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Coping with Food Allergies in Child Care Spaces (CDA 1) |
2.00 |
A food allergy is a reaction within the body's immune system. It can be anywhere from mild to severe, and in some cases, it may be life-threatening. We must understand the symptoms and triggers of food allergies, the ways to prevent accidental exposure to prohibited foods, how to care for a child experiencing symptoms. This course is designed to be part of a Child Development Associate (CDA) Credential™ curriculum. It covers CDA Subject Area 1: Planning a Safe, Healthy Environment to Invite Learning. This course can also be taken as a stand-alone learning event, or as part of a broader early childhood education curriculum. |
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Correcting Performance Problems: Addressing Behavioral Problems |
0.84 |
In this course you will learn to: communicate and prevent the discrepancy between an employee’s behavior and performance standards, and identify the type of employee reaction and tackle it effectively.
For a feedback session to be effective, you need to emphasize the impact of the problem behavior to the employee. Their behavior mainly impacts three entities: the organization, co-workers, and the employee. When explaining these factors, you should maintain a proper perspective based on some set guidelines throughout the feedback. |
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Correcting Performance Problems: Addressing Behavioral Problems (Instructor Guide) |
0.84 |
For a feedback session to be effective, you need to emphasize the impact of the problem behavior to the employee. Their behavior mainly impacts three entities: the organization, co-workers, and the employee. When explaining these factors, you should maintain a proper perspective based on some set guidelines throughout the feedback.
In this course you will learn to: communicate and prevent the discrepancy between an employee’s behavior and performance standards, and identify the type of employee reaction and tackle it effectively.
This Instructor's Edition of this course includes notes and suggestions to assist you in presenting the material, whether in an in-person classroom setting, or as an instructor-led online or distance-learning course. It also provides you with the answers to questions found in mid-lesson activities, as well as in the quiz that concludes the course. |
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Correcting Performance Problems: Disciplining Employees |
1.67 |
Discipline is proactive, as opposed to punishment, which is reactive. Punishment provides a consequence to an action that is deemed unacceptable, whereas discipline is designed to exchange undesirable behavior for satisfactory behavior.
The purpose of disciplining an employee is twofold:
1. To correct or eliminate undesirable behavior, and
2. To provide training that improves or strengthens performance.
In this course you will learn to: keep a disciplinary perspective, determine the cause for disciplining an employee, and prepare for conducting a disciplinary meeting, maintain a positive rapport, avoid pitfalls during a disciplinary meeting with employees, and keep meetings productive, and monitor employee performance and conduct a follow-up meeting with the employee. |
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Correcting Performance Problems: Disciplining Employees (Instructor Guide) |
1.67 |
Discipline is proactive, as opposed to punishment, which is reactive. Punishment provides a consequence to an action that is deemed unacceptable, whereas discipline is designed to exchange undesirable behavior for satisfactory behavior.
The purpose of disciplining an employee is twofold:
1. To correct or eliminate undesirable behavior, and
2. To provide training that improves or strengthens performance.
In this course you will learn to: keep a disciplinary perspective, determine the cause for disciplining an employee, and prepare for conducting a disciplinary meeting, maintain a positive rapport, avoid pitfalls during a disciplinary meeting with employees, and keep meetings productive, and monitor employee performance and conduct a follow-up meeting with the employee.
This Instructor's Edition of this course includes notes and suggestions to assist you in presenting the material, whether in an in-person classroom setting, or as an instructor-led online or distance-learning course. It also provides you with the answers to questions found in mid-lesson activities, as well as in the quiz that concludes the course. |
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Correcting Performance Problems: Identifying Performance Problems |
1.50 |
An attendance problem occurs when an employee fails to report to work, doesn’t give proper notification of an absence, or exceeds the number of days allotted for absence.
You should address attendance problems carefully. Handling these problems poorly can lead to serious consequences, such as frequent employee turnover or workplace aggression. Before confronting an employee with an attendance problem, you need to identify the type of attendance problem and determine its severity.
In this course you will learn to: identify the types of attendance problems, assess their impacts, and determine a problem’s severity, identify the types of achievement problems, assess their impacts, and determine a problem’s severity, identify the types of conduct problems, assess their impacts, and determine a problem’s severity. |
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Correcting Performance Problems: Identifying Performance Problems (Instructor Guide) |
1.50 |
An attendance problem occurs when an employee fails to report to work, doesn’t give proper notification of an absence, or exceeds the number of days allotted for absence.
You should address attendance problems carefully. Handling these problems poorly can lead to serious consequences, such as frequent employee turnover or workplace aggression. Before confronting an employee with an attendance problem, you need to identify the type of attendance problem and determine its severity.
In this course you will learn to: identify the types of attendance problems, assess their impacts, and determine a problem’s severity, identify the types of achievement problems, assess their impacts, and determine a problem’s severity, identify the types of conduct problems, assess their impacts, and determine a problem’s severity. |
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Correcting Performance Problems: Investigating Performance Problems |
1.00 |
Before addressing a performance problem, you should confirm the existence of the problem itself. An interview is a useful method for doing this. During the interview, you might encounter facts that you were previously unaware of and excuses that you didn’t expect. It's important to follow a definite process, and expect the unexpected during the interview.
