Students complete courses listed on this page at their own pace. There are no instructor-led sessions. Once registered, students will have 180 days to complete the course. These courses are nonrefundable and non-transferable. We will email you the log-in information within 24 hours.
See course policies
See course policies
MSDE Required Courses (Self-Paced)
9-Hour Communication Class (Self-Paced)
$35.00
COK Hours: 9 (Professionalism)
9-Hour Communication Class: This course is designed for childcare professionals to introduce the basic concepts of developing strong communication skills in early care and education. Topics include verbal, non-verbal, written communication, reading strategies, interpersonal communication strategies, and objective listening skills, focusing on communicating with parents, co-workers, and the community, and communication issues within a typical childcare day. Core Of Knowledge (COK) Hours: 9 (Professionalism)
Learning Outcomes
- Develop effective communication skills for the early care and education environment. (2 Hours)
- Identify and demonstrate effective listening skills. (1.5 Hours)
- Demonstrate reading strategies that will increase retention and comprehension (1.5 Hours)
- Develop writing strategies that will assist with the successful composition of early care and education documents. (1.5 Hours)
- Demonstrate an understanding of and use for a variety of tools used to record and communicate critical child information. (1.5 Hours)
Breastfeeding Awareness —2 Hours (Self-Paced)
$12.00
COK Hours: 2 (Health, Safety & Nutrition)
Breastfeeding Awareness: Participants will learn the benefits of breastfeeding for mothers and children, strategies for supporting breastfeeding mothers, and how to handle breast milk. This class meets the requirements for MSDE’s breastfeeding awareness training. Core Of Knowledge (COK) Hours: 2 Hours (Health, Safety, Nutrition).
CEUs: .20
This is a self-paced class. No face-to-face or Zoom instruction is required.
Child Care Aide Orientation—3 Hours (Self Paced)
$18.00
COK Hours: 3 (1 Professionalism, I Health, Safety & Nutrition, & 1 Community)
Through this course, participations will learn about proper supervision, professionalism, and parent engagement. This course is required for all classroom aides who have not completed 90-Clock Hours of training. Core Of Knowledge (COK) Hours: 3 (1 Professionalism, I Health, Safety & Nutrition, & 1 Community)
- Define and explain proper child supervision.
- Define workplace professionalism.
- Discuss strategies for parent engagement
Core Knowledge Hours (Self-Paced)
Active Supervision In The Early Childhood Classroom (Self-Paced)
$15.00
COK Hours: 2.5 (Health, Safety & Nutrition)
Active supervision requires focused attention and intentional observation of children at all times. Programs that use active supervision never leave children unattended. Through this workshop, participants will learn about active supervision and strategies for implementation.
Anti-Biased Practices In Early Childhood Education (Self-Paced)
$15.00
COK Hours: 2.5 (Professionalism)
An anti-bias curriculum is an approach to early childhood education that sets forth values-based principles and methodology to support respecting and embracing differences and acting against bias and unfairness. Through this intermediate-level training, early childhood educators will learn the four goals of anti-bias education. Participants will also learn strategies to ensure effective implementation.
Core Of Knowledge (COK) Hours: 2.5 (Professionalism)
Becoming A Sun Safe School—2 Hours (Self-Paced)
$12.00
COK Hours: 2 (Health, Safety, Nutrition)
Becoming A Sun Safe School: A sun safety school policy can significantly reduce skin cancer risk, especially when the policy is comprehensive and it strongly encourages sun-safe behaviors. This course is designed to help Early Childhood Educators create a supportive, caring environment where sun safety policies and practices are integrated with other health and safety practices. Core Of Knowledge (COK) Hours: 2 Hours (Health, Safety, Nutrition)
Beyond Doughnuts For Dad--Creating A Father-Friendly Early Childhood Program (Self-Paced)
$18.00
COK: 3 Hours (Community).
Beyond Doughnuts For Dad--Creating A Father-Friendly Early Childhood Program: Engaged fathers—whether they live with their children or not—contribute to their children's well-being, families, and communities. Learn ways to create an environment where fathers are welcomed, valued, and respected in your program.
