Professional Development Calendar

We strive to offer a variety of opportunities, each appropriate to childcare providers of varying experience in the field. Our goal is to provide high quality, affordable classes that challenge and reward participants. Our staff are always willing to answer questions about classes you may be interested in, so feel free to call us.

To register:
email Brandy or call 605-342-6464

View full class options and descriptions below, or download our full training catalog PDF.

Jun
17

Confidence with Conflict

Conflict resolution can feel daunting, but it’s a vital skill for success in life. Discover effective strategies to manage and resolve conflicts that promote understanding, strengthen relationships, and create a positive environment.

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Jun
18

Safe Food Handling

In this class we will take a look at what a food borne illness is, symptoms, whom it affects and steps to prevent it in the ECE setting. Participants will have opportunities for hands on learning including practicing serving food using proper procedures, as well as using glow germ kits to see how easily germs can spread when appropriate hand washing and safe food handling is not utilized.

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Jun
18

Preventing Child Abuse and Neglect

This course equips childcare professionals with the knowledge and skills to prevent, recognize, and respond to child abuse and neglect. Participants will learn the types of abuse and neglect, signs and symptoms to watch for, and how to create a safe and nurturing environment that reduces the risk of harm. We will explore best practices for reporting suspected abuse, understanding mandatory reporting laws, and collaborating with families sand community resources.

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Jun
24

Fuel Your Flame

This class outlines ways we as teachers can become burnt out in our careers while caring for children. It describes healthy habits and routines to engage in as well as how to manage children’s stress. It also describes ideas to find our WHY again and keep our flame going.

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Jul
17

Ouch! Biting Hurts!

A deep-dive into how we can help foster safe and appropriate learning across diverse forms of media. Examples and ways to implement technology in relevant ways in early childhood.

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Aug
5

Raising Resilience

A deep-dive into how we can help foster safe and appropriate learning across diverse forms of media. Examples and ways to implement technology in relevant ways in early childhood.

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Sep
2

Seeds of Success

A deep-dive into how we can help foster safe and appropriate learning across diverse forms of media. Examples and ways to implement technology in relevant ways in early childhood.

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Sep
17

Adult & Pediatric CPR/AED

This introductory course includes First Responders information and hands-on experience with CPR mannequins required for Red Cross Certification. Certificates are good for two years.

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Oct
15

Play-Based Learning: Art

A deep-dive into how we can help foster safe and appropriate learning across diverse forms of media. Examples and ways to implement technology in relevant ways in early childhood.

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Nov
19

Adult & Pediatric CPR/AED

This introductory course includes First Responders information and hands-on experience with CPR mannequins required for Red Cross Certification. Certificates are good for two years.

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Dec
9

Bringing Bias to Light

A deep-dive into how we can help foster safe and appropriate learning across diverse forms of media. Examples and ways to implement technology in relevant ways in early childhood.

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Dec
16

Mosaic of Us

A deep-dive into how we can help foster safe and appropriate learning across diverse forms of media. Examples and ways to implement technology in relevant ways in early childhood.

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Dec
17

Adult & Pediatric CPR/AED

This introductory course includes First Responders information and hands-on experience with CPR mannequins required for Red Cross Certification. Certificates are good for two years.

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Jun
12

Safety in Summer

Summer time for school age kids is a very exciting time. This class will go over planning tips for a safe, engaging, and well rounded experience that will help children have a summer to remember. Topics will cover creating a calender that is educational and child-centered, making sure your first aid kit contains what you need, and ideas for making sure children’s needs will be met while out and about so they can thrive while staying safe.

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Jun
12

Safe Sleep Essentials: Protecting Infants and Toddlers in the Classroom

This course focuses on the safe sleep practices required in infant and toddler classrooms to protect the well-being of the youngest children in our care. Participants will learn about key guidelines and regulations, including the importance of proper sleep positioning, crib safety, and creating a risk-free sleep environment that reduces the risk of Sudden Unexpected Infant Death (SUID).

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Jun
10

Breathe for Change: Power of Communication

To exist in this world requires us to communicate. Consider how frustrating it is when a toddler has no words, a student is struggling to grasp what is being taught, a teacher is given more responsibilities with an already full load and a parent has expectations that are not met. Communication is a key factor in all of these situation. In this training, participants will explore communication as a way to advocate for ourselves, our children and each other. As we increase our own ability to communicate and build resiliency in ourselves, we begin to shift school and community culture around positive and reflective communication, resulting in an best outcomes for kids.

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Jun
5

The Growing Brain: Everyday Play

Instructor: Dennise Ottenbacher

Want to learn the role of the brain in the process of play? In this class, learn to understand the stages and types of play that unfolds in early childhood and how to maximize children’s learning through play.

Core Knowledge & Competencies Category: Child Guidance & Emotional Well-Being

Location: Online

Child’s Age & Provider Level:

0-5 years, All levels

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Jun
4

Building Resilience in Adults

Participants will complete the Resiliency & Self-Care Inventory, which measures Professional Vitality, Personal Vitality, Professional Stress & Personal Stress. Participants will analyze their results and create a self-care plan for themselves.

