Trainings

Assessing Documentation Through a Variety of Lenses

Pedagogical documentation is a powerful tool for understanding the meaning within children's play. Once we have documented, how do we truly use our documentation to assess and plan? In this workshop, we will encounter a variety of lenses we can take to help us find meaning.

This training contains no sessions

Basic Specialized Care

Basic Specialized Care is a six-hour introductory training for early childhood and afterschool professionals who serve vulnerable children and their families in regulated child care and afterschool settings. This training is one of the requirements to become a Specialized Child Care Provider in Vermont. Topics covered include caregiving together with families; child abuse, neglect, and trauma; understanding differences in development; and understanding children's behavior.

May 6-13, 2025, Northern Lights Online Real Time

Beyond the Book: Inclusion Includes Us - New Perspectives

Are you seeking to reenergize your practice and connect with other early childhood educators? Join Laurie Metcalfe for an early childhood book club community of practice offered by Northern Lights at CCV. The first book will be Inclusion Includes Us: Building Bridges and Removing Barriers in Early Childhood Classrooms by Mike Huber. This book challenges us to look at inclusion in a new light and examine how we connect with children of all cultures and abilities and create a sense of belonging. Our book club sessions will use a community of practice format to discuss the reading and explore how it will inform our practice as early childhood educators. This series is FREE and includes a copy of the book.

This training contains no sessions

Challenging Behavior and Developmentally Appropriate Practice

Join us for a two-part training designed to help early childhood educators handle challenging behavior in young children, using a lens of Developmentally Appropriate Practices. This workshop will teach practical ways to understand why behaviors happen at different ages and how to respond positively. You'll learn strategies to create a supportive classroom, guide behavior effectively, and encourage social and emotional growth in kids. Through reflective activities and real-life examples, you'll gain confidence in managing behavior and improving learning in your classrooms.This training meets the Advanced Specialized Care training requirement. This training uses a 2+2+2 training design. There are three parts to this training: 1) a two-hour Online Real Time training session; 2) two-hour assignment practicing or implementing the training material; and 3) another two-hour Online Real Time training session focused on reflection and next steps related to the training material. To receive the full 6 training hours you must attend both Online Real Time training sessions and complete the independent assignment.

This training contains no sessions

Charting Your Pathway

Your professional development is a journey, and you need to know the lay of the land. Topics will include: navigating your BFIS Quality & Credential account; identifying where you are and/or where you want to be on Vermont's Early Childhood Career Ladder; level certificates and bonuses; options for higher education; and professional development resources.

This training contains no sessions

CIS Orientation Training

Participants will engage in an in-depth exploration of the Children's Integrated Services (CIS) delivery model and services, including the roles and responsibilities of the CIS regional and state teams. Participants will explore how the CIS model supports clients and will practice activities such as referral and intake, One Plan use, and continuous quality improvement. Participants will discuss the many types of clients served by CIS and will enhance their understanding of client-centered, reflective, and ethical practice as it relates to CIS work.

This training contains no sessions

Community of Practice Facilitation Training

This six-week training series equips facilitators with the skills and knowledge to effectively facilitate Communities of Practice (CoPs). Through a blend of reflective exercises and practical applications, participants will explore their own motivations and strengths, allowing them to develop a clear vision for a successful CoP. Participants will explore key concepts in adult learning and how they influence their role as facilitators. They will also gain insight into the next steps for building and sustaining their own CoPs, while identifying key resources and research that support the development of collaborative learning communities. By the end of this training, participants will be well-prepared to foster meaningful, engaging, and effective communities of practice. Completion of this training series is a CDD requirement for offering Recognized CoPs in Vermont. Participants can expect to spend two hours a week in this training while using the online learning platform Canvas to complete assignments and discussion forums with other students.

This training contains no sessions

Creating Culturally Responsive Classrooms: Lessons from Children's Literature

This training uses the medium of children's literature to explore dynamic identities such as race, culture, ethnicity, gender identity, and family composition in early learning settings. Participants will examine representation in children's literature, learn strategies for talking about difference with children, and explore tools to positively embrace students and families of diverse identities in their programs.This training uses a 2+2+2 training design. There are three parts to this training: 1) a two-hour Online Real Time training session; 2) two-hour assignment practicing or implementing the training material; and 3) another two-hour Online Real Time training session focused on reflection and next steps related to the training material. To receive the full 6 training hours you must attend both Online Real Time training sessions and complete the independent assignment.

