Resource Lists 

FREE Professional Development Online for Early Childhood Educators

dfuoss

During these unusual times, many in-person professional development opportunities, such as conferences and trainings, have been canceled or put online. Learning from professional development is important to improve and strengthen our skills and techniques in early childhood education. So we have curated a list of free professional development opportunities that you can attend from your home.

Web Resources

  • CONNECT Module 6: Dialogic Reading Practices Source: Division for Early Childhood (DEC)

    This professional development online module explains the purpose, use, and potential benefits of dialogic reading practices when working with young children. Instructional resources focus on inclusion, special education, communication, and tiered instruction.

  • Early Childhood Webinars Source: Hatch

    Free webinars with certificates
    TOPICS: kindergarten readiness, distance learning, math talk, robotics, language, autism, classroom management

  • Early Childhood Investigations Webinars Source: Early Childhood Investigations

    Free webinars with certificates
    TOPICS: equity, virtual learning, trauma, boosting enrollment, mindfulness

  • Gateways to Opportunity Source: Illinois Professional Development System

    TOPICS: social emotional, leadership, development, STEAM, and more

  • Head Start Webinars Source: Head Start

    Free webinars.
    TOPICS: inclusion, supervision, fatherhood, home safety, feeding

  • Sesame Street In Communities Source: Sesame Street

    Free professional development, courses, and interactive trainings
    TOPICS: early literacy, developmental domains, resilience, early math, family engagement

  • Watch Me! Celebrating Milestones and Sharing Concerns also in SpanishSource: Centers on Disease Control (CDC)

    As an early care and education provider, you play a critical role in the health and wellbeing of children. You are also very well positioned to help identify children who might need extra help in their development. This FREE, online training course, Watch Me! Celebrating Milestones and Sharing Concerns, helps you fulfill this role by providing tools and best practices for monitoring the development of children in your care and talking about it with their parents.

  • WIDA Early Years eLearning Modules Source: WIDA Early Years

    Self-paced interactive modules
    CREDIT: up to five hours of ISBE and/or Gateways credit available
    TOPICS: dual language learners, disabilities, multilingual children

About this resource

Intended audience(s):
  • Faculty / Trainer
  • Teachers / Service providers

Reviewed: 2020