Let’s Talk Quality: Program Quality Assessment (PQA) in Pennsylvania - The Pennsylvania Key

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Teaching Kindness to Preschool Children

November 5, 2025Let's Talk Quality, What's New

In a world that often feels increasingly complex, teaching kindness to preschool children might seem...

Assessor Spotlight: Rochelle Deane

October 22, 2025Let's Talk Quality, LTQ Blog: Meet Our Team, What's NewMeet our team

Welcome to the “Let’s Talk Quality” blog feature where we spotlight a member of the...

Supporting Young Children’s Social-Emotional Development

October 8, 2025Let's Talk Quality, LTQ Blog: CHILD, LTQ Blog: SEL PQA, LTQ Blog: TPITOS, LTQ Blog: TPOT, What's Newemotional support, positive guidance, relationships, secure attachment, social-emotional

Social-emotional development includes the ability to interact and have positive, meaningful relationships with others. It...

Encouraging Language Development in an Infant Room

July 23, 2025Let's Talk Quality, LTQ Blog: Infant CLASS, LTQ Blog: ITERS-3, What's NewDisplay, infants, language, language development, math, science, words

Angel Avery How can you incorporate language development into your infant room? Diapering/toileting times: Discuss...

Assessor Spotlight: Regina Wright

July 9, 2025Let's Talk Quality, What's New

Welcome to the “Let’s Talk Quality” blog feature where we spotlight a member of the...

The Benefits of Playing with Sand: Uncovering the Wonders of Sensory Play

June 25, 2025Let's Talk Quality, LTQ Blog: ECERS-3, LTQ Blog: FCCERS-3, LTQ Blog: ITERS-3, What's Newcognitive development, creativity, fine motor development, language development, nature/science, Physical Activity, problem solving, sand play, Sensory development, social interaction

Leah Zabari (assisted with ChatGPT) Playing with sand is more than just a fun pastime...

Assessor Spotlight: Kelli Harris

May 14, 2025Let's Talk Quality, What's NewMeet our team

Welcome to the “Let’s Talk Quality” blog feature where we spotlight a member of the...

Now I Know My ABCs!

April 30, 2025Let's Talk Quality, What's Newacronyms, early childhood education, Internal Assessment, internal assessment process, Keystone STARS, POI, Program observation instrument, program quality assessment, The PA Key, The Pennsylvania Key

What is it about the education field that makes acronyms so appealing? We sprinkle our...

Assessor Spotlight: Angie Marshall

April 16, 2025Let's Talk Quality, What's New

Welcome to the “Let’s Talk Quality” blog feature where we spotlight a member of the...

Diversity in Dramatic Play

April 2, 2025Let's Talk Quality, LTQ Blog: CHILD, LTQ Blog: ECERS-3, LTQ Blog: FCCERS-3, LTQ Blog: ITERS-3, LTQ Blog: SACERS-U, What's Newcultural diversity, dramatic play, promoting acceptance of diversity

by Angel Avery-Wright Dramatic play areas are often very popular with children. Children can dress...

Spaces for Learning: Creating Classrooms that Promote Positive Behavior

March 20, 2025Let's Talk Quality, LTQ Blog: ECERS-3, LTQ Blog: Internal Assessment, LTQ Blog: ITERS-3, What's Newclassroom management, Classroom set-up, Environment, interactions, interest centers, learning materials, schedule, social and emotional learning

By Angie Marshall Do you sometimes feel exhausted at the end of the day because...

Free the Babies!

March 19, 2025Let's Talk Quality, LTQ Blog: FCCERS-3, LTQ Blog: Infant CLASS, LTQ Blog: ITERS-3, LTQ Blog: TPITOS, What's Newbabies, health and safety, infant and toddler environment, infants, responsive caregiving

By Lisa Mulliken Look around any infant or toddler classroom, and you will usually see...

Teaching Conflict Resolution to Toddlers

March 5, 2025Let's Talk Quality, LTQ Blog: FCCERS-3, LTQ Blog: ITERS-3, LTQ Blog: Toddler CLASS, LTQ Blog: TPITOS, What's Newproblem solving, social and emotional learning, social skills, toddlers

By Leah Zabari (assisted with ChatGPT) Teaching conflict resolution to toddlers involves a mix of...

The Self-Care Corner: Rest

February 19, 2025Let's Talk Quality, What's Newrest, Resting, Self Care, Slow down

Barbara Bredell-Searle As I am writing this self-care topic on “Rest.” I cannot help myself...

Social Emotional Health and You!

February 5, 2025Let's Talk Quality, What's Newhealthy habits, managing stress, reducing stress, Self Care, self-help, self-reflection, Stress relief

Regina Wright Living a healthy life isn’t just about what you eat. Of course, eating...

Assessor Spotlight: Megan Pittsinger

January 22, 2025Let's Talk Quality, What's New

Welcome to a new year of our blog feature “Assessor Spotlight” where we spotlight a...

Using Visual Supports in a Learning Environment

January 8, 2025Let's Talk Quality, LTQ Blog: CHILD, LTQ Blog: DERS, LTQ Blog: ECERS-3, LTQ Blog: FCCERS-3, LTQ Blog: ROSIE, LTQ Blog: SACERS-U, LTQ Blog: SEL PQA, LTQ Blog: SPQA, LTQ Blog: TPITOS, LTQ Blog: TPOT, What's NewExpressing emotions, handwashing, interest centers, schedule, social and emotional learning

Lisa Mulliken At the start of each workday, the first thing I do is refer...

STOP THROWING THE BLOCKS: How to Help Children Play in the Block Interest Center

December 4, 2024Let's Talk Quality, LTQ Blog: ECERS-3, LTQ Blog: FCCERS-3, LTQ Blog: ITERS-3, LTQ Blog: SACERS-U, What's Newblock play, blocks, interest center

Angel Avery-Wright How often do you hear yourself saying, “Stop throwing the blocks” or ‘That’s...

Happy Holidays

November 27, 2024Let's Talk Quality, What's NewHoliday

The Program Quality Assessment (PQA) team wants to share our appreciation of you and all...

Assessor Spotlight: Natalie Grebe

November 13, 2024Let's Talk Quality, LTQ Blog: Meet Our Team, What's NewMeet our team

We’re adding a new blog feature where we spotlight a member of the Pennsylvania Program...

What’s in a Name?

October 30, 2024Let's Talk Quality, What's NewConnection, Identity, Name, Respect, Unique individual

Amy Hoffman Think about it: What word seems to be the first that a baby...

Guidance to identifying Toxic Plants in a Child Care Setting

October 2, 2024Let's Talk Quality, LTQ Blog: News And Updates, What's Newhealth and safety, Identifying plants, Plants, Poisonous, Safe environment, safety practices, Toxic Plants

Barbara Bredell-Searle Pennsylvania Office of Child Development and Early Learning – Bureau of Certification and...

Assessor Spotlight: Erin DelRegno Evans

September 11, 2024Let's Talk Quality, What's New

Welcome to a new Let’s Talk Quality blog feature where we spotlight a member of...

National Teddy Bear Day

September 4, 2024Let's Talk Quality, What's Newart, history, holidays, teddy bear

Angel Avery-Wright September 9th brings about National Teddy Bear Day. Do you know where the...

Contact

The PQA Team
pqa@pakeys.org
800-284-6031