Building Resilience In Young Children--2 Hours (Self-Paced)
$12.00
COK Hours: 2 (Child Development)
Building Resilience In Young Children: Life can be challenging—even for children. Children need to learn coping skills to address setbacks. Through this workshop, participants will learn ten strategies for helping children build resiliency. Prerequisite knowledge required: understanding of the concept of resiliency. Competent Level Training. Core Of Knowledge (COK) Hours: 2 (Child Development)
Learning Outcomes:
1. Define resilience.
2. State how resilience is developed.
3. Identify ways early childhood educators can children become more resilient.
Developing and Understanding Math Sets In Early Childhood Education (Self-Paced)
$12.00
COK Hours: 2 (Child Development)
Developing and Understanding Math Sets In Early Childhood Education: Sets are fundamental to our number system. Sets are the basis of our ability to name things, categorize, describe amounts, and make comparisons. This course will help Early Childhood Educators to develop strategies for including sets as part of their math curriculum. Competent Level Training:
Developmentally Appropriate Practices—2 Hours (Self-Paced)
$12.00
COK Hours: 2 (Special Needs)
Developmentally Appropriate Practices: Early childhood professionals are decision-makers—making many decisions about the children in our programs daily. Understanding DAP – its meaning and intentional practices – is essential in guiding those decisions. Learn the three core components of DAP and guidelines of effective teaching. Core Of Knowledge (COK) Hours: 2 (Special Needs)
Child Development Principles: Cognition and Learning (Self-Paced)
$18.00
COK Hours: 3 (Child Development)
Child Development Principles: Cognition and Learning: Participants will review eight principles of child development and how to apply each to the classroom. Core Of Knowledge (COK) Hours: 3 (Child Development)
Creating A Community of Learners--2 Hours (Self-Paced)
$12.00
COK Hours: 2 (Community).
Creating A Community of Learners: A community of learners is a group of people who support each other in their collective and individual learning. They are cooperative and can work productively together. In a community of learners, teachers, parents, and students together construct a culture that values the strengths of all participants and respects their interests, abilities, languages, and dialects. This course examines how to build and sustain a real community of learners. Core Of Knowledge (COK) Hours: 2 (Community).
Culturally Responsive Teaching (Self-Paced)
$15.00
COK Hours: 2.5 (1 Hour Child Development, .5 Hour Curriculum, 1 Hour Professionalism)
Culturally Responsive Teaching: Quality early childhood programs are not only respectful of the culture of enrolled families, but they also seek ways to integrate those cultures in meaningful ways. The purpose of this training is to help teachers develop a transformative approach to culture where the curriculum changes to show different viewpoints throughout all teaching. Competent Level Training
Family Style Dining in the Early Childhood Program—2 Hours (Self-Paced)
$12.00
COK Hours: 2 (Health, Safety, and Nutrition).
Family Style Dining in the Early Childhood Program: Family-style dining is an opportunity for teachers and children to sit together during mealtime. This course provides instruction on maximizing this time together to advance the curriculum, social development, and manners. Core Of Knowledge (COK) Hours: 2 (Health, Safety, and Nutrition).
Learning Outcomes:
- Define family-style dining.
- Identify the benefits of family-style dining.
- List adult roles in family-style dining.
- Plan for a well-facilitated family-style meal.
- Express the value of interactions during family-style dining.
- Identify curricular goals that can be accomplished during family-style dining.
Four Key Child Development Concepts Every Early Childhood Educator Should Know—3 Hours (Self-Paced)
$18.00
COK Hours: 3 (Child Development)
Through this workshop, participants will learn how brain architecture, serve and return, stress, and resilience impact child development. Participants will explore the concept of trauma-informed care. Core Of Knowledge (COK) Hours: 3 (Child Development)
Functional Behavior Assessments & Positive Behavior Support Plans (Self-Paced)
$15.00
COK Hours: 2.5 (Special Needs)
Understanding the function of children’s behavior is the first step in providing a developmentally appropriate response. Participants will learn how to conduct a functional behavioral assessment and positive behavior support plan. Pre-requisite: Understanding and Preventing Challenging Behaviors course
Going From Me To We: Social Studies in the Early Childhood Program (Self-Paced)
$15.00
COK Hours: 2.5 (Curriculum)
Going From Me To We: Social Studies in the Early Childhood Program: Social studies form the foundation for "civic competence." This course will help participants learn how to implement a developmentally appropriate social studies curriculum. This is a competent level training. Prerequisites Required--Experience teaching preschool-aged children. Core Of Knowledge (COK) Hours: 2.5 (Curriculum)
I Don’t Like That! Supporting Picky Eaters As They Fully Develop Their Palate (Self-Paced)
