Can you #SpotSPARK?
SPARK Learning Lab is passionate about getting the word our to partners from across the state of Indiana.
If you would like SPARK to participate in your meeting, conference or event drop us a line at the form below!
Events in January 2025
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Keeping Children Safe: Systems for Supervision, Tracking and Follow Through Keeping Children Safe: Systems for Supervision, Tracking and Follow Through
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January 6, 2025Keeping children safe is a top priority for all educators. In this introductory-level training, providers will learn how to describe and apply active supervision strategies and systems to keep children safe and accounted for in their programs. Active Supervision is the most effective strategy for creating a safe environment and preventing injuries in young children. Learn the six strategies, how to set up the program environment to effectively supervise and track children, tools to support transition, and discuss leadership's role in reinforcing active supervision and tracking.
** Be sure to register in I-LEAD as well as zoom, so that certificates can be processed into your I-LEAD account.
Planning Your Physical Environment to Reduce Challenging Behaviors (VANDERBURGH COUNTY) Planning Your Physical Environment to Reduce Challenging Behaviors (VANDERBURGH COUNTY)
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January 6, 2025In-Person training: Double-check the LOCATION of the session before registering!
In this two-hour In-Person Training, participants will review key elements of the physical, social, and temporal environments that best support young children. Participants will take a deeper look at how to arrange their physical environment and will conduct an audit on their top 2 to 3 learning centers. Participants will use their knowledge to proactively plan their physical environment and refresh learning centers. This course is appropriate for early childhood educators who: (1) work with children ages birth through age five and (2) need ideas to freshen up learning centers and (3) are interested in how to use their physical environment to reduce challenging behaviors in the classroom. **To get the most out of this training, we highly recommend you come with images or a diagram of your environment.
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Bethel United Church of Christ Preschool
Evansville IN 47715
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Courageous Practices for Financial Resilience (CANCELLED) Courageous Practices for Financial Resilience (CANCELLED)
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January 7, 2025This training has been cancelled.
Intentional Feedback Conversations, presented by the Calm app team (Leadership Series) Intentional Feedback Conversations, presented by the Calm app team (Leadership Series)
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January 7, 2025In this workshop, participants will learn how to give a methodical and structured approach to giving feedback.. They will identify the importance of giving feedback to their colleagues regardless of title, role, or department to increase communication. Additionally, they will learn tips on how to receive feedback mindfully to improve their performance.
A FREE Calm app Premium subscription is available, through February 2026, to individuals who own, work or volunteer in an Indiana-based early childhood education or out-of-school care program! If you haven't yet redeemed you free Calm Premium subscription, visit https://indianaspark.com/calm/ for directions. We recommend that you redeem your free subscription and download the Calm app prior to attending this workshop.
**Be sure to register here in I-LEAD as well as zoom, so your certificate can be processed into your I-LEAD account.
Child Care Licensing Orientation 2: Family Child Care Homes Child Care Licensing Orientation 2: Family Child Care Homes
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January 7, 2025Preparation for Home Child Care Licensure is the 2nd training in this two-part series designed to outline regulatory requirements, licensing steps, and resources for providing licensed child care in a home environment. You will leave this training prepared to take the next steps to licensing your home and will receive the necessary paperwork.
We highly recommend that you join this training session using your computer. Throughout the session, there will be links provided that you will need to access. Furthermore, kindly ensure that your camera is turned on for the entire training.
** Be sure to register in both Indiana Learning Paths and Zoom for this training.
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Paths to QUALITY™ Introduction Paths to QUALITY™ Introduction
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January 8, 2025**Be sure to register here in Indiana Learning Paths as well as Zoom, so your certificate can be processed into your I-LEAD account.
The Paths to QUALITY™(PTQ) Introduction Session is designed to provide you with all the information you will need in order to participate in Indiana’s quality rating and improvement system. You will learn about the four levels of participation, the enrollment process, mentoring options, rater visits, incentives and awards. This webinar is for the administrators/owners of licensed child care programs (or unlicensed registered child care ministries who have completed the Voluntary Certification Program) who are interested in enrolling their program in PTQ OR child care providers who are considering becoming licensed and plan to enroll in PTQ. Participating in this training MEETS the requirement to enroll in PTQ.
This training DOES NOT meet in-service hours for PTQ. This training DOES meet in-service hours for licensing.
