Calling educators of all kinds: These Remake Learning Days events were made for you

On Saturday, May 20, teachers throughout the Pittsburgh area can treat themselves to a day of fun and learning at camp. They’re invited to frED Camp, a free three-hour workshop exploring the many ways Fred Rogers’ wisdom can inspire educators of all kinds.

More than 50 years after the world met Mister Rogers, today’s teachers and parents are realizing that the methods he used in the Neighborhood can help every learner thrive.

This workshop at Avonworth Primary Center, led by the authors of “When You Wonder, You’re Learning” and a range of guest speakers, will ask some intriguing questions: What would it take to make classrooms, libraries, early learning centers and other learning sites a little bit more like the Neighborhood? How might teachers build belonging and joy using Mister Rogers’ blueprints? And how can “the Fred Method” help every learner become the best of whoever they are?

K-12 teachers, afterschool educators, childcare professionals and anyone else who works with (or is raising) children can register here for this day at “camp.” It’s just one of many free professional development events happening during the Remake Learning Days festival, which kicks off on May 4 and runs through May 23.

Many of the 200+ hands-on learning events happening in our region during the festival were designed with families in mind. But Remake Learning Days also includes a range of free workshops and events made for teachers and out-of-school-time educators.

Along with frED Camp, additional professional development events during Remake Learning Days include:

• The Flex Space Summit, May 5: A free one-day conference about reimagining learning spaces that will bring together teachers, architects, furniture designers, researchers and others.
• Begin with Books: Reading Aloud & Teaching a Love of Books in Childcare, May 6: Learn how to engage every child with reading and incorporate early literacy skills throughout a child’s day from certified educators and professional storytellers at this afternoon event, hosted by the Carnegie Library of Homestead.
• “Make and Take” Maker Activity, May 6: Participate in a fun maker activity at The Education Partnership using found and donated items!
• Education Blueprint: Building a Better Future, May 6: Take a tour of Education Blueprint, where you can connect with teachers from around the world to share, collaborate and create digital educational resources to provide equal learning opportunities to all learners.
• Storybook STEAM, May 11: Come discover an educational approach that combines storytelling with hands-on learning in the fields of STEAM while engaging children’s natural curiosity and creativity while also helping them develop important problem-solving and critical thinking skills.
• Step Up to STEAM, May 12: This free half-day professional development workshop, hosted by New Castle Area School District, is designed for K-12 teachers who want to scale up their STEAM and Maker Learning initiatives.
• Learning and Thinking that Make a Difference, May 16: Join leading national and regional educators for hands-on learning sessions to help you create a culture that supports learning and thinking. Designed by Harvard Graduate School of Education’s Project Zero, in partnership with Northgate School District and the Children’s Museum of Pittsburgh/MuseumLab, this one-day conference series will inspire you to take the next step in the journey to realizing your vision.
• It Takes a Neighborhood, May 18: The Fred Rogers Institute, Latrobe Art Center, and WQED Education invite educators, caregivers, and parents for a discussion about building “learning neighborhoods,” while children engage in a hands-on activity related to kindness and the environment.
• transformED Teacher Innovation Fellowship, May 19: A group of 36 teachers from around the Pittsburgh region will showcase ways they’ve integrated innovation into their teaching this school year. From hydroponic gardens to the creation of student-run businesses, fellows have implemented creative, future-ready learning opportunities for students.
• Informal Educators Networking Breakfast at the Children’s Museum, May 23: Come network with fellow informal learning educators to share practical ideas for building relationships with children, youth, and families. This informal breakfast will draw from a collaboration between the Fred Rogers Institute and Children’s Museum of Pittsburgh funded through the Institute for Museum and Library Services (IMLS).

For more details about Remake Learning Days, check out our festival guide.