$18.00
(COK) Hours: 3 (Health, Safety & Nutrition)
Don’t Like That! Supporting Picky Eaters As They Fully Develop Their Palate: Feeding picky eaters can be challenging. Through this workshop, learn why some children are picky eaters and ten strategies for encouraging them to expand their palate. Core of Knowledge: 3 Hours (Health, Safety & Nutrition)
Including Technology in The Early Childhood Program—2.5 Hours (Self-Paced)
$15.00
COK Hours: 2.5 (Curriculum)
Including Technology in The Early Childhood Program: Technology is a tool. When used correctly, technology can support and advance children’s learning. Participants should take this workshop to learn strategies for integrating technology into the early childhood program in developmentally appropriate ways. Prerequisite Knowledge Required: An understanding of the importance of using a variety of developmentally appropriate activities that support a child’s knowledge of technology and computer skills. Competent Level Training. Core Of Knowledge (COK) Hours: 2.5 (Curriculum)
“Magic 8” Early Childhood Practices: Eight Key Educator Actions To Positively Influence Development And Program Quality (Self-Paced
$15.00
COK Hours: 2.5 (Child Development)
“Magic 8” Early Childhood Practices: Eight Key Educator Actions To Positively Influence Development And Program Quality: Through this workshop, participants will learn eight actions early childhood educators can take to influence children's development positively. These eight actions will also improve the overall quality of the early learning program. Core Of Knowledge (COK) Hours: 2.5 (Child Development)
Managing The Early Childhood Classroom—4 Hours (Self-Paced)
$24.00
COK Hours: 4 (Curriculum)
Classroom management creates a set of expectations used in an organized classroom environment. Effective classroom management paves the way for the teacher to engage the students in learning. Through this workshop, participants will learn the importance of a daily schedule and established routines, strategies to promote smooth transitions, effectively select developmentally appropriate learning materials, and considerations for physical space/arrangements.
4 Hours Curriculum
More Than Counting--Developmentally Appropriate Math Concepts for Young Children (Self-Paced)
$18.00
COK Hours: 3 (Curriculum)
More Than Counting--Developmentally Appropriate Math Concepts for Young Children: Early childhood teachers must challenge their students beyond the minimal expectation of rote counting. This course provides a foundation for expanding mathematics in their classroom. Core Of Knowledge (COK) Hours: 3 (Curriculum)
Moving Right Along…Strategies for Smooth Transitions in the Early Childhood Program (Self-Paced)
$12.00
COK Hours: 2 (Curriculum): Transitions occur throughout the day in all early childhood programs. Sometimes, these transitions can be challenging. This course examines strategies for ensuring smooth transitions.
Multi-Age-Groupings: Seven Benefits of Mixed Aged Grouping in Early Childhood—2 Hours (Self-Paced)
$12.00
(COK) Hours: 2 (Curriculum)
A multi-age classroom is not merely a group of different-aged students placed in the same class. Instead, it is a well-organized and thoroughly thought out program designed to take advantage of the natural diversity created. This course is designed to highlight the benefits of mixed-age grouping. Core Of Knowledge (COK) Hours: 2 (Curriculum)
Physical Literacy For School-Age Children (Self-Paced)
$12.00
COK Hours: 2 (Health, Safety, Nutrition)
Physically literacy is the motivation, confidence, physical competence, knowledge, and understanding to value and take responsibility for engaging in physical activities. In this course, participants will learn how to help children become more physically literate and participate in games that help to develop the basic skills necessary to become physically literate.
Purposeful Conversations With Parents—2 Hours (Self-Paced)
$12.00
COK Hours: 2 (Professionalism).
Offers strategies for communicating with parents. Strategies include: using the 9Ps of Communication, direct and indirect communication, and a three-step communication tool to solve problems. Core Of Knowledge (COK) Hours: 2(Professionalism).
Learning Outcomes:
- Learn the 9 Ps of Good Communication
- Identify the differences between direct and indirect communication
- Explore a three-step communication tool to solve problems
Relationship-Based Inclusion (Self-Paced)
$18.00
COK Hours: 3 (Special Needs)
Building relationships with children and families is the foundation of relationship-based inclusion. Participants will learn twelve guiding principles, including behavioral, emotional, social, physical, and learning challenges.
Safe Sleep Practices: SIDS Awareness Training (Self-Paced)
$15.00
COK Hours: 2.5 (Health, Safety & Nutrition)
Participants will learn about Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) and strategies for creating safe sleep environments as a preventative measure.
Superheroes: An Opportunity For Prosocial Play (Self-Paced)
$12.00
COK Hours: 2 (Curriculum)
Through this workshop, participants will explore and address some common concerns about superhero play in the early childhood setting. Participants will also learn some of the benefits of superhero play.