Keeping Children Safe: Systems for Supervision, Tracking and Follow Through (KOSCIUSKO COUNTY) Keeping Children Safe: Systems for Supervision, Tracking and Follow Through (KOSCIUSKO COUNTY)
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January 8, 2025In-person training: Double-check the LOCATION of the session before registering!
Keeping children safe is a top priority for all educators. In this introductory-level training, providers will learn how to describe and apply active supervision strategies and systems to keep children safe and accounted for in their programs. Active Supervision is the most effective strategy for creating a safe environment and preventing injuries in young children. Learn the six strategies, how to set up the program environment to effectively supervise and track children, tools to support transition, and discuss leadership's role in reinforcing active supervision and tracking.
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Kosciusko County YMCA
Warsaw, IN 46582
Pay by Enrollment Updates, Troubleshooting, and Audit Pay by Enrollment Updates, Troubleshooting, and Audit
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January 8, 2025Join OECOSL and SPARK for a discussion on common attendance errors and CCMS issues and how to correct those, roster removals and corrections, checking your payments, auditing and fraud.
Designing Healthy Habits that Last, presented by the Calm app team Designing Healthy Habits that Last, presented by the Calm app team
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January 8, 2025A habit is an auto-pilot behavior that we repeat on a daily basis. These behaviors feel automatic because they skip the decision-making part of your brain. This frees up energy for your brain to think about other things. During this one hour session, participants will explore why your brain forms habits and how habits work while designing a personalized habit recipe.
A FREE Calm App Premium subscription is available, through February 2026, to individuals who own, work or volunteer in an Indiana-based early childhood education or out-of-school care program! If you haven't yet redeemed you free Calm Premium subscription, visit https://indianaspark.com/calm/ for directions. We recommend that you redeem your free subscription and download the Calm app prior to attending this workshop.
**Be sure to register here in I-LEAD as well as zoom, so your certificate can be processed into your I-LEAD account*
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Pago por inscripción actualizaciones, solución de problemas y auditoría Pago por inscripción actualizaciones, solución de problemas y auditoría
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January 9, 2025Únase a OECOSL y SPARK para una discusión sobre los errores comunes de asistencia y los problemas de CCMS y cómo corregirlos, las eliminaciones y correcciones de listas, la verificación de sus pagos, la auditoría y el fraude.
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Using Narration to Identify and Promote Prosocial Behavior (TIPPECANOE COUNTY) Using Narration to Identify and Promote Prosocial Behavior (TIPPECANOE COUNTY)
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January 11, 2025In-Person training: Double-check the LOCATION of the session before registering!
Employ narration of behavior (also known as positive descriptive feedback) as a proactive and preventative strategy used to reduce behaviors that challenge us in the learning environment. Apply the concepts behind positive descriptive feedback to utilize social stories as a group or individual approach to increasing desired and socially appropriate behaviors.
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Lafayette Family YMCA
Lafayette, IN 47905
Super Saturday: Thriving Together: Supporting Well-Being and Emotional Milestones in Early Childhood (VANDERBURGH COUNTY) Super Saturday: Thriving Together: Supporting Well-Being and Emotional Milestones in Early Childhood (VANDERBURGH COUNTY)
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January 11, 2025In-Person training: Double-check the LOCATION of the session before registering!
Attend 2 trainings for a total of 3.5 training hours:
- Embedding the Student Wellbeing Standards into Daily Practices
- Ages & Stages Questionnaires®: An Introduction to ASQ®SE-2: Social-Emotional
Attendees will receive free ASQ®:SE-2 Starter Kits to use in their programs, and lunch will be provided.
PREREQUISITE REQUIRED: Using the CDC’s Learn the Signs. Act Early. Resources to Increase Family Engagement and Promote Developmental Monitoring and Screening
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Fairfield Inn - Evansville West
Evansville, IN 47712
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Safe Sleep Practices: Reducing Sudden Unexpected Infant Death and Implementation in Child Care Settings Module 1 and 2 Safe Sleep Practices: Reducing Sudden Unexpected Infant Death and Implementation in Child Care Settings Module 1 and 2
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January 13, 2025*Be sure to register here in Indiana Learning Paths as well as Zoom, so that your certificate can be processed into your I-LEAD account.
We know that safe sleep practices are critical for the well-being of infants in our early childhood programs. This two-hour, introductory, webinar course explains how to reduce the risk of sleep-related deaths and how to implement safe sleep practices in infant classrooms. This professional development session satisfies the State of Indiana requirement for infant caregivers.
