December 2025 Professional Learning
Below is information on upcoming virtual and in-person professional development opportunities. Detailed descriptions and registration information can be found at: fairfaxcounty.gov/EarlyChildhood. Monthly emails, including registration links, will be sent when registration opens.
To receive a certificate for in-person or webinar courses, please be sure to review the following requirements:
- To receive credit for a series with two meetings, you must attend both sessions.
- For series requiring three or four meetings, you must attend all sessions to receive credit.
- A 15-minute grace period is allowed; however, certificates will not be issued if you miss more than 15 minutes of the session.
- Certificates will be issued within 2-4 business days.
- If you can no longer attend a training you have registered for, please email NCSchildcareclasses@fairfaxcounty.gov before the scheduled date and time.
You can find references to the CDA Subject Areas, Virginia Early Learning Development Standards (VELDS), and CLASS under each Professional Learning course. Additionally, a reference to the CDA Subject Area is included at the bottom of this email.
What makes a picture book banned or challenged — and what can that tell us about the power of stories? Let’s discuss the social and cultural importance of banned and challenged picture books. Participants will unpack the themes behind these stories, reflect on their role in supporting children’s identity and empathy, and discover how to create safe, inclusive spaces for every story — and every child — to belong.
CDA Areas: 2, 3, 4, & 8
VELDS: Social and Emotional Development, Communication, Language and Literacy Development
CLASS Support
Domain(s):
Infant: Responsive Caregiving
Toddler: Emotional Behavior Support
PreK: Emotional Support
Dimension(s):
Infant: Early Language Support
Toddler: Regard for Child Perspectives
PreK: Regard for Student Perspectives
Instructor: Leah Pagala
Date: Tuesday, 12/9
Time: 6:30 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.
This training will explore ways to create a calm and cozy environment in every childhood setting. We will explore the concept of "hygge" – a Danish term emphasizing coziness, comfort, and contentment. We will explore practical strategies for incorporating hygge elements into your early childhood classroom, including creating warm and inviting spaces, fostering meaningful connections, and cultivating a sense of calm and well-being in both children and educators.
CDA Areas: 3
VELDS: Social and Emotional Development
CLASS Support
Domain(s):
Infant: Responsive Caregiving
Toddler: Engaged Support for Learning
PreK: Classroom Organization
Dimension(s):
Infant: Facilitated Exploration
Toddler: Facilitation of Learning and Development
PreK: Instructional Learning Formats
Instructor: Bronwyn Dean
Date: Tuesday, 12/16
Time: 7:00 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.
Unlock the power of predictability in your early childhood classroom by exploring the magic of daily rituals. This training will explore the creation and implementation of meaningful rituals that promote a sense of security, belonging, and positive social-emotional development in young learners. Discover practical strategies to transform everyday moments into enriching learning opportunities that benefit both children and educators.
CDA Areas: 3
VELDS: Social and Emotional Development
CLASS Support
Domain(s):
Infant: Responsive Caregiving
Toddler: Engaged Support for Learning
PreK: Instructional Support
Dimension(s): Infant: Facilitated Exploration Toddler: Facilitation of Learning and Development PreK: Concept Development
Instructor: Bronwyn Dean
Date: Thursday, 12/18
Time: 7:00 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.
Esta capacitación de dos sesiones inspirara a los educadores a descubrir el valor de usar cestas de cuentos para estimular el aprendizaje, curiosidad, lenguaje, y la imaginación de los niños. Utilizaremos objetos que encontramos en el aula para dar vida a las historias. Los educadores reflexionarán sobre su propio rol como narradores de historias y crearán ideas prácticas para usar objetos concretos para invitar la curiosidad y participación durante la hora de leer y explorar.
CDA Áreas: 2
VELDS: Desarrollo de Comunicación, Lenguaje y Alfabetismo
Apoyo de CLASS
Dominio(s):
Bebé: Cuidado Sensible
Niño pequeño: Apoyo Emocional y Conductual
PreK: Apoyo Instruccional
Dimensión(es):
Bebé: Exploración Guiada, Apoyo Temprano al Lenguaje
Niño pequeño: Consideración Hacia las Perspectivas del Niño, Facilitación del Aprendizaje y Desarrollo, Calidad de la Retroalimentación
PreK: Formatos de Aprendizaje Instruccional, Calidad de la Retroalimentación
Instructora: Lisseth Palacios
Fechas: martes, 2 y 9 de diciembre
Hora: 7:00 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.
En esta capacitación, los educadores explorarán como las celebraciones en los ambientes de la infancia temprana pueden ir más allá de lo decorativo. Las celebraciones para los niños y familias pueden ser momentos de conexión, gratitud, y pertenencia mutua en comunidad. Los educadores aprenderán a través de reflexión y actividades practicas para honrar la diversidad cultural y crear rituales significativos en las experiencias cotidianas de las aulas.
CDA Áreas: 2 & 4
VELDS: Desarrollo Socioemocional, Desarrollo Cognitivo
Apoyo de CLASS
Dominio(s):
Bebé: Cuidado Sensible
Niño pequeño: Apoyo Emocional y Conductual
PreK: Apoyo Instruccional, Organización del Aula
Dimensión(es):
Bebé: Clima Relacional
Niño pequeño: Clima Positivo
PreK: Clima Positivo y Formatos de Aprendizaje Instruccional
Instructora: Lisseth Palacios
Fechas: martes 16 de diciembre
Hora: 7:00 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.
Family Child Care Business Workshops
In this presentation we will be covering childhood immunizations, respiratory illnesses, and best practices for providers to handle and navigate respiratory illnesses exposures while in childcare
CDA Areas: 1& 5
Instructors: Shafiq Qureshi and Frank Owusu
Date: Tuesday, 12/2
Time: 7:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.
In this presentation we will be covering childhood immunizations, respiratory illnesses, and best practices for providers to handle and navigate respiratory illnesses exposures while in childcare
CDA Areas: 1& 5 Instructors: Shafiq Qureshi and Frank Owusu
Date: Wednesday, 12/3 Time: 7:00 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.
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