Interested in a topic not listed? Contact the instructor, Karen Rucker, regarding the possibility of customizing a session to address your center's specific professional development needs or to address a specific age group. For additional information, click the Contact tab or send an email to krucker@RespectingChildren.com or call 717-314-8368.


All Age Groups

NEW!!  The Basics of Brain Development (and why it really, REALLY matters) (2 hrs / C2 - Standard Area 1 and STARS SQ.3.4.4) One critical role of the early childhood practitioner is to foster and support healthy brain development in young children.  This makes your job REALLY important!  We will take a look at how the brain unfolds and factors that affect its growth and neural wiring over time.  Partially based on work by Zero to Three, this session focuses on ages birth to five years.


Communication and Language Development Including Dual Language Learners - Ages birth to 5 years (2 hrs / C2 - Standard Area 1 and STARS SQ.3.4.3 and EC.3.4.4)  There are multiple important early milestones we will explore to better understand how communication and language skills develop in the first 5 years, including Dual Language Learners.

Social and Emotional Development - Ages birth to 5 years 
(2 hrs / C2 - Standard Area 1 and STARS SQ.3.4.4)  There are multiple important early milestones we will explore to better understand how social and emotional skills develop in the first 5 years.  Partially based on work by Zero to Three, this session focuses on ages birth through five years.


NEW!!  Movement and Physical Development - Ages birth to 5 years (2 hrs / C2 - Standard Area 1) There are multiple important early milestones we will explore to better understand how movement and physical development unfold in the first 5 years.  


Cognitive Development - Ages birth to 5 years (2 hrs / C2 - Standard Area 1) There are multiple important early milestones we will explore to better understand how cognitive skills develop in the first 5 years.  Content will include executive functioning - the "air traffic controller of the mind."  Partially based on work by Zero to Three, this session focuses on ages birth through five years.


Why An Apple Is Worth 1000 Words: Learning Through Play (2 hrs / C1 - Standard Area 1 & Standard Area 4 and STARS EC.2.2):  In the adult world, play is often viewed as the absence of work and is considered of lesser value or time 'wasted.'  In the child's world, play is the work that allows them to decode the world around them while creating and practicing relationship skills.  The tuned-in early childhood educator recognizes the value of play and sets the stage for children's construction of knowledge.  We will explore what research tells us about play and how to best support learning through play via the teacher's role.


Temperament:  One Key to Understanding Children (2 hrs / C1 - Standard Area 1):  We are all born with a natural temperament - some of us are flexible, some cautious, and some feisty.  Sometimes what we perceive as challenging behavior is really a clash in temperament.  Learn about the components of the nine temperament traits that combine to create three basic temperament styles, and how this information can help you understand and better plan for the children in your care.   


​Infant/Toddler Specific

NEW!!  CAUTION! Sometimes Toddlers Bite (2 hrs / C2 - Standard Area 1 & Standard Area 4 and STARS SQ.3.4.4): Although biting is typical behavior for toddlers, it often leads to great anxiety in the classroom. This session will focus on some reasons toddlers bite; methods to prevent and/or reduce biting behaviors; and how to appropriately respond when biting occurs.  Includes what NOT to do.




Standard Area 1: 

Child Development and Learning in Context


Karen Rucker, M.S.
ECE Master Trainer

717-314-8368

RespectingChildren.com

Early Childhood Professional Development