March 1, 2024 How To Celebrate Read Across America Week March 2 – 6 is known as National Read Across America Week. This week is the nation’s largest celebration of reading. The National Education Association (NEA) established this week of celebration to educate on the importance of reading and its benefits, especially for young children and adults. The Read Across America campaign is not only emphasized in March but all year long. Read Across of America has a calendar where each month a theme is highlighted with a book of the month. This month’s theme is celebrating diversity. Alongside the inspiring calendar, Read Across America has an article on how to celebrate this special week. Some of the ideas listed in this article are: Holding a “Book Tasting” Hosting Guest Readers Having Multicultural Festival Organizing Nature Connections Introducing Music to Readers Pittsburgh Early Literacy Resources Reading does not always need to be a national celebration, but it can be a local one as well. Here is a list of local Pittsburgh Early Literacy resources: Reading Is Fundamental Pittsburgh Reading Is Fundamental Pittsburgh StoryMobile Schedule Ready4K Reading Ready Pittsburgh Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library Free Book Program Hill District Early Literacy Initiative (HDELI) Learning Disabilities Association of Pennsylvania Free Reading Tutoring Saturdays | 10 a.m. – 12 p.m. For students living in the Hill District. Dance the Story at Home!, Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre Carlow’s Dyslexia Learning Lab, Carlow University PGH Reads Literacy Program for Beginner Readers, PGH Reads Smash Word! 412 Rhymes On Ramp to Reading Literacy Pittsburgh Classes and Tutoring, Literacy Pittsburgh Homewood Short Story Reading Group, Pitt Community Engagement Center (CEC) CLP Early Learning Courses, Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh
September 26, 2023 Resources for October Observances Various organizations, states, and nations recognize a number of observances each month. Resources help parents, caregivers, and child care professionals acknowledge and navigate them. Here is a list of resources for October observances: Month-Long Observances Head Start Awareness Month Head Start Awareness Month-October 2023, National Today October is Head Start Awareness Month, Trying Together Dyslexia Awareness Month October is Dyslexia Awareness Month, International Dyslexia Association Understanding Dyslexia, Nemours KidsHealth Understanding Dyslexia, Child Mind Institute Hispanic Heritage Month (continued) Family Guide to Discussing Race and Equity with Young Children, Trying Together Latino Children Represent Over a Quarter of the Child Population Nationwide, National Research Center on Hispanic Children & Families Key Facts About Young Latinos, One of the Nation’s Fastest-Growing Populations, Pew Research Center Characteristics of the Early Childhood Workforce Serving Latino Children, National Research Center on Hispanic Children & Families Celebrate Latin American and Hispanic Heritage Month With These Tasty Recipes!, PBS Kids for Parents National Book Month Why Is It Important to Read to Your Child? Child Mind Institute Kids & Teens Booklists, Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh Supporting Early Literacy Development, Buzzword Pittsburgh Days of Recognition October 2 is National Child Health Day Childhood Physical Health, Trying Together Childhood Physical Health: Resources, Trying Together Supporting Childhood Physical Health: A Guide for Families, Trying Together Using Play to Support Children’s Physical Health, Trying Together October 4 is National Walk to School Day National Walk & Bike To School Day-October 4, 2023, National Today Celebrate Walk to School Day, Action For Healthy Kids October 7 is National Play Outside Day Using Play to Support Children’s Physical Health, Playful Pittsburgh Collaborative Outdoor Play Trends, Playful Pittsburgh Collaborative The Benefits of Outdoor Play: Why It Matters, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia October 9 is Indigenous Peoples’ Day 9 Ways To Observe Indigenous Peoples’ Day With Children, Rebekah Gienapp October 10 is World Mental Health Day Childhood Mental Health, Trying Together Caring for the Caregiver, Trying Together Mental Health Resources for Child Care Providers in Allegheny County, Early Learning Resource Center Grandfamily Tip Sheets Provide Information on Self-Care and Youth Mental Health, Trying Together Parental Mental Health Impacts on Children, Trying Together October 11 is National Coming Out Day Gender, Gender Identity, and LGBTQ+ Inclusion, Trying Together Family Guide: Gender and Gender Identity, Trying Together Non-Gendered Play in Early Childhood, Trying Together How Are Sex, Gender, and Gender Identity Defined? Trying Together Resource List: Books to Celebrate Gender Expression, Inclusion, and Pride, Trying Together