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Live Resource: What you need to know about the School-Age Child Care Grant (SACC) Live Resource: What you need to know about the School-Age Child Care Grant (SACC)
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January 14, 2025School-Age Child Care Grant (SACC) applications are opening January 15, 2025 and here is your opportunity to learn about the changes in this year’s online application. Mark your calendar to join SPARK Learning Lab for a Live SACC application walkthrough. Grant applications will close February 14, 2025. Don’t delay, register for this LIVE resource today!
Ages and Stages Questionnaire (ASQ-3) Training Ages and Stages Questionnaire (ASQ-3) Training
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January 14, 2025The Ages & Stages Questionnaires (ASQ) provides reliable, accurate, developmental and social-emotional screening for children between birth and age 6. The ASQ has been specifically designed to identify developmental progress and spot potential delays in young children. Screening young children is an effective, efficient way for professionals to monitor a child’s development. Help parents celebrate their child’s milestones, know what to expect next, and determine whether a follow-up is needed. The ASQ is an essential first step toward identifying children with delays or disorders in the critical early years.
Participants will receive an ASQ®:-3 Starter Kit upon completion of this training! A SPARK Mental Health and Wellness Coach will also be available to support on-site with implementation.
PREREQUISITE REQUIRED: Using the CDC’s Learn the Signs. Act Early. Resources to Increase Family Engagement and Promote Developmental Monitoring and Screening
Town Square: Children as Authors, Actors, Readers, and Writers (LAKE COUNTY) Town Square: Children as Authors, Actors, Readers, and Writers (LAKE COUNTY)
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January 14, 2025Explore how to encourage children’s imagination and voice by using story dictation and acting, an essential aspect of literacy development, and techniques for making stories part of your program in this training for family child care providers.
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Merrillville Preschool
Merrillville, IN 46410
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Strengthen Your Emotional Well-Being: Self Regulation Techniques to Navigate Difficult Situations Strengthen Your Emotional Well-Being: Self Regulation Techniques to Navigate Difficult Situations
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January 15, 2025Prolonged exposure to environmental stress, such as challenging behaviors in the classroom, family crises, or community violence, can significantly overload the emotional well-being of early childhood educators and staff. This training aims to equip adults working directly with young children with emotional regulation strategies to nurture, navigate and overcome stress during and after difficult situations.
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Planning Your Physical Environment to Reduce Challenging Behaviors (Trending Thursday) Planning Your Physical Environment to Reduce Challenging Behaviors (Trending Thursday)
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January 16, 2025Review key elements of the physical, social, and temporal environments that best support young children. Participants will evaluate their own physical environment and conduct an audit on 2 current learning centers of their choice. Participants will examine the connection between learning environments and behavior and proactively plan modifications to their classroom management techniques and physical environment to refresh learning centers, increase child engagement, and reduce challenging behaviors. **To get the most out of this webinar, we highly recommend you come with images or a diagram of your environment.
** Be sure to register in both Indiana Learning Paths and Zoom for this training.
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Lakeshore®: Self-Care: Empowering Educators to Prioritize their Needs (CLARK COUNTY) Lakeshore®: Self-Care: Empowering Educators to Prioritize their Needs (CLARK COUNTY)
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January 18, 2025In- Person training: Double-check the LOCATION of the session before registering!
Educators have a lot on their plates. You’re responsible for supporting the academic, social, emotional, and mental wellbeing of children through a period of historic uncertainty. It is a busy, chaotic time and it can easily feel like you have no time for yourself. Operating at a high level of unmitigated stress will, over time, lead to burnout. In this session, we discuss why self-care is critical right now and share realistic strategies, tips, and tricks on finding what works for you.
This training is presented through a partnership between SPARK Learning Lab and Lakeshore®. A meal will be served, and all attendees will receive a materials kit to use with the children in your program!
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Jefferson Township Public Library - Jefferson Library Branch
Jeffersonville, IN 47130
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Pay by Enrollment Updates, Troubleshooting, and Audit Pay by Enrollment Updates, Troubleshooting, and Audit
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January 21, 2025Join OECOSL and SPARK for a discussion on common attendance errors and CCMS issues and how to correct those, roster removals and corrections, checking your payments, auditing and fraud.
Child Care Licensing Orientation 2: Child Care Centers Child Care Licensing Orientation 2: Child Care Centers
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January 21, 2025In this professional development session, participants identify the components necessary to complete a successful child care center licensing application and pass the initial licensing inspection. This session is appropriate for those who intend to open a licensed child care center in the state of Indiana and who have already completed Orientation 1: Training for Child Care Providers.
We highly recommend that you join this training session using your computer. Throughout the session, there will be links provided that you will need to access. Furthermore, kindly ensure that your camera is turned on for the entire training.
** Be sure to register in both Indiana Learning Paths and Zoom for this training.
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Minimizing Stress and Burnout, presented by the Calm app team Minimizing Stress and Burnout, presented by the Calm app team
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January 22, 2025Just as the ocean is influenced by the sun, moon, gravity, and the wind— stressors can have similar altering impacts on our inner stillness and peace. Life’s stressors have the ability to affect all areas of our lives. This one hour training will simplify strategies to recognize the signs of burnout while inspiring self-reflection.
A FREE Calm app Premium subscription is available, through February 2026, to individuals who own, work or volunteer in an Indiana-based early childhood education or out-of-school care program! If you haven't yet redeemed you free Calm Premium subscription, visit https://indianaspark.com/calm/ for directions. We recommend that you redeem your free subscription and download the Calm app prior to attending this workshop.
*Be sure to register here in I-LEAD as well as zoom, so your certificate can be processed into your I-LEAD account*
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Pay by Enrollment Updates, Troubleshooting, and Audit Pay by Enrollment Updates, Troubleshooting, and Audit
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January 27, 2025Join OECOSL and SPARK for a discussion on common attendance errors and CCMS issues and how to correct those, roster removals and corrections, checking your payments, auditing and fraud.
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Child Care Licensing Orientation 2: Unlicensed Registered Child Care Ministry Child Care Licensing Orientation 2: Unlicensed Registered Child Care Ministry
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January 28, 2025In this professional development session, participants identify the components necessary to complete a successful child care ministry registration application and pass the initial registration inspection. This session is appropriate for those who intend to open an unlicensed registered child care ministry in the state of Indiana and who have already completed Orientation 1: Training for Child Care Providers.
We highly recommend that you join this training session using your computer. Throughout the session, there will be links provided that you will need to access. Furthermore, kindly ensure that your camera is turned on for the entire training.
** Be sure to register in both Indiana Learning Paths and Zoom for this training.
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Learning Forum: Breaking the Mental Health Stigma Learning Forum: Breaking the Mental Health Stigma
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January 29, 2025The adverse effects of the stigma associated with mental health can increase risk factors and create barriers for individuals to connect with others, ask for help and seek professional care. In this peer-to-peer conversation learn how acknowledging the impact of stigma will help you to create a more conscious, inclusive, and supportive environment in your program and community. Learn strategies to reduce mental health stigma, promote mental health awareness and become an advocate for your personal wellness and that of your team and families.
**Be sure to register here in Indiana Learning Paths as well as Zoom, so your certificate can be processed into your I-LEAD account.
Lakeshore®: Marvelous Math Throughout the Day for School-Age (ALLEN COUNTY) Lakeshore®: Marvelous Math Throughout the Day for School-Age (ALLEN COUNTY)
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January 29, 2025In-Person training: Double-check the LOCATION of the session before registering!
Students develop many skills through play. Engaging students in math games and activities not only promotes the learning of math concepts, but it’s also FUN! During this session, you will learn strategies to engage students in math games and activities that can be played with materials that are easily accessible to support the learning of math concepts.
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Ivy Tech Student Life Center
Fort Wayne, IN 46835
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ASQ-SE Questionnaire Training ASQ-SE Questionnaire Training
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January 30, 2025There is tremendous opportunity during the first few years of a child’s life to identify and address potential social-emotional concerns. This is at the heart of ASQ®:SE-2. It is modeled after the acclaimed ASQ®-3 and is tailored to identify and exclusively screen social and emotional behaviors. ASQ:SE-2 is an easy-to-use tool with all the advantages of ASQ-3—it’s cost-effective, parent-completed, photocopiable, and culturally sensitive. With questionnaire results, professionals can quickly recognize young children at risk for social or emotional difficulties, identify behaviors of concern to caregivers, and identify any need for further assessment.
Participants will receive an ASQ®:SE-2 Starter Kit upon completion of this training! A SPARK Mental Health and Wellness Coach will also be available to support on-site with implementation.
PREREQUISITE REQUIRED: Using the CDC’s Learn the Signs. Act Early. Resources to Increase Family Engagement and Promote Developmental Monitoring and Screening
**Be sure to register in I-LEAD as well as zoom, so that your certificate can be processed into your I-LEAD account.