In this course you will learn to: identify the causes for an employee’s performance problem by interviewing, and question an employee regarding attendance issues, describe the factors affecting achievement, and apply conduct investigation techniques. |
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Correcting Performance Problems: Investigating Performance Problems (Instructor Guide) |
1.00 |
Before addressing a performance problem, you should confirm the existence of the problem itself. An interview is a useful method for doing this. During the interview, you might encounter facts that you were previously unaware of and excuses that you didn’t expect. It's important to follow a definite process, and expect the unexpected during the interview.
In this course you will learn to: identify the causes for an employee’s performance problem by interviewing, and question an employee regarding attendance issues, describe the factors affecting achievement, and apply conduct investigation techniques.
This Instructor's Edition of this course includes notes and suggestions to assist you in presenting the material, whether in an in-person classroom setting, or as an instructor-led online or distance-learning course. It also provides you with the answers to questions found in mid-lesson activities, as well as in the quiz that concludes the course. |
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Correcting Performance Problems: Providing Feedback To Employees |
0.84 |
By addressing employees who have performance problems, you can help them make positive changes, encourage career advancement, and promote personal and professional growth. Addressing an employee involves providing the feedback necessary to improve performance.
In this course you will learn to: prepare to conduct a feedback session in which you encourage communication with the employee, and conduct a constructive feedback session with an employee who has a performance problem. |
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Correcting Performance Problems: Providing Feedback To Employees (Instructor Guide) |
0.84 |
By addressing employees who have performance problems, you can help them make positive changes, encourage career advancement, and promote personal and professional growth. Addressing an employee involves providing the feedback necessary to improve performance.
In this course you will learn to: prepare to conduct a feedback session in which you encourage communication with the employee, and conduct a constructive feedback session with an employee who has a performance problem.
This Instructor's Edition of this course includes notes and suggestions to assist you in presenting the material, whether in an in-person classroom setting, or as an instructor-led online or distance-learning course. It also provides you with the answers to questions found in mid-lesson activities, as well as in the quiz that concludes the course. |
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Course 01: Exploring the Continuum of Developmental Tasks of School-Age Children from 5 to 12 |
2.00 |
Understanding the continuum of ongoing development between the ages of 5 and 12 provides the foundation for planning and implementing successful school-age programs. When staff know and understand the developmental tasks of school-age children, they can work with children and colleagues to design effective environments, plan engaging activities, set appropriate expectations and limits, and guide children’s behavior effectively. |
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Course 02: Exploring Four Areas of School-Age Development |
2.00 |
One of the most helpful ways to gain an understanding of the needs and interests of youth between 5 and 12 is to examine their development from four different perspectives: 1) Physical Development, 2) Cognitive Development, 3) Social Development, and 4) Emotional Development. It is important for staff to keep all four of these areas in mind when planning and implementing program activities and experiences. Keeping the four areas of development in mind leads staff to design a balanced set of experiences that nurture and growth and development of the “whole child.” |
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Course 03: Exploring Developmental Needs and Characteristics of Different Age Groups |
2.00 |
Certain developmental needs and traits are associated with younger school-age children, while others are typical of older school-age children and youth. While the differences between school-age children of different ages are not clear-cut, there are some general traits and tasks that are often associated with younger (ages 5 – 7), middle (ages 8 – 10), and older (ages 11 – 12) school-age children and youth. Understanding these differences helps staff plan appropriate activities and guidance strategies for children of different ages. |
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Course 04: Exploring Individual Differences in School-Age Children |
2.00 |
One of the most significant challenges for staff in OST programs is learning how to identify, manage, and respond appropriately to individual differences in a group setting. Some differences among children are the result of inborn characteristics and traits (e.g. physical characteristics, temperament, talents, race). Other differences are the result of external factors (e.g. the environment) or are cultivated as the child grows and develops (e.g. interests, skills, knowledge). The diverse needs, characteristics, interests, abilities, and skills of school-age children require a flexible atmosphere that supports diversity and choice for children with varying capacities for independent action. Staff who understand and appreciate individual differences in children are better equipped to plan and implement program experiences that help individual children grow and flourish in a group setting. |
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Course 05: Guiding School-Age Children in Groups |
2.00 |
When large numbers of children are involved in the program, it is challenging to create and deliver school-age program activities that can meet the needs of all children. The key to success is taking a systematic approach to program planning. It is important for staff to understand how to select appropriate activity options and use effective management strategies that make it possible to offer a balanced variety of simultaneous activity options. This understanding will help staff plan and implement a program that effectively supports, nurtures, and guides individual differences and fosters positive interaction among children in groups. |
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Course 06: Guiding the Behavior of Individual Children |
2.00 |
The knowledge and understanding in this course will help students develop strategies for creating programs that encourage individual children to develop self-discipline and self-direction, establish positive relationships with others, and exhibit respect for program materials and equipment and the rights of others. |
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Course 07: Observation Skills - What's Going on Here? |
