February 14, 2019 2019 UnConference: Young Learner’s Guide to Tech In partnership with Carlow University and Avonworth Primary Center, join us Saturday, March 30, 2019 from 8:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. at Avonworth Primary Center for a day of professional development and explore how we, as early childhood educators, after-school providers, and families can harness the good that comes from the advances made in media and technology for young children. The day features Jennifer Ehehalt, Pittsburgh Regional Manager at Common Sense Media, highlighting the findings in their research report The Common Sense Census: Media Use by Kids Age Zero to Eight, along with a panel discussion and audience Q&A. Then, attendees will participate in a hands-on workshop and an open session to interact with various displays, technology and media. After you register, we will email you for your workshop preferences. Registration for UnConference: Young Learner’s Guide to Tech is now closed.
Registration Open for 2019 UnConference In today’s digital world, learning has found new paths with the advanced development of media and technology. There is a lot of the excitement about the power of technology for learning with a focus on apps and games, but what do we really know about the effectiveness of media and technology on young children? How are they spending their time? And, even with lots of tech, what are low tech (or maybe even no tech) ideas that help children create and develop critical 21st century skills? Simply, what is age-appropriate? About In partnership with Carlow University and Avonworth Primary Center, join us Saturday, March 30, 2019 from 8:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. at Avonworth Primary Center for a day of professional development and explore how we, as early childhood educators, after-school providers, and families can harness the good that comes from the advances made in media and technology for young children. The day features Jennifer Ehehalt, Pittsburgh Regional Manager at Common Sense Media, highlighting the findings in their research report The Common Sense Census: Media Use by Kids Age Zero to Eight, along with a panel discussion and audience Q&A. Then, attendees will participate in a hands-on workshop and an open session to interact with various displays, technology and media. After you register, we will email you for your workshop preferences. How to Register Register now to reserve your space! When the workshops are finalized, you will receive an email from Yu-Ling to select your preferred workshops. We will do our best to place you in your requested workshop, but this is not guaranteed. There is limited space in each workshop and workshop placement is based on the date of your registration, so we recommend you register early. Please register by 5:00 p.m. on Thursday, March 21, 2019. For groups of six or more people, there is a 10% discount. Please email Yu-Ling at conference@tryingtogether.org for more information. To learn more about this event, visit this link. Share this flyer with your network.
August 14, 2018 P.R.I.D.E. Speaker Series – Reimagining Early Childhood: Being Intentional About Race and Young Children This event is currently sold out. Join Trying Together for an evening of engaging dialogue on Thursday, September 27 from 5:00 – 7:00 p.m. at The Frick Art and Historical Center. The P.R.I.D.E. Program Speaker Series will welcome Dr. Erin N. Winkler, professor of African & African Diaspora Studies and Urban Studies at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, to discuss how adults can be intentional in discussing race with young children. P.R.I.D.E. Speaker Series Event Schedule: 5:00 – 5:30 p.m. Networking and Registration 5:30 – 7:00 p.m. Keynote by Dr. Erin Winkler, followed by Q&A Please contact UnConference Director Yu-Ling Cheng at conference@tryingtogether.org or call 412-421-3889. About Dr. Erin Winkler Erin N. Winkler is associate professor of African & African Diaspora Studies and Urban Studies at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. She earned her Ph.D. in African American Studies at the University of California-Berkeley and was a postdoctoral fellow in African American Studies at Northwestern University. She is author of the book, Learning Race, Learning Place: Shaping Racial Identities and Ideas in African American Childhoods. She has recently consulted for the new Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, working to train museum staff to have productive conversations about race and racism with visitors of all ages and backgrounds (2016), and serving as an instructor in the Museum’s week-long workshop for K-12 teachers, “Let’s Talk: Teaching Race in the Classroom” (2017). About P.R.I.D.E. The P.R.I.D.E. Program is part of the University of Pittsburgh Office of Child Development within the School of Education. At P.R.I.D.E. our focus is on helping young Black children, aged 3 to 8, develop a positive racial identity. Studies have shown that when children are socialized to embrace their race, ethnicity, and heritage, it can lead to numerous positive outcomes. This event is part of the P.R.I.D.E. Speaker Series, which invites parents, caregivers, educators, and the community at-large to learn about and engage in discussions about race, education, and young children. P.R.I.D.E is part of the University of Pittsburgh Office of Child Development within the School of Education. Thank you to our Sponsors and Partners A huge thank you to our: co-hosts, P.R.I.D.E., Trying Together and Frick Art and Historical Center, UnConference series sponsor PNC Grow Up Great and sponsors Office of Child Development and Early Learning (OCDEL)*, W.K. Kellogg Foundation and Hillman Family Foundation! *Funding for this conference was made possible (in part) by the Pennsylvania Office of Child Development and Early Learning (OCDEL). The views expressed in written conference materials or publications and by speakers and moderators do not necessarily reflect the official policies of OCDEL; nor does mention by trade names, commercial practice or organization imply endorsement by the Commonwealth.
UnConference: Being Intentional About Race and Young Children In partnership with The P.R.I.D.E. Program (part of the University of Pittsburgh Office of Child Development within the School of Education) and Frick Pittsburgh, join Trying Together for a day of professional development on Saturday, September 29, 8:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. at The Frick Art and Historical Center. Attendees will explore how we as early childhood educators, afterschool providers, and families, can create a positive environment to discuss race with young children. The day will also feature Dr. Erin N. Winkler, professor of African & African Diaspora Studies and Urban Studies at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. This event is currently sold-out. You may add your name to the waitlist below. Tickets for The P.R.I.D.E. Speaker Series event on Thursday, September 27 with Dr. Winkler are now available. The UnConference series is made possible by:
P.R.I.D.E.-Themed UnConference Trying Together will launch the 2018 UnConference series at the end of September to explore how caregivers can be intentional about race and young children. In partnership with The P.R.I.D.E. Program (part of the University of Pittsburgh Office of Child Development within the School of Education) and Frick Pittsburgh, join Trying Together for a day of professional development on Saturday, September 29, 8:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. at The Frick Art and Historical Center. Attendees will explore how we as early childhood educators, afterschool providers, and families, can create a positive environment to discuss race with young children. The day will also feature Dr. Erin N. Winkler, professor of African & African Diaspora Studies and Urban Studies at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. This event is currently sold-out. Those interested may add their name to the waitlist. In advance of the UnConference, The P.R.I.D.E. Program Speaker Series will welcome Dr. Erin N. Winkler on Thursday, September 27 from 5:00 – 7:00 p.m. at The Frick Art and Historical Center to discuss how adults can be intentional in discussing race with young children. Child care services will be provided by Sweet Dreams Childcare during the event from 5 – 7 p.m. If interested, please indicate during registration. There are limited spots for child care and it is first come, first serve. There is no cost for this service (it is free).
August 1, 2018 New Keystone STARS Performance Standards Available In 2017, The Keystone STARS Think Tank Team, in partnership with thousands of stakeholders, developed principles to guide the STARS revision process. During the 2017-18 program year, the Office of Child Development and Early Learning (OCDEL) refined Keystone STARS to be more efficient for providers to participate and more effective at improving child outcomes. The new Keystone STARS Performance Standards and Program Manual became available on July 1, 2018. For more information on updates to the program, listen to the Keystone STARS July 2018 Update webinar. This brief presentation covers changes to the Keystone STARS Performance Standards and Indicators, Alternate Pathways to STARS Designation, and Program Quality Assessment. For more information on the Keystone STARS program visit the PA Key website. For questions or comments, please contact OCDEL at RA-OCDEarlyLearning@pa.gov. (Shared via PA Key)
