PCC Hosts Workshop for Child Care Providers

WINTERVILLE—Pitt Community College hosted a workshop for local child care providers this month as part of a training series developed to increase appropriate literacy activities and opportunities for young children.

The program, which took place Jan. 16, is part of the Early Literacy Academy, which consists of six monthly workshops created by a committee comprised of representatives from the Martin-Pitt Partnership for Children, READ ENC, the East Carolina University Department of Human Development and Family Studies, and PCC’s Early Childhood Education Department.

Melissa Rees, who chairs the Early Childhood Education Department at PCC, says the child care providers selected for the academy agreed to attend each workshop and participate in a study of the literacy components of their classrooms before the program began in October and again once it finishes in March.

“These workshops are part of a greater effort to ensure all children have access to books and proper readiness skills when they begin kindergarten,” Rees said. “To see the way our community has pulled together to support the various initiatives of READ ENC has been moving, and I’ve enjoyed being part of it. I know these efforts will make a notable impact on the children of Pitt County.”

The academy, Rees said, is funded by a grant through ECU’s Office of Equity and Diversity as well as contributions from the planning team and community. She added that several local restaurants, including The Scullery, Villa Verde, Great Harvest and Chico’s, are providing dinner at the workshops.

01/24/2020