Stefanie Camoni Summary reports provide a snapshot of what occurs in the classroom on a typical day. They include objective information about what was observed and provide areas for improvement. After the ERS window ends, those reports are completed and sent to the program. Hopefully you read them, share them with your staff, and address...Read More

Natalie Grebe Imagine walking into a classroom and observing the children moving seamlessly from one activity to the next. No temper tantrums, no challenging behaviors. It’s as if the children practiced how they were going to behave before you arrived. This teacher is good, you’d think. You would bet she has a group of easy...Read More

Angel Avery-Wright Sometimes when assessors reach a center, it is easy to find. There is a big sign out front and the door to enter is clearly visible. Other times when the assessor arrives, she has no idea which building she should be heading toward or which door she should enter. Listed below are a...Read More

By Barbara Bredell-Searle The words, “It is time to clean up,” are used daily in many classrooms throughout all types of Pennsylvania child care programs, yet teachers still have difficulty getting the children to CLEAN UP. One must wonder, is it because the children are having so much fun that they don’t want to stop?...Read More

By Michelle Mallonee Long When the Program Quality Assessor provides the four-week window for your facility’s assessments, you are allowed to select up to four black-out dates (days the assessor will not show up for a visit). The assessors need to see a typical day in the classroom (what the children experience on a regular...Read More

Amy Hoffman One of the most devastating things that can occur in your life as an early learning professional is when you have reason to suspect that a child in your classroom is a victim of abuse or neglect. What responsibilities do you have to the child, and what do you do when that type...Read More

Megan Pittsinger Why were PA Position Statements created? The PA Position Statements are the result of the need to consider the impact of Pennsylvania Department of Human Services (DHS) Certification Regulations and other Pennsylvania program specific expectations on the scoring of the items in the Environment Rating Scales (ERS). In the case of each Position...Read More

Kweli Archie There are many fun ways to celebrate diversity with young children. Research shows that young children see differences in people at an early age. Helping children to respect diversity in the classroom goes beyond what we can see, hear, or taste, such as food, art, music, costumes and customs. It involves giving attention,...Read More

Suzanne Glenn With the continuation of the cold and flu season, it is a good time to review the proper hand washing procedures based upon guidelines from Pennsylvania DHS and Caring for Our Children, Third Edition (Standard 3.2.2.2).Read More

The world is a busy place and TV, videos, iPads and computers fill the day leaving less time for dramatic play.Read More