This course is designed for early childhood and special education educators who are working with challenging children in preschool, child care, and early intervention settings. The course is taught using case studies and team processing for problem solving. Students will learn how relationships with caring adults are the context of all growth and learning for young children. The course will explore how to use the tools of "reflective teaching" and "reflective collaboration" to better understand young children in their classes, as well as what intervention approaches might work for children who are having difficulties.

The course is divided into eight learning modules:

Module 1: Early Attachment Relationships and Infant Mental Health

Module 2: Child-Teacher Attachment

Module 3: Tools for Relationship-based/Emotionally Responsive Practice

Module 4: Children with Challenging Behavior--Child/Teacher/Setting Match, Stress Response Continuum

Module 5: Children with Challenging Behavior--Aggression, Behaviors Related to Trauma, Supporting Peers

Module 6: Children with Challenging Behavior: Emotional Overwhelm, Testing, Neglected Children

Module 7: Reflective Teaching and Reflective Collaboration

Module 8: Special Populations of Children

Next Session: September 10 to November 12, 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

Julie Nelson, Instructor

Julie Nelson is currently an Early Childhood Teacher working on the Families Together Program at Life Track Resources, which is a therapeutic preschool for traumatized children. She has a B.A. in psychology from St. Olaf College and has completed level two child abuse prevention studies at the University of Minnesota. She is also the author of several books, Families change: A book for children experiencing termination of parental rights and Kids need to be safe (Free Spirit Press).

Julie teaches CEED's online course Supporting Stressed Young Children Through Relationship-based Teaching.

Comments from Past Participants

• "I am so pleased with the information that I have gained through this class. Strategies learned were practical and usable. I believe it will improve my teaching and classroom environment significantly."
• "This course renewed my energy for working with my kids. I feel like there are some new ways to help these kids succeed and I'm sure I will revisit this material a lot over the years. Thank you, thank you."
• "This course makes me understand many stress reactions of my children and how important it is for them to feel understood when they react under the stress of not being able to communicate with others."
• "You did a great with getting the class out to folks in a simple way that was easy to understand/access. And Julie was fantastic. One of the best classes I have taken, in our out of the classroom!"

Related Resources

• Flier: Supporting Stressed Young Children Through Relationship-based Teaching
• In-Person Training: Supporting Stressed Young Children Through Relationship-based Teaching
• Book by Julie Nelson: Kids Need to Be Safe: A Book for Children in Foster Care, illustrated by Mary Gallagher.

Upcoming Sessions

• Fall 2012: September 10 to November 12, 2012

Questions?

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

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