News

September 17, 2020

Recess Helps Students Reach Their Full Potential

As we begin a very different school year, the Recess Advocacy Team continues to elevate play and provide support to educators and families. Recess is key to helping students reach their full potential within the classroom and beyond. Several studies show that recess increases children’s attention span and productivity in the classroom.

New Resources from the Recess Advocacy Team

Send a letter to your child’s teacher

The Recess Advocacy Team updated their student letter asking teachers to remember the importance of play to reflect our current times.
Instructions:
(1) Download the letter
(2) Enter information for the teacher, your child’s name, and your name in the editable boxes
(3) Save the letter with your information
(4) Send the electronically signed letter via email

If your child is attending school in person, you can still download, print, and share a hard copy.

Play and Physical Activity Resource Guide for Educators and Families

The Recess Advocacy Team compiled a list of resources for educators and families to make sure play and physical activity are a part of childrens’ days and serve as a foundation for their learning, growth, and development. This list includes resources, activities, and considerations for ensuring play shows up in our daily lives—and ways that educators and families can incorporate play/physical activity into children’s learning. Families are encouraged to share this resource when sending the letter to the teacher.

Learn More About the Recess Advocacy Team

The Recess Advocacy Team is a group of organizations dedicated to health, wellness, education, and play with a focus on recess practices and policies in pre-k through sixth grade. You can learn more about the Recess Advocacy Team on the Playful Pittsburgh Collaborative website.

News

March 20, 2020

COVID-19: Considerations for Early Childhood Professionals

Join Executive Director for the Institute for Child Preparedness Andrew Roszak, JD, MPA, EMT-Paramedic, on March 24 for his webinar, “COVID-19 Coronavirus Pandemic: Considerations for Early Childhood Professionals.”

About

Gryphon House is partnering with the preparedness experts at the Institute for Childhood Preparedness to offer this special webinar, designed to help cut through the noise and provide you with the essential information you need as an early childhood professional. Gryphon House author, Andrew Roszak, will provide the latest updates and information designed to help keep you safe.

This webinar will be of benefit to pre-k teachers, librarians, child care providers, and school and district leaders. There will be time to have your questions answered at the end of the presentation.

Registration

To register and learn more, visit the event webpage!

News

September 20, 2019

Make it Glow: Bringing Blacklight into Your Classroom

Join the Pittsburgh Cultural Trust on November 9 for their workshop, “Make it Glow: Bringing Blacklight into Your Classroom.” This workshop is suitable for K-12 educators. Act 48 and PQAS hours available.

Registration

To register, visit the event webpage.

More Information

For more information, contact the Pittsburgh Cultural Trust at 412.471.6070.

For assistance selecting accessible seating or for more information about accessibility for a person with a disability, contact 412.456.6666.

News

September 17, 2019

Ready Set Grow Learning Collaborative

Join United Way of Southwestern Pennsylvania on Thursday, September 26 for their Ready Set Grow Learning Collaborative meeting to discuss ways to collectively create an inclusive and accessible system connecting regional farmers to early childhood providers and educators.

The last of their four gatherings, this event will review what is happening in the region, including best practices, success stories, and resources. Come prepared to participate, network, and ask questions. Dinner will be served at 6:00 p.m. Act 48 hours provided.

Register

To register, visit the Eventbrite page.

Learn More

To learn more, contact United Way at 412.261.6010.

News

July 1, 2019

Fred Rogers Educators’ Neighborhood to Launch

Reflecting on a piece she wrote in December 2018, Melissa Butler identifies long-term benefits observed with the same group of children five months after the initial observation. Additionally, the Fred Rogers Center announced that they will be launching “Educators’ Neighborhood: Learning and Growing Together” in support of early childhood teachers.

Overview

In December 2018, Melissa Butler wrote a blog article named, “Beechwood Kindergarteners Learn with Mister Rogers,” observing LeeAnne Kreuger’s kindergarten classroom as they gathered every Friday morning to watch an episode of “Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood.” Labeled “Mister Rogers Friday,” teachers selected an episode each week for their students based on key themes, needs, or interests expressed in the classroom.

