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2021 Spring CDA Class Registration

2021 CDA CLASS (VIRTUAL) REGISTRATION NOW AVAILABLE

The Greater Houston Chapter is pleased to offer our 2021 Child Development Associate Class in partnership with Origins Learning Community.

Come be a part of a growing movement. 

Our Child Development Associate (CDA) classes are different, in that they include an additional mentoring component and tutoring services for teachers and family home childcare providers.  These classes are a necessary component for earning a CDA Credential from the Council for Professional Recognition.

Classes will be offered via Zoom.

We keep our classes small; 1 trainer for every 12 students! The cost of the CDA Program includes all portfolio supplies and all CDA textbooks.  Classes taught by experienced trainers who are registered with the Texas Early Childhood Professional Development System (TECPDS) and mentor you every step of the way!!! You won’t find this kind of attention anywhere else.

Earning your 120 specialty clock hours through our CDA Program is only one step to earning a CDA Credential. In order to earn your CDA, you must be working in a classroom with the age group you are seeking certification in. If you are currently looking for a job in an infant, a toddler, or a preschool classroom, reach out to us for support. We are here to help.

CDA Course- General Overview

Here is a general overview of the CDA Course Content. Trainers cover all of the course content fully while helping you where you need the most support through mentoring. Mentoring includes tutoring on homework assignments and classroom coaching. The mentoring component is an important part of our CDA program. We feel so strongly about it that it is not optional. All students enrolled in the program must participate in all of the classes and the mentoring. This is your opportunity to not just train but change your teaching practices for the better. Be the teacher you have always wanted to be! If you like the Course Content overview, scroll down to find an application to our CDA Program and begin your journey.

Course 1

Welcome to Your CDA-  Get to know your fellow classmates, CDA mentors and learning materials.

Course 2

Safety and Supervision of Young Children- Learn how to create safe learning environments for young children according to state laws. Discover fun ways to model safety for and teach safety to the children.

Course 3

Health, Wellness and Nutrition of Young Children- Learn about state laws for keeping children healthy, fun ways to educate children about health and nutrition and modeling healthy behavior with young children.

Course 4

Creating Beautiful Learning Environments for Young Children- Learn how to create beautiful, inclusive and educational play-based learning environments for young children. Discover dynamic ways to connect with the children and bring their learning to the next level.

Course 5

The Physical and Adaptive Domains- Learn about important milestones in young children’s physical and adaptive development and how to best support those milestones. Be prepared to move and groove!

Course 6

The Cognitive Domain- Focusing on sensory, science, mathematics and technology, learn about creating dynamic learning centers that will motivate young children to want to learn critical thinking skills and strengthen their executive functions. 

Course 7

Creative- Focusing on art, dramatic play and block activities, learn why allowing children to use their imagination, experiment, and create their own open-ended art supports emotion regulation skills, positive self-esteem and cognitive development skills. Be prepared to have fun and get messy!

Course 8

Communication- Learn how language/literacy activities can be woven throughout all areas of curriculum all day long, giving children opportunities to reach important milestones while building their self-confidence. Come up with new ideas for creating beautiful literacy centers in your classroom.

Course 9

The Child’s Sense of Self- Discover how you can help young children feel emotionally safe, practice managing their emotions, and build positive self-esteem by honoring their family home culture, individuality, and celebrating their strengths.

Course 10

Social Life of the Child- Just as we are responsible for supporting children’s cognitive, language and physical development, we must guide them on how to interact with others in the classroom environment. Learn important teaching practices and curriculum activities for helping young children reach social milestones throughout the school-day.

Course 11

Guidance Practices- With our help children can learn how to solve social problems and work alongside others in a diverse and inclusive world. Learn teaching strategies for creating peaceful, joyful classrooms where problems and mistakes are seen as learning opportunities and children are guided by love and patience. 

Course 12

Partnering with Families- Partnering with families is vital to children’s positive self-esteem, ability to control their emotions, and learn academic skills. Discover ways to connect and communicate with families. 

Course 13

Classroom Program Management- Throughout the course you have learned about managing a classroom program and using observation tools to support children’s learning, Now we will pull it all together, adding the final few pieces of the classroom management puzzle. Decide which observation tools are right for you. Fine tune your program management skills for a harmonious, well-run classroom or home.

Course 14

Defining Professionalism- Throughout the course we have explored the culture of early childhood education and what it means to be a professional in the field. Learn how you can advocate for young children, families and the ECE profession. Define yourself as the awesome professional you are.  

Course 15

Your Journey Continues: Celebrating Your Accomplishments and Moving Forward!– Celebrate your accomplishments so far and learn about the next steps on your CDA journey.