News

May 25, 2023

Capturing Moments: Planning For and Conducting Classroom Observations

The ELRC Region 5 is offering a professional development opportunity for your team of early learning educators.

This session will introduce early education professionals to the importance and value of purposeful observation.

Through whole and small group discussions and activities, attendees will understand what observation is and identify various types of observation used in the classroom. They will also learn how observations can be linked directly to observation-based child assessments, and discuss how to identify their own biases to prevent them from affecting their objective observations.

Session Details

Monday, June 5 | 6:30 – 8:30 p.m.

Location: 5604 Solway Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15217

Instructors: Shawna Preston and Elizabeth Foreman

Standards: Child Observation, Documentation, and Assessment

Cost: $10

Register

 

Tuesday, June 20 | 6:30 – 8:30 p.m.

Location: Virtual via Zoom

Instructors: Shawna Preston and Elizabeth Foreman

Standards: Child Observation, Documentation, and Assessment

Cost: $10

Register

Learn More

This session is eligible for 2 hours of PQAS and Act 48 credit.

For questions about the course or credit, contact Paige Kizior at paige@tryingtogether.org.

News

Capturing Moments: Planning For and Conducting Classroom Observations

The ELRC Region 5 is offering a professional development opportunity for your team of early learning educators.

This session will introduce early education professionals to the importance and value of purposeful observation.

Through whole and small group discussions and activities, attendees will understand what observation is and identify various types of observation used in the classroom. They will also learn how observations can be linked directly to observation-based child assessments, and discuss how to identify their own biases to prevent them from affecting their objective observations.

Session Details

Monday, June 5 | 6:30 – 8:30 p.m.

Location: 5604 Solway Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15217

Instructors: Shawna Preston and Elizabeth Foreman

Standards: Child Observation, Documentation, and Assessment

Cost: $10

Register

 

Tuesday, June 20 | 6:30 – 8:30 p.m.

Location: Virtual via Zoom

Instructors: Shawna Preston and Elizabeth Foreman

Standards: Child Observation, Documentation, and Assessment

Cost: $10

Register

Learn More

This session is eligible for 2 hours of PQAS and Act 48 credit.

For questions about the course or credit, contact Paige Kizior at paige@tryingtogether.org.

News

October 19, 2020

Using Ages and Stages Questionnaires® as a Screening Tool

This event is full. Additional Ages and Stages courses will be offered in January 2021. 

Are you interested in learning how to use Ages and Stages Questionnaires® as a screening tool for children ages three months to five years? Join Trying Together on November 7 for our virtual course, “Using Ages and Stages Questionnaires® as a Screening Tool.”

About

During this course, participants will learn how to use the ASQ® and ASQ:SE® as a screening tool for children ages three months to five years. The session will provide information on how to administer and score the screener and share results of the screener with families. Information about additional resources for making referrals to services will be included if needed.

Session Details

    • Session Date: Saturday, November 7, 2020  |  9:00 – 11:30 a.m.
    • Instructor: Pamela Zimmerman
    • Core Knowledge Area: Assessment
    • CDA Content Area: Observing & Recording Behavior
    • Registration Deadline: Thursday, November 5, 2020

Registration

To register, visit the course PD Registry page. Space is limited. Participants will receive the course Zoom link via email within 24 hours before the start date for the course. PQAS and Act 48 credit available.

If you do not have a PD Registry account, please complete this online form to create one. If you are unable to create an account, please contact pdregistry@pakeys.org for more information.

More Information

For questions or more information, contact Jasmine Davis at jasmine@tryingtogether.org.

News

Using Ages and Stages Questionnaires® as a Screening Tool

This event is full. Additional Ages and Stages courses will be offered in January 2021. 

Are you interested in learning how to use Ages and Stages Questionnaires® as a screening tool for children ages three months to five years? Join Trying Together on November 14 for our virtual course, “Using Ages and Stages Questionnaires® as a Screening Tool.”

About

During this course, participants will learn how to use the ASQ® and ASQ:SE® as a screening tool for children ages three months to five years. The session will provide information on how to administer and score the screener and share results of the screener with families. Information about additional resources for making referrals to services will be included if needed.

Session Details

    • Session Date: Saturday, November 14, 2020  |  9:00 – 11:30 a.m.
    • Instructor: Pamela Zimmerman
    • Core Knowledge Area: Assessment
    • CDA Content Area: Observing & Recording Behavior
    • Registration Deadline: Thursday, November 12, 2020

Registration

To register, visit the course PD Registry page. Space is limited. Participants will receive the course Zoom link via email within 24 hours before the start date for the course. PQAS and Act 48 credit available.

If you do not have a PD Registry account, please complete this online form to create one. If you are unable to create an account, please contact pdregistry@pakeys.org for more information.

More Information

For questions or more information, contact Jasmine Davis at jasmine@tryingtogether.org.

News

Using Ages and Stages Questionnaires® as a Screening Tool

This event is full. Additional Ages and Stages courses will be offered in January 2021. 

Are you interested in learning how to use Ages and Stages Questionnaires® as a screening tool for children ages three months to five years? Join Trying Together on November 17 for our virtual course, “Using Ages and Stages Questionnaires® as a Screening Tool.”

About

During this course, participants will learn how to use the ASQ® and ASQ:SE® as a screening tool for children ages three months to five years. The session will provide information on how to administer and score the screener and share results of the screener with families. Information about additional resources for making referrals to services will be included if needed.

Session Details

    • Session Date: Saturday, November 17, 2020  |  6:00 – 8:30 p.m.
    • Instructor: Pamela Zimmerman
    • Core Knowledge Area: Assessment
    • CDA Content Area: Observing & Recording Behavior
    • Registration Deadline: Sunday, November 15, 2020

Registration

To register, visit the course PD Registry page. Space is limited. Participants will receive the course Zoom link via email within 24 hours before the start date for the course. PQAS and Act 48 credit available.

If you do not have a PD Registry account, please complete this online form to create one. If you are unable to create an account, please contact pdregistry@pakeys.org for more information.

More Information

For questions or more information, contact Jasmine Davis at jasmine@tryingtogether.org.

News

Using Ages and Stages Questionnaires® as a Screening Tool

This event is full. Additional Ages and Stages courses will be offered in January 2021. 

Are you interested in learning how to use Ages and Stages Questionnaires® as a screening tool for children ages three months to five years? Join Trying Together on November 20 for our virtual course, “Using Ages and Stages Questionnaires® as a Screening Tool.”

About

During this course, participants will learn how to use the ASQ® and ASQ:SE® as a screening tool for children ages three months to five years. The session will provide information on how to administer and score the screener and share results of the screener with families. Information about additional resources for making referrals to services will be included if needed.

Session Details

    • Session Date: Saturday, November 20, 2020  |  6:00 – 8:30 p.m.
    • Instructor: Pamela Zimmerman
    • Core Knowledge Area: Assessment
    • CDA Content Area: Observing & Recording Behavior
    • Registration Deadline: Wednesday, November 18, 2020

Registration

To register, visit the course PD Registry page. Space is limited. Participants will receive the course Zoom link via email within 24 hours before the start date for the course. PQAS and Act 48 credit available.

If you do not have a PD Registry account, please complete this online form to create one. If you are unable to create an account, please contact pdregistry@pakeys.org for more information.

More Information

For questions or more information, contact Jasmine Davis at jasmine@tryingtogether.org.

News

September 30, 2020

Using Ages and Stages Questionnaires® as a Screening Tool

This event is full. Additional Ages and Stages Questionnaires® courses will be available soon. 

Are you interested in learning how to use Ages and Stages Questionnaires® as a screening tool for children ages three months to five years? Join Trying Together on October 12 for our virtual course, “Using Ages and Stages Questionnaires® as a Screening Tool.”

About

During this course, participants will learn how to use the ASQ® and ASQ:SE® as a screening tool for children ages three months to five years. The session will provide information on how to administer and score the screener and share results of the screener with families. Information about additional resources for making referrals to services will be included if needed.

Session Details

    • Session Date: Monday, October 12, 2020  |  9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
    • Instructor: Pamela Zimmerman
    • Core Knowledge Area: Assessment
    • CDA Content Area: Observing & Recording Behavior
    • Registration Deadline: Saturday, October 10, 2020

Registration

To register, visit the course PD Registry page. Space is limited. Participants will receive the course Zoom link via email within 24 hours before the start date for the course. PQAS and Act 48 credit available.

If you do not have a PD Registry account, please complete this online form to create one. If you are unable to create an account, please contact Jasmine Davis at jasmine@tryingtogether.org for more information.

More Information

For questions or more information, contact Jasmine Davis at jasmine@tryingtogether.org.

News

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.

News

April 20, 2020

Observing Young Children | Webinar

Observing Young Children is a live, interactive webinar that explores the role of observation in early childhood and discusses how to use gained information to inform program decisions and assessments of children. Video clips will be utilized to practice observation skills.

About

Two PQAS hours will be offered. Participants are expected to fully participate with their digital device microphones and cameras on. This is not a log-in and leave event. Arriving 15 minutes late may result in no credit for the session. Please note, no refunds will be provided for cancellation or no show.

Learning Objectives

Upon completion of this course, learners will be able to:

    • list reasons to keep written records of observations of children;
    • define ways to conduct observations that are objective and free of bias;
    • use anecdotal notes to record observations of children; and
    • apply gained information to program planning and child assessment.

Available Dates

To access this course, use the links below or enter the event ID on the Pennsylvania PD Registry website.

More Information

For questions, please contact Karen Rucker at 717.314.8368 or krucker@respectingchildren.com.

*Information provided by the Pennsylvania Key

News

August 16, 2019

Pre-K Assessments the Right Way (Webinar)

Community members are invited to join Keith Kline and Valerie Zaryczny on August 28 for a webinar on formal and informal pre-k assessments.

About

Pre-k assessments, both formal and informal, are a powerful tool in identifying students’ progress, discovering areas that need attention for remediation, and providing insight into how professionals can adjust their curriculum to meet all student needs. Pre-k assessments enable professionals to assess their children holistically in the areas of writing, language, literacy, and math and offer a way to communicate student progress.

This edWebinar will be of interest to pre-k teachers and school leaders. Time for questions will be provided.

Learning Objectives

This edWebinar will help participants:

    • understand the purpose of informal assessments;
    • maintain student portfolios and information gathering;
    • implement three informal assessments on readiness, writing, literacy, and math;
    • learn observational skills needed to assess students in the classroom;
    • utilize three observation checklists that will help guide assessments;
    • use the collected information to focus on instruction; and
    • effectively communicate with the families and others involved in the child’s education.

Registration

To register for this webinar, visit the edWeb website.