July 15, 2019 Learning Power: Examining the Future of Education Join New America, the Western Pennsylvania Writing Project, and the CREATE Lab on July 24 for a stimulating afternoon of sharing and conversation about the future of education. About Community members and organizations are invited to share their unique questions and concerns regarding artificial intelligence, personalized learning, and other automation in their teaching and learning context. All people and perspectives are welcome. The event will feature Professor Nicole Mirra and others, including special guests from YMCA Lighthouse, TeenBloc A+ Schools, and Steeltown Entertainment, to exchange learnings from the many projects across the Pittsburgh area that combine technology and humanities approaches to learning. Featured Participants Kristina Ishmael Senior Project Manager, Teaching, Learning, and Tech Program, New America Nicole Mirra Assistant Professor of Urban Teacher Educattion, Rutgers University Author, Educating for Empathy: Literacy Learning and Civic Engagement Laura Roop Director, Western Pennsylvania Writing Project Registration To register for this event, visit the RSVP page. Learn More This event is part of a larger Connected Conversations series produced by New America with communities in and around Pittsburgh, Southwestern Pennsylvania, and West Virginia, in partnership with Remake Learning and other local organizations. See New America’s event page to learn more.
May 29, 2019 Integrating Early Childhood Learning Standards into Curriculum & Assessment Do you need to learn about the PA Early Learning Standards for Early Childhood? Would you like to explore ways in which curriculum and assessment are linked to these Standards? Join Trying Together at The Homewood Early Learning Hub for two three-hour professional growth sessions that meet Keystone STARS Core Series requirements. Six hours of PQAS / Act 48 credits will be awarded to participants who attend both sessions. Register To register, visit the event webpages: June 10, 2019 June 17, 2019 More Information For more information, contact Theresa Hetler at 412.421.3889 or theresa@tryingtogether.org. Share this flyer with your network.
March 29, 2019 Lunch & Learn: Navigating the Future of Learning Join Remake Learning on April 25th to explore KnowledgeWork’s most recent forecast on the future of learning, “Navigating the Future of Learning.” Context Engaged citizens and civic organizations are seeking to rebalance power. Artificial intelligence and algorithms are automating many aspects of our lives. People have increasing access to tools and insights that are reshaping our brains in intended and unintended ways. Outdated and misaligned systems and metrics of success are contributing to chronic health issues. Communities are working to remake themselves in the face of deep transitions. How these forces combine and interact will present a new context for education and a new landscape of choices for transforming teaching and learning. About the Event As always, this is free, open gathering designed to forge and develop relationships between the educators, innovators, and change agents that make up the Remake Learning Network. Join to discuss your craft, address issues, share opportunities, and connect to resources. Learn more at remakelearning.org/meetups Lunch will be provided with a vegetarian option. Please help reduce food waste by letting them know if you need to cancel your registration. The cut-off date for special food requests is April 21. Registration To register, visit Remake Learning’s event page. Questions & Concerns For any questions or concerns, email Ani at ani@remakelearning.org.
March 27, 2019 P.R.I.D.E. Seeks Early Educators & Artists for Upcoming Art Festivals Recently, the Positive Racial Identity Development in Early Education program (P.R.I.D.E.) announced a call for submissions to Pittsburgh-based early childhood educators and Africana artists for the P.R.I.D.E. Pop Up Mini Art Festivals. About the Festivals Modeled after children’s activities offered during the popular Harambee || Black Arts Festivals, P.R.I.D.E. Pop Ups are small, half-day, outdoor art festivals hosted in three Pittsburgh communities: East Liberty, Homewood, and the Hill District. At the festivals, artists and educators engage young children (ages 3 to 8) and their families in hands-on activities. The goal is for adults to use art activities to teach children about their race and culture while building their positive racial identity. To see important dates and learn more, visit the P.R.I.D.E. website. Who Can Apply This call for submissions is open to early educators teaching grades Pre-K to 3rd grade and Africana artists working in the following disciplines: Literature, Performing Arts, Visual Arts & Crafts, and/or Multidisciplinary Arts. Applications are open to early childhood educators from all neighborhoods, schools, and child care settings, including public, private, charter, etc. Educators working in East Liberty, Homewood, and Hill District schools/settings are highly encouraged to apply. Participating educators and artists will receive the following compensation: Educator and Artist Cross-Training Compensation: $275 Educator and Artist Festival Participation Compensation: $260 per event ($780 total) End-of-Project Focus Group Participation Compensation: $25 Artist Material Stipend: $400 Application & Deadlines If you’re interested in applying or signing up as a volunteer, please visit the P.R.I.D.E. website. All applications must be submitted by Friday, April 5 at 11:59 p.m. About P.R.I.D.E. As a part of the University of Pittsburgh School of Education’s Office of Child Development, P.R.I.D.E. is a multifaceted program designed to help young African American children (ages 3 to 8) develop a positive racial identity, support teachers and parents by building their racial knowledge, and raise awareness of the impact of race on young children. The program provides a range of services, such as training opportunities for educators and artists, Parent Village sessions for Black children, and art festivals created to immerse young Black children in a space designed to celebrate them. See the P.R.I.D.E. Pop Up Mini Art Festivals flyer. *Information provided by the P.R.I.D.E. Program
January 3, 2019 Toddler Life: Free Class Series This seven-class series explores how to enjoy life with a toddler, keep them safe and healthy, and teach them what they are ready to learn. Parents and expectant parents are invited to learn about and discuss topics that can help their toddlers succeed. By attending, all parents earn points toward baby clothes, toys, equipment, and can receive 50 diapers per month. For expectant parents, there are opportunities to earn a new pack ‘n play, car seat, or high chair by completing seven classes. This series runs on Tuesdays from January 22 to March 5, 2019. A light dinner will be provided. Topics The following topics will be discussed: Positive Discipline Developmental Stages Sibling Adjustment Toilet Training Stress-Reduction Registration Register for these free classes by phone (412.945.7670) or online through the Facebook event page. Share this flyer with your networks.
