be shared.

“This course equips educators to better understand how children move through the stages of grief so they can engage with children in developmentally appropriate ways,” says Leslie Coleman, Education Director of CCEI.  “Students will also learn strategies to address a loss in the program, or with in a family, using culturally responsive language and approaches.”

SOC111: Children and Grief is a two-hour, beginner-level course and grants 0.2 IACET CEU upon successful completion.  Current CCEI users with active, unlimited annual subscriptions can register for professional development courses at no additional cost when logged in to their CCEI account. Users without subscriptions can purchase child care training courses as block hours through CCEI online enrollment.

For more information, visit www.cceionline.edu or call 1.800.499.9907, prompt 3, Monday – Friday, 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. EDT

ChildCare Education Institute, LLC

ChildCare Education Institute®, provides high-quality, distance education certificates and child care training programs in an array of child care settings, including preschool centers, family child care, prekindergarten classrooms, nanny care, online daycare training and more. Over 200+ English and Spanish child care training courses are available online to meet licensing, recognition program, and Head Start Requirements. CCEI also has online certification programs that provide the coursework requirement for national credentials including the CDA, Director and Early Childhood Credentials.  CCEI, a Council for Professional Recognition approved training partner, is accredited by the Distance Education Accrediting Commission (DEAC), is recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) and is accredited as an Authorized Provider by the International Accreditors for Continuing Education and Training (IACET).

ChildCare Education Institute Launches Texas-Specific Trainings for Early Childhood Educators

ChildCare Education Institute (CCEI), one of the largest online training providers for early childhood education professionals, is pleased to introduce two new Texas-specific courses covering the Texas Minimum Standards for Child Care Centers.

The Standards, which were developed by the Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) with assistance from child care operators, parents and other experts in a variety of fields, provides guidance on the requirements that must be followed for child care operation permit holders.

TXMIN101: Texas Minimum Standards for Caregivers Instructional Plan, which is a two-hour beginner-level course, covers the minimum standards that apply to caregivers and provides information and best practices as recommended by Texas Health and Human Services. Upon successful completion, participants will be able to recognize qualifications, general responsibilities and professional development requirements for caregivers; meet basic care requirements for children in a child care setting; understand the developmental needs of children; and more.

TXMIN102: Texas Minimum Standards for Directors Instructional Plan, which is a three-hour beginner-level course, covers the minimum standards for directors and provides general information and the latest best practices from Texas Health and Human Services. Upon successful completion, participants will be able to recognize qualifications, general responsibilities and professional development requirements for directors; identify the four critical aspects of the inspection process; understand responsibilities for permit holders, including rules regarding notification of state agencies and families; and more.

“All child care providers need to be aware of best practices and standards for maintaining a child care center, and we’re excited to offer Texas directors and caregivers access to these new courses,” says Leslie Coleman, Education Director of CCEI. “Our coursework is specifically designed to meet the education needs of practitioners in a range of settings, and these new offerings will ensure professionals in the Lone Star state are equipped with what they need to manage successful centers.”

Since its founding in 2005, CCEI has launched courses on more than 150 topics to meet state licensure and Head Start requirements, as well as online certificate programs for nationally recognized credentials, including the Child Development Associate (CDA).

For more information on CCEI, click here.

About ChildCare Education Institute

ChildCare Education Institute® provides high-quality, distance education certificates and child care training programs in an array of child care settings, including preschool centers, family child care, prekindergarten classrooms, nanny care, online daycare training and more. Over 500 hours of English and Spanish child care training courses are available online to meet licensing, recognition program, and Head Start Requirements. CCEI also has online certification programs that provide the coursework requirement for national credentials including the CDA, Director and Early Childhood Credentials. CCEI, a Council for Professional Recognition CDA Gold Standard™ training provider, is accredited by the Distance Education Accrediting Commission (DEAC), is recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) and is accredited as an Authorized Provider by the International Accreditors for Continuing Education and Training (IACET).

ChildCare Education Institute Launches CUR137: Completing the Assessment Cycle

ChildCare Education Institute® (CCEI), one of the largest online training providers dedicated exclusively to the early care and education workforce, is pleased to introduce its newest course, CUR137: Completing the Assessment Cycle.

CUR137 addresses ways teachers can organize, interpret and leverage data they collect on student growth, as well as strategies for using assessment data to modify the learning environment and activities to support child development, effectively completing the assessment cycle.