2.00 |
Observation forms the basis for much of what people plan and do every day. As staff work with children in school-age programs, observation takes a more formal role. High quality school-age care is based on the principle of developmentally appropriate practices. Developmentally appropriate practices combine general knowledge of child development with specific knowledge of each individual child. Conducting objective observations help staff learn about each child’s development and provides staff with valuable information to use in planning and implementing appropriate program experiences and in developing effective guidance strategies. |
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Course 08: Human Relations Skill Development |
2.00 |
Being able to communicate effectively is an essential human relations skill for school-age care professionals. To be a good communicator, school-age professionals need to understand the components of communication and how the communication process works. They need to identify barriers to clear communication and develop strategies for minimizing or eliminating barriers to communication. School-age care professionals also need to work cooperatively with other team members to solve problems and conflicts. This requires an understanding of how teams work and the characteristics of effective teams. Assessing the current status of personal human relations skills helps each professional identify priorities for making improvements to these skills. |
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Course 09: School-Age Care as a Family Service - Part One |
2.00 |
Strong, positive, cooperative relationships with parents and families are at the heart of quality school-age programs. Unfortunately, positive relationships with parents and families are not always easy to achieve because parents, like children, have widely varying personalities; some are easier to reach than others. Parents in school-age programs have different ideas, values, concerns, knowledge, pressures, lifestyles, plans, dreams, resources, and constraints. Staff who are successful in building positive relationships begin by recognizing the importance of accepting parents as the most important people in children’s lives, regardless of differences among them. They understand that staff attitudes toward parents can have a strong effect on whether or not staff can establish positive relationships with parents. Staff in quality programs make a commitment to learning as much as possible about parents’ needs, interests, wants, and concerns and develop effective strategies for making positive connections with parents. |
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Course 10: School-Age Care as a Family Service – Part Two |
2.00 |
The foundation for getting parents involved in school-age programs is to keep parents well informed about what is happening in the program. Quality programs also provide parents with opportunities to make suggestions and give feedback on program services through suggestion boxes, feedback forms, and surveys. When parents are encouraged to have input in the program, they develop trust and confidence in the program and feel a sense of pride and ownership. They are much more likely to participate as resourceful partners with program staff when they know their ideas are welcome and valued. Finally, because parents are all different from each other, it’s important to provide many different opportunities for them to connect with the program. Staff in quality school-age programs recognize that all parents don’t have to be involved in the same way. |
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Course 11: Building Relationships with School Personnel |
2.00 |
School-age programs and schools share a mutual goal of supporting the growth, development, and learning of school-age children. Over 50% of all school-age programs nation-wide are housed in school facilities. When school-age programs are housed in school facilities, it is essential for staff in school-age programs to establish and maintain a positive relationship with school personnel. This makes it possible for schools and programs to work together to support the needs of the whole child. Staff can develop successful partnerships with school personnel by cultivating an understanding of the needs, interests, and goals of school personnel and using effective strategies, tools, and systems to build a spirit of positive collaboration and communication. |
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Course 12: Growing as a Professional in School-Age Programs |
2.00 |
Caring for school-age children in a school-age program is a relatively new field of work. The field itself is constantly changing and expanding. In view of this "newness" and change, those who work in the field are playing an important role in shaping and defining what it means to be a school-age professional. They are guiding school-age care as an emerging profession.
In the search for a definition of professionalism in school-age programs, it is helpful to examine the common characteristics of professionalism in other fields. The next step is identifying qualities and characteristics associated with professional behavior in the school-age field, itself. As a school-age professional, it is also important to understand the importance of acting as a public policy advocate on behalf of school-age children and their families.
An important part of professionalism is continued personal growth and development in relation to the field. This requires using appropriate resources and strategies to further individual professional development. It also requires considering what constitutes ethical conduct in the field and developing an ongoing commitment to ethical behavior. |
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Course 13: Creating and Maintaining Safe School-Age Environments |
2.00 |
Keeping school-age children safe during out-of-school hours is a top priority for school-age programs. This requires giving careful attention to setting up the program environment in a way that promotes safety and using effective strategies for monitoring and maintaining a safe environment. Because school-age children are growing towards independence, it is also important for staff to help them develop habits and behaviors that will keep them safe from harm as they participate in program experiences. Promoting and protecting children’s safety is one of the major responsibilities of staff in school-age programs. |
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Course 14: Creating and Maintaining Healthy School-Age Environments |
2.00 |
Keeping school-age children healthy is another major priority for school-age programs. This requires giving careful attention to setting up the environment in a way that promotes healthy habits and using effective strategies for monitoring and maintaining a hygienic environment. Because school-age children are growing towards independence, it is also important to help them develop habits and behaviors for living a healthy life-style.
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