This thirty-six hour, twelve session course focuses on developing an understanding of the RIELDS nine domains of learning and development and how they inform care and teaching; defining reflection and using reflection regularly; developing a working knowledge of the four components of curriculum: content, context, process, and teaching and facilitating. This training is intended to be an overview of curriculum, and to support the development of a curriculum framework. Participants will examine their classroom curriculum and align their practice to the standards.

Successful completion of either a RIELS training of completion of the Foundations course is required before beginning this course. Participants choosing this course should have previous training in child development, experience working with the 0-5 population, and be prepared to complete college-level written and reading assignments. This course is equal to a 100 level college course in difficultly, thus participants should have completed a GED or have a high school diploma.

Upon successful completion of this twelve session course, participants receive a Certificate of Achievement from the RI Department of Education and thirty-six hours of RIDE professional development credit. Participants who complete thirty-six hours of core training plus nine hours in the Next Steps series are eligible to receive three undergraduate credits through the University of Rhode Island.