“Teachers must be well-versed in every aspect of the assessment cycle to help determine every child’s individual needs,” says Leslie Coleman, Education Director for CCEI. “This new course, and the three-part series as a whole, will equip teachers with the knowledge they need to drive every decision in the classroom – from the environment to curriculum to management and more. We’re pleased to offer this new course as part of our robust, ever-growing catalog to help ensure teachers are properly prepared for their roles and to achieve all their professional development and career goals.”

This course completes the three part series on assessments following the release of CUR135: Introduction to Assessment  and CUR136: Methods of Assessment in Early Childhood Education in October and November 2022, respectively.

Since its founding in 2005, CCEI has launched more than 500 online childcare training courses to meet state licensure and Head Start requirements, as well as online certificate programs for nationally recognized credentials, including the Child Development Associate (CDA).

CUR137: Completing the Assessment Cycle is a two-hour, intermediate-level course and grants 0.2 IACET CEU upon successful completion.  Current CCEI users with active, unlimited annual subscriptions can register for professional development courses at no additional cost when logged in to their CCEI account.  Users without subscriptions can purchase child care training courses as block hours through CCEI online enrollment.

For more information on these courses, as well as CCEI’s entire catalog of 200+ offerings, click here or call 1.800.499.9907, prompt 3, Monday – Friday, 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. EST

About ChildCare Education Institute

ChildCare Education Institute® provides high-quality, distance education certificates and child care training programs in an array of child care settings, including preschool centers, family child care, prekindergarten classrooms, nanny care, online daycare training and more. Over 500 hours of English and Spanish child care training courses are available online to meet licensing, recognition program, and Head Start Requirements. CCEI also has online certification programs that provide the coursework requirement for national credentials including the CDA, Director and Early Childhood Credentials. CCEI, a Council for Professional Recognition approved training partner, is accredited by the Distance Education Accrediting Commission (DEAC), is recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) and is accredited as an Authorized Provider by the International Accreditors for Continuing Education and Training (IACET).

ChildCare Education Institute Offers No-Cost Online Course on STEAM: Enhancing STEM Education with the Arts

ChildCare Education Institute® (CCEI), an online child care training provider dedicated exclusively to the early care and education workforce, offers CUR113: STEAM: Enhancing STEM Education with the Arts as a no-cost trial course to new CCEI users February 1-28, 2023.

ECE educators have the opportunity to teach children how to observe the environment, how to approach problem solving, how to investigate, how to ask questions, how to, essentially, think. These skills are the foundation of STEM education and educators are very much responsible for teaching STEM skills and concepts.

This course provides early childhood educators with the tools and insights necessary to enhance STEM related learning outcomes through the integration of a wide variety of art activities. The need for this course was determined through user requests and consultation with childcare and early education experts. STEM education has become a major focus K-12 schools and out-of-school care programs, and art provides an excellent platform for promoting a wide range of STEM related skills and content.

“ECE professionals will have a clear understanding of how art can be a powerful teaching tool, and how STEM topics and art are far more closely related than many people realize at first,” says Leslie Coleman, Education Director of CCEI. “All art activities have the potential to promote STEM learning, not only through the materials and activities themselves but also through the language the teacher uses and the degree to which the teacher encourages experimentation and observation.”

CUR113: STEAM: Enhancing STEM Education with the Arts is a two-hour, beginner-level course and grants 0.2 IACET CEU upon successful completion. Current CCEI users with active, unlimited annual subscriptions can register for professional development courses at no additional cost when logged in to their CCEI account. Users without subscriptions can purchase child care training courses as block hours through CCEI online enrollment.

For more information, visit www.cceionline.edu or call 1.800.499.9907, prompt 3, Monday – Friday, 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. EST

ChildCare Education Institute, LLC

ChildCare Education Institute® provides high-quality, distance education certificates and child care training programs in an array of child care settings, including preschool centers, family child care, prekindergarten classrooms, nanny care, online daycare training and more. Over 200 English and Spanish child care training courses are available online to meet licensing, recognition program, and Head Start Requirements. CCEI also has online certification programs that provide the coursework requirement for national credentials including the CDA, Director and Early Childhood Credentials. CCEI, a Council for Professional Recognition CDA Gold Standard™ training provider, is accredited by the Distance Education Accrediting Commission (DEAC), is recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) and is accredited as an Authorized Provider by the International Accreditors for Continuing Education and Training (IACET).

ChildCare Education Institute Offers No-Cost Online Course on Art in Early Learning

ChildCare Education Institute® (CCEI), an online child care training provider dedicated exclusively to the early care and education workforce, offers CUR126: Art in Early Learning as a no-cost trial course to new CCEI users January 1-31, 2023.

