For Early Childhood Professionals
Online Trainings Now Available for Minnesota Educators
The courses below are Develop-approved and designed to support Minnesota-based early childhood educators. The clock hours for completed courses will be reflected on each educator’s individual Develop Learning Record. For support please contact pdsupport@thinksmall.org or call the PD Support Voicemail Line at 651-641-3549
Behavior Guidance with a Diversity and Equity Lens
Monday, April 17, 6:30 pm – 8:30 pm CST
Instructor: Angele Passe
KCF II.C: Promoting Social and Emotional Development
CDA Content Area III: Positive ways to support children’s social and emotional development
Price: $10.00
Behavior guidance is the aspect of early education that is most vulnerable to educators’ bias. Focus on providing behavior guidance rather than classroom management, teaching social skills, self-awareness, self-control, cooperation, and empathy with a diversity and equity lens.
Child Development Basics: The Preschool Yearsnd Equity Lens
Tuesday, April 25, 6:30 pm – 8:30 pm CST
Instructor: Hannah Riddle
KCF I: Child Development and Learning
CDA Content Area VIII: Principles of Child Development and Learning
Price: $10.00
Enhance your knowledge of preschool-age development (children 3-5 years of age). Learn about what practices are developmentally appropriate for preschool-age children. Includes information about milestones in different developmental domains and setting appropriate expectations for children based on the work of major developmental theories.
Cooking and Gardening with Children: Strategies to Build Healthy Relationships with Food
Thursday, May 4, 6:30pm – 8:30pm CST
Instructor: Dana Ellingson
KCF II.A: Creating Positive Learning Experiences
CDA Content Area II: Steps to advance children’s physical and intellectual development
Price: $10.00
Explore ways to create excitement in children with relation to gardening and healthy foods in their educational environment. Identify how cooking with children offers exciting moments that use open-ended materials which support children’s curiosity, creativity, discovery, decision-making, confidence, problem-solving, science, math, language, social, and physical skills. Enjoy moments of tangible idea implementation including mealtime rituals, gardening, and cooking with any age group. This course is an ONLINE COURSE that uses the Zoom platform. Participants may choose to follow the cooking instruction through the live Zoom video but are not required.
Exploring Music with Young Children
Monday, May 8, 6:30 pm – 8:30 pm CST
Instructor: Sharon Kaniess
KCF II.E: Promoting Creative Development
CDA Content Area II: Steps to advance children’s physical and intellectual development
Price: $10.00
Discover the importance of music to early childhood development. Learn methods for offering music experiences that will be a lifelong gift to the children in your care. Expand your song and music repertoire through singing and activity practice.
Children with Disabilities: Understanding Ableism
Tuesday, May 9, 6:30 pm – 8:30 pm CST
Instructor: Sharyl Kalal
KCF II.C:
CDA Content Area II: Steps to advance children’s physical and intellectual development
Price: $10.00
Learn about ableism and how it impacts the work that early educators do caring for young children. By learning to recognize how ableism shows up in caregiving practices, educators can become more effective at supporting the development of all children, with or without disabilities.
Understanding Temperament
Thursday, May 18, 6:30 pm – 8:30 pm CST
Instructor: Sharon Kaniess
KCF II. C: Promoting Social and Emotional Development
CDA Content Area III: Positive ways to support children’ social and emotional development
Price: $10.00
Gain knowledge about temperament and how temperament styles affect child behaviors. Learn about Individual Differences and how these differences look during stages of Child Development. Explore interactions between caregivers and children. Explore strategies to improve a child’s learning environment and promote social and emotional development.
In-Person Trainings are Currently Available in the 7 County Metro Area
In-person training has resumed at our St. Paul office, our Minneapolis office (New location!) and throughout the 7-County Metro area. Search for trainings at www.developtoolmn.org by typing in “Think Small” in the “Sponsor Name” field.
Click here to read about how we’re keeping you safe as we welcome you back to in-person trainings.
An interpreter can be provided at no cost/for free. To schedule an interpreter or to notify Think Small that you will bring your own (must be over age 18), please contact Think Small in advance at (651) 641-3549.
Un interprete se le puede proveer gratuitamente/sin costo alguno. Para obtener un intérprete o para notificar a Think small que traerá su propio intérprete (tendría que ser mayor de 18 años) , por favor notifique a Think Small de ante mano al 651-641-6660.
Turjumaan bilaash/lacag la’aan ah baa laguu heli karaa. Si aad u balansato turjumaan ama aad Think Small u ogeysiiso inaad turjumaan ku gaar ah keensan doonto (waa in 18 sanno ka weynaadaa), fadlan hore kala xiriir Think Small 651-641-6673.