Supporting Boys in Early Childhood Classroom: (Self-Paced)
$15.00
2.5 (1.5 Curriculum and 1 Child Development)
Supporting Boys in Early Childhood Classroom: The needs of boys and girls differ widely. Early Childhood professionals must consider these differences in their planning and teaching. This course provides some practical strategies for creating a responsive early childhood environment for boys. Core Of Knowledge (COK) Hours: 2.5 (1.5 Curriculum and 1 Child Development)
Supporting a Growth Mindset in Early Childhood Education (Self-Paced)
$12.00
Supporting a Growth Mindset in Early Childhood Education: Through this workshop, participants will learn about growth and fixed mindsets. Participants will also learn strategies for creating an environment that supports a growth mindset. Prerequisite knowledge required: understanding of the concept of mindset. Core Of Knowledge (COK) Hours: 2 (Child Development).
Teacher Talk: Language Modeling and Conversation—4 Hours (Self-Paced)
$24.00
COK Hours: 4 (1 Hour Child Development & 3 Hours Curriculum)
Teacher Talk: Language Modeling and Conversation: Conversations help young children develop and learn new skills. Through this workshop, participants will learn to utilize “thick” conversations, expanded conversations, questions, and novel words. These skills will help teachers build and extend children’s vocabulary; assist children in learning how to communicate more clearly and accurately; provide opportunities to learn new concepts and skills, and foster children’s ability to communicate their feelings and ideas verbally. Prerequisite knowledge required: Knowledge of developmentally appropriate stages of language development. Core Of Knowledge (COK) Hours: 4 (1 Hour Child Development & 3 Hours Curriculum)
Ten Factors That Influence Children's Behavior (Self-Paced)
$15.00
COK Hours: 2.5 (Child Development)
Through this workshop, participants will learn ten factors that influence children’s behavior. When early childhood educators recognize challenging behaviors as reactions to environmental conditions and developmental phases, it allows them to respond proactively and in developmentally appropriate ways.
Ten Strategies Accepting Feedback and Using It As A Tool For Growth—2.5 Hours (Self-Paced)
$15.00
COK Hours: 2.5 (Professionalism).
Ten Strategies Accepting Feedback and Using It As A Tool For Growth: Constructive Feedback is vital for ongoing professional growth. Feedback motivates, provides direction, and clarifies expectations. Through this course, early childhood educators will learn how to effectively receive feedback. Core Of Knowledge (COK) Hours: 2.5 (Professionalism).
The Power and Potential of Questions (Self-Paced)
$18.00
(COK) Hours: 2 (Child Development)
The Power and Potential of Questions: Early Childhood Educators ask countless daily questions. The purpose of this workshop is to help Early Childhood Educators to examine the types of questions that they ask. When educators understand the power and potential of questions, they are more likely to ask higher-level questions and strengthen children’s cognitive development skills. (Intermediate Level Training). Core Of Knowledge (COK) Hours: 3 (Child Development). CEUs: .30
The Seven Assets of Social Competence—2.5 Hours (Self-Paced)
$15.00
COK Hours: 2.5 Hours (Child Development)
Social competence enables children to interact and maintain mutually satisfying relationships with peers. Children can better engage in play and other interactions with their peers with strong social competence skills. In this workshop, participants will learn the seven assets of social competence and support them in the early learning environment. Core of Knowledge Hours: 2.5 Hours (Child Development)
Tuning Into Play: Using Schema Theory To Plan More Engaging Activities (Self-Paced)
$15.00
COK Hours: 3 (1.5 Curriculum/1.5 Child Development)
Teachers often become frustrated with children’s repetitive behaviors such as dumping out toys, playing with the same toys repeatedly, knocking down other children’s block towers, etc. This course helps early childhood educators to understand these actions through the lens of schema theory and how to respond to repetitive behaviors in developmentally appropriate ways. Core Of Knowledge (COK) Hours: 3 (1.5 Curriculum/1.5 Child Development)
Understanding and Preventing Suspensions and Expulsions in Early Childhood Education (Self-Paced)
$15.00
COK Hours: 2.5 (Child Development)
Increasingly, early childhood educators are expelling young children from child care programs due to challenging behaviors. This course reviews a more expansive definition and consequences of suspension and expulsion. Early Childhood Educators should take this course to learn some strategies for reducing the risk of an over-reliance on this behavior management strategy. (Intermediate Level Training)
Using Children’s Literature To Explore Math Concepts (Self-Paced)
$15.00
COK Hours: 2.5 (Curriculum)
Picture books are an excellent tool for children to discover mathematics. Through this workshop, participants will learn how to use children’s books to explore counting, sorting, patterns, measurement, graphing, and equivalency.