March 20, 2019 Western Allegheny Pennsylvania One Book Professional Development Workshop About Explore early learning activities that enhance this year’s PA One Book selections: Barnyard Banter, by Denise Fleming (For children birth to 36 months Not a Box, by Antoinette Portis (For children ages three to five years) Each attendee will receive a free copy of Barnyard Banter and Not a Box and a light dinner will be served. Benefits Attendees will also take away: Ideas for One Book-inspired circle times Fun strategies that support early literacy development Activities that develop early learners’ STEAM skills Family engagement strategies Prizes One Book is a statewide initiative that promotes the importance of early literacy development for children ages birth to five years. Each April, Pennsylvania celebrates a book whose story and illustrations encourage children’s imaginations and love of reading to build a community of readers. Credits In partnership with Trying Together, early childhood educators will receive PQAS credits for their attendance. Flyer View and share the Western Allegheny PA One Book Professional Development Workshop flyer with your network.
Northside Pennsylvania One Book Professional Development Workshop About Explore early learning activities that enhance this year’s PA One Book selections: Barnyard Banter, by Denise Fleming (For children birth to 36 months Not a Box, by Antoinette Portis (For children ages three to five years) Each attendee will receive a free copy of Barnyard Banter and Not a Box and a light dinner will be served. This workshop is now full! If you are a Northside provider and still need to register, please contact Rachelle Duffy at 412.421.3889 or rachelle@tryingtogether.org. There is also another workshop the following day on April 10 at Western Allegheny Community Library. Learn how to participate in a ONE Northside art project that highlights child care providers on the Northside! Benefits Attendees will also take away: Ideas for One Book-inspired circle times Fun strategies that support early literacy development Activities that develop early learners’ STEAM skills Family engagement strategies Prizes One Book One Book is a statewide initiative that promotes the importance of early literacy development for children ages birth to five years. Each April, Pennsylvania celebrates a book whose story and illustrations encourage children’s imaginations and love of reading to build a community of readers. Credits In partnership with Trying Together, early childhood educators will receive PQAS credits for their attendance.
February 11, 2019 Raising Readers Together Club The Raising Readers Together Club runs weekly and explores the importance of acceptance, equality, and tolerance through reading. Wednesday sessions are suitable for children age six and older. For children age five and younger, see our Thursday sessions at the Homewood Early Learning Hub. Winter 2019 Books: Ghosts by Raina Telgemeier | February 6 – 27 The Watsons Go To Birmingham – 1963 by Christopher Paul Curtis | March 6 – 27 Raising Readers provides free: books discussion food songs storytelling resources Questions For questions or more information, contact Cynthia Battle at 412.421.3889 or cynthia@tryingtogether.org. Share this flyer with your network.
December 20, 2018 Let’s Chat About Early Language and Literacy The PA Office of Child Development and Early Learning (OCDEL) and Early Intervention Technical Assistance (EITA) are hosting chat sessions during the winter months to discuss early language and literacy development topics. Join these 30-minute online chat sessions, offered at 8:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m., to discover resources to share with families and implement in your classroom or center. These sessions will take place on the second and fourth Friday of every month from January through March 2019. Chat Sessions Disconnecting to Connect | January 11, 2019 Building Vocabulary | January 25, 2019 Storybook Reading | February 8, 2019 Print in the Environment | February 22, 2019 Playing with Sounds | March 8, 2019 Supporting Dual Language Learners | March 22, 2019 More Information Visit their event website to learn more about the topics, credits, and registration. PQAS credit hours and Infant/Toddler hours available.
December 6, 2018 100,000 Books Campaign: Free Book Fair United Way’s 100,000 Books initiative is giving away new and gently used books to support your students’ developing reading skills. A variety of books are available for various age groups, although this year’s selection appears to have more in the pre-k to 3rd-grade range. To qualify, your program must use a mentor – reader model. This event is first come – first serve, so show up early. Bringing boxes is recommended. Register here. What is 100,000 Books? 100,000 Books builds on research that demonstrates the importance of connecting a caring adult or older student with a child. This mentor model has been shown to have a significant impact on the life of a child and will be the primary model that 100,000 Books uses to support reading skills development. Mentors (teachers, librarians, youth workers, caring adults, older students…) will reinforce reading skills through one time and on-going read-along opportunities that will help kids to build this critical love of reading. Questions If you have any questions, please contact Tanya Baronti at tanya.baronti@unitedwayswpa.org or Joe Welsh at joe.welsh@unitedwayswpa.org.
November 29, 2018 Tickets for Kids Book Club Tickets for Kids and the Sto-Rox Library announced the discussion dates for their new collaborative book club. The book chosen by their group is: “Evicted: Poverty and Profit in the American City” by Matthew Desmond. Winner of the Pulitzer Prize, this book was also the One Book One Community choice of the University of Pittsburgh’s School of Public Health. If you would like to attend, RSVP to Jennifer Gray by email (jgray@forstorox.org) or phone (412.771.1222). Parking is located in the parking lot on the side of the building, PNC parking lot after banking hours, or on the street. Discussion Dates Discussions will be held at the Sto-Rox Library on the following dates: December 10, 2018: 4-5:30 PM February 11, 2019: 6-7:30 PM April 8, 2019: 6-7:30 PM June 10, 2019: 6-7:30 PM About the Book “Evicted” by Matthew Desmond describes the plight of poor families who, for want of a few dollars, are forced to move from their homes, apartments, or trailers. An ethnographer, Desmond shares the intimate vicissitudes of his subject/friends as they struggle to make ends meet while negotiating a bewildering system of slumlords, public agencies, law enforcement, and courts, a system that seems almost designed to reinforce a downward spiral of poverty. The consequences of eviction are especially felt by mothers with young children, whose development is jeopardized by substandard housing, low-quality neighborhoods, and poor nutrition. *Information provided by Tickets for Kids Charities and Pitt Public Health*
November 19, 2018 2019 Changes to the PA One Book Program In 2019, the Pennsylvania One Book Program will adapt to meet the increasing need to support early literacy to Pennsylvania’s youngest learners. These changes include a shift in focus to get more books into the hands and homes of more children. Available Books There will be two books available for purchase: “Barnyard Banter” by Denise Fleming For infants and toddlers (available in English). “Not a Box” by Antoinette Portis For children ages three to five (available in English and Spanish). There are no minimum or fixed quantities required. Early learning providers, library staff, and community partners can purchase the exact number of books needed. To keep costs more affordable, paperback options are the only available option. Purchasing Details Purchasing of the two titles are through Scholastic Publishing Family and Community Engagement (FACE) program. If your organization already participates in the FACE or Scholastic Literacy Partners Program, you will just need to complete the order form available from Scholastic Publishing. Click here for the order form. A two-page Family Fun Guide for both titles will be available on the PA One Book website (www.paonebook.org) by January 2019. Other guides aligned with the Pennsylvania Standards for Early Childhood will also be available with activities for use by early childhood educators and families. With this change, copies of the One Book titles will no longer be mailed to early learning programs, however, anyone may purchase and donate copies to child care homes and centers, as well as families. *Information provided by NAEYC*
June 8, 2018 Summer Reading Extravaganza Young readers can keep their literacy skills sharp and help the Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh break its 180,000 Summer Reading book record by reading this summer. Join the Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh on June 10 from Noon – 5 p.m. in Oakland for its annual Summer Reading Extravaganza to kick things off. Families can enroll in the Summer Reading program and enjoy music, crafts, games, storytelling, food trucks, and more. Learn more at carnegielibrary.org.