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Jun
3

ASL for EC 1.2

Learning American Sign language and implementing it into your early childhood classroom takes practice. In this training participants will practice the language they gained in the first ASL for EC. Participates should have completed ASL for EC in the past 2 years through ECC.

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Jun
3

Mastering the Message

Discover the importance of learning effective communication skills and the essential role these skills play in a person’s development and success throughout life. Through interactive activities and discussions, we will highlight how strong communication fosters self-confidence, builds relationships, and enhances learning.

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Jun
2

Evening with the Experts: Program Management

Staffing in Early Childhood Education is a real issue that provides extreme ramifications in the program management aspect. Andrea Neff from DSS and Ashleigh Young from Early Childhood Connections will discuss the complexities that are involved in this issue, what administration can do as preventative measures and what early childhood educators should do to cope with the stress of staffing issues that falls on themselves and their classroom. You are encouraged to pre-submit any questions or scenarios that you would like advice from the experts on! Email rludeman@earlychildhoodconnections.com to submit your questions.

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May
27

Small Space, Big Learning

Setting up a classroom that suits learning, movement and overall wellbeing for all is the focus of this class. We will review the elements of a quality childcare environment, discuss a variety of multifunction spaces and discover many great organizing techniques for DAP in early childhood.

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May
22

Play-Based Learning-Dramatic Play

Participants will learn what dramatic play is, and why it is so important for development of the young children in their care. We will discuss how dramatic play can be used to develop different skills that are included in the Early Learning Guidelines, brainstorm ideas to incorporate into the classroom and how to write these ideas into their lesson plans.

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May
21

Environmental Rating Scales: A Foundation for Quality Childcare

This course provides a clear and straightforward explanation of how the Environmental Rating Scales (ERS) assess “quality” in childcare classrooms. We will explore the origins of these scales, intent behind their design, and demonstrate how they reflect classroom quality. We will also compare and contrast the South Dakota Early Learning Guidelines with the ERS, uncovering both their differences and similarities.

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May
20

QUIET Box Classroom Management System Make and Take

If you work with toddlers to school age, there is a time in every day where there is a lot of shushing. A Quiet Box can support an important time of day. We will cover a variety of ways to use a quiet box system to support quiet independent exploration and ways to customize your own quiet box.

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May
20

Creating Successful Learning Environments

In this class we will be discussing how a child’s environment effects their learning. We will be exploring what age appropriate materials should be included in the environment and how to analyze your room arrangement to promote a positive learning experience.

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May
14

Play Based Learning: Big Questions for Young Minds

Being able to extend children’s thinking by asking high level questions is the key to success when it comes to play based learning. In this class we will look at Bloom’s Taxonomy and how this theory can guide us to asking high-level questions as children organically play and interact in their environment. Participants will have an opportunity to brainstorm specific questions that they can ask in different learning centers including dramatic play, blocks, mathematics, science and sensory, writing and art.

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May
14

Eat Smart, Move More in OST

Out-of-school time programs are the perfect setting for supporting healthy lifestyles. Participants will receive ides and resources to assist them in creating a culture of positive health. This class will increase educator’s understanding of: NAA’s HELPA (Healthy Eating and Physical Health) Standards for OST Programs.

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May
13

ASL for EC 1.1

American Sign Language use in an early learning environment can support cognitive, motor and, of course, language development. In this class we will establish some easy ways to include ASL into your everyday with children, even if you have never taken a signing class. When exposing children to a new language it is also important to understand a bit of the language nuances and culture. This class will also touch on some experience that can teach kids about deafness.

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May
8

Active Bodies, Active Minds

Understand the link between a child’s brain development and the importance of movement. Learn how different movement activities can promote social and emotional development in children as well as reduce challenging behaviors.

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May
7

Learning Through Play: Math

Kindergarten readiness is the main focus for all early childhood educators, but that doesn’t mean we need to replace engaging play activities with worksheets! In this class you will learn how to teach mathematical concepts using a play-based learning approach. We will be exploring hands-on activities, games, and lessons to use as you introduce important early math concepts.

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May
7

Circle Time: What’s Appropriate?

Is circle time a struggle in your classroom? Whole group learning can be a powerful teaching strategy, but only when it’s developmentally appropriate for the children in your care. In this class we will talk about the dos and don’ts of circle time, strategies to improve engagement, and activities that will improve the learning experience for all.

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May
5

Evening with the Experts: Developmentally Appropriate Practices

Developmentally Appropriate Practice in Early Childhood Education has gone through waves of transformation over the years. Dr. Sydney Haugland from BHSU and Jessi Beedle from Early Childhood Connections will discuss the role that early childhood educators play in implementing these practices in the early learning environment. You are encouraged to pre-submit any questions or scenarios that you would like advice from the experts on! Email rludeman@earlychildhoodconnections.com to submit your questions.

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May
1

The Growing Brain: Understanding Behavior

In this session of The Growing Brain, we will be discussing various areas of the brain and how they influence young children’s behaviors. We look at different approaches for identifying the root cause of young children’s behavior and discuss different effective strategies to address challenging behaviors in young children.

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Apr
30

Professionalism in the Workplace

In this class, we will go over the importance of professionalism in the Early Childhood workplace. We will explore your professional role in childcare, discuss new and effective communication styles, and learn how to show appreciation to your co-workers.

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