This course includes the major concepts, principles, theories, and research related to development of children, birth through age twelve that enable childcare professionals to construct learning opportunities that support individual students’ development, acquisition of knowledge, and motivation. Instruction will include the use of library, computer, and written expression.

This course includes the major concepts, principles, theories, and research related to development of children, birth through age twelve that enable childcare professionals to construct learning opportunities that support individual students’ development, acquisition of knowledge, and motivation. Instruction will include the use of library, computer, and written expression.

This course is designed for childcare professionals currently in or seeking leadership positions. This course will cover the significant concepts of child care administration and management to support effective licensed center-based or family child care programs. Topics include administration, program planning, staff supervision and evaluation, policy and procedure development and implementation, fiscal management, maintenance of State regulations, effective customer services, and parent and community involvement.

This course introduces the basic concepts of program organization, planning, and implementation of school-age care for children in a before/after school setting. 

The frontal lobe of the brain is the seat of executive function, a term for the cognitive processes that allow us to plan, make decisions and judgments, formulate insight, and assess risk.   The maturing of the forward regions of the brain, particularly the frontal lobe, doesn’t occur until late adolescence or early adulthood. Participants will learn how this impacts development and strategies for supporting adolescents during this development period. 

This course fulfills the 120-hour educational component required by the Council for Professional Recognition for the Preschool CDA® credential.   The course covers the following:

Safe and Healthy Learning Environment  (15 Clock Hours). Physical and Intellectual development (15 Clock Hours), Social and Emotional Development (15 Clock Hours), Families (15 Clock Hours), Program Operation (15 Clock Hours), Professionalism (15 Clock Hours). Observations (15 Clock Hours), Child Development and Learning (15 Clock Hours)

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.  

Participants will review eight principles of child development and how to apply each to the classroom. 

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.

This comprehensive training program equips aspiring family child care providers with the essential knowledge and skills to create a nurturing and stimulating home environment for young children. This program fulfills the pre-service training requirements for individuals seeking to open a family child care business.

Delve deep and expand your understanding of emergent writing. In this engaging session, we will break down the concept of emergent writing, explore the crucial stages of its development, and uncover the diverse categories that emerge within this fascinating journey.

Through this workshop, participants will learn the developmental needs of nap time and how to engage in nap-promotion strategies. Participants will also discuss why children may not sleep and how best to support those non-nappers.

45-Hour Infant and Toddler Methods and Materials: This course introduces the major concepts, principles, theories and research related to the development and care of children birth to age three. Students will learn how to create a healthy and safe environment while developing appropriate interaction and communication skills that will assist with learning and development. Instruction will include the use of library, computer, and written expression.

To prevent bullying before it starts, we need to focus on how bullying behaviors develop—for those engaging in bullying behaviors and those being targeted— beginning in early childhood.  This course helps early childhood professionals to understand bully behaviors and to distinguish them from typical child behaviors.  Participants will also be given strategies to prevent bullying in the early childhood program.  Core of Knowledge:

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.​ 

Conversations  help  young  children  develop  and  learn  new  skills. Through  this  workshop,  participants  will  learn  how  to  utilize “thick” conversations,  expanded  conversations,  questions  and  novel  words.    These  skills  will  help  Teachers  to  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.  

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Early Childhood Educators ask countless questions throughout the day.  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. 

This self-paced course is designed for MSDE Approved trainers and meets state requirements for training renewal.  Through this course, participants will review cognitive learning theory and its application to training development.    This is a competent level training.  Pre-Requisite: One year of training experience is required. 

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.

This course equips early childhood educators with strategies to manage morning transitions effectively. It addresses the challenges faced by children, parents, and educators, providing techniques to create welcoming routines, enhance communication, and support children's emotional and developmental needs. Participants learn to establish predictable schedules, use engaging activities, and foster independence, ensuring a positive start to the day.

The course "Enhancing Family Engagement and Equity in Education" equips educators and school staff with the skills to engage diverse families and foster equitable educational environments. Participants will learn about equity vs. equality, explore inclusivity strategies, and address the complexities of family engagement, cultural influences, and implicit biases.

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.

Participants will explore the dynamic role of families in shaping the early childhood experience. This course unpacks five keys to Equitable Family Engagement, recognizing families as influential decision-makers, embracing uniqueness and resilience, and their central role in a child's development and learning. This course empowers participants to create environments where families are recognized as partners and contribute significantly to building resilient futures for the youngest members of our communities.

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 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.

This course helps educators foster meaningful family partnerships through frequent, clear, and direct communication.  Embracing a strength-based approach, the course highlights ten positive communication strategies that help educators Engage, Empower, and Connect with families.

Educators must understand how a child’s cultural influences affect their development. Participants will explore fostering a culturally responsive learning environment .

Democratic life skills are the emotional and social capacities individuals need to function civilly in a modern, diverse, and complex democratic society.  Through this course, participants will learn five strategies for teaching democratic life skills developmentally appropriately.

This innovative course is designed for educators interested in integrating puppetry into educational settings to enhance learning and engagement among young children. Participants will explore the multifaceted roles of puppets in early childhood education. The course offers a deep dive into the developmental benefits of puppetry and basic puppeteering techniques. By the end of this course, attendees will be equipped with creative strategies to captivate and educate young minds effectively using puppets.