Peb nhriav neeg tuaj txhais lus dawb/tsis yuav nqi rau koj. Yog xav teem ib tug neeg txhais lus lossis xav coj ib tug neeg txhais lus tuaj nrog koj (yuav tsum muaj 18 xyoo rov saud), thov hu ua ntej rau Think Small ntawm 651-366-6792.
For help finding training that meets your needs or help answering your questions, please email the Professional Development Department at pdsupport@thinksmall.org or call 651-641-3549. Hablamos español.
Inclusion: Developmentally Appropriate Care for All Children
Thursday, March 30, 2 hours, $10
KCF IV.A: Ensuring Safety, CDA: Content Area VII: Observing and recording children’s behavior
Think Small, St. Paul, 55117
Preschool Ages and Stages
Monday, April 3, 2 hours, $10
KCF I: Child Development and Learning; CDA Content Area VIII: Principles of Child Development and Learning
Richfield Community Center, Richfield, 55423
Understanding Behavior: Making Sense of What You See and Hear
Monday, April 3, 2 hours, $10
KCF II.C: Promoting Social and Emotional Development; CDA Content Area VIII: Positive ways to support children’s social and emotional development
Chaska Community Center, Chaska, MN 55318
Parenting Parents
Tuesday, April 11, 2 hours, $10
KCF III: Relationships with Families, CDA: Content Area IV: Strategies to establish productive relationships with families
Think Small, St. Paul, 55117
Native American Parenting Program – Lessons of Mother Nature
Tuesday, April 11, 2 hours, $10
KCF II.C Promoting Social and Emotional Development, CDA Content Area III: Positive ways to support children’s social and emotional development
Shakopee Community Center, Shakopee, MN 55379
Teaching and Learning in a Multicultural Environment
Tuesday, April 18, 2 hours, Free
KCF II.A: Creative Positive Learning Experiences, CDA: Content Area II: Steps to advance children’s physical and intellectual development
Fridley Community Center, Fridley MN 55432
Active Supervision: Provider Self-Care and Privacy
Wednesday, April 19, 2 hours, $10
KCF VII.B: Ensuring Safety; CDA Content Area I: Planning a safe, healthy learning environment
Shakopee Community Center, Shakopee, MN 55379
Supervising for Safety for Family Child Care
Saturday, April 29, 6 hours, FREE
KCF VII.A, VII.B: Establishing Healthy Practices, Ensuring Safety; CDA Content Area I: Planning a safe, healthy learning environment
Maple Grove Community Center, Maple Grove, MN 55369
Race and Culture in Early Childhood Settings: Historic Perspective and White Privilege
Tuesday, May 2, 3 hours, $10
KCF III: Relationships with Families; CDA Content Area VI: Strategies to establish productive relationships with families
Apple Valley Community Center, Apple Valley MN 55124
Sensory Processing Disorder
Saturday, May 6, 2 hours, $10
KCF II.A: Creating positive learning experiences; CDA: Content Area II: Steps to advance children’s physical and intellectual development
Fridley Community Center, Fridley MN 55432
Connecting Discipline, Communications and Relationships
Saturday, May 13, 2 hours, $10
KCF II.C: Promoting Social and Emotional Development; CDA Content Area III: Positive ways to support children’s social and emotional development.
Think Small, Minneapolis, 55413
Observation: Find the Function of Behavior
Tuesday, May 16, 2 hours, $10
KCF IV.A: Observing, Recording, and Assessing Development; CDA Content Area VII: Observing and recording children’s behavior.
Think Small, St. Paul, 55117
When Concerns Arise: Identifying and Referring Children with Exception Needs
Wednesday, June 7, 2 hours, $10
KCF IV.A: Observing, Recording and Assessing Development; CDA: Content Area IV: Observing and recording children’s behavior.
Chaska Community Center, Chaska, MN 55318
ADHD: Seeing the Disability Behind the Behavior
Saturday, June 10, 2 hours, $10
KCF II.C Promoting Social and Emotional Development, CDA Content Area III: Positive ways to support children’s social and emotional development.
Chanhassen Recreation Center, Chanhassen, MN 55317
Race and Culture in Early Childhood Settings: Beginning the Conversation
Monday, June 12, 3 hours, $15
KCF III: Relationships with Families; CDA Content Area IV: Strategies to establish productive relationships with families.
M Health Fairview Sports Center, Woodbury, MN 55129
For help finding training that meets your needs or help answering your questions, please email the Professional Development Department at pdsupport@thinksmall.org or call 651-641-3549. Hablamos español.
Online trainings can be found on Eager-to-Learn and Develop.