What they observed from April through June 2018 was that by the end of the school year, the children were actively singing along, naming characters, and making fun connections throughout the school day. In addition to this, teachers noticed benefits as well, having significant learning opportunities to reflect on child development, cultural relevancy, and ways to weave Fred Rogers’ lessons into the school day.

Five months after, this same group of children continues to watch a new episode of “Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood” every week. By doing so, they’re still observing significant impacts and benefits.

Benefits for Children

Butler highlights that this group of children:

  • talk with each other during and after each Picture-Picture video because they have so many questions and connections;
  • know the difference between real and make-believe;
  • sing songs with confidence; answer Mister Rogers’ questions with eager attention;
  • allow for the silence and slowness of episode moments; and
  • have come to trust in the learning and joy each episode bring during and in the classroom.
Benefits for Educators

Teachers have also displayed key benefits, including:

  • more trust in their instincts;
  • more collaboration with each other;
  • more sharing of personal stories with students;
  • more confidence with developmentally appropriate practice;
  • more improvisation with what they choose to do after each episode; and
  • an overall approach that trusts in the larger picture of what they do as teachers.

Conclusion

Needless to say, the benefits of incorporating meaningful videos, especially those of “Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood,” are substantial. When educators and students are allotted a period to slow down, reflect, and talk with one another about influential topics, all parties benefit in and out of the classroom. For more, read Butler’s full blog piece.

About Educators’ Neighborhood

Educators’ Neighborhood: Learning and Growing Together is a place for educators to learn more and with each other, inspired by the life and work of Fred Rogers. Fred Rogers Center will grow an expanded community of educators to study episodes of “Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood,” read from the Fred Rogers Center Archive, and generate new ideas together connected with their daily practice with young children.

If you’re interested in joining, sign up for news, register for Educators’ Neighborhood Online, or apply to be part of the local Educators’ Neighborhood Learning Community.

More Information

For more information, read Butler’s full blog piece.

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News

May 23, 2019

Addressing Domestic Violence in ECE Programs

Join Promising Futures on May 30 for a webinar exploring ways in which early childhood professionals and programs can support children and families affected by domestic violence.

About

Domestic violence harms many families with young children. However, early childhood teachers and caregivers can help children heal. Further, early childhood programs can support healthy development and work to stop domestic violence in their communities. Join Promising Futures for this upcoming webinar to learn how early childhood programs can help families affected by domestic violence. Presenters will share strategies, tools, and resources created in partnership with The National Center on Parent, Family and Community Engagement.

Presenters:
    • Virginia Duplessis, MSW, Program Director, Futures Without Violence
    • Mie Fukuda, MA, Senior Program Specialist, Futures Without Violence

Registration

To register for this event, visit their webinar page.

Questions

For more information, contact Graciela Olguin at golguin@futureswithoutviolence.org.

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May 13, 2019

Lunch & Learn: Sensory Learning & the Autism Spectrum

Join Parents in Toto Autism Resource Center, Seneca Valley School District, and Remake Learning to discuss the importance of sensory learning for youth on the autism spectrum, benefits of this learning, and the parent resources that are available.

About

Educators, administrators, community organization leaders, and parents are highly encouraged to attend and take part in this important conversation surrounding differently-abled youth in the region. Lunch will be served. More details and accessibility will be noted in an email closer to the event.

For any dietary restrictions or requests, email Allie at allie@remakelearning.org. The deadline for restriction requests is June 19, 2019.

Registration

This event is free and open to the public. To RSVP, visit the event webpage.

For questions about the event or accessibility, email Allie at allie@remakelearning.org.

News

May 3, 2019

Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health: Why It Matters

Save the date to join professionals across disciplines to explore the most critical topics related to infant and early childhood mental health (IECMH) at this free conference. Continuing Education Credits for a wide range of professionals will be available, including physicians, nurses, home visitors, early and primary educators, and many others.