There is a common phrase, “It′s the process, not the product.” This means that children can explore the materials in the art center and simply enjoy what happens. For young children, the process of creating is more important than the product they develop.  Young children are very creative and enjoy using different materials to express their ideas.  As children pound on clay, dab paint on paper, glue things together, or scribble with crayons, they begin to understand their world and how to control the tools they use.  Playing with a basic material like modeling clay holds a child’s interest, lengthening their attention span while allowing the child to examine, resolve, and clarify the ideas and concepts they are acquiring.

In the art center, children learn to express their feelings through the use of colors or materials that match their mood.  Children also learn to share and cooperate with others as they work together in small groups and negotiate for materials and supplies.  Art centers designed for young children should include the raw materials for creativity, and the opportunity to choose media and materials that fit the child’s mood.  The art center provides numerous opportunities to enhance a child’s self-esteem, attitude about work and play, and social skills.  Creative experiences for young children should be inviting, promote the expression of feelings, encourage children to explore properties of materials, and cultivate imagination.

Teachers should stress to children that their experience in the art center is more important than what they make to take home. This is accomplished by focusing on the skills they are using during art projects in addition to praising their completed work.  Give the children the freedom to use open-ended materials in their own way and at their own pace.  Introduce new materials at group time with guidelines for use, and then allow children the freedom to be creative.  Interactions that build and restore children′s belief in their abilities are essential in helping children develop self-confidence and self-esteem. Early art experiences have the power to influence whether children continue to engage in the arts as they grow up.

Research has shown that children, sometimes more so than adults, are capable of interacting with art on a wide variety of levels. In addition to making art, they can learn to appreciate it, understand it, and even evaluate it.  Learning about art encompasses much more than a simple understanding of color, light, or line.  When exploring a piece of artwork, a child is allowed to step into the world of different artists and learn about their lives, influences, and places in time. They can later use that knowledge to grow a deeper understanding of the work of art and the world.

“This course will examine the benefits of art programs that go beyond simple art projects and embrace a more expansive view of art,” says Leslie Coleman, Education Director of CCEI.  “It will provide teachers with a basic understanding of art appreciation and offer ideas for the integration of fine art into the curriculum.”

CUR126: Art in Early Learning is a two-hour, beginner-level course and grants 0.2 IACET CEU upon successful completion.  This course is also offered in Spanish as ESP_CUR126.  Current CCEI users with active, unlimited annual subscriptions can register for professional development courses at no additional cost when logged in to their CCEI account. Users without subscriptions can purchase child care training courses as block hours through CCEI online enrollment.

For more information, visit www.cceionline.edu or call 1.800.499.9907, prompt 3, Monday – Friday, 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. EST

ChildCare Education Institute, LLC

ChildCare Education Institute® provides high-quality, distance education certificates and child care training programs in an array of child care settings, including preschool centers, family child care, prekindergarten classrooms, nanny care, online daycare training and more. Over 150 English and Spanish child care training courses are available online to meet licensing, recognition program, and Head Start Requirements. CCEI also has online certification programs that provide the coursework requirement for national credentials including the CDA, Director and Early Childhood Credentials.  CCEI, a Council for Professional Recognition approved training provider, is accredited by the Distance Education Accrediting Commission (DEAC), is recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) and is accredited as an Authorized Provider by the International Accreditors for Continuing Education and Training (IACET).

ChildCare Education Institute Offers No-Cost Online Course on Orientation to Child Care: Roles and Responsibilities for Teachers

ChildCare Education Institute® (CCEI), an online child care training provider dedicated exclusively to the early care and education workforce, offers CCEI680A: Orientation to Child Care: Roles and Responsibilities for Teachers as a no-cost trial course to new CCEI users December 1-31, 2022.

Early childhood education professionals must wear many hats.  ECE providers are caregivers as well as teachers.  They are a guide, a friend, a counselor, and a manager. Each day has certain routines, but providers will also step into different roles and face new challenges on a daily basis.  This course offers a general foundation of the background knowledge, practices, and procedures common in the early childhood environment. Each child care setting is different, and laws and regulations vary from state to state. Employers or a state agencies should provide their own detailed orientation in addition to this course.

Upon successful completion of this course, a student should be able to identify five or more roles a preschool teacher fulfills, name three ways to prevent and reduce injuries in the classroom, name three appropriate guidance techniques, learn how to communicate clearly and professionally with parents and other caregivers, and describe ways to create an engaging developmentally appropriate environment that encourages learning through play.

