January 23, 2024 FLIP IT The ELRC Region 5 is offering the following professional development opportunity for your team of early learning educators. FLIP IT FLIP IT® is a strategy that offers a simple, kind, strength-based, commonsense, and effective four-step process to address children’s day-to-day challenging behaviors. The four steps embodied in the FLIP IT mnemonic are: F – Feelings L – Limits I – Inquiries P – Prompts FLIP IT is nothing new, but transforms best practices into a strategy that is easy to remember, applicable in a variety of challenging situations, and portable. FLIP IT is most appropriate for children ages three to eight. This session is eligible for 2 hours of PQAS and Act 48 credit. Session Details Tuesday, February 13, 2024 | 6 – 8 p.m. Virtual via Zoom Cost: $10 Register Instructors: Shawna Preston Standards: Family–Family-teacher partnerships and Community Connections Questions? For questions about the course or credit, contact Paige Kizior at paige@tryingtogether.org.
November 14, 2023 Strengths-Based Leadership, Mentorship, and Coaching Brazelton Touchpoints Center invites all professionals who serve in leadership, management, coaching, or mentor roles to attend this workshop series to develop strategies on how to cultivate and sustain a strengths-based approach in your leadership role. Event Details 2-part workshop series, 3 hours each, totaling 6 hours of training January 23 and 25, 11-2 pm ET / 8-12 pm PT Live Spanish translation and closed captioning are available Participants receive a certificate of participation. Contact Hours: 6 Register for this opportunity today. Additional Details In this course, participants will learn: How to take the other person’s perspective to support a strengths-based approach How to identify where staff start and how they are advancing in their learning process How to highlight and appreciate staff strengths in your interactions with them Strategies that can help you deepen your connections with staff
Strengths-Based Leadership, Mentorship, and Coaching Brazelton Touchpoints Center invites all professionals who serve in leadership, management, coaching, or mentor roles to attend this workshop series to develop strategies on how to cultivate and sustain a strengths-based approach in your leadership role. Event Details 2-part workshop series, 3 hours each, totaling 6 hours of training January 23 and 25, 11-2 pm ET / 8-12 pm PT Live Spanish translation and closed captioning are available Participants receive a certificate of participation. Contact Hours: 6 Register for this opportunity today. Additional Details In this course, participants will learn: How to take the other person’s perspective to support a strengths-based approach How to identify where staff start and how they are advancing in their learning process How to highlight and appreciate staff strengths in your interactions with them Strategies that can help you deepen your connections with staff
November 1, 2023 Supporting Breastfed Children in Child Care Settings The Pennsylvania Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics is offering professional development credits for child care providers who complete the Breastfeeding Evaluation. Learn More The 1.5-hour recorded webinar discusses breast milk storage and handling, provides practice guidance on paced-bottle feeding, and offers resources needed to promote breastfeeding in early education and child care settings. At the conclusion of the webinar participants will be able to: Identify reasons to support chest/breastfeeding Explain the safe handling and storage procedures for human milk Describe the rationale and practice for paced bottle feeding Explain the benefits of the program when chest/breastfeeding is supported Describe and apply supportive policies for chest/breastfeeding Listen to the recording and download the evaluation form. The password is “Ecels”. Completed evaluation forms should be emailed to ecels@paaap.org or faxed to 484-446-3255. The webinar will be free until December 31, 2023.
October 4, 2023 Capturing Moments: Planning For and Conducting Classroom Observations The ELRC Region 5 is offering a professional development opportunity for your 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 Tuesday, October 24 | 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.
May 30, 2023 Fall 2023 T.E.A.C.H. Scholarship Application Now Open Early childhood education professionals interested in attending college in the Fall 2023 semester can now submit applications to receive a T.E.A.C.H. (Teacher Education And Compensation Helps) Scholarship and earn their teaching degree at little to no personal cost. Interested applicants must complete and submit their T.E.A.C.H. applications with all required documentation/information by Friday, July 7. About T.E.A.C.H. Scholarships T.E.A.C.H. encompasses several different scholarship programs. These programs help child care professionals complete coursework toward a degree or credential in early childhood and increase their compensation. Every T.E.A.C.H. scholarship has five key components: Scholarship – The scholarship covers most of the cost for tuition and books. Additionally, recipients receive a travel stipend each semester they are enrolled in class. Also, T.E.A.C.H. requires that the sponsoring child care program offer paid release time for the student to attend class, study, or handle personal needs. Education – In one scholarship year, each participant must successfully complete a required number of credit hours (usually 9-15) toward a degree in early childhood education. Compensation – At the end of the scholarship year, if they complete their educational requirement, participants are eligible to receive either a stipend or a raise. Commitment – Participants agree to continue working in their child care program for one year after each scholarship year. Counseling – Each recipient gets assigned a counselor able to assist the student in securing a scholarship, navigating the college processes, setting goals, and monitoring progress and needs. Eligibility The Pennsylvania Child Care Association (PACCA) offers a variety of T.E.A.C.H. scholarships to meet the needs of the early care and education workforce in center and home-based settings. Eligible applicants must: work a minimum of 25-30 hours per week directly with children in a DHS-certified child care program; make $19 or less an hour ($25 or less per hour for directors); and remain interested in pursuing coursework at a participating college toward a degree or credential in early childhood. Apply To apply, download a scholarship application on the PACCA website and submit your completed application by Friday, July 7 through one of the following methods: Email: teachinfo@pacca.org Fax: 717.657.0959 Mail: 20 Erford Road, Suite 302, Lemoyne, PA 17043 Additionally, begin the college admissions process and contact an early childhood education (ECE) advisor at your intended college/university. This helps to ensure that scholarship applicants get admitted to their college/university and can register for courses if/when they receive a T.E.A.C.H. scholarship. T.E.A.C.H. can provide contact information for early childhood education advisors at partnering institutions if needed. Learn More Scholarship awards are dependent upon the availability of funds and priorities of funders. PACCA will continue to accept applications on an ongoing basis. However, incomplete applications and applications received after Friday, July 7 will not receive priority for consideration. For questions about scholarship eligibility or requirements, contact a T.E.A.C.H. Counselor at 717.657.9000.
