Communities of Practice

Communities of Practice (CoP) are formed by early childhood educators and leaders who share a passion for teaching children and engage in the process of learning how to do it better as they interact regularly and support one another. Most Communities of Practice meet monthly, with the same group of teachers or leaders attending over an extended period of time.

Registration is now open for the  Fall 2025-Spring 2026 Communities of Practice 

Registration for the 2025-2026 Communities of Practice (CoP) is now open. Registration information can be found in each CoP description. Monthly registration is also open for the Directors Essentials learning circle. Visit our training calendar to learn more about the Directors Essentials at www.4cforkids.org/training.

CoPs are free to join, and all sessions are approved for ECE-TRIS credit. Ongoing attendance is a requirement. Thank you to our sponsors at the Lift a Life Novak Family Foundation, Metro United Way, and the Family Child Care Network of Kentucky for making this a free professional development opportunity for our early childhood community.

Fall 2025 - Spring 2026 Communities of Practice

PLAY-ology: Play is the Foundation for School Readiness

• Nine-month Community of Practice: September 2025 - May 2026
• Day and Time: Second Thursday of the month 12:30-2:30 pm (beginning 9/11)
• Location: 4-C, 908 S. 8th St. Suite 201, Louisville, KY 40203 (map)
• ECE-TRIS credit approved: Earn up to 16 hours
• Cost: Free
• Registration: Contact Liz Walker at [email protected].

PLAY-ology is more than training—it’s a movement rooted in the belief that play is the foundation for school readiness. This Community of Practice brings together early childhood educators for an inspiring, interactive professional journey designed to uplift your teaching, deepen your knowledge, and spark your creativity. Over the course of nine months, participants will gather for monthly 2-hour sessions (16 hours of professional credit total) where play-based learning takes center stage. Each session will focus on a different aspect of play and development—ranging from brain science to nature play to literacy—and will always include time for reflection, resource-sharing, and joy. Whether you're new to play-based learning or looking to reignite your passion, PLAY-ology will leave you inspired, informed, and reconnected to the “why” behind your work. To learn more about this track & to register, please contact Liz Walker at [email protected].

Progettazione: A Collaborative Process of Planning and Design

• Nine-month Community of Practice: September 2025 - May 2026
• Day and Time: Fourth Tuesday of the month 9:30 – 11:30am (first session 9/23)
• Location: 4-C, 908 S. 8th St. Suite 201, Louisville, KY 40203 (map)
• ECE-TRIS credit approved: Earn up to 16 hours
• Cost: Free
• Registration: Contact Sarah Bonifer at [email protected].

This Community of Practice is for experienced educators who are familiar with the Reggio Emilia Approach and want to deepen their practice. This is an opportunity to connect with a community of educators once a month to learn and reflect together. During our sessions we will discuss various forms of professional development, consider the universal interests of children, offer hands-on opportunities for the exploration of materials, and tour Reggio inspired centers. This group of professionals must be committed to sharing and co-constructing knowledge together to support the work of early childhood education. To learn more about this track & to register, please contact Sarah Bonifer at [email protected].

Creciendo Juntos: Una Comunidad de Práctica diseñada para Educadores de Habla Hispana/Growing Together: A Community of Practice for Spanish-Speaking Educators

• Nueve Meses Comunidad de Práctica/Nine-month Community of Practice: Septiembre 2025 - Mayo 2026/September 2025 - May 2026
• Día y Hora/Day and Time: Tercer miércoles de cada mes, de 6:00 pm a 8:00 pm (primera sesión: 9/17)/Third Wednesday of each month, from 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm (first session: 9/17)
• Ubicación/Location: 4-C, 908 S. 8th St. Suite 201, Louisville, KY 40203 (mapa/map)
• ECE TRIS Horas de Crédito/ECE-TRIS Credit: Gana hasta 16 horas de crédito/Earn up to 16 hours
• Precio/Cost: Gratis/Free
• Registrarte/Registration: Contacta a [email protected]

¡Descubre, comparte y fortalece tus prácticas profesionales con nosotros!

Te invitamos a participar en nuestra Comunidad de Práctica, un espacio colaborativo diseñado para que los profesionales de la primera infancia puedan reflexionar, intercambiar experiencias y fortalecer sus conocimientos, con el propósito de brindar un mejor acompañamiento a los niños pequeños y a sus familias. A lo largo del año, profundizaremos en la comprensión del desarrollo infantil desde el nacimiento hasta los cinco años, abordando temas clave como el desarrollo cognitivo, físico, socioemocional y del lenguaje. Cada sesión mensual incluirá un tema específico, actividades prácticas, espacios de diálogo entre colegas y oportunidades para compartir experiencias. Los participantes recibirán estrategias concretas para acompañar a los niños en cada etapa de su desarrollo, herramientas para fortalecer la participación de las familias y recursos para crear entornos inclusivos que respondan a las necesidades de todos los niños. Para más información o para registrarte, por favor contacta a: [email protected].

Discover, Share, and Strengthen Your Professional Practices with Us!

We invite you to join our Community of Practice, a collaborative space designed for early childhood professionals to reflect, exchange experiences, and strengthen their knowledge to better support young children and their families. Throughout the year, we will deepen our understanding of child development from birth to age five, exploring key areas such as cognitive, physical, social-emotional, and language development. Each monthly session will focus on a specific topic and include hands-on activities, peer discussions, and opportunities to share experiences. Participants will gain concrete strategies to support children at every stage of development, practical tools to strengthen family engagement, and ideas to create inclusive environments that respond to the needs of all children. For more information or to register, please contact: Mavie Leon Diaz at [email protected].

Family Child Care Community of Practice

• Nine-month Community of Practice (3 mini-series): September 2025 - May 2026
• Day and Time: Third Tuesday of the month 6:00-8:00 pm (beginning 9/16)
• Location: 4-C, 908 S. 8th St. Suite 201, Louisville, KY 40203 (map)
• ECE-TRIS credit approved
• Cost: Free
• Registration: For more information or to register, please contact: Trish Kite-Hannon at [email protected].

September – November 2025: Exploring Mental Health in Young Children
Join us for a 3-month Community of Practice (COP) mini-series. Participants will be introduced to the topic of mental health for young children in the Family Child Care setting. Training will provide attendees with knowledge to understand the importance of mental health in young children, warning signs of mental illness, and ways to create a supportive environment for children’s emotional well-being. We will explore this topic through the lens of Protective Factors, as well as self-care for the educator.

January-February 2026: Meeting the Needs of Every Child: Inclusive Approaches in Family Child Care
In this two-month mini-series, Family Child Care Providers will deepen their understanding of how to effectively support mixed-age groups and children at varying developmental levels, including those with delays and disabilities. Participants will explore practical strategies to adapt activities and environments to meet the needs of all children in their care. Through hands-on experiences and collaborative discussions, providers will learn how to adapt their programs for different ages and developmental stages, promote inclusive practices that support positive growth for all children, and create flexible learning opportunities that respond to individual needs. These interactive sessions will provide valuable tools, real-world examples, and opportunities for providers to share and grow with one another. Join us to build your confidence, expand your toolkit, and strengthen your program’s ability to serve every child successfully!

March – May 2026: The Why Behind the Play: A Schema-Inspired Learning Series
Ever wonder why children love to dump, spin, or line things up over and over again? There’s more to it than meets the eye and once you learn to spot the patterns in their play, everything changes. Join us for a 3-month Community of Practice where we’ll unlock the secret language of play and explore how repeated behaviors reveal how children think, learn, and grow. Through hands-on activities, real-life examples, and collaborative reflection, you’ll gain fresh insight into the children you care for and walk away with simple, powerful strategies to support their development in meaningful ways. Get ready to see play through a whole new lens. You’ll leave each session inspired, equipped, and energized to turn everyday moments into lasting learning.