December 20, 2018 Let’s Chat About Early Language and Literacy The PA Office of Child Development and Early Learning (OCDEL) and Early Intervention Technical Assistance (EITA) are hosting chat sessions during the winter months to discuss early language and literacy development topics. Join these 30-minute online chat sessions, offered at 8:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m., to discover resources to share with families and implement in your classroom or center. These sessions will take place on the second and fourth Friday of every month from January through March 2019. Chat Sessions Disconnecting to Connect | January 11, 2019 Building Vocabulary | January 25, 2019 Storybook Reading | February 8, 2019 Print in the Environment | February 22, 2019 Playing with Sounds | March 8, 2019 Supporting Dual Language Learners | March 22, 2019 More Information Visit their event website to learn more about the topics, credits, and registration. PQAS credit hours and Infant/Toddler hours available.
OCDEL Reports Progress on Infant/Toddler Policies In 2017, the PA Office of Child Development and Early Learning (OCDEL) and stakeholders completed a policy scan with National State Capacity Building Center that identified short, medium, and long-term policy goals to support infants and toddlers in Pennsylvania. Goal Progress OCDEL is proud to report progress on those goals: Short-Term Goal The short-term goal to “adopt a shared definition of relationship-based care” across the ECE system is underway. OCDEL and Early Learning Resource Center (ELRC) staff, in partnership with the National Center on Parent, Family, and Community Engagement, are focusing on Relationship-Based Competencies and developing shared definitions and language across systems. Medium-Term Goal The medium-term goal is to “develop a triaging protocol that creates a system akin to Early Head Start that will connect families of infants and toddlers in child care with comprehensive health (including oral) and family support services in their community.” This goal is reflected in the work of the ELRCs which are charged with ensuring all families have access to needed services beyond child care, such as CHIP, WIC, and family supports, including home visiting. Long-Term Goal The long-term goal is to “explore vouchers and contracts that fund the true cost of serving infants and toddlers.” Through the Infant/Toddler Contracted Slot Pilot, OCDEL is piloting contracted slots for infants and toddlers in Keystone STAR 3 and 4 programs. The pilot seeks to understand how contracted slots can support continuity of care for infants, toddlers, and their families and the financial impact on high-quality providers interested in seeking financial stability for the classrooms serving their youngest learners. More Information Additional details will be released in later editions of the PA Early Ed News. *Information provided by the PA Early Ed News
November 27, 2018 Dancing Our Way Through STEM Providing children opportunities to explore creative movement can spark so many natural connections to STEM concepts. During this interactive workshop, educators will participate in a variety of dance focused strategies that will deepen understanding in science, math, ingenuity, and other fundamental STEM concepts. Participants will have the opportunity to demonstrate their own creative movement techniques that can support student’s STEM learning. Register here. Act 48 and PQAS credit hours available.
November 19, 2018 2019 Changes to the PA One Book Program In 2019, the Pennsylvania One Book Program will adapt to meet the increasing need to support early literacy to Pennsylvania’s youngest learners. These changes include a shift in focus to get more books into the hands and homes of more children. Available Books There will be two books available for purchase: “Barnyard Banter” by Denise Fleming For infants and toddlers (available in English). “Not a Box” by Antoinette Portis For children ages three to five (available in English and Spanish). There are no minimum or fixed quantities required. Early learning providers, library staff, and community partners can purchase the exact number of books needed. To keep costs more affordable, paperback options are the only available option. Purchasing Details Purchasing of the two titles are through Scholastic Publishing Family and Community Engagement (FACE) program. If your organization already participates in the FACE or Scholastic Literacy Partners Program, you will just need to complete the order form available from Scholastic Publishing. Click here for the order form. A two-page Family Fun Guide for both titles will be available on the PA One Book website (www.paonebook.org) by January 2019. Other guides aligned with the Pennsylvania Standards for Early Childhood will also be available with activities for use by early childhood educators and families. With this change, copies of the One Book titles will no longer be mailed to early learning programs, however, anyone may purchase and donate copies to child care homes and centers, as well as families. *Information provided by NAEYC*
November 7, 2018 The Paulson Recreation Center Reopens in Lincoln-Lemington The City of Pittsburgh announced that the Paulson Recreation Center in Lincoln-Lemington is reopening today, November 7, 2018, after undergoing three months of renovations. While the center is reopened for all residents – including popular afterschool activities for area youth – further improvements will be made to the building through the rest of the year. Improvements completed and underway include: Complete new HVAC/heating & cooling system Two new roofs–flat roof portion of building and pitched roof portion of building Repointing and restoring of the block side of the building: painting and waterproofing Addition of new windows to main teaching room of building New ventilation system added to kitchen Interior repainting New concrete steps and entryway New doors coming in late December and new Rec Center sign coming soon Gym floor stripped, scrubbed and refurbished The budget for the work was $432,986.90. Interested in Visiting? The Paulson Rec Center is located at 1201 Paulson Avenue and is open 12-8 p.m., Monday through Friday. The center can be reached by telephone at 412.665.3627. *Information Provided by The City of Pittsburgh‘s November 7, 2018 Press Release*
June 18, 2018 P.R.I.D.E. Pop Up Mini Art Festival Visit the P.R.I.D.E. Pop Up Mini Art festivals and experience fun activities designed to help young Black children learn about and celebrate their race, culture, and heritage. Children ages 3 to 8 will enjoy activity stations designed by trained artists and educators. Families are invited to enjoy free food, performances, art, and music! Festival Dates Upcoming festivals will be held at the following locations: East Liberty July 14, 2019, 12:00 – 4:00 p.m. | Kingsley Association Homewood August 25, 2019, 12:00 – 4:00 p.m. | Homewood YMCA Hill District September 15, 2019, 12:00 – 4:00 p.m. | Center for Nurturing Families Questions For more information, contact Adam Flango at 412.383.8726 or AdamFlango@pitt.edu. Share this flyer with your network.
