April 11, 2023 Dancing Our Way Through STEM Providing children with opportunities to explore creative movement can spark so many natural connections to STEM concepts. During this interactive workshop provided through the Trust Arts Education Center, early childhood and K-12 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. Breakfast will be included. PQAS and ACT 48 Credit available. To learn more and register, visit the Trust Arts Education Center event page.
April 5, 2023 Applications Open for Educators’ Neighborhood 2023-24 Cohort The application for the 2023-24 cohort of the Fred Rogers Institute Educators’ Neighborhood is now open. Educators’ Neighborhood is a community of educators who learn together through the life and work of Fred Rogers by studying artifacts from the Fred Rogers Archive and connecting ideas to daily practice. All applications must be submitted by May 26 at 5 p.m. About Educators’ Neighborhood This year-long opportunity brings together a cohort of educators from across the world who learn together, primarily through virtual meetings, and consider how to deepen their application of Fred Rogers’ work and theory to their work with children. The Fred Rogers Institute defines “educators” as any adult who directly serves children, youth, families, and/or other educators. Members of the 2023-24 cohort will have opportunities to participate in community discussion, present to other educators and leaders in the community, and attend: monthly whole community meetings to connect with educators across different contexts monthly small group meetings with other educators from similar contexts an opening and closing community convening to prepare for and reflect on learning from the year a mid-year community convening featuring presentations from educators within the community Application Process Before completing the application, applicants may want to consider and prepare responses to the open-response questions. Those questions include: Why do you want to be part of the Educators’ Neighborhood community? (50-100 words) What questions and topics would you like to explore with others in the community? (25-50 words) “There’s a world of difference between insisting on someone’s doing something and establishing an atmosphere in which that person can grow into wanting to do it.” What comes to mind as you reflect on this quote in the context of your work? (50-100 words) To apply, visit the Fred Rogers Institute website and complete the online application. Learn More To learn more, visit the Fred Rodgers Institute website or sign up for the Educators’ Neighborhood newsletter.
March 10, 2023 Prioritizing and Strengthening Early Childhood Systems Join the National Black Child Development Institute (NBCDI) and the Administration for Children and Families (ACF) for this webinar featuring Dr. Leah Austin, the Chief Executive Officer at NBCDI, and January Contreras, the Assistant Secretary at ACF. In this webinar, speakers will address critical issues impacting Black children and families, highlight strategies to resolve them, and share the role their organizations play in that resolution. Session Details Thursday, March 30 | 12 – 1 p.m. Virtual Register Learn More This webinar is part of NBCDI’s Virtual Learning Series. The Virtual Learning Series is an opportunity to engage in meaningful conversations about early childhood education, child welfare, health and wellness, and other issues impacting Black children and families. To learn more, visit the National Black Child Development Institute website.
March 8, 2023 Child Care Providers to Invited to Join Family and Group Child Care Home Committee Pennsylvania’s Office of Child Development and Early Learning (OCDEL) is inviting child care providers throughout Pennsylvania to participate in the Family Child Home (FCCH) and Group Child Care Home (GCCH) Committee. Pennsylvania child care providers interested in participating with the committee will have to sign-up by Monday, March 20, 2023. About the Family Child Care Home (FCCH) and Group Child Care Home (GCCH) Committee The goal of the FCCH and GCCH Committee is to form a culturally relevant and diverse group of child care providers and educators that is representative of the state of Pennsylvania. This group will connect to celebrate and share their strengths, struggles, and uniqueness with each other, as well as collaborate to identify effective early childhood strategies, enhance leadership skills, enhance quality-of-care provided to children and families that are served in Pennsylvania. Discussions will also include updates on state and federal initiatives centered around child care, sharing of resources, opportunities, and concerns specific to child care providers, and thoughts on general workplace well-being for child care educators and professionals. Meetings will be held virtually by Zoom in the evening, on a quarterly basis, with the opportunity to meet with the FCCH Coordinator during monthly office hours. The date and time of first meeting has not been announced yet. See the flyer for more details. Interested child care providers in the state of Pennsylvania can express their interest in joining the Committee directly with OCDEL.
ECE Professionals Invited to Participate in Workplace Well-Being Research Study The Office of Child Development and Early Learning (OCDEL) has announced an opportunity for for early childhood education (ECE) professionals to participate in an early access research study – Workplace Well-Being, Powered by Science! – to measure the impact of the Healthy Minds program‘s newest offering. In 2022, OCDEL partnered with Healthy Minds Innovations, a non-profit organization dedicated to the science of human flourishing, to bring the Healthy Minds@Work app to Pennsylvania ECE professionals. About ECE teams of two or more from each center or program who have not yet used the Healthy Minds app are invited to apply for the research study, which is set to begin in April 2023. Participation details include: Participation in a four-week well-being program, tailored to suit the participant’s needs with short, 3-10 min activities using the latest tools. Three 20- to 30-minute sessions of research activities (surveys and web-based mini-games). These sessions will occur: Upon enrollment Immediately following the four-week Healthy Minds program Three months later Some users will be invited for an optional interview with the Healthy Minds Innovations team. Participants will also have the chance to receive an Amazon.com gift card. The Workplace Well-Being, Powered by Science research program is designed to improve the sense of belonging and inclusion; decrease stress and burnout; and reconnect with the individual’s sense of purpose at work. Healthy Minds Innovations will keep all responses private and share only aggregated findings to improve the program and support other organizations. Participation in the Workplace Well-Being, Powered by Science research program is optional. A live kick-off event will be announced soon. For more information on how to participate in the program as an ECE program or center team, visit the PA Keys website or contact Marnie at healthyminds@pakeys.org.
