WVIT II

WVIT II – Relationship Based Care:

WVIT II consists of a 45-hour course for caregivers (1o classroom sessions and a practicum) and a six hour course for administrators (2 classroom sessions). Caregivers and administrators enrolled in this program will have successfully completed WVIT I. This professional development program aligns with WV STARS Core Knowledge and Core Competencies for Early Care and Education Professionals.

While WVIT I provided an overview of quality infant/toddler care, WVIT II focuses on the heart of quality care – the relationship of the caregiver with the child, the child’s family, and with colleagues. Through this course, caregivers and administrators have the opportunity to examine the relationships in their infant/toddler programs and learn strategies for assessing and strengthening the quality of their programs with respect to those relationships.

Through participation in WVIT II, caregivers will increase their knowledge and skills related to planning, implementing, and evaluating relationship-based, individualized infant/toddler programs. WVIT II builds on key concepts presented in WVIT I, especially those related to building respectful, nurturing relationships with children, their families, and colleagues. Information and strategies from relationship-based resources such as the Program for Infant Toddler Care (PITC), and the Pyramid Model from the Center on the Social and Emotional Foundations for Early Learning (CSEFEL) will be incorporated throughout the training sessions.

The content for WVIT II for caregivers is presented in 3 modules (35 classroom hours) with a 20-hour practicum (equaling 10 classroom hours) to be completed side-by-side with the modules.

Module I – Relationships: The Key to Quality Infant/Toddler Care

Module I consists of three 3.5 hour classroom sessions. This module covers the importance of positive nurturing relationships with children, families, and colleagues based on information from the Pyramid Model and PITC. Primary Caregiving is presented as a vehicle for implementing and maintaining a relationship-based program. In addition, participants have the opportunity to explore and practice strategies to enhance communication, a key factor in the development of strong, supportive relationships.

Module II – Supporting the Unique Development of InfantsĀ and Toddlers

Module II, which is four 3.5 hour classroom sessions, focuses on the uniqueness of the 0-3 developmental period and the understanding of curriculum in support of that development throughout the environment and the daily routine. Emphasis is placed on understanding the importance of building a curriculum that responds to the different stages of each child’s individual development.

Module III – Strategy for Action: Applying Reflective Observation and Assessment Strategies

Module III consists of three 3.5 hour sessions and provides strategies for purposeful collection of information about each child through observation, family interactions, and other assessment tools. Strategies are provided on how to use this information to enrich relationships and to plan intentionally to support the development of individual children.

Practicum: Activities in Support of Learning Objectives

A 20-hour practicum (which is equal to 10 classroom hours) is included as an important part of WVIT II. The practicum provides opportunities for participants to reflect on their practice, and to develop and implement new strategies to enhance the quality of relationships within their programs. During Module I, caregivers are introduced to the practicum purpose and process. They also select their practicum project from several choices that align with the objectives of WVIT II. The practicum will be an on-going activity throughout the remaining modules with a final presentation at the end of the course.