December 20, 2018 Inclusion Course Series Available on EITA Portal The Early Intervention Technical Assistance Online Learning Portal now features a five-course professional development session on Collaborating for Inclusive Practices in Early Childhood. These courses, designed for professionals working across all Pennsylvania Early Childhood and Early Intervention programs, will lead participants through activities and assignments that support the application of learning directly to the early childhood environment. Courses The Inclusion Course Series consists of the following courses: Working Together This online course provides a framework for successful collaboration to provide quality inclusive opportunities for every child. Focus on Attitudes & Beliefs This online course looks at how our actions are shaped by our attitudes and beliefs, and how societal attitudes and beliefs have shaped service systems. Building Relationships to Support All Children This session focuses on establishing, building, and maintaining positive relationships to support children in inclusive classroom settings. Universal Design for Learning in Early Childhood Settings This session provides early childhood educators with information, insights, and opportunities for practice related to the implementation of universal design in early childhood settings. Individualizing for Meaningful Inclusion Participants will be provided with information, tools, and resources to guide them through the process of making adaptations to the classroom environment, routines, and/or activities that support individuals or groups of children who are experiencing challenges. This session requires the completion of activities in an early childhood classroom environment. Learn More To learn more about each course and register, visit the Professional Development page of the EITA Portal. These courses are listed under the Collaborating for Inclusive Practices in Early Childhood section.
December 6, 2018 Dancing Our Way Through STEM Providing children with opportunities to explore creative movement can spark so many natural connections to STEM concepts. During this interactive workshop, educators will participate in a variety of dance-focused strategies that will deepen understanding in science, math, ingenuity, and other fundamental STEM concepts. Participants will have the opportunity to demonstrate their own creative movement techniques that can support student’s STEM learning. Act 48 and PQAS credit hours available. Registration is required. Objectives Through active participation and successful completion, participants will be able to: Define and discuss what “creative movement” means within an early educational experience and how children’s movements connect to STEM learning concepts. Brainstorm and share movement activities, targeting a multi-aged early education environment that focuses on the concepts of science, math, and other STEM learning concepts. Registration and Questions To register or ask questions, contact Rachelle Duffy at 412.421.3889 or rachelle@tryingtogether.org.
November 27, 2018 Dancing Our Way Through STEM Providing children opportunities to explore creative movement can spark so many natural connections to STEM concepts. During this interactive workshop, educators will participate in a variety of dance focused strategies that will deepen understanding in science, math, ingenuity, and other fundamental STEM concepts. Participants will have the opportunity to demonstrate their own creative movement techniques that can support student’s STEM learning. Register here. Act 48 and PQAS credit hours available.
November 8, 2018 ECE Professionals Invited to Participate in ELPIC Survey The Early Learning Instructional Coaching (ELPIC) program is working with educators across PA to develop an Early Learning Administrator Leadership (ELAL) endorsement to support educational leaders in utilizing instructional coaching, professional development (PD), and professional learning communities (PLCs) to leverage change in pre-k-4 learning environments. For educators with a Level I or Level II Instructional Certification, completion of the four-course sequence would result in an endorsement. In order to best develop an endorsement that works for educators from both the K-12 and ECE worlds, ELPIC created two surveys that ask about current needs across the state and seeks to determine how the ELAL endorsement might address those needs. Participants’ responses will be kept confidential. Data from across the state will be aggregated and used to support the endorsement proposal that will be submitted to PDE. For ECE/K-12/IU Please complete this survey based on your experience and the needs that you see in your district, building, or center. For IHES Please complete this survey based on your experience preparing PreK-4 educators, as well as the needs you see in the field of early learning leadership. Information Provided by the Office of Child Development and Early Learning
November 2, 2018 Helping Young Children Cope with Fear and Tragedy Attend Helping Young Children Cope with Fear and Tragedy on Wednesday, November 7 at the Rodef Shalom Family Center to hear from panelists from the University of Pittsburgh; Child, Family, and Community Inc.; Trying Together; and Allegheny Intermediate Unit #3. Moderated by Roberta Schomburg, Interim Executive Director of the Fred Rogers Center for Early Learning and Children’s Media, this panel presentation will discuss methods and approaches that adults can use to help their child(ren) cope with fear and tragedy. Moderator Roberta Schomburg, Ph.D. Fred Rogers Center for Early Learning and Children’s Media at Saint Vincent College Interim Executive Director Panelists Dr. Kimberly Blair University of Pittsburgh Associate Professor of Psychiatry Dr. Mary Margaret Kerr University of Pittsburgh Professor of Applied Developmental Psychology & Administrative & Policy Studies Bonnie McNally-Brown, LPC Child, Family & Community Inc. Tracy Larson, MSED, CAGS, NCSP University of Pittsburgh Office of Child Development Cara Ciminillo Trying Together Executive Director Dr. Cathy Lobaugh Allegheny Intermediate Unit #3 Assistant Executive Director for Early Childhood, Family & Community Services This event is free and open to the public. Please register. Share this flyer with your networks.