Early Learning/Prekindergarten

Early Learning / Prekindergarten

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Trainings

Face-to-Face Training Opportunities

Face-to-face training opportunities for directors, teachers, assistants and parents offered by the Florida Department of Education, Office of Early Learning. Contact your VPK Regional Facilitator for more information about the following trainings currently offered in your area.

Florida Voluntary Prekindergarten (VPK) Education Standards:

This training provides an overview of the VPK Standards (guidelines that describe skills four-year-old children should know and be able to do by the end of the VPK year) and examples of developmentally appropriate instructional techniques for four-year-old children. The overview addresses specific changes from the 2005 Standards through video clips, a PowerPoint presentation, and hands-on activities to illustrate the VPK Standards and changes. 3 hour training

What’s New: Florida Voluntary Prekindergarten (VPK) Education Standards 2008

This training is designed for participants who have already completed the basic VPK Education Standards training. An overview of the VPK Standards addresses specific changes from the 2005 Standards through video clips, a PowerPoint presentation, and hands-on activities to illustrate the VPK Standards and changes. 2 hour training

Emergent Literacy in the VPK Classroom:

This training is appropriate for teachers, assistants, and directors, and it is open to anyone, free of charge. An overview of emergent reading, emergent writing, oral language and communication, and environments is provided through hands-on activities to assist in understanding the concepts. Participants also receive creative activities to be used in the classroom. 10 hour training (split into either 5 hour or 2 ½ hour sessions)

Florida Voluntary Prekindergarten Education Standards:

What Parents Should Know - It's Okay to Play in VPK! Parent Train-the-Trainer Workshop: This training is appropriate and strongly recommended for all Directors who operate a VPK program. Participants are provided with helpful training management tips on how to properly prepare for the training and an overview on how to properly present the VPK Standards to parents/guardians of four-year-old children participating in the VPK program. Materials include a user-friendly manual, PowerPoint and helpful child-centered activities. 2 hour training

Florida Voluntary Prekindergarten Education Standards:

What Parents Should Know - It's Okay to Play in VPK! Parent Workshop: This workshop provides parents with an awareness of realistic and appropriate expectations for four-year-old children that will assist families in understanding the VPK Education Standards. Participants are provided information and hands-on activities regarding the VPK Standards. Examples of developmentally appropriate activities that support children’s development at home, in the community, and in the classroom are also included. 2 hour training

Integrating the VPK Standards: Phonological Awareness:

This training is appropriate for teachers, assistants, and directors, and it is open to anyone, free of charge. Participants have an opportunity to create a developmentally appropriate activity, related to a benchmark in phonological awareness, to be implemented in the classroom. Emphasis is on planning, implementation, teacher self-reflection, and documentation of the activity. Provides participants with a 2 hours face-to-face session and a 3-hour practicum

Online Training Opportunities

Training opportunities for directors, teachers, assistants and parents offered online by the Florida Department of Education, Office of Early Learning and the Florida Department of Children and Families.

Department of Children and Families

Department of Children and Families Child Care Training Web site
Learn about child care training, personnel requirements, director credentials and registration for training classes. This Web site provides information on training and credentialing requirements, in addition to, access to training and credentialing forms, applications, fact sheets and brochures.

Emergent Literacy for VPK Instructors

Emergent Literacy for VPK Instructors
This course is recommended for all VPK instructors, directors, and other interested parties. It is required for all VPK instructors with a Child Development Associate (CDA) or CDA Equivalency (CDAE), consistent with section 1002.55, (3)(c)2, Florida Statutes. The goal of the five-hour Emergent Literacy Course for VPK Instructors is to provide participants with background information on emergent literacy and demonstrate instructional practices that can be used in VPK classrooms. 5 hour training

English Language Learners

English Language Learners in the VPK Classroom
This course is for VPK teachers, directors, and staff to use as they develop culturally sensitive learning environments for children and build relationships with families who are English language learners. Although this course is designed with English language learners in mind, there are numerous best practices that can be used with all young children. 5 hour training

VPK Director Credential

VPK Director Credential (PDF, 16MB)
All directors of private VPK programs, who have not earned a Department of Children and Families (DCF) Director Credential as of December 31, 2006, are required to complete this course as one of the components of the DOE VPK Director Credential. Providers who were issued a DCF director credential prior to December 31, 2006, are exempt from this requirement but are encouraged to participate in the training. The importance of maintaining a balance between management and leadership in a VPK setting and how to establish a high quality VPK education program by creating and sustaining an effective learning environment is emphasized. Participants gain knowledge of effective research-based prekindergarten practices, understanding the importance of integrating the Florida VPK Education Standards into instructional practices and exploring how an ongoing assessment directs instructional practices. 5 hour training