The goal of this course is to find common ground between behavioral and therapeutic approaches to supporting children who engage in challenging behavior. The course material expands on both the functional behavioral assessment and relationship-based teaching to explore what causes and sustains maladaptive behavioral patterns in children's actions and interactions and how early childhood professionals can support the healthy social and emotional development of children. A continuum of intervention strategies are offered to address the varying needs of children: typically developing children, children with disabilities, and children with and without disabilities who have experienced trauma, neglect, and other environmental and relationships issues.

The course has eight learning modules:

Module 1: Understanding the Philosophies and Theories Associated with BEAM

Module 2: Developing and Maintaining Positive Relationships with Children

Module 3: Developing and Maintaining Positive Relationships with Colleagues

Module 4: Environments and Experiences that Enhance Children's Development

Module 5: Interventions for Instruction and Interaction

Module 6: Assessment--Asking Why Tells Us How

Module 7: Child-specific Interventions

Module 8: Putting It All Together

Next session: June 11 to August 13, 2012

Cost

$225 plus required textbook (group rates available)

Register Online

Required Textbook

Please purchase the required textbook prior to the start of the session:

Koplow, L. (Ed.)(2007)(second edition). Unsmiling faces: How preschools can heal. New York: Teachers College Press.

Continuing Education Certificate

24 clock hours

Cynthia Croft, Instructor

Cynthia Croft is Director of the Center for Inclusive Child Care at Concordia University, St. Paul, Minnesota where she also serves as faculty in the College of Education. She is adjunct faculty at Minneapolis Community and Technical College and teaches for the Minnesota on-line Eager To Learn program. She has her M.A. in Education with Early Childhood Emphasis. She has authored The Six Keys: Strategies for Promoting Children’s Mental Health in Early Childhood Programs and co-authored Children and Challenging Behavior: Making Inclusion Work with Deborah Hewitt. In addition, she has edited two children’s books series, Helping Youth with Mental, Physical, & Social Challenges for Mason Crest Publishers.

Cindy teaches CEED's online course Bridging Education and Mental Health.

Comments from Participants

"Thanks! Wow! Good ideas to try in my practice."

"I did have a great success with BEAM material today. The child that hits stopped hitting as she had access to the open-ended snack. As this happened, she also made friends with [another child that] does not have other friends, so this was a bonus that we hadn't anticipated to occur."

Related Resources

• Flyer: Bridging Education and Mental Health
• Project: Bridging Education and Mental Health
• In-Person Training: Bridging Education and Mental Health

Upcoming Sessions

• Summer 2012: June 11 to August 13, 2012
• Fall 2012: October 1 to December 3, 2012

Questions?

If you have further questions or would like a sample sylllabus, please contact Karen Anderson, CEED Online Course Manager, at 612-625-6617 or ander352@umn.edu.

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