Creativity Concepts

News

June 29, 2020

Creativity Concepts

Are you interested in learning about the role creativity plays in your early learning program? Join Trying Together on July 15 for our online course, “Creativity Concepts.”

About

This course will serve as an introduction to creativity and children’s developmental stages with arts learning. The course instructor will share ideas for visual art, music, movement prompts, and activities. A supply list will be shared before class for those interested in participating in hands-on artmaking.

All registrations must be submitted by Monday, July 13. Space is limited.

Course Details

  • Session Date: Wednesday, July 15 | 6 – 8 p.m.
  • Instructor: Alison Babusci
  • CKC: K11.C2
  • CDA Subject Area: Advancing children’s physical and intellectual development.
  • Two PQAS and ACT 48 hours available.

Registration

To register and learn more, visit the course webpage.

More Information

For more information, contact Community Engagement Assistant Rosie Hogan at rosie@tryingtogether.org.

WIDA Communication Strategies to Support Multilingual Children

News

June 22, 2020

WIDA Communication Strategies to Support Multilingual Children

Are you interested in learning developmentally appropriate strategies to support multilingual children in your early learning program? Join Trying Together Innovative Learning Strategist Mimi Loughead from July 13 through August 3 for a three-week online course, “WIDA Communication Strategies to Support Multilingual Children.”

About

During this three-week online course, participants will identify and apply developmentally appropriate academic language demands of routines, social interactions, and learning experiences for multilingual learners. Also, participants will learn about language supports to use in their environments to provide multiple meaningful opportunities for multilingual learners to use their own languages through the use of WIDA Early Years resources.

Course Details

    • Timeline: July 13 – August 3, 2020 (Three Weeks, Self-Guided)
    • Instructor: Mimi Loughead
    • CKC: K5.3 C2 and K5.7 C2
    • Keystone STARS Alignment: SQ. 3.4.3
    • CDA Subject Area: Understanding principles of child development.
    • Three PQAS and ACT 48 hours available.

Registration

To register, visit the event webpage. All registrations must be submitted by Friday, July 10. Space is limited.

More Information

For more information, contact Community Engagement Assistant Rosie Hogan at rosie@tryingtogether.org.

Everyday Interactions Matter: Noticing the Simple and Ordinary

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Everyday Interactions Matter: Noticing the Simple and Ordinary

Are you interested in learning how to maintain essential interactions with young children during this difficult time of masks and physical distancing? Join Trying Together on July 8 for our free online session, “Everyday Interactions Matter: Noticing the Simple and Ordinary.”

About

The primary ingredient of early childhood quality begins with the “everyday interactions” between educators and children. These simple and ordinary interactions that take place during play, transition, and daily routines form the very foundation of learning and growing. How can educators uphold these essential interactions with children during this challenging time of masks and physical distancing?

Early learning professionals are invited to join Trying Together on July 8 at for our online module “Everyday Interactions Matter: Noticing the Simple and Ordinary” to engage with the Everyday Interactions Matter approach through a process of careful observation, discussion, and self-reflection. As a part of the “Connections and Conversations: Virtual Check-Ins” series, this session will encourage educators to recognize powerful moments of connecting, sharing, growing, and belonging in their everyday interactions with young children.

Learning Objectives

    • Observe video footage of children and their caregivers in authentic settings and describe positive interactions.
    • Recognize moments of connecting, sharing, growing, and belonging in everyday moments in the early childhood setting.

Registration

To register, visit the event webpage. Registrations must be submitted by July 6, 2020. Space is limited.

Participants will receive the course Zoom link via email within 24 hours before the start date for the course. For questions, contact Rosie Hogan at rosie@tryingtogether.org or Sarah Grubb at sarah.elrc5@alleghenycounty.us.

Virtual Series Overview

Connections and Conversations: Virtual Check-Ins are interactive sessions that highlight topics of interest to the field of early childhood education. Participants will engage in virtual discussions via Zoom with child development experts while interacting with early learning practitioners to share questions, experiences, and expertise about the highlighted topic.

Sessions will be offered biweekly and will offer one hour of PQAS credit. Act 48 credit will not be offered.

Session Rules and Guidelines

These virtual discussions are designed to provide educators the opportunity to grow professionally and share knowledge on early childhood topics. During the meeting, participants should follow the guidelines below to ensure a successful virtual meeting for all participants.

    • Please allow all participants a chance to speak. Listen respectfully and actively.
    • Commit to learning about each other, not to debating the topic.
    • Embrace differences of opinion as healthy and support each person’s authentic self-expression.
    • Participants will be muted for the beginning portion of the session.
    • Participants may use the “Raise Hand” feature in Zoom to request an opportunity to comment or ask a question. Individuals will be temporarily unmuted by the moderator.
    • Participants may type a comment or question in the Chat or may send comments or questions directly to the moderator for them to share.
    • To receive PQAS credit, you must complete an evaluation at the end of the session and include your PD Registry number.
    • Have fun, make connections, and engage in the conversations!

More Information

For questions or more information, please contact Rosie Hogan at rosie@tryingtogether.org.

Choosing Child Care | Virtual Workshop

News

June 16, 2020

Choosing Child Care | Virtual Workshop

Choosing high-quality child care is a complex process, and to many it may feel overwhelming right now. Join the Center for Women Pittsburgh, Early Learning Resource Center (ELRC) Region 5, and Trying Together on June 28 for their virtual workshop “Choosing Child Care.”