About

Breakout sessions will offer behavioral health clinicians, pediatricians, home visitors, early childhood educators, ECMH consultants, family members, child welfare workers, and early intervention providers the opportunity to explore issues related to IECMH most relevant to their field. Keynote sessions will highlight the key themes within IECMH research that are critical for all of the systems that support families with young children.

Registration

For more information or to register, visit the event’s webpage.

For questions, please contact Patrick Webster at 412.667.6701 or websterp2@upmc.edu.

News

May 1, 2019

Leap into Science! Workshop

Professionals and community members that teach Preschool/School Age children and/or families are invited to join a national network for science and literacy. By joining, you will receive training and materials to lead Leap into Science workshops.

What is Leap into Science?

Leap into Science is a nationwide program developed by the Franklin Institute Science Museum that integrates open-ended science activities with children’s books, designed for children ages 3-10 and their families. The program empowers educators to offer workshops in community settings like libraries, museums, and out-of-school time programs to engage underserved audiences in accessible and familiar settings. Leap into Science provides workshops on a science theme for three possible audiences: early childhood, elementary, and family groups.

Workshops

The Pennsylvania Leap into Science Leadership Team is hosting free training sessions on Leap into Science Wind workshops at the following times and locations:

  • Edinboro, PA: August 22, 2019; 10:00 am – 2:30 pm
  • Williamsport, PA: September 12, 2019; 9:30 am – 2:00 pm
  • Allentown, PA: Oct 1, 2019, 9:30 am – 2:00 pm

Benefits

Each organization who participates in Leap into Science will receive:

  • A 4-hour in-person training on high-quality science and literacy curriculum and facilitation strategies for two or more educators,
  • Ongoing support during program implementation as part of a Leap into Science National Network,
  • Access to the national Leap into Science leadership team and online resources,
  • A curriculum and materials kit (valued at $300), and
  • Web-based training on new curriculum themes in subsequent years

Commitments

As a Leap into Science partner organization, you are committing to:

  • Scheduling and leading at least three (3) Leap into Science workshops for children and/or families living in underserved rural or urban communities by next spring,
  • Posting each workshop to The Connectory, a searchable directory for STEM programs across the country,
  • Leading Leap into Science activities during National Leap into Science Week during the last week of February,
  • Completing a workshop report following each workshop,
  • Participating in quarterly calls with other trained educators in your state, and
  • Completing an annual survey and possible interview.

Registration

To participate in the national network and attend one of the training sessions listed above, please complete this brief application form by May 15, 2019. Priority will be given to organizations that can send at least two educators to the training.  If selected, you will receive email notification of your acceptance by June 15, 2019, along with details about the training you will attend.

Questions

For more information, contact the Franklin Institute Science Museum at 215.448.1200 or guestservices@fi.edu.

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News

April 16, 2019

Workshop: Supporting Pittsburgh’s Refugee Students

Join Dr. Xia Chao for the first of four interactive workshops in a series dedicated to helping educators understand the cultures, needs, and assets of the Pittsburgh area’s refugee communities.

Through a grant from the National Geographic Society, Dr. Chao has conducted research over the past several years that explores the experiences and narratives of local refugee communities including the Nepali/Bhutanese, Somali Bantu, and Sudanese. This workshop series seeks to incorporate the findings of Dr. Chao’s research in order to offer local educators insight into working with students from these populations and resources for creating culturally sustaining practices.

This event is free and light refreshments and Act 48 credits will be provided.

Topics

Workshop topics will be as follows:

  1. Understanding the Local Immigrant and Refugee Landscape | May 13, 2019 | City Theatre
  2. Culturally Relevant Pedagogy with Refugee Populations | June | TBA
  3. Cultural Navigation and Cultural Humility | Fall | TBA
  4. Putting Information into Action | Fall | TBA

More Information

For information on the May 13 event, contact Jenna Geiman at jenna@changeagency.world.

For more information on the workshop series and content, contact Dr. Xia Choa at chaox@duq.edu.

See the event’s Facebook page.