This training contains no sessions

Deepening Developmentally Appropriate Practice (Community of Practice)

Join your colleagues to deepen your knowledge and practice implementing developmentally appropriate practices in the early childhood classroom. Participants will receive a printed copy of Developmentally Appropriate Practice in Early Childhood Programs (4th edition) released by NAEYC in 2021. Session topics will be determined by participants in partnership with the facilitator based on areas of the book you wish to explore. A community of practice is a multi-session, facilitated conversation among members of a particular group with a goal of creating positive change related to an area of common interest. This community of practice is designed for advanced practitioners with strong knowledge of developmentally appropriate practice.

This training contains no sessions

Elements of a Contextual Curriculum

Contextual curriculum places strong emphasis on the idea that learning happens in a context. Learning happens in relation to and as a result of experiences, culture, and environment. If we believe that learning happens in a context, then no singular, predetermined, standardized path for learning could serve as an appropriate curriculum. A contextual curriculum challenges the belief that learning can be reduced to a specific list of objectives and outcomes. Together we will examine elements that come together to grow a contextual curriculum.

This training contains no sessions

Embedding Anti-Bias Education - Community of Practice (ASC)

Do you have a solid understanding of what anti-bias education means, but need support integrating anti-bias practices into your program? Join a group of experienced colleagues for a Community of Practice with a focus on embedding anti-bias education into your curriculum. Session topics will be determined by participants in partnership with the facilitator. A community of practice is a multi-session, facilitated conversation among members of a particular group with a goal of creating positive change related to an area of common interest. This community of practice is designed for intermediate to advanced practitioners who already have working knowledge of diversity, equity and inclusion issues and want to embed anti-bias practices into their work. Each session is 1.5 hours by Zoom but you will receive 2 hours of professional development for each session attended to recognize preparation and reflection. This will count as Advanced Specialized Care training hours

This training contains no sessions

Emergency Response Planning for Early Childhood Settings

This training will explore the importance of emergency preparedness in child care settings and strategies for protecting children and staff members in the event of an emergency. Participants will review the Vermont child care regulations regarding emergency response plans and will practice developing a plan specific to their early childhood program.

This training contains no sessions

Ethical Decision-Making for Professionals

This training uses reflection and conversation to introduce critical concepts in the NAEYC Code of Ethical Conduct. Participants will practice strategies to effectively manage ethical dilemmas that arise in their work with children, families, and coworkers.

May 6-20, 2025, Northern Lights Online Real Time

Exploring Anti-Bias Education

This four-session training series uses the book Anti-Bias Education for Young Children and Ourselves as a guide to embedding anti-bias education practices into early childhood programs. The four sessions align with the four sections of the book: understanding anti-bias education, tools for creating an anti-bias learning environment, and two sessions focused on how individual social identities shape children's development and learning. Participation in this series will require participants to engage in personal reflection on topics including implicit bias, microaggressions, gender identity and expression, economic class, and more.

This training contains no sessions

From Co-Regulation to Self-Regulation: The Impact of Culture and Temperament on Infant and Toddler Social-Emotional Development

This advanced-level training explores the impacts of culture and temperament on infant and toddler social-emotional development. Participants will explore strategies to support self-regulation for infants and toddlers that consider the child's developmental stage, temperament, and culture. Participants will practice differentiating between typical and atypical development on the path toward self-regulation, and identifying which supports are most appropriate for infants and toddlers with regulatory challenges. This training meets Advanced Specialized Care criteria.

May 6-13, 2025, Northern Lights Online Real Time

Fundamentals for Early Childhood Professionals

This training includes broad introductory content designed specifically for early childhood professionals related to eight core knowledge areas: child development, families and communities, observing and assessing, how we teach, what we teach, healthy safe environments and nutrition, professionalism, and program organization.

May 14, 2025 to August 20, 2025, Northern Lights Online Real Time
June 2, 2025 to September 15, 2025, Northern Lights Online Real Time

Get Credit for What You Know

Have you been thinking about reaching a new level on the Early Childhood Career Ladder or completing a college degree? Did you know that you can get credit for the college-level learning you've gained through your work, self-study or other trainings to help you reach your goals more quickly?Join us for a Prior Learning Assessment Informational Workshop designed specifically for Early Childhood Education Professionals to learn more about getting college credit for what you already know. For more than 40 years, the Vermont State Colleges System has been helping adults get college credit for their on-the-job learning. Now more than ever, Early Childhood Education Professionals are accessing these resources to save time and money. Attend this workshop to learn about the options, ask questions, and hear testimonials from those who have made use of these options.

