Examine the essential foundations of a biblical philosophy for Christian early educators in this digitally downloadable eight-part series presented by Dr. Kristi Martin and Mrs. Althea Penn.

This is a digital course that consists of eight video sessions, a handout/reflection document, and a certificate. Your staff will earn one CEU (six clock hours) of professional development training. It fulfills the REACH accreditation requirement if you're considering accreditation for your early education program as well as the Standard Early Education Teacher Certification requirement (ACSI certification is optional for early educators).

The P&P course is available for purchase in two ways:

1. The school can purchase the course using the link below for a one-time purchase of $149.00. If your school needs additional staff to complete the course, then this is the best and most affordable option. The purchase includes links to all eight digital video sessions, a handout, a fillable certificate of completion, and a Participant Verification Form. Upon completion of the entire course, teachers should complete the Participant Verification Form, obtain the necessary signatures, and email it to earlyeducation@acsi.org. One CEU (six clock hours) will be added to each teacher's VPP.
    
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2. If your staff already has a subscription to ConNEXUS Premium, they can watch the entire P&P course in the Early Education Channel. ConNEXUS Premium is designed to track each subscriber's completion of the course and issues CEUs to their VPP. Group viewing is not available in ConNEXUS Premium since each teacher needs to log into their account, and CEUs are applied only to that account. Upon completion of the entire course, teachers should complete the Participant Verification Form — Premium View, obtain the necessary signatures, and email it to earlyeducation@acsi.org. ACSI will add .29 CEUs to each teacher's VPP; this combined with the CEUs automatically added after watching a Session, will equal one CEU (six clock hours) in their VPP.

What follows is a description of the eight digital video sessions offered in this course:

Session 1: Christian Philosophy - Christian educators are to teach from a biblical worldview based upon core values centered on God's Word. Learn what the scriptures say about how God designed children and how they should be taught.

Session 2: Understanding Child Development - It is important to incorporate the developmental domains of the whole child into the curriculum including spiritual, social, emotional, physical, and cognitive. Understand how developmentally appropriate practices take into consideration the ability, interest, culture, diversity, personality and temperament of each child.

Session 3: Appropriate Activities for Children - Play is a vital part of the young child's learning experience. Discover the importance of using a variety of differentiated learning opportunities to include a balance of teacher-guided instruction and child-initiated exploration.

Session 4: Understanding the Teacher as Facilitator - Biblically based curriculum plans are to be aligned with how young children think and learn best. Explore a curriculum framework for instruction based on biblical concepts and truths.

Session 5: Understanding the Role of Child Guidance - Early educators are to disciple (teach) children with nurturing love while utilizing preventative approaches, engaging environments, and clear expectations. Learn the difference between guiding and punishing children.

Sessions 6: Understanding the Influence of Classroom Environment - Teachers are to make decisions about classroom resources and materials based on the various learning styles of children. Delve into the importance of indoor and outdoor learning environments and how to design a rich atmosphere providing a variety of safe and reassuring stimuli for the different needs of each learner.

Session 7: Understanding the Value of Developing Relationships - Early educators are to maintain an attitude and performance in the work environment that is based on God's Word. Recognize the importance of developing consistent, appropriate and godly relationships with students, family members, peers and supervisors.

Session 8: Understanding the Importance of Personal Growth - As educators show evidence of spiritual and professional growth and their calling to teach young children, they use the information to self-reflect, modify and adapt their teaching skills to meet the students’ needs. Examine the importance of ongoing professional development.

Purchases of this course from Purposeful Design are non-refundable.