February 14, 2023 Celebrating Joy & Harmony: 10th Annual Education Student Affiliate Dinner In our high-tech, high-pressure educational environment, it is so easy to forget how children and teachers need to experience the joy and fun of learning. They need to experience it without stress and fear of failure, but with confidence, success, and high-quality experiences of delight. Through this, children make meaningful connections and feel valued, confident, and safe in loving classroom communities. If you are an educator looking to bring more joy into your classroom, join Seton Hill University for this annual event, featuring Mimi Brodsky Chenfeld. Brodskey Chenfeld is an educational consultant, teacher, and the author of “Still Teaching in the Key of Life: Joyful Stories From Early Childhood Settings.” Event Details Wednesday, April 12 | 5 – 8:30 p.m. Cecilian Hall Administration Building (2nd Floor), Seton Hill University 1 Seton Hill Drive Greensburg, PA 15601 Cost: $25 Register Interested individuals must register by Monday, April 3. Learn More Event schedule: 5:00 Registration, appetizers 5:30 Welcome 6:00 Dinner 7:00 Keynote Speaker 8:00 Raffle/Closing While Seton Hill students, faculty, and staff are encouraged to attend, all members of the Greater Pittsburgh community are welcome at this event. To learn more about this event, visit the Seton Hill University website.
February 8, 2023 Collaborating for Inclusive Practices in Early Childhood: Focus on Attitudes and Beliefs This course looks at how our actions are shaped by our attitudes and beliefs, and how societal attitudes and beliefs have shaped service systems. Participants will have opportunities to explore the benefits of inclusion for all children and all adults, reflect on how their individual attitudes and beliefs were developed, and how they impact their practice, their colleagues and the service system. They will identify strategies teachers can use to create a sense of belonging for all children in the classroom, explore perceptions about disability and reflect on how attitudes and beliefs impact early care and education practices. Session Details Session Date: March 30 | 6:30 – 8:30 p.m. Location: 5604 Solway Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15217 Instructor: Shawna Mohler and Jillian Miller Standards: Child Development and Learning in Context, Professionalism as an Early Childhood Educator Registration Registration is now open. This session is eligible for 2 hours of PQAS and Act 48 credit. Registration closes on March 28, 2023. More Information For questions about the course or credit, contact Paige Kizior at paige@tryingtogether.org
Collaborating for Inclusive Practices in Early Childhood: Focus on Attitudes and Beliefs This course looks at how our actions are shaped by our attitudes and beliefs, and how societal attitudes and beliefs have shaped service systems. Participants will have opportunities to explore the benefits of inclusion for all children and all adults, reflect on how their individual attitudes and beliefs were developed, and how they impact their practice, their colleagues and the service system. They will identify strategies teachers can use to create a sense of belonging for all children in the classroom, explore perceptions about disability and reflect on how attitudes and beliefs impact early care and education practices. Session Details Session Date: March 9 | 6:30 – 8:30 p.m. | Virtual Instructor: Shawna Mohler and Jillian Miller Standards: Child Development and Learning in Context, Professionalism as an Early Childhood Educator Registration Registration is now open. This session is eligible for 2 hours of PQAS and Act 48 credit. Registration closes on March 7, 2023. More Information For questions about the course or credit, contact Paige Kizior at paige@tryingtogether.org
February 1, 2023 Robots in Your Out-of-School-Time Programs? Yes! Your Learners Won’t Want to Leave. Considering bringing robotics into your out-of-school-time (OST) programs? Join Kinderlab Robotics for this webinar on enhancing after school learning with robotics. Session Details Thursday, February 16 | 2 – 3 p.m. Virtual Register More Information During this webinar, panelists from museum, community outreach, and enrichment centers will: Share how they’ve used innovative STEAM robotics in OST settings.d Provide real examples of how robotics can be successfully implemented in diverse settings, including, out-of-school, afterschool, community events, and summer programs. Share how educators and caregivers can adapt those experiences for their own learning environment. Review the research and discuss the benefits of using robotics for your youngest learners.
OCDEL Seeks Families to Participate with the Early Childhood Comprehensive Systems Advisory Committee The Pennsylvania Office of Child Development and Early Learning (OCDEL) is seeking pregnant individuals and caregivers of children birth to age five to participate with the Early Childhood Comprehensive Systems (ECCS) Advisory Committee. Learn More The ECCS team seeks diverse parents and caregivers who have experiences with many aspects of maternal and early childhood services in Pennsylvania. Participants will have the opportunities to ensure their family voice is heard, valued and influential in decision making at the state level, as well as share their experiences with using services such as child care, Early Intervention, home visiting, local libraries, health care visits, and more. Honorarium and child care reimbursement will be provided. Selected family representatives will commit to a two-hour virtual quarterly meeting and a one-hour virtual prep meeting scheduled a few days prior to the quarterly meeting at the convenience of the family leaders on the Committee. The 2023 ECCS Advisory Committee meeting dates are March 22, July 20, and October 19 from noon to 2 p.m. Apply Interested individuals can apply online. Applications are due by February 15, 2023.
