January 15, 2020 Documenting Learning Through Photography Join the Pittsburgh Cultural Trust on March 7 for their professional development session, “Documenting Learning Through Photography.” About Cameras are ubiquitous these days, but how can educators best use them in the classroom? In this workshop, educators will consider how they might use photography to enhance, expand, and document learning for both themselves and their students. Participants will learn about free simple apps for photo editing and how to use visual artifacts in student assessment. Participants are encouraged to bring their own mobile device, however, iPads will be made available for use during the class. This course is designed for K-12 educators. Act 48 and PQAS hours available. Registration To register, visit the Pittsburgh Cultural Trust website. More Information For personal assistance selecting accessible seats or for more information about accessibility for a person with a disability, contact Customer Service at 412.456.6666. To learn more, visit the event webpage.
December 10, 2019 Personal Bias in the Multicultural and Multilingual Child Care Setting “WIDA Examining Personal Bias in the Multicultural and Multilingual Child Care Setting” will define multiculturalism and multilingual learning and bring participants to a level of awareness about bias in society. It will expose ways in which our culture contains subtle and obvious biases. Participants will reflect on their own level of awareness and how it changed due to classroom activities. Part I: This workshop will define multiculturalism and help participants understand how to incorporate and celebrate true multiculturalism within the classroom. Participants will identify the parts of their curriculum that need work and change in order to remain anti-biased. Participants will develop an action plan for each area of their curriculum that will allow them to implement changes immediately. Learning Objectives Upon completion of this course, learners will be able to: examine personal bias about their community, cultures, and personal lives; recognize how to embrace a variety of cultural and linguistic backgrounds from a strengths-based approach; and plan changes in curriculum and practice to reflect learning experiences from the training. Registration To register and learn more, visit the PD Registry website. PD Registry Event ID: 308123 More Information For questions, please contact Annie Skamangas-Scaros at 412.608.2594 or ecetacademy@gmail.com. For more educational courses like this, please visit our Course page. *Information provided by the Pennsylvania Key
December 9, 2019 Examining Underlying Causes of Challenging Behaviors Often challenging behaviors are the product of multiple factors that may not be readily apparent. Attend “Behind the Scenes: Examining Underlying Causes of Challenging Behaviors” to examine the bigger picture including developmentally appropriate behaviors, mistaken behaviors, and imitation. Emphasis will be on how the grown-ups and the environment contribute to behaviors. This is a live, interactive webinar. PQAS hours offered. Participants are expected to fully participate; this is not a log-in and leave event. Arriving 15 minutes late may result in no credit for the session. Please note, no refunds will provided for cancellation or no show. Learning Objectives Upon completion of this course, learners will be able to: describe factors that contribute to children’s behaviors; briefly explain Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs and the PBS Pyramid as they relate to children’s behaviors; and analyze the extent to which adult behaviors and environmental factors facilitate children’s behaviors. Registration To register and learn more, visit the PD Registry website. PD Registry Event ID: 308364 More Information For questions or more information, contact Karen Rucker 717.314.8368 or krucker@respectingchildren.com. *Information provided by the Pennsylvania Key
Strengthening Relationships with Children, Families, and Colleagues Early childhood professionals are invited to attend “Strengthening Relationships with Children, Families, and Colleagues” to reflect on how their experiences, temperament, and backgrounds influence the relationships they have or want to build with children, families, and colleagues. Participants will reflect on their feelings about parent participation in their program and leave with ideas on ways to build a stronger home-school connection in their own program. Additionally, participants will share, discuss and implement best practices that can be used to develop and strengthen relationships with children, families, and colleagues. Interested individuals must attend both online sessions for PQAS credit. Available Dates January 13, 2020 | 6:30 – 9:30 p.m. | Event ID: 307704 February 17, 2020 | 8:45 a.m. – 3:15 p.m. | Event ID: 308423 To register and learn more, visit the PD Registry website. More Information For questions, please contact Annie Skamangas-Scaros at 412.608.2594 or ecetacademy@gmail.com. *Information provided by the Pennsylvania Key
Environment Rating Scale (ERS) 101 This 2-hour seminar is part of the Keystone STARS Core training series an is a pre-requisite for the ITERS-R, ECERS-R, or SACERS seminars. Participants will learn how the Environment Rating Scale (ERS) measures quality; how the ERS scales are used in PA; and how to accurately score the ERS. Upon completion of this seminar, participants will be properly prepared for the specific scale PD seminars: 201 ITERS-R; 202 ECERS-R; 203 SACERS. Learning Objectives Upon completion of this course, learners will be able to: describe the purpose and intent of the ERS; identify how the scales measure quality; identify how to use the scales to conduct a self-assessment; and prepare participants for specific ERS professional development. This session was developed by the PA Key Program Quality Assessment team and includes content used with the permission of the ERS authors. The session is facilitated by a PA Key Program Quality Assessor reliable in the ERS instruments. If you have taken an ITERS-R, ECERS-R, and/or a SACERS prior to July 2007, this course is not required. PQAS hours provided. Registration To register and learn more, visit the Pennsylvania PD Registry website. PD Registry Event ID: 309219 More Information For questions, contact Michelle Long at miclon@pakeys.org. *Information provided by The Pennsylvania Key
December 3, 2019 Preventing the Flu with Young Children Did you know that “children younger than five, but especially children younger than two years old and children with chronic health conditions, are at a greater risk for serious flu complications?” If so, you probably know how important it is to understand the signs and symptoms of influenza (flu), as the infection can cause “mild to severe illness, pneumonia, and other complications.” To best care for your young child this flu season, consider implementing the following best practices provided by HealthyChildren.org. What is the flu? HealthyChildren.org states that the flu “is an infection of the nose, throat, and lungs caused by the influenza virus.” As caregivers of young children, it’s important to catch flu symptoms early and implement proper treatment. While most people will recover in a few days to less than two weeks, some individuals, especially young children, have an increased risk of flu-related complications, some of which may result in hospital stays or could be life-threatening. Some complications include pneumonia, bronchitis, and sinus and ear infections. Flu Symptoms If your child has the flu, they may exhibit some of the following symptoms: fever cough sore throat runny or stuffy nose body aches headache chills fatigue vomiting diarrhea Please note that “some people sick with the flu may not have a fever.” Best Practices to Avoid the Flu To protect your child against the flu, consider implementing the following best practices: Make sure your child (age six months or older) receives a flu vaccine every year. This is the most important thing you can do to protect your child against the virus. Children younger than six months are at a high risk of serious flu illness, however, they are too young to be vaccinated. Because of this, caregivers of the young child should be vaccinated instead in order to protect them. For pregnant individuals, receiving a vaccination while pregnant is encouraged, as “the antibody produced in response to the vaccine also offers protection to the developing baby.” Talk with your doctor to discuss the flu vaccine and how many doses are recommended for you and your child. Avoid close contact with people who are sick. Wash hands often with soap and running water or use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer if water and soap are unavailable. Encourage your child to avoid touching their eyes, nose, and mouth and encourage them to use a tissue or elbow to cough or sneeze into. Keep surfaces in the house and toys clean using household disinfectants according to the directions on the product label. Have a plan in case your child becomes sick with the flu. What to Do if Your Child is Sick If your child is exhibiting flu-like symptoms, call or take your child to the doctor; keep your child at home until they no longer have a fever for at least 24 hours and are feeling like themselves (excluding doctor visits); make sure your child gets plenty of rest and drinks fluids to avoid becoming dehydrated; ask your doctor about fever-reducing medicines if such medicines are necessary; keep your child in a separate room (sick room) in the house and limit as much contact as possible with other members of the household who are not sick; make one person in the house the main caregiver of the sick child; and, if possible, avoid having a pregnant person as the main caregiver of the sick child. A child should not go back to school, pre-kindergarten, or their child care program until their fever (101° F/38.3° C or greater) has been gone for at least 24 hours without the assistance of fever-reducing medicines. With this, it’s recommended to ask your child’s school or child care provider what their plan is for the flu season. Let them know if your child is at high-risk for flu-related problems. More Information For more information on prevention and best practices, visit HealthyChildren.org. *Information provided by HealthyChildren.org To learn more about Trying Together, visit our home page.
November 15, 2019 Guiding Students’ Early Learning Journeys Young children have boundless energy—and endless curiosity about the world around them. They also have so much to learn. As educators, our challenge is twofold: first, to determine what children already know; and second, to use this insight to provide engaging learning experiences that will help them grow. About During the “Guiding Students’ Early Learning Journeys” webinar, Dr. Scott McConnell and Dr. Jan Bryan will share strategies for meeting these challenges, along with practical tips for assessing your early learners more effectively. Participants will explore: what science tells us about the natural knowledge of young learners; how we can use brief measures to accurately assess this knowledge; how these measures also provide valuable insights into overall development and growth; and how to use these insights to guide learning journeys from preK through grade 3. This session will be of interest to pre-k through elementary teachers, school and district leaders, assessment and curriculum directors and coordinators, early childhood education directors, and RTI/MTSS coordinators. Time for questions will be provided. Registration To register and learn more, visit the edWeb website.
November 13, 2019 Supporting Young Children During Transitions Writing for Child Mind Institute, Katherine Martinelli recently authored “How Can We Help Kids With Transitions,” highlighting key tips and advice for parents and caregivers seeking to support their young children. About When it comes to transitions–to kindergarten, a new program, or a new routine–young children often struggle. When children whine, stall, meltdown, or have a tantrum, some parents and caregivers aren’t sure where to turn. In an effort to empower these caregivers, Katherine Martinelli authored an article highlighting eight tips for supporting young children during the transition process, mentioning that these supports may be especially important for children with ADHD, anxiety, autism, or sensory sensitivities. Tips & Advice Create Routines Setting routines for daily activities such as bedtime, taking a bath, or putting away toys can play a big role in reassuring children during such transitions. Preview and Count Down In addition to routines, providing a clear outline of what the day will entail can help children adequately prepare for transitions to come. Caregivers can do this in the morning with their children, paired with countdowns throughout the day. Before each transition, give your child a timeframe and description of what’s going to happen next. Give It a Soundtrack Songs are a great tool to encourage routines and ease transitions. By creating songs for things such as cleaning up, bedtime, and getting ready to leave, caregivers establish a recognizable, fun indicator that a transition is happening. This tip works especially well with young children. Visual Cues Some children may benefit from visual clues, such as a chart or poster with drawings that explain what to expect or the steps of a transition. Parents and caregivers can easily reference these visual cues during the transition to help walk children through the process. Get Their Attention Many parents and caregivers know that simply yelling at children from across the room will only lead to frustration for both parties. Instead, caregivers are encouraged to make a connection with the child to ensure the child is giving their full attention. This could mean eye contact, a hand on the shoulder, sitting next to them, or asking them to repeat back what has been said. Use Rewards Reward systems can be beneficial in schools and at home, especially during the early phases of a new transition. Using rewards such as stickers, snacks, or a point system can be effective in supporting positive behaviors. With this, the reward system can be phased out as a child gets closer to mastering the transition. Implement Appropriate Consequences If a child exhibits negative behaviors during a transition, ignore the negative behavior rather than escalating the situation. However, if a child is egregiously misbehaving, parents and caregivers should implement “appropriate consequences for that behavior that makes the child understand that behavior is off-limits.” Praise Good Transitioning Praise and recognition play a vital role in reinforcing positive behaviors. Martinelli recommends that caregivers be specific in their praise, following up with a reward when appropriate. More Information For more tips and advice on supporting children during transitions, read the full article on the Child Mind Institute website.
October 30, 2019 OCDEL Announces New Community Survey About Every five years, states have the opportunity to learn about the well-being of families of young children in local communities. Pennsylvania is asking any individual living in the state to complete this short survey. Through the data collected, Pennsylvania’s Office of Child Development and Early Learning (OCDEL) will better understand the resources for families living in your community. Survey responses will be used statewide and locally to inform Family Support Services, such as parenting classes and home visiting services. Hearing from everyone is important! Whether you’re a parent or a provider of family and early childhood services, please complete and share this survey. Take the OCDEL Community Survey In English Please take about five to ten minutes to complete the survey. Your input is critical to informing stakeholders about the factors that may affect the well-being of young children and families in communities across Pennsylvania. If you wish to complete the OCDEL Community Survey in English, enter the following link into your web browser: is.gd/surveypa En Español Le pedimos que pase entre 5 a 10 minutos para contestar la encuesta. Sus aportes son muy importantes para nosotros ya que nos ayudarán a identificar y comprender los factores que pueden afectar la salud dentro de su familia y su comunidad en Pennsylvania. Si desea completar la encuesta en español, meter el enlace siguiente en su navegador de internet: is.gd/encuestapa More Information To learn more, read the full announcement. *Information provided by OCDEL
October 4, 2019 Day of Play in Indiana County For just $1 per person (max $5 per family), families and children can enjoy a range of fun activities at this year’s Day of Play fall event. About Day of Play is a low-cost event that provides recreational activities that promote physical activity for families with young children (ages two to ten recommended). The event features: multiple bounce houses for all ages, games with a variety of activities for young children, a photo booth session with festive props, handprint activities, live demonstrations, and opportunities to view and touch trucks, police cars, fire trucks, and a school bus! Ice Skating Immediately following the Day of Play event, White Township Recreation will be running a special rate for their public ice skating! Saturday public skate will be from 2 to 4 p.m. $3 public skate admission for all ages (skate rental included). More Information Day of Play is sponsored by White Township Recreation/S&T Bank Arena in conjunction with the Children’s Advisory Commission of Indiana County. For more information, call 724.465.2665. Share this flyer with your network.