May 1, 2023 EITA Offering Professional Development Opportunity on the Growing Brain Early Intervention Technical Assistance (EITA) is offering early childhood professionals a professional development opportunity to learn about brain growth in children from birth to five years of age. Aptly named, “The Growing Brain: From Birth to 5 Years Old,” this virtual series details child brain development and shares ways to encourage healthy growth in young children. About “The Growing Brain” Decades of research indicate that the early years of life are a period of exponential brain development, characterized by great opportunity and vulnerability dependent on child relationships and environment. In this series, participants will develop skills and strategies to: understand the architecture and neurobiology of brain development support language, cognition, prosocial behavior, and social-emotional development and reduce toxic stress that can negatively influence brain development in very young children Session Details “The Growing Brain” is offered in several, progressive sessions. Each session is offered twice, and interested individuals can register and attend as many or as few sessions as they like. One PQAS credit is available for each session. Sessions include: Factors Affecting Brain Growth & Development In this session, participants will identify factors that negatively impact brain development, understand the impact of stress on the developing brain, and learn about strategies for supporting healthy brain growth and development. Offered: Thursday April 27 | 12 – 1 p.m. Friday April 28 | 8 – 9 a.m. Communication & Language Development In this session, participants will understand communication milestones, learn strategies for supporting early communication skills, and understand multi-language learning. Offered: Thursday May 4 | 12 – 1 p.m. Friday, May 5 | 8 – 9 a.m. Cognition & Executive Function In this session, participants will review and summarize key cognitive milestones in brain development, as well as explore the layers of executive function and its importance in child development. Offered: Thursday, May 18 | 12 – 1 p.m. Friday, May 19 | 8 – 9 a.m. Social-Emotional Development In this session, participants will review key social emotional development milestones in children, as well as connect which areas of the brain are involved in social interactions and examine the role that relationships and attachment play in social-emotional development. Offered: Thursday, May 25 | 12 – 1 p.m. Friday, May 26 | 8 – 9 a.m. Understanding Behavior In this module, session leaders will discuss approaches for identifying the root cause of young children’s behavior and demonstrate effective strategies to address challenging behaviors in very young children. Offered: Thursday, June 1 | 12 – 1 p.m. Friday, June 2 | 8 – 9 a.m. Everyday Play In this session, participants will learn to understand the stages and types of play that unfold in early childhood, the role of the brain in this process, and how to maximize children’s learning through play. Offered: Thursday, June 8 | 12 – 1 p.m. Friday, June 9 | 8 – 9 a.m. Register for any or all sessions on the PD Registry. Learn More This series is presented by EITA Consultants certified in “The Growing Brain” curriculum, which was developed by Zero to Three Professional Development and Workforce Innovations (PDWI). PDWI aims to elevate the knowledge skills and abilities of early childhood professionals. For additional information on this offering, view the flyer. For additional information on “The Growing Brain,” visit www.zerotothree.org/growingbrain or the PD Registry.
April 26, 2023 Supporting Children’s Social-Emotional Wellbeing: A Closer Look at Temperament and Goodness of Fit Theory Do you ever wonder how two children with the same parents can be so different? About why some children are so easy going and others are more challenging? One major factor at play is temperament. Temperament is an important feature of children’s social emotional well-being, and describes the way in which they approach the world. In “Supporting Children’s Social-Emotional Wellbeing: A Closer Look at Temperament and Goodness of Fit Theory,” participants will explore different temperament traits and learn how goodness of fit theory supports children’s social and emotional wellbeing. Hosted by Trying Together and ELRC Region 5, this course, while available for all STAR programs, meets the STAR 3/4 PD topic requirements in PSCECE Area 4. Session Details Thursday, May 18 | 6 – 9 p.m. Virtual via Zoom Cost: $15 Instructors: Katie Streiff and Jillian Miller Standards: PSCECE Area 4: Developmentally, Culturally, and Linguistically Appropriate Teaching Practices (3 hours) Register Learn More For questions about the course or credit, contact Paige Kizior at paige@tryingtogether.org.
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.