Traditional sitting positions during circle time, such as "criss-cross applesauce," may not be suitable for all children due to developmental challenges and the potential negative impact on attention, engagement, and emotional well-being. In this workshop, we will explore alternative strategies that allow for a variety of sitting positions and incorporate active motor play to enhance children's learning experience.

Research tells us children learn best in environments where they can have secure relationships with caring and responsive adults, feel safe, and feel free to explore and learn. This course highlights the importance of the environment. It provides an overview of relevant Maryland Program Accreditation standards and indicators that educators should consider when creating and maintaining developmentally appropriate learning environments.

Pedagogy refers to the theory and practice of education and teaching.  This course highlights the importance of effective pedagogy. It provides an overview of relevant Maryland Program Accreditation standards and indicators related to pedagogy that educators should consider when creating and maintaining developmentally appropriate learning environments.

In early childhood education, STEM represents an integrated approach encompassing Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics. This course offers an overview of Maryland Program Accreditation standards and indicators related to STEM and what educators should consider when making curriculum decisions. This is a competent level training.  Pre-Requisite: One year of classroom experience.

Social studies forms 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. 

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; how to effectively select developmentally appropriate learning materials and considerations for physical space/arrangements.

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. 

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.

Supporting Boys in The 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.

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. 

This course is designed to equip educators, caregivers, and school administrators with the necessary tools and knowledge to adapt classroom environments to cater to children with various dietary needs. By understanding and implementing inclusionary practices, professionals can create a supportive, safe, and respectful setting for all students, regardless of their dietary restrictions.

Explore the enriching world of family-style dining in our course. Learn how communal meals bolster social bonds, enhance communication, and teach valuable life skills like sharing and decision-making. Understand the psychological comforts and nutritional benefits while mastering strategies to foster positive eating habits and social skills during mealtimes.

Participants will learn about sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) and strategies to create safe sleep environments as a preventative measure.

 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.  

This training is designed to define child abuse and neglect and potential indicators of such maltreatment. Participants will also learn what it means to be a mandated reporter, where and how to report incidents and proper documentation collection techniques.

This 6-hour course is designed to meet the requirements of the Maryland State Department of Education, Office of Child Care for Emergency Preparedness. Students will develop a comprehensive plan to follow when a disaster or emergency occurs.

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.

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.

Participants will learn about Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) and strategies for creating safe sleep environments as a preventative measure. 

Teacher well-being considers stress, job-related exhaustion, and psychological load.  Through this course, participants will learn how Teacher well-being affects overall program quality.  Participants will also learn practical strategies for improving teacher well-being.

The course emphasizes the critical role of outdoor play in holistic child development, advocating for educational strategies that integrate ample opportunities for children to learn and grow in natural settings. It underscores the necessity of a balanced approach that combines freedom with safety, enabling children to explore their world confidently and creatively.

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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.

This course is designed for childcare professionals to introduce the basic concepts of developing strong communication skills when working in the early care and education field. 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.

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.

Early Childhood Program administrators will learn the common types of employee complaints and effective strategies for addressing each through this course. Participants will also learn strategies to change from a school culture of complaints to a more positive climate.  This is a competent level training.  The Pre-requisite for this class is at least one year of managerial experience in an early childhood program. 

"Good customer service can be the differentiator for your program. Through this course, early childhood administrators will learn the importance of good customer service and how to improve current customer service strategies.  Additionally, participants will learn strategies for negative online reviews."

 Meetings are an important way to keep your team in sync and your initiatives running smoothly. Through this workshop, participants will learn how to facilitate a staff meeting effectively.

Through this workshop, participants will learn what sets highly effective early educators apart.  Participants will learn ten strategies to help them become highly effective in the early childhood setting.

Introduction Course For All Students

How MSCCA Advocates For Maryland’s Early Childhood Community: Through this workshop, participants will learn about Maryland State Child Care Association’s advocacy efforts, benefits of membership, and how to become engaged in the broader early childhood community.   This is a proficient level training.  Prerequisites: Currently employed in a child care setting and knowledge of Maryland licensing.

Through this workshop, participants will learn about workplace discrimination, gender stereotyping, ageism, disability discrimination and religious discrimination. This course provides a good overview for newly hired directors. 

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.

Through this workshop, participants will learn how to effectively develop interview questions.  Well develop interview questions will help Directors to a better differentiate candidates and hire more qualified employees.

This self-paced course is designed for MSDE Approved trainers and meets state requirements for training renewal.  Through this course, participants will review Gagne's Nine Events of Instruction and how to use it as a framework for training development. 

 Employee turnover is very costly to an early childhood program.   A good onboarding process can help employees to become more connected to the program and reduce the turnover rate.  Through this workshop, Program Administrators will discuss the elements of an effective employee onboarding process.  This is a proficient level training—prerequisites required—supervisory experience.

Early childhood professionals make 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 as well as guidelines for effective teaching

Neurodiversity means that there is a range, or diversity, of ways human brains function. We think, learn and relate to others in a range of ways. Through this workshop, participants will look more closely at the neurodiversity theory and explore ways to create a neurodiverse learning environment.

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.  

Through this workshop, participants will learn about sensory processing, the body’s eight senses, and how to create a sensory-sensitive learning environment for children.