October 2, 2020 Homewood Virtual Block Party We’re throwing you a BLOCK PARTY! Join the Homewood Early Learning Hub & Family Center and Homewood Early Learning Steering Committee (HELSC) on October 10 for a virtual celebration filled with storytime sessions, family yoga, a virtual bike ride, and a dance party! About Since the onset of COVID-19, Trying Together has been working with the HELSC to figure out a way to provide Homewood families, partners, and collaborators an experience that matches the energy and excitement of the events hosted in years prior. With this in mind, Trying Together and the HELSC are excited to announce the first Homewood Virtual Block Party! Homewood Virtual Block Party Saturday, October 10 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. While this year’s event is different, the virtual event still features many educational and fun activities that past attendees of the Homewood Block Party know and love. The Homewood Virtual Block Party will be pre-recorded and available for viewing on this event page via the Trying Together Vimeo player and on Facebook via the Trying Together page. Featured Events The Homewood Virtual Block Party will feature online events from the Homewood Early Learning Hub & Family Center, Homewood Community Engagement Center, Homewood Children’s Village, Kenny’s, YWCA Pittsburgh, Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh, WQED Education, Fund My Future/Propel Schools, Mayor’s Office/Imagination Library, University of Pittsburgh School of Public Health, and University of Pittsburgh School of Dental Medicine. Family Dance Party Ready to get your groove on? Join the Homewood Early Learning Hub & Family Center, HELSC, and DJ Doug for a Virtual Family Dance Party from 12 p.m. to 2 p.m. Family Fun Bags Want a swag bag? Complete your virtual block party registration and you may pick up a Family Fun Bag with information, resources, and giveaways from the activities and partners featured during the party. Coordinate your bag pick-up time on the day of the party (October 10) with one of our contacts listed below during their available hours: Homewood YWCA | 11 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. Cheryl Smith | 412.391.5100 The Homewood Early Learning Hub & Family Center | 11 a.m. – 1 p.m. Toni Beasley | 412.540.5732 Registration To register, please complete this online form by Friday, October 8 at 5 p.m. Registrants will receive the event link via email at least 24 hours before the start of the celebration. If you miss the registration deadline, you can still coordinate a time to pick up a Family Fun Bag. You can also watch the Block Party Livestream on the Trying Together website or Facebook page on October 10. More Information For questions, please contact Sarah Byrne-Houser at sarah@tryingtogether.org. Share this flyer with your network.
October 1, 2020 Remix! New Ways to Play Using STEM Provocations Are you interested in stimulating curiosity in your classroom to build children’s STEM skills? Join Trying Together on Monday, October 12 for our online course, “Remix! New Ways to Play Using STEM Provocations.” About In this course, participants will explore building early Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) skills by using classroom resources in fun new ways, with materials you already have. Re-energize your science table, or bring STEM play into a new classroom area using research-based (and kid-tested) recommendations. Session Details Session Date: Monday, October 12, 2020 | 5:00 – 7:00 p.m. Instructors: Jasmine Davis and Wendy Brenneman Core Knowledge Area: Curriculum and Learning Experiences CDA Content Area: Safe, Healthy Learning Environment 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.
Early Learning is No Small Matter Are you interested in exploring the most overlooked, underestimated, and powerful force for good in America today? Join Trying Together on Monday, October 12 for our online course “Early Learning is No Small Matter” to discuss the importance of early childhood education. About During this course, participants will view the documentary “No Small Matter” and learn how they can leverage the film for advocacy in their programs and communities. Opportunities to bring the film back to their community in support of early learning advocacy will be shared. Session Details Session Date: Monday, October 12, 2020 | 12:30 – 2:30 p.m. Instructors: Cristina Codario and Lindsey Ramsey Core Knowledge Area: Professional and Leadership CDA Content Area: Maintaining Professionalism 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.
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.
Digital Media Literacy: A Deeper Look Are you interested in exploring guidance on technology and digital media use with young children? Join Trying Together on October 8 for our virtual session, “Digital Media Literacy: A Deeper Look: NAEYC/Fred Rogers Center Position Statement.” About This professional development course is designed for educators and administrators to critically examine and develop a deep understanding of the intentions and guidance of the NAEYC Fred Rogers Center position statement. The course will encourage reflective practices to positively influence teaching, policy development, and dialogue about young children and technology. Session Details Session Date: Thursday, October 8, 2020 | 6:30 – 7:30 p.m. Instructor: Katherine Gullone Core Knowledge Area: Professional and Leadership CDA Content Area: Maintaining Professionalism Registration Deadline: Tuesday, October 6, 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.
September 28, 2020 Early Childhood Education Summit Are you interested in engaging with early childhood thought-leaders and gaining knowledge through online professional development? Attend the Virtual Early Childhood Education (ECE) Summit from October 18 – 21, 2020. PQAS and Act 48 credit will be available. About The ECE Summit features 12 sessions, 60 workshops, and four online specialized networking opportunities that offer early learning professionals opportunities to learn, dialogue, and share information on a vast array of current topics to support their professional learning goals. This is a fully virtual event. Each day will feature a Keynote presentation and four tracks of workshop sessions. Opportunities to connect with peers will be available through live chat. Sessions will be recorded. Paid attendees will be able to view sessions after the Summit and earn PQAS and Act 48 credit. Featured Topics The Summit features a wide range of workshops, including, but not limited to, the following: Emotionally Safe Environments for Infants and Toddlers Yoga and Mindfulness for Preschoolers Trauma-Informed Assessment in Early Childhood Family Engagement Through a Strengths-Based Lens Designing Classrooms with the Brain in Mind Getting Little Hands on the Land Supporting Infant Teacher Degree Attainment Advocacy 201: Crafting and Sharing Your Message Managing Challenging Behavior Registration To register for the Conference, visit the event webpage. A Summit Schedule and workshop descriptions are available on the Early Childhood Education Summit website. View the schedule. More Information For more information, visit the Early Childhood Education Summit webpage or call 717.657.9000.
Health and Safety Trainings Available The Office of Child Development and Early Learning (OCDEL) announced that COVID-19 Health and Safety System Supports Training Webinars are available on the Pennsylvania Key website. About Each webinar provides COVID-19 guidance on topics related to the early childhood field, including: CDC Guidance for Child Care Parent, Family and Community Engagement Implementation Considerations Re-Imagining ECE Environments Supporting the Social-Emotional Well-Being of ECE Professionals, Children, and Families Watch the Webinars To watch the webinars, visit the Pennsylvania Key website. The guidance provided in these videos has been based on evidence and information available at the time of publishing. Guidance will be reviewed as new information continues to emerge. To ensure you are implementing the most up-to-date guidance, visit the OCDEL or CDC website.
September 25, 2020 Honoring Each Person’s Experience to Support Mental Health Join Brazelton Touchpoints Center on October 19 for “Honoring Each Person’s Experience to Support Mental Health” to learn how to apply reflective practice and perspective-taking to your virtual work with children and families. About When working with families, especially within today’s current crises, it is important that everyone’s experience of a situation is heard and understood. This requires reflecting on all points of view: one’s own, the child’s, and that of their family members. In this webinar, participants will learn how to adapt and apply reflective practice and perspective-taking to their virtual work with children and families. This session is best suited for professionals who work with families of young children, including early care educators, family child care providers, mental health consultants, home visitors, pediatricians, early interventionists, and more. Registration To register and learn more, visit the event registration page. Space is limited. For questions, contact btcsitenetwork@childrens.harvard.edu.
September 24, 2020 Jeremiah’s Place: Provider Engagement Session Are you interested in learning about Jeremiah’s Place and its services? Join them on October 7 and November 5 for their online “Provider Engagement Sessions.” About Jeremiah’s Place protects children and strengthens families by providing a safe haven of respite, health, renewal, and support for children when their families are experiencing a critical need for child care. These online sessions will explore: what Jeremiah’s Place is and what services they provide; why families might need to access services at Jeremiah’s Place; how providers can make a successful referral; and the Jeremiah’s Place intake process. Registration To register and learn more, visit the event webpage. Registration for the November 5 session will be provided in the coming weeks. For questions, please email Renee Schmitzer at empower@jeremiahsplace.org. Share this flyer with your network.
Jeremiah’s Place: Provider Engagement Session Are you an early learning provider who is interested in learning about Jeremiah’s Place and its services? Join Jeremiah’s Place on November 5 for their online “Provider Engagement Session.” About Jeremiah’s Place protects children and strengthens families by providing a safe haven of respite, health, renewal, and support for children when their families are experiencing a critical need for child care. These online sessions will explore: what Jeremiah’s Place is and what services they provide; why families might need to access services at Jeremiah’s Place; how providers can make a successful referral; and the Jeremiah’s Place intake process. Registration This event is intended for child care providers. To register, visit the event webpage. For questions, please email Renee Schmitzer at empower@jeremiahsplace.org. Share this flyer with your network.
