Play Pep Rally

A Virtual Professional Learning Experience for

Early Childhood Educators

Promoting Joyful Literacy, Equity and Play

in PreK through 2nd Grade Classrooms

August 20, 2026

6:00-8:30pm ET/3:00-5:30pm PT on Zoom

Join us for workshops and gathering spaces focused on making the most of the first six weeks of the school year to create joy, playful learning, and connection that will extend through the year.

School-based educators, including classroom teachers, leaders, specialists, authors, and consultants from a range of settings, will share current and powerful scholarship, strategies, and structures.

Gift yourself the opportunity to connect with colleagues, learn together, recommit to your passion for teaching, and work to protect and advocate for your practice as a joyful, creative, and responsive educator.

A Sampling of Pep Rally Topics

Sustainable and Playful Family Empowerment and Engagement

Deepening Connections with Former Students and their Families

Nature-Based Learning as a Pathway to Academic Growth and Beyond

Practical and Powerful Ways to Incorporate Playful and Joyful Learning in the Curriculum

Playful Possibilities for Professional Learning

Reviews from Past Grow Together Learning Experiences

"A powerful injection of playful inspiration. Being surrounded by thoughtful educators committed to playful learning, within an easy-to-navigate and welcoming online space was a treat. Thank you for organizing this learning opportunity!" -Megina Baker, Project Zero at Harvard University and Boston Public Schools

"The workshops were very insightful. I walked away from this 3 day summit eager to share my learning with colleagues and begin to implement these practices in my own classroom." -Ashley, NYC educator

"Truly an inspirational experience!" Colleen Flaherty, First Grade Teacher, Red Bank, NJ

"I am thankful to have these workshops to teach into literacy, play, and family engagement which I can use immediately in September to enhance my classroom for myself, students, and their families! As a first time Kindergarten teacher, I collected so many strategies that will be useful to take with me in this new experience!" -Kelvin Sage, NYC educator

"The Growing Together Summit was a phenomenal learning experience from start to finish. The summit was thoughtfully prepared and leveraged ECE expert voices as well as participant knowledge. It was a pleasure to learn from and with the summit participants!" -Maura Shetty, Assistant Professor

The Growing Together 2024 Summit filled me with inspiration, knowledge, and joy to kickstart the new school year! I can't wait for the next gathering of this collaborative group! -Cynthia Williams, educational coach/consultant

"The Growing Together Summer Summit is the perfect mix of inspiration, practical ideas, and collaboration. The presenters offer inspiring but still practical ideