Social and emotional skills enable children to learn from teachers, make friends, express thoughts and feelings and cope with frustration. These skills directly impact a child’s ability to engage in opportunities that build cognitive learning such as early literacy, numeracy and language skills. 

The Resilient Classroom program is a new social emotional learning (SEL) curriculum that equips classroom educators with the skills and understanding needed to promote a healthy, positive development for all children. Supported by an expert coach, educators complete six self-paced training modules covering topics such as educator resilience, understanding the brain, implementing SEL strategies into the early childhood classroom and addressing individual child concerns. Through scaffolded experiences, participants explore concepts, engage in structured skill-building activities and then apply their knowledge in their classroom.

The Resilient Classroom can be used with all groups in early education settings, from infants through pre-K. Most content is appropriate for implementation with multiple age levels. Module 4 has been split into two options (4a and 4b), in order to provide specified and developmentally appropriate content to infant and toddler teachers (4a) and preschool and pre-K teachers (4b).

The Resilient Classroom uses an explore, practice, apply instructional model that allows participants to uncover learning in a risk-free environment and apply learning to a real-life classroom. Online asynchronous learning allows for independent study through a series of micro lessons providing theoretical foundations of core concepts, which are then connected in a practical way through job-embedded learning.

Positive experiences can ease toxic stress and help children grow into more resilient, healthier adults. The Healthy Outcomes of Positive Experiences (HOPE) framework identifies ways that communities and organizations can better ensure that all children have more positive experiences. Learn more here. 

Devereux Early Childhood Assessments (DECA) are behavior rating scales that provide an assessment of protective factors central to social and emotional health and resilience in children. Collecting this data allows educators to gauge student progress in developing healthy relationships, regulating emotions and showing initiative. Learn more here: DECA Guide & DECA FAQs.

The Resilient Classroom is open to early educators who work with—or regularly support—young children ages 0–5. This includes those currently employed in early learning settings such as family child care homes, licensed centers, registered ministries, school‑based programs and Head Start/Early Head Start, whether working in the classroom, in administration or in a combined role. 

Early educators who are not currently working in a formal program are also eligible if they regularly engage with young children in another setting—such as volunteering in a classroom, supporting a Sunday school or youth group or helping with early learning activities in the community—and can apply the strategies with infants/toddlers or preschool/pre‑K children. 

All participants must agree to attend a 45‑minute orientation session, complete 10 hours of self‑paced online modules, implement strategies with a group of young children and share reflections on their experience. 

Early educators who are not currently working in a formal program are also eligible if they regularly engage with young children in another setting—such as volunteering in a classroom, supporting a Sunday school or youth group or helping with early learning activities in the community—and can apply the strategies with infants/toddlers or preschool/pre‑K children.   

Yes, you can begin implementing strategies with children in your program around the third week of the series. If your school start date will be later, please reach out to us at educatorsolutions@earlylearningindiana.org.  

Yes. Nonprofit organizations serving children ages 0–5 in Indiana may participate as a site. Programs that enroll as a full site will receive additional support to measure child outcomes, including the opportunity to complete a DECA (Devereux Early Childhood Assessment) at the beginning of the program and again at the end to help track growth and impact. If you are interested in participating as a program, please reach out directly to educatorsolutions@earlylearningindiana.org.  

Yes. Nonprofit organizations serving children ages 0–5 in Indiana may participate as a site. Programs that enroll as a full site will receive additional support to measure child outcomes, including the opportunity to complete a DECA (Devereux Early Childhood Assessment) at the beginning of the program and again at the end to help track growth and impact. If you are interested in participating as a program, please reach out directly to educatorsolutions@earlylearningindiana.org.  

The Resilient Classroom is an 11‑week program. Participants can expect to spend 1–2 hours per week completing self‑paced online modules and applying strategies in their work with young children. Optional office hours will also be available throughout the program for individual or small‑group coaching. 

All participants must attend a 45‑minute orientation session, complete 10 hours of self‑paced online modules, implement strategies with a group of young children and share reflections on their experience. 

Participants receive a comprehensive set of supports to help bring social emotional learning to life in their work with young children. This includes: 

• A new social emotional learning curriculum paired with self-paced training modules on educator resilience, brain development, SEL strategies for early childhood classrooms and addressing individual child needs. 
• Supportive coaching that offers guidance as participants explore concepts, build skills and apply new strategies in their classroom or learning environment.
• A Safe Space Kit with materials that support educator well-being and the implementation of SEL practices throughout the day. 

Yes, participating educators will receive certificates for up to 18 professional development hours.

For general questions about the Resilient Classroom, please email EducatorSolutions@earlylearningindiana.org.