April 12, 2023 BabyTalks Series: Supporting Infant and Toddler Peer Relationships Children are born with the amazing ability to form strong bonds with their caregivers, but how do we help infants and toddlers prepare for peer relationships? Join the Office of Head Start and their National Center on Early Childhood Development, Teaching, and Learning for this webinar, and learn how infants’ and toddlers’ experience with others shapes their understanding of themselves and their relationships with peers. This webinar will have English and Spanish captioning. Webinar Details Thursday, April 20 | 3 – 4 p.m. Virtual Register Learn More In this webinar, Beth Zack, Ph.D., and Marley Jarvis, Ph.D., from the National Center on Early Childhood Development, Teaching, and Learning will present research on how children build peer relationships. Attendees will discover the importance of creating spaces where children feel like they belong and how this helps children understand themselves and others, as well as explore strategies and resources that help infants and toddlers build a strong foundation for a lifetime of healthy peer relationships. To learn more, visit the “Supporting Infant and Toddler Peer Relationships” registration page.
April 5, 2023 The Learning Lamp Offering Free Summer Camp Lesson Plans Through Best Day Ever The Learning Lamp, a Pennsylvania-based program that aims to give children, families, and schools greater options for improving academic achievement, is offering free preschool and school-age summer camp lesson plans to out-of-school time (OST) and summer camp educators. Part of the Best Day Ever! curriculum, the lesson plans are designed by and for teachers. They offer a turnkey solution for both preschool and school-age summer camp programs, at no cost to Pennsylvania educators. About Summer Camp Lesson Plans The Learning Lamp will offer 24 Best Day Ever! units through August 2023. Each themed unit features high-interest topics, engaging hands-on activities, and opportunities for children to practice concepts in science, technology, engineering, art, and math (STEAM). Examples of available lessons include: S’mores and More Water World Eager Engineers World Travelers The Learning Lamp writes and tests all lessons. They are aligned with PA learning standards, and can be adapted to meet the needs and interests of individual students. Access the Lesson Plans To access the lesson plans, visit the Learning Lamp’s website and complete the online registration form. Learn More The Community Foundation for the Alleghenies and Early Childhood Education Professional Development Organization partially funded the development of Best Day Ever! For more information about Best Day Ever!, visit the Learning Lamp website.
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.
NAEYC Sponsoring Week of the Young Child Sweepstakes The National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) is sponsoring a Week of the Young Child (WOYC) Sweepstakes. Week of the Young Child is the first week of April, and NAEYC is offering prizes to seven lucky parents, caregivers, and early childhood educators who participate in the sweepstakes, which runs March 31 through April 14. WOYC Sweepstake Prizes Three people will win a free one-year Entry Level Membership ($30 value) Two people will win a free NAEYC Book Bundle ($70 estimated value) Two people will win a free module of Each and Every Child Training ($120 estimated value) Participate All parents, caregivers, and educators are invited to participate in the sweepstakes. To participate, simply visit the NAEYC website and complete the participation form. Learn More To learn more, visit the NAEYC website.
March 29, 2023 NAEYC Issues Call for Papers on Identity and Early Childhood Education The National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) recently issued a Call for Papers for the fall 2023 issue of their online journal, “Voices of Practitioners.” Themed, “Reflecting on Our Own Identities in Early Childhood Education,” NAEYC seeks stories that explore how early childhood professionals’ reflections on their own identities (specifically social identities) impact their work with young children. Paper proposals are due by Friday, April 7. About Voices of Practitioners “Voices of Practitioners: Teacher Research in Early Childhood Education” is an online, peer-reviewed journal in which teachers provide a critical perspective on their roles in children’s development and learning. Published by NAEYC, it disseminates early childhood teachers’ systematic study of an aspect of their own classroom practice. Call for Papers Social Identities and Early Childhood Education The concept of identity is complex and shaped by individual characteristics; family dynamics; historical factors; and social, cultural, and political contexts. Social identity refers to the group categories that each society creates and defines. These categories include race, family structure, language, gender, religion, and economic class. Reflecting on how these identities intersect and influence practice can help early childhood educators understand and challenge how systems of oppression and privilege operate in early childhood settings. Considerations for Writing About Social Identity NAEYC is interested in receiving submissions that explore a wide range of topics, including but not limited to: how your social identities have informed your understanding of the children and families you work with how your social identities have influenced your teaching practices and classroom dynamics the role of self-reflection and professional development in understanding and addressing how your social identities impact your teaching Submission Guidelines Who can submit a paper proposal? teachers and administrators at any stage in their career working with young children aged birth to 8 years early childhood educators with various backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives teacher educators, particularly those working with associate degree students What should paper proposals include? Proposals should be 500-750 words in length and should include the following features: an idea for a personal narrative essay that discusses identity and practice, relative to the broader issues of equity and social justice a statement of the challenge or opportunity for reform the paper intends to address a brief contextual overview of the submitter’s program (e.g., geography, the population of children and families served, etc.) a key anecdote or descriptive narrative that captures the heart of the submitter’s message bullet points of two to three lessons the submitter has learned from their experience and their reflections about it How do interested educators submit? Interested educators should email their completed proposal to editorial@naeyc.org. Please indicate in the subject line that it is a submission for “Voices of Practitioners” Fall 2023. Proposals are due by April 7. Learn More To learn more, read the full submission guidelines or visit the NAEYC “Voices of Practitioners” webpage.
March 23, 2023 Child Care Career Openings in Pittsburgh Are you looking for open child care positions? Early learning programs in the Greater Pittsburgh Area are hiring! See featured jobs for this week. Child Care Positions in Pittsburgh Head Teacher The University Child Development Center is seeking a full-time preschool Head Teacher to provide developmentally appropriate care for the children in the classroom. The Head Teacher’s responsibilities include supervision, assessment, curricular planning, and support of our laboratory school experience. Candidates must have a bachelor’s degree in a related field and at least one year of experience working with children between the ages of six weeks and five years of age. More information is available online. Interested individuals should apply at join.pitt.edu. Assistant Teachers The University Child Development Center is seeking part-time and full-time Assistant Teachers for infant, toddler, and preschool classrooms. Responsibilities include supervision and supporting developmentally appropriate experiences for all children. Candidates must have at least 15 credits in a related field (early childhood, child development, etc.) and one year of experience with children. More information is available online. Interested individuals should apply at join.pitt.edu. Summer Day Camp Counselor The YMCA of Greater Pittsburgh is seeking a Summer Day Camp Counselor. Responsibilities include planning, executing, and organizing summer activities in art, sports, drama, music, and other various areas. Applicants must be familiar with behavioral characteristics and skill sets specific to school age children, able to plan programs accordingly, and capable of adapting activities for group size and skill level. More information is available online. Interested individuals should apply at ymcaofpittsburgh.campbrainstaff.com. Assistant Director Carriage House Children’s Center is seeking an Assistant Director responsible for managing the day-to-day running of the Center. Through a respectful, constructive and energetic style, guided by the objectives of the organization, the Assistant Director will ensure the Center’s compliance with administrative aspects related to licensing regulations, accreditation and certification processes, personnel files, teacher professional development, human resource functions, and Center communications. Interested individuals should email their resume to Sharon Amick at chcc@carriagehouse.org. Child Care Providers – Assistant Group Supervisors Early Bird Childcare is seeking professional and knowledgeable Child Care Providers who have a love and passion for working with children, and are creative, energetic, and self-motivated team players dedicated to ensuring the well-being of each and every child in their care. All Childcare Providers must be flexible and dependable, with at least two years of experience working in a child care center, or in a before- or after-school program setting. Interested individuals should call 412-315-5679 or email their resume to earlybirdchildcare20@yahoo.com. Kindergarten Co-Teacher The Carriage House Children’s Center is seeking a Kindergarten Co-Teacher. Candidates must have a B.A. in Elementary and Early Childhood Education with a PA certification to teach Pre-K through 4th grade. Interested individuals should email their resume Debbie Welch at chcc@carriagehouse.org. Infant Room Teacher Little Owls Learning Center is seeking a compassionate caregiver to take care of their littlest owlets. Applicants must be reliable, have experience in childcare, and be a team player. Interested individuals should email their resume to littleowlslearningcenterllc@gmail.com. Infant and Toddler Room Teacher/Assistant Teacher Rainbows End Child Academy is seeking an Infant and Toddler Room Teacher/Assistant Teacher. The person in this role will create and implement lessons that will meet the needs of every child, maintain a safe, nurturing environment where children can play and learn, and partner and communicate with parents through a shared desire to provide the best care and education for their children. Interested individuals should email their resume to rainbow2705@aol.com. Submit a Job Trying Together highlights employer-submitted jobs on our website, social media, and in our newsletter. Submit a Job: To make it into next week’s post, submit the Child Care Provider Job Post Submission Form. All jobs submitted after Tuesday each week will be published in the following week’s news post. Publication dates may vary due to state and federal holidays. Unrelated jobs will not be included. For questions, contact Heidi Winkler at heidi@tryingtogether.org. Other Jobs in Early Childhood ECE HIRE Visit the ECE Hire website to view early childhood education job listings and helpful tips on interviewing, resumes, and more. SUBMIT A JOB TO PACCA Pennsylvania Child Care Association (PACCA) offers a Job Board for its members to post jobs for free and sends out submitted jobs via their Facebook page and e-newsletter. PACCA members can submit jobs online after signing into their membership account. For questions, contact Maureen Murphy at maureen.murphy@pacca.org. Receive Jobs in Your Inbox To receive the latest job opportunities, subscribe to our newsletter and follow us on Facebook.
March 22, 2023 OCDEL Ends Option for Director Instructor PQAS The Pennsylvania Office of Child Development & Early Learning (OCDEL) recently ended the option for individuals to apply for the Director Instructor (DI) Pennsylvania Quality Assurance System (PQAS). Effective March 21, applications for DI PQAS will no longer be accepted or processed, and the DI PQAS will no longer be available as an option for individuals to provide training to child care staff. Additionally, individuals holding a DI PQAS will no longer have access to train child care staff, as trainings will be made obsolete on April 28. Learn More Directors may pursue a PQAS application and create their own content in alignment with competencies for which they are approved based on expertise and/or education. Visit PQAS Applications – The Pennsylvania Key for information on applying to become a Professional Development Instructor. For child care staff seeking professional development in material similar to the outdated modules, OCDEL is supplying course content to replace the outdated modules within the PD Registry. All content in the PD Registry is offered by approved Professional Development PQAS Instructors in order to count for various professional development requirements. To learn more, visit the Pennsylvania Key website.
Additional Course to be Required for PQAS Certification The Pennsylvania Office of Child Development & Early Learning (OCDEL) recently adopted a new set of Professional Standards and Competencies for Early Childhood Educators (PA PSCECE), which require an additional self-paced Professional Development (PD) Registry course for Professional Development Instructor Pennsylvania Quality Assurance System (PQAS) approval, beginning July 1. The new course, “Submitting PQAS Courses in the PD Registry,” meets enhanced PSCECE standards. Changes to PQAS Application Requirements Currently, instructors seeking Professional Development Instructor PQAS approval must complete the following self-paced PD Registry courses: Overview of Keystone STARS: Pennsylvania’s Quality Rating and Improvement System (QRIS) Engaging Adult Learners The Pennsylvania Professional Standards and Competencies for Early Childhood Educators On July 1, Pennsylvania will add “Submitting PQAS Courses in the PD Registry” to this list of required courses, as part of the PQAS application requirements for all new PD Instructor PQAS instructors. PQAS-approved instructors who have already updated courses to align with PA PSCECE do not need take this additional course. However, if you currently have PQAS approval, but have not submitted any courses since May 2022, you must complete the additional course prior to submitting any new courses into the PD Registry. Learn More To learn more, visit the Pennsylvania Key website.
March 21, 2023 Supporting Our Workforce: Child Care in Westmoreland County The Westmoreland County Chamber of Commerce will host this half-day summit to discuss the current state of child care for working families in Westmoreland County. Panel discussions will highlight the current challenges facing the child care sector and the implications for working families trying to find and afford care; the impact of limited child care options on area businesses; and potential solutions to increase the availability of high-quality care and stabilize the child care sector. Breakfast will be provided. Event Details Thursday, April 20 | 8 – 11 a.m. Westmoreland Community College 145 Pavilion Lane Youngwood, PA 15697 Register Learn More This event is being held in partnership with: Workforce Investment Board: Westmoreland & Fayette Counties Westmoreland Community Action Trying Together Pennsylvania Early Learning Investment Commission Start Strong PA ReadyNation Council for a Strong America To learn more, visit the Westmoreland County Chamber of Commerce website or view the event flyer.
March 6, 2023 Community Strategies for Vaccine Equity for Young Children Penn State Extension Better Kid Care and the National Association of County and City Health Officials (NACCHO) invite child care program directors, educators, and caregivers to this informative panel discussion on effective strategies for advancing vaccine equity for young children in early childhood programs. At this event, Dr. Timothy Shope, M.D., MPH. will join Anna Rutins, project manager at CDC Partners for Vaccine Equity, Presbyterian Community Health, Presbyterian Healthcare Systems, to share examples of community strategies to support the vaccination of young children. Session Details Wednesday, March 22 | 1 – 2 p.m. Virtual Register Learn More To learn more, visit the Penn State Extension Better Kid Care website.