“One important purpose of this course is to help students identify areas where they know they will need additional training,” says Maria C. Taylor, President of CCEI. “For example, ECE providers may have plenty of experience handling and caring for infants, but they may need extra training to become familiar with designing a developmentally appropriate learning environment.”

CCEI680A: Orientation to Child Care: Roles and Responsibilities for Teachers is a one-hour, beginner-level course and grants 0.1 IACET CEU upon successful completion.  Current CCEI users with active, unlimited annual subscriptions can register for professional development courses at no additional cost when logged in to their CCEI account. Users without subscriptions can purchase child care training courses as individual or block hours through CCEI online enrollment.

For more information, visit www.cceionline.edu or call 1.800.499.9907, prompt 3, Monday – Friday, 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. EST

ChildCare Education Institute, LLC

ChildCare Education Institute® provides high-quality, distance education certificates and child care training programs in an array of child care settings, including preschool centers, family child care, prekindergarten classrooms, nanny care, online daycare training and more. Over 150 English and Spanish child care training courses are available online to meet licensing, recognition program, and Head Start Requirements. CCEI also has online certification programs that provide the coursework requirement for national credentials including the CDA, Director and Early Childhood Credentials.  CCEI, a Council for Professional Recognition CDA Gold Standard™ training provider, is accredited by the Distance Education Accrediting Commission (DEAC), is recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) and is accredited as an Authorized Provider by the International Accreditors for Continuing Education and Training (IACET).

New Course from ChildCare Education Institute on Methods of Assessment in Early Childhood Education

ChildCare Education Institute® (CCEI), an online child care training provider dedicated exclusively to the early care and education workforce, is proud to introduce CUR136: Methods of Assessment in Early Childhood Education to the online child care training course catalog.

Observation is a systematic, planned study of children′s behaviors in various settings and situations. It is an ongoing, continuous process that begins when the child enters the classroom and only ends when they move on to another classroom or school.  Observation is the basis of effective assessment systems in the early childhood environment. Teachers can learn almost everything they need to know about a child′s needs and skills by observing them at play and in interactions with other children. Also, a teacher can form an assessment based on a child′s responses to the teacher′s prompts.  Well-planned, careful observation can provide tremendous insight into a child′s physical, cognitive, social, and emotional development.

Teachers must use various assessment methods to identify what children know and to determine each child′s individual needs. Assessment should drive important decisions regarding curriculum and classroom environment. Additionally, assessment can help identify children who may have developmental delays.  Besides maintaining a safe, nurturing environment and providing developmentally appropriate learning opportunities, assessing children′s skills and needs is a top job responsibility for early childhood professionals.  Assessment is an ongoing process that requires a multipronged approach, flexibility, and close attention to detail. It should be tied directly to the child care center′s curriculum goals and is used to determine whether children are reaching those goals or whether the curriculum should be modified.

In this course, participants will have the chance to learn about numerous methods of child assessment that are commonly used in early learning environments. Topics such as proper observation practices, compiling portfolios, and completing developmental checklists will be covered. Participants will also have the chance to learn about other forms of assessment, such as child self-assessments, frequency counts, and learning stories.

“It takes time and practice to develop strong observation skills, so new teachers should collaborate with experienced teachers whenever possible,” says Maria C. Taylor, President of CCEI.  “Sharing assessment responsibilities ensures that everyone works as a team to maintain a rich, manageable assessment system.”

CUR136: Methods of Assessment in Early Childhood Education is a three-hour, intermediate-level course and grants 0.3 IACET CEU upon successful completion.  Current CCEI users with active, unlimited annual subscriptions can register for professional development courses at no additional cost when logged in to their CCEI account.  Users without subscriptions can purchase child care training courses as block hours through CCEI online enrollment.

For more information, visit www.cceionline.edu or call 1.800.499.9907, prompt 3, Monday – Friday, 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. EST

ChildCare Education Institute, LLC

ChildCare Education Institute® provides high-quality, distance education certificates and child care training programs in an array of child care settings, including preschool centers, family child care, prekindergarten classrooms, nanny care, online daycare training and more. Over 150 English and Spanish child care training courses are available online to meet licensing, recognition program, and Head Start Requirements. CCEI also has online certification programs that provide the coursework requirement for national credentials including the CDA, Director and Early Childhood Credentials.  CCEI, a Council for Professional Recognition CDA Gold Standard™ training provider, is accredited by the Distance Education Accrediting Commission (DEAC), is recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) and is accredited as an Authorized Provider by the International Accreditors for Continuing Education and Training (IACET).