About

Through this virtual workshop, participants will:

    • learn about the CDC guidelines that early learning professionals are incorporating into their programs;
    • hear questions they can use to ask providers about sanitation and physical distancing;
    • see a live demonstration a new search tool for child care in Allegheny County;
    • get tips on the application process, as well as what you need to apply for assistance; and
    • know how they can help advocate for needed changes to the child care system.

Registration

To register and learn more, visit the event webpage.

Fostering Fathers’ Leadership Skills

News

June 10, 2020

Fostering Fathers’ Leadership Skills

Are you interested in learning how to build a father-friendly program? Join the National Center on Early Childhood Health and Wellness (NCECHW) on June 16 for their webinar, “Fostering Fathers’ Leadership Skills.”

About

In this webinar, participants will explore tools, resources, and ideas they can use to build a father-friendly program. Register to learn how to create an environment that actively encourages fathers to engage with their child’s learning and development. Participants will also review examples of program efforts that help fathers continue to build their voices as leaders in early childhood programs and their communities.

This webinar is best suited for Head Start and Early Head Start directors, managers, family services staff, and parent leaders; T/TA providers; and early childhood leaders who support children and their families. Participants will receive a certificate of participation upon completion of the webinar.

Featured Topics

Topics for the webinar include:

    • exploring the importance of developing a program environment that promotes fathers’ leadership;
    • preparing staff to successfully integrate father engagement into their programs; and
    • sharing tips from programs that engage fathers as leaders and advocates in their work.

Registration

To register and learn more, visit the event webpage.

More Information

For questions, contact NCECHW at pfcewebinars@ecetta.info or 855.208.0909.

Photo Credit

Photography by Emily O’Donnell.

Infant/Toddler Movement as a Foundation for Learning

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Infant/Toddler Movement as a Foundation for Learning

Are you interested in exploring movement as the foundation of learning? Join the National Center on Early Childhood Health and Wellness (NCECHW) on June 23 for their webinar, “Tummy Time: Infant/Toddler Movement as a Foundation for Learning.”

About

Infants enter the world prewired and primed to move. In this session, participants will learn about the impact tummy time has on brain and muscle development and its influence on developmental milestone progression. Additionally, participants will learn their role in how to create an environment that stimulates, promotes, and supports motor development.

This webinar is best suited for early childhood education teachers and administrators; family child care providers; infant/toddler coaches, consultants, and specialists; Child Care Resource and Referral leadership and staff; parents; and guardians.

Featured Topics

Topics include the following:

    • gross motor development,
    • tummy time best practices,
    • creating an environment that supports an active child, and
    • the caregiver/parent’s role in tummy time.

Registration

To register and learn more, visit the event webpage.

More Information

For questions, contact NCECHW at health@ecetta.info or 888.227.5125.

Connecting with Families Around What They Care About

News

May 27, 2020

Connecting with Families Around What They Care About

Are you interested in learning family engagement strategies that value families’ passion for the success of their young children? Join Brazelton Touchpoints Center on June 8 for their course, “Valuing Passion: Connecting with Families Around What They Care About.”

About

Families demonstrate a wide range of emotions, both positive and negative, as they navigate through their ever-changing experiences with their child. The negative emotions that families sometimes show can be challenging for providers to manage. Reframing these emotions as coming from a family’s passion for their child can strengthen provider’s partnerships with families. In this webinar, presenters will explore ways that providers can value families’ passion.

Registration

To access the course and learn more, visit the Brazelton Touchpoints Center website.

*Information provided by Brazelton Touchpoints Center

Working With Young Children During COVID-19

News

Working With Young Children During COVID-19

Join HiMama on May 28 for their HiMama Helps webinar, “Working With Young Children During COVID-19.”

About

This session will explore ways to support young children as new guidelines refine what “normal” looks like in child care. Presenters will discuss the following:

    • how to prepare young children to return to a child care setting,
    • how to support families and staff during the pandemic,
    • what it means to serve essential workers, and
    • additional tips through a community Q&A session.

Registration

To register and learn more, visit the event webpage.

Social Distancing in Early Care and Education: Feasible or Impossible?

News

May 19, 2020

Social Distancing in Early Care and Education: Feasible or Impossible?

Join the National Center on Early Childhood Health and Wellness (NCECHW) on June 2 for, “Social Distancing in Early Care and Education: Feasible or Impossible?,” a one-hour discussion exploring issues around social distancing in early care and education programs.

About

During the webinar, participants will hear from Danette Glassy, MD, FAAP, pediatrician, about guidance from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and discover practical strategies for implementation in a variety of early care programs. Webinar topics include:

    • CDC guidance for early care and education programs;
    • barriers to implementation within early care settings; and
    • strategies for early care and education programs to keep children and staff as safe as possible.

This event is best suited for Head Start program directors and health services staff; Head Start State Collaboration directors; child care resource and referral agencies; child care directors and health consultants; state public health departments; and nurses working with early care and education programs.

Registration

To register, visit the event page. The registration link can be used for both the live event and on-demand viewing.

A recording of the discussion will be available to watch on-demand 30 minutes after the event ends until June 15, 2020. A version with English closed captions will also be posted on the Early Childhood Learning and Knowledge Center (ECLKC) in the coming weeks.

More Information

For questions, please contact NCECHW at 888.227.5125 or health@ecetta.info.

Virtual UnConference: Re-Opening to Our ‘New Normal’

News

May 14, 2020

Virtual UnConference: Re-Opening to Our ‘New Normal’