This training contains no sessions

Helpful Hints and Simple Tools to Create your IPDP

Participants will identify what they are inspired to learn more about and how to document their goals within their Individual Professional Development Plan (IPDP). Participants will review the elements of an IPDP, practice how to complete a self- assessment related to the Core Knowledge Areas and create three professional development goals based on this assessment. Participants will also learn how to update their IPDP in their BFIS account.

This training contains no sessions

HELP® 0-3 Hawaii Early Learning Profile 0-3

This training will explore the HELP 0-3 Hawaii Early Learning Profile 0-3. HELP® 0-3 is widely recognized as a comprehensive, on-going, family-centered curriculum-based assessment process for infants and toddlers and their families. HELP® domains and strands are aligned with OSEP outcomes and supports Federal Requirements for Part C of IDEA, and Early Head Start programs. Participants will examine how this assessment tool provides a comprehensive framework for ongoing assessment, planning and tracking progress and how this assessment tool supports participation and involvement with families. Participants will explore The HELP At Home (Family Curriculum) and how it connects home services, curriculum and goal planning for the Individualized Family Service Plan (IFSP), or ONE Plan. Participants will be introduced to a new resource: HELP Family-centered interview * This resource aids in the creation of goals in certain outcome areas of the IFSP or ONE plan. Participants will learn how HELP data connects with Child Outcomes and practice this application.

This training contains no sessions

Hundred Languages of Families

Educators in Reggio Emilia, Italy highlight the many ways young children communicate: through movement and materials, words and actions, and most of all through joy. Often we teach children to forget their hundred languages as they go through the journey to adulthood. Adults also have access to these languages, even if we have forgotten. In this workshop, we will examine strategies for engaging adults in joyful participation alongside children.

This training contains no sessions

Introduction to Licensing

This training by the Child Development Division Licensing Unit will provide a review of the Vermont child care regulations and discuss how they are linked to developmentally appropriate practice.

This training contains no sessions

Introduction to Strengthening Families

This training provides an introduction to the Strengthening Families Framework and the five Protective Factors. This training is appropriate for individuals who are new to Strengthening Families and have not taken any previous training on the topic.This training meets the Advanced Specialized Care training requirement.This training uses a 2+2+2 training design. There are three parts to this training: 1) a two-hour Online Real Time training session; 2) two-hour assignment practicing or implementing the training material; and 3) another two-hour Online Real Time training session focused on reflection and next steps related to the training material. To receive the full 6 training hours you must attend both Online Real Time training sessions and complete the independent assignment

This training contains no sessions

Introduction to the Program Director Credential

Get to know what is required to earn the Program Director Credential and how this pathway of professional recognition supports best practice for program directors. Each Step of the credential is discussed in detail as participants explore the Program Director Core Knowledge Areas.

This training contains no sessions

Medication Administration

Participants who work in child care or afterschool programs will demonstrate procedures for receiving, storing, preparing, administering, and documenting administration of medications for children; describe and demonstrate what to do for signs and symptoms of an asthma attack and allergic reaction; and describe symptoms of adverse reactions to medication and actions to take when they are observed.

This training contains no sessions

Multi-Age Care: Strategies and Solutions

Geared primarily for family child care home providers and professionals caring for multiage groups of children, this training examines the many ways to create engaging environments that include children infant to school-age. Considerations for settings, culture, and the individual provider style will be addressed. Participants will explore a variety of real-life examples that address how to remove barriers and successfully allow all ages of children to engage in activities together. Participants will leave the training with strategies to use right away in their daily practice.

This training contains no sessions

Music in the Garden

Step into the enchanting world of 'Music in the Garden,' a transformative workshop designed for early childhood educators. Delight in the harmony of nature and rhythm as we explore innovative ways to integrate music into outdoor learning environments while also addressing the Vermont Early Learning Standards(VELS). Learn how engaging music activities can help foster early learning including creative arts & expression, cognitive development, and social & emotional well-being in young learners. From exploring melodies with natural materials, ways to develop a sensory-rich outdoor space, and ideas for building a music wall, this workshop promises to inspire educators to cultivate musical gardens where children can flourish and grow.

