September 25, 2024 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 2024, National Today October is Head Start Awareness Month, Trying Together Head Start Awareness Month Digital Toolkit, ECLKC Head Start Awareness Month, National Head Start Association DYSLEXIA AWARENESS MONTH October is Dyslexia Awareness Month, International Dyslexia Association Understanding Dyslexia, Nemours KidsHealth Understanding Dyslexia, Child Mind Institute 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 PA Promise Releases Book List for Families and Friends, Buzzword 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 2, 2024, National Today Celebrate Walk to School Day, Action for Healthy Kids OCTOBER 5 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 11 Ways to Observe Indigenous People’s Day with Children, Rebekah Gienapp What is Indigenous People’s Day? Here’s a Look at Its History, Associated Press 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
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
October 5, 2022 October is Dyslexia Awareness Month Dyslexia Awareness Month in October aims to support those with this learning difficulty. Dyslexia is not a disorder of any kind; but it is a learning impairment that causes problems with writing, reading, and spelling. About The intelligence of dyslexic people is unaffected. This misunderstanding of the condition leads to stigmas, which Dyslexia Awareness Month aims to eradicate. The International Dyslexia Association defines dyslexia as the following: “Dyslexia is a specific learning disability that is neurobiological in origin. It is characterized by difficulties with accurate and/or fluent word recognition and by poor spelling and decoding abilities. These difficulties typically result from a deficit in the phonological component of language that is often unexpected in relation to other cognitive abilities and the provision of effective classroom instruction. Secondary consequences may include problems in reading comprehension and reduced reading experience that can impede growth of vocabulary and background knowledge.” Resources In support of Dyslexia Awareness Month, Trying Together, as well as our Buzzword program, have provided resources on dyslexia, and other learning impairments: “Dyslexia” Isn’t a Dirty Word: Let’s End the Stigma and Get Students the Training They Need (Pittsburgh Business Journals) How to Teach Kids With Dyslexia to Read (Child Mind Institute) Understanding Dyslexia (Child Mind Institute) International Dyslexia Association Fact Sheets (International Dyslexia Association) Free Early Literacy Materials for PA Early Learning Programs (Trying Together) Buzzword List of children’s books surrounding dyslexia: Aaron Slater, Illustrator by Andrea Beaty Brilliant Bea by Shaina Rudolph A Walk in the Words by Hudson Talbott Back to Front and Upside Down! by Claire Alexander Just Ask! by Sonia Sotomayor You can also check out the latest video from Buzzword regarding a great, amazing read for children called “Aaron Slater, Illustrator” by Andrea Beaty.
April 3, 2020 Strategies for Virtual Learning for Students with Dyslexia Are you interested in learning about tips, techniques, and strategies that are designed to support students with dyslexia? Join Learning Ally on April 9 for the webinar, “Strategies for Virtual Learning for Students with Dyslexia.” About The thought of accomplishing meaningful virtual learning for students is a daunting one. When you consider the complexities of providing intervention, accommodations, and other supports for students with dyslexia in a virtual learning environment, the task becomes even more intimidating. It doesn’t have to be though! Join presenters for this webinar to learn tips, techniques, and strategies designed to keep your students learning. Presenters make sure you know what students need in order to thrive and leave you with a list of go-to resources that will prepare you to deliver instruction in a variety of virtual technology environments. This webinar will be of value to pre-k through high school teachers and school and district leaders. There will be time for questions at the end of the presentation. Registration To register and learn more, visit the event webpage.
