September 15, 2025 Trying Together Article on EIM Directors Series Featured on Simple Interactions Website An article by Trying Together on Everyday Interaction Matter (EIM) and its directors series is featured on the Simple Interactions website. Learn More The article, “Trying Together’s EIM Directors Series Supports Directors and Educators Participating in Everyday Interactions Matter,” discusses how Trying Together’s experience with EIM began and how it helped to develop a series of professional development sessions for providers. The article, written by Karian Wise, an interactions design strategist for Trying Together, delves into how Trying Together works directly with educators to build skills and improve program quality. “Through our work with programs, we realized that interactions between adults within programs are as important as the interactions between adults and children,” the article reads. Trying Together’s EIM Directors Series teaches professionals to recognize meaningful daily interactions and share practices with peers. Its aim is to provide directors with a method to think about interactions with caregivers and staff that aligns with the Everyday Interactions Matter approach and to support relationship building. To learn more about the components and sessions in Trying Together’s EIM Directors Series, read the article on the Simple Interactions website. Simple Interactions is a practice-based, strengths-focused, and community-driven approach to support helpers who serve children, youth, and families.
March 5, 2025 Trying Together Releases Winter 2025 Professional Development Catalog Trying Together has released its 2025 winter catalog to help educators find professional growth opportunities that align with their career goals. The catalog provides course details and credentials. Learn More In the past year, Trying Together awarded nearly 4,500 PQAS credits to support continuous improvement in early learning programs. It aims to increase the number by regularly updating its Professional Development Catalog to make it easier for educators to continue to learn. All courses listed in the catalog are led by a certified PQAS instructor and are Act 48 approved. The courses are broken down into nine sections: Basics of Learning and Engagement Developmentally Appropriate Practice (DAP) Assessments and Supportive Services (Early Intervention) Behavior and Social-Emotional Learning Everyday Interactions Matter (EIM) Health and Safety Advocacy and Public Policy Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Professionalism in Practice For more information on how Trying Together can assist educators in their learning goals, email learning@tryingtogether.org or call 412-421-3889.
June 22, 2020 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.
January 28, 2018 Coaching & Mentoring Intended to promote and support awareness and strengthening of individuals’ and programs’ learning processes and professional practices, Trying Together uses a relationship-based mentoring model that is customizable to meet individual needs and enhance identified goals and interests. Everyday Interactions Matter One model Trying Together uses to coach early childhood professionals is Everyday Interactions Matter (EIM), the early childhood arm of Simple Interactions Matter (SIM). A strengths-based approach to supporting child- and youth-serving professionals in learning and growing from their own practice, EIM focuses on the everyday interactions between adults and children. With an emphasis on “finding the deep and simple in quality early childhood education”, we incorporate the EIM philosophy into our development offerings and connect it to our work with families. More Information For more information about the Everday Interactions Matter model, visit www.everydayinteractions.org.