This training contains no sessions

Northern Lights Professional Development Summit

Open to all Northern Lights sponsors, trainers, facilitators, members of the Instructor Registry, MATCH professionals, and ECE faculty. Join us for a day of networking, workshops and panels related to delivering high quality training and support to the early childhood field in VT. 4 training hours available. No cost, lunch provided.

Friday, June 6, 2025, CCV Winooski

Northern Lights Sponsor Orientation

Programs, organizations, and individuals that offer multiple trainings a year or recognized communities of practice are invited to review the responsibilities of being a BFIS Sponsor. Join a Northern Lights Resource Advisor as they describe each step of the Sponsor process, from planning to accurately submitting documentation to Northern Lights. Review the key role Sponsors play within the professional development system in Vermont.

This training contains no sessions

Planning Successful Kindergarten Transitions

Come join us for a fun and hands-on workshop guiding practitioners to examine their program's current Transition Planning practices while designing new and innovative ideas for engaging families in the transition process. In this training, participants will discuss and practice planning successful transitions from home to preschool, or preschool to kindergarten. Participants will come away with an action plan and a personalized calendar of events created for their families that can be used right away.

This training contains no sessions

Program Director Step 3: Culminating Seminar Community of Practice Part 1

This culminating experience of the Program Director Credential combines a multi-session training and community of practice designed specifically for early childhood and afterschool program directors pursuing Step 3 of the Credential. Training is led by experts in the field and the facilitated community of practice enables participants to engage deeply with the material and with their peers.

This training contains no sessions

Program Director Step 3: Culminating Seminar Community of Practice Part 2

This culminating experience of the Program Director Credential combines a multi-session training and community of practice designed specifically for early childhood and afterschool program directors pursuing Step 3 of the Credential. Training is led by experts in the field and the facilitated community of practice enables participants to engage deeply with the material and with their peers.

This training contains no sessions

Program Director Step 3: Introduction to Culminating Seminar

The culminating experience of the Program Director Credential begins with a 2 hour training to prepare qualified participants for the multi-session community of practice. The community of practice is designed specifically for early childhood and afterschool program directors pursuing Step 3 of the Credential. The facilitated community of practice enables participants to engage deeply with the material and with their peers as they create their online Program Director Portfolio.

This training contains no sessions

Responsive Environments

What does it mean to design intelligently responsive environments, where children's voices are honored through democratic and co-constructive participation? In this workshop, we will examine the culture of designing responsive environments and share possibilities and inspirations for extending and deepening these practices.

This training contains no sessions

Strategies for Documenting

What and how do we document? How do we choose what moments to document? What questions to ask? These are questions that often arise when considering the role of documentation in the early childhood classroom. We will examine a variety of uses and strategies for supporting the practice of documentation.

This training contains no sessions

STRONG Together (Community of Practice)

This community of practice is designed for advanced practitioners with strong knowledge of the Strengthening Families framework and protective factors. Join your colleagues to deepen your knowledge and practice implementing the five protective factors with the families you serve. Session topics will be determined by participants in partnership with the facilitator based on the protective factors you wish to explore. A community of practice is a multi-session, facilitated conversation among members of a particular group with a goal of creating positive change related to an area of common interest. This community of practice meets Advanced Specialized Care criteria.

This training contains no sessions

STRONG: Implementing the Protective Factors

This 12-hour series provides a comprehensive exploration of the Strengthening Families Framework and the five Protective Factors. Participants will explore parental resilience, social connection, concrete support in times of need, knowledge of parenting and child development, and social and emotional competence and practice strategies to effectively embed these protective factors into their early childhood programs. Prerequisite: All participants must have a working knowledge of the Strengthening Families Framework and Five Protective Factors before attending this training.This training meets the Advanced Specialized Care training requirement.

This training contains no sessions

Supporting Families Experiencing Homelessness

This training provides strategies for early childhood and afterschool programs to welcome and support children and families who are experiencing homelessness. Participants will explore the impacts of homelessness on young children and their families, common stigmas and attitudes toward homelessness, and local and regional resources.

This training contains no sessions

Supporting Multilingual Learners

Each Multilingual Learner is unique in terms of their cultural background, lived experience, and developmental status. This training will provide an introduction to the development of multilingual Learners from birth to age 5 and will introduce strategies, resources, and supports that are evidence-based and can be implemented in any ECE setting, regardless of the language(s) that educators speak.

