The Commonwealth has transitioned to a new vendor for digital fingerprinting.  The new vendor, IDEMIA, is now accepting registrations and completing Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) fingerprinting for Pennsylvania agencies. Get more info.Read More

By Lisa Mulliken During the snowy weather and cold winter months, do you find it more challenging to get the children in your classroom outside? Here in Pennsylvania, wintertime may feel like a difficult time of the year for children to engage in daily outdoor play. From the additional time it takes to put on...Read More

Kitty Syster As teachers you have “everyday interactions” with children every day. These occur naturally with or without thought or intention. Everyday interactions can be good, bad or neutral. As you continue reading you will find ways to turn some of those everyday interactions into powerful interactions. A “Powerful Interaction” is a very intentional and...Read More

  Bobbi Philson Music is a powerful tool that early childhood teachers can use to support and nurture many developmental domains: social-emotional, physical, cognitive, and language/literacy. Additionally, vital brain connections are being formed during these early years from 0-3. Being intentional about integrating music into your classroom routines will help you to identify developmental milestones...Read More

Angel L. Avery-Wright I recently attended my fourth Early Childhood Education Summit in State College, PA. As a returning participant, I had some general ideas of what to expect but, as always, there were surprises. I’m going to share some facts about the Summit as well as some of my opinions. One of the things...Read More

How did the Environment Rating Scales evolve? The family of Environment Rating Scales (ECERS, ITERS, FCCERS, & SACERS) initially grew out of my many years of experience teaching in different types of Early Childhood Education programs including as a Family Child Care provider, Parent CO-OP Preschool Teacher, Head Start teacher, Head Teacher of the four...Read More

Leah Zabari In today’s diverse communities, it is becoming more important for teachers to integrate diversity into the early childhood classroom. Awareness of the world around us begins as young children start to recognize colors, language, and similarities and differences between them and their peers. Through this, they start to form their own self-image and...Read More

By Stefanie Camoni Slime is increasing in popularity as the do-it-yourself trend. Kiddos love getting messy and feeling the texture between their fingers. Here is a child-safe recipe to use as a small group or individual activity. Using the picture chart posted below can help children learn skills associated with counting, measuring, becoming familiar with...Read More

By Natalie Grebe As a program quality assessor, I have the opportunity to observe some stellar vignettes in classrooms that highlight developmentally appropriate practices. During one of my visits, I was busy circulating among the busy activities of a pre-kindergarten classroom. When I approached the block center I became enthralled by my findings. Three, four-year-old...Read More

The Pennsylvania Key welcomes Marnie Aylesworth as the new director. Marnie has worked in the field of early childhood education for over 25 years. She holds a Master’s degree in early childhood education and is in the final stages of her dissertation for her Ed.D in Curriculum and Instruction (ABD). Her current research is focused...Read More