Live trainings are presented virtually by ADE Early Childhood Education staff. Click on the training title/link to register in the Event Management System (EMS). Registration is free and closes 2 days prior to the training date. Capacity is limited to 150 participants per training.
Friday, March 5 9:30am-2:00pm ITDG: Social Emotional Development *
4-hour module training on the Social Emotional Development Domain of the Infant Toddler Developmental Guidelines (ITDG). Learn how to apply both effective teaching and caregiving strategies to support positive infant and toddler’s social emotional development.
Saturday, March 27 9:00-11:00am Smart Talk Module 1
Talking and reading with young children - starting from birth - makes a big difference in how their brains grow and helps develop the skills they’ll need to be a good reader. This is part 1 in a 4-part module series.
Wednesday, March 31, 9:30am-2:00pm AZELS Approaches to Learning *
4-hour module training on the Approaches to Learning Standard of the Arizona Early Learning Standards (AZELS). We will explore the strands of the standard and discover connections of executive functions of the brain.
Wednesday, April 14, 9:30am-2:00pm AZELS Language and Literacy *
4-hour module training on the Language and Literacy Standard of the Arizona Early Learning Standards (AZELS). We will explore the strands of the standard, describe and design a literacy-rich environment, and identify meaningful instructional strategies for early language and literacy development.
Friday, April 23 1:00-3:00pm Strengthening Families™: Protective Factors - Introduction Course
This course includes an introduction to the Strengthening Families™ Framework and how to implement the strategies in your engagement with families. The course includes strength-based theory, everyday actions that build protective factors, and a pathway to improved outcomes for children and families.
Saturday, April 24 9:00-11:00am Smart Talk Module 2
Talking and reading with young children - starting from birth - makes a big difference in how their brains grow and helps develop the skills they’ll need to be a good reader. This is part 2 in a 4-part module series.
Friday, May 7, 9:30am-2:00pm ITDG: Language Development and Communication *
4-hour module training on the Language Development and Communication Domain of the Infant Toddler Developmental Guidelines (ITDG). We will introduce early brain research, discover the strands within the domain, and explore effective teaching and caregiving strategies to support language and communication development in infants and toddlers.
Saturday, May 15, 9:30am-2:00pm AZELS Mathematics *
4-hour module training on the Mathematics Standard of the Arizona Early Learning Standards (AZELS). We will explore the strands within the standard, discover the link between math and early literacy, and design environments that help children explore math concepts in classroom settings and activities.
Wednesday, May 19, 1:00pm-3:00pm Process vs. Product Art
Discover the difference between process art and product art, and explore opportunities to promote creativity and expression in young children through art activities.
Saturday, May 22, 9:00-11:00am Smart Talk Module 3
Talking and reading with young children - starting from birth - makes a big difference in how their brains grow and helps develop the skills they will need to be a good reader. This is part 3 in a 4-part module series.
Friday, May 28, 12:00pm-2:00pm Quality of Feedback
Take a closer look at the CLASS Dimension: Quality of Feedback. We will explore back and forth exchanges, persistence, and follow-up questions within this dimension and what this looks like in the classroom. This training is adapted from the Teachstone CLASS Overview Training Module.
Friday, June 11, 9:30am-2:00pm ITDG: Cognitive Development *
4-hour module training on the Cognitive Development Domain of the Infant Toddler Developmental Guidelines (ITDG). We will introduce early brain research, discover the strands within the domain, and explore effective teaching and caregiving strategies to cognitive development in infants and toddlers.
Saturday, June 19, 9:00-11:00am Smart Talk Module 4
Talking and reading with young children - starting from birth - makes a big difference in how their brains grow and helps develop the skills they’ll need to be a good reader. This is part 4 in a 4-part module series.
Friday, June 25, 1:00-3:00pm Strengthening Families™: Protective Factors - Introduction Course
This course includes an introduction to the Strengthening Families™ Framework and how to implement the strategies in your engagement with families. The course includes strength-based theory, everyday actions that build protective factors, and a pathway to improved outcomes for children and families.
* AZELS and ITDG module trainings meet the Quality First point scale requirements.
Online courses are available each semester (previously monthly). Click on the course title/link to register in the Event Management System (EMS). Each online course consists of a presentation video and course assessment. You must pass the assessment with a score of 80% or higher to receive credit.
Intro to ITDG *(30-min)
Intro to AZELS *(30-min)
Intro to Program Guidelines for High Quality Early Education (30 min)
* Intro to AZELS and ITDG courses meet Quality First point scale requirements.
ITDG Social Emotional (1-hr) (NEW)
ITDG Approaches to Learning (1-hr) (NEW)
ITDG Cognitive Development (1-hr) (NEW)
AZELS Social Emotional (1-hr)
AZELS Approaches to Learning (1-hr)
AZELS Language & Literacy (1-hr)
AZELS Mathematics (1-hr)
AZELS Science (1-hr)
AZELS Physical Development Health & Safety (1-hr)
HQPG: Family Engagement & Support (1-hr)
Ongoing Progress Monitoring (1-hr)
AZ School Readiness Framework (1-hr)
AZELS Social Emotional (2-hr)
AZELS Approaches to Learning (2-hr)
AZELS Science (2-hr)
AZELS Mathematics (2-hr)
AZELS = Arizona Early Learning Standards
ITDG = Infant Toddler Developmental Guidelines
HQPG = Program Guidelines for High Quality Early Education
Quality First is a voluntary program supporting child care and preschool programs across Arizona to improve the quality of early learning they provide for children birth to age 5. An important component of Quality First is the Star Rating given to programs based on Quality First Assessments. To participate in Quality First, and receive credit at the 2 point level, all lead teachers, administrators, or family childcare providers must complete both the Introduction to Arizona Early Learning Standards (AZELS) and the Introduction to Infant & Toddler Developmental Guidelines (ITDG) trainings. These are available in the "Online Courses" section.
To receive Quality First credit at the 6 point level, all lead teachers, administrators, or a family childcare provider must also attend 2 of the module trainings listed below. Please check the "Live Training Schedule" section of this page to view a schedule of upcoming module trainings.
Events Management System The Arizona Department of Education (ADE) offers an array of professional development for education professionals through the Events Management System (EMS). The EMS is a calendar of professional development opportunities available through ADE of which teachers, administrators, and support staff may select to take. Opportunities include in-person trainings, webinars/online courses, and conferences. Anyone wishing to register for ADE professional development must do so through EMS. The first step in registering for an event is to create an ADE Connect account which will assign a username and password. Once a username and password are assigned, EMS users will have the ability to log in and register for any available event by clicking the green "Register" button, once an event is selected. Visit the EMS User Guide for assistance with event registration.
All Early Childhood Education (ECE) trainings are free and at no cost to the public with the exception of Teaching Strategies GOLD (TSG) trainings and ECE Conferences. ADE ECE-published manuals, referenced in many ECE trainings, are available online to download on our Publications & Manuals resources page.
*Purchase Orders can be made out to:
Arizona Department of Education
1535 W. Jefferson Street, Bin #1 (Accounting)
Phoenix, AZ 85007
*POs are accepted up to 3 business days prior to the event. Within 3 days of an event, attendees may pay with a credit card only. Please plan accordingly.
The Arizona Early Childhood Career and Professional Development Network serves Arizona's early learning community by being "an integrated early childhood professional development system for all Arizona early childhood professionals working with and on behalf of young children" (http://www.azearlychildhood.org). The Network offers education professionals degree and credential information and resources, career information and resources, First Things First (FTF) College Scholarship information, as well as a portal to the Arizona Early Childhood Workforce Registry (Registry). Early education professionals looking to grow their skills and advance in their careers may wish to register for the Registry. Through access to the Registry, users may register for training and professional development opportunities specific to their needs and location. The Registry also helps users manage their career profile by "keeping a record of trainings and credentials all in one place" (https://www.azregistry.org/index.cfm). Lastly, access to the Registry gives users the ability to apply for FTF College Scholarships.