This training contains no sessions

Supportive Social Learning

Supportive Social Learning is a way of thinking and being, an applied philosophy that is based on a strong image of children and adults who are connected to one another within a community of learners and capable of initiating and building relationships in a place that fosters and develops these relationships. In this workshop, we will examine actions and attitudes that engage Supportive Social Learning in our everyday lives.

This training contains no sessions

Tips and Tricks for Program Directors

Join a Northern Lights Resource Advisor for an overview of Northern Lights and the supports we offer. Participants will review Bright Futures Information System (BFIS) Quality Credentialing accounts and what needs to be submitted, discuss staff education requirements and pathways to meet them, and identify different types of trainings and how to make sure they count. Bring your professional development questions and learn some helpful tips and tricks to share with your staff.

This training contains no sessions

Trauma Informed Practice 1

In this training, participants will explore the impact of early childhood trauma as it affects children, families and childcare providers. The training will include the definitions of trauma, Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs), and the characteristics of toxic stress and how it relates to child development. Participants will explore best practices in early childhood and afterschool settings.This training meets the Advanced Specialized Care training requirement.This training uses a 2+2+2 training design. There are three parts to this training: 1) a two-hour Online Real Time training session; 2) two-hour assignment practicing or implementing the training material; and 3) another two-hour Online Real Time training session focused on reflection and next steps related to the training material. To receive the full 6 training hours you must attend both Online Real Time training sessions and complete the independent assignment.

This training contains no sessions

VELS: Basics for Planning Curriculum

This 2 hour training will provide an overview of the purpose and use of the VELS as a guide for intentional planning of developmentally appropriate, engaging learning experiences for children ages birth to five.

This training contains no sessions

VELS: Long term Strategies for Planning and Teaching

This eight hour training will review the Vermont Early Learning Standards and explore strategies for incorporating the VELS into the ongoing cycle of observing, planning, implementing and assessing young children. During this four-part series, Participants will be introduced to information and resources for each component of this cycle, and have opportunities to apply their learning between sessions.

May 14-28, 2025, Northern Lights Online Real Time

VELS: Universal Design for Diverse Learners

In this six hour series participants will develop skills for intentional and inclusive planning using both the Vermont Early Learning Standards and Universal Design for Learning. These skills will create standards-based learning experiences that include all young children.

This training contains no sessions

Virtual Training Institute for the Assessment, Evaluation and Programming System For Infants and Children (AEPS-3)

Northern Lights is delighted to offer a two-day virtual training, exploring the new edition of Assessment, Evaluation and Programming System for Infants and Children (AEPS-3). Participants will examine how this system is used to assess, set goals, plan teaching and intervention, monitor young children's progress and support participation and involvement with families. Participants will practice using observation and assessment tools through hands-on activities, video exercises and case studies. Participants will come away with the fundamentals of the AEPS-3, including the system's organization, 8 developmental areas and how to link AEP's data with teaching and intervention strategies. Early Intervention teams are prioritized for this training opportunity and other teams will be accommodated on a first come / first served basis while space permits.

This training contains no sessions

Voices of Learning: an Interactive Approach to Adult Learning and Design Section I

Voices of Learning offers a deep dive into effective instruction and training design for adult learners. Participants will explore the foundational principles of adult learning, identify learning styles and strategies for intentional design, and learn how to design achievement-based learning objectives. Participants will discover how to create training designs that are both meaningful and relevant to their audience while making the training engaging and immediately applicable. This course meets the requirements for formal training in adult learning and instructional design in the Instructor Registry (https://northernlightsccv.org/roles/instructors/). This is a completely online training. You must have an invitation to register for this training. Participants who successfully complete this training will earn 12 professional development hours.

This training contains no sessions

What does it mean to be Reggio-inspired in a Vermont Early Childhood program?

This multi-session community of practice will provide a forum for Vermont early childhood educators to support each other's understanding of the values/principles of the Reggio Emilia approach and to explore the pedagogical implications of concepts such as the image of the child, the 100 languages, the environment as a third teacher and the role of the teacher as researcher in their own Vermont contexts. This community of practice series is designed for intermediate to advanced practitioners who already have a working knowledge of the Reggio Emilia approach and are interested in both deepening and contextualizing their understanding through discussion and dialogue with Vermont colleagues. These sessions will be facilitated by members of the RiVET (Reggio Inspired Vermont EarlyEducation Team) steering committee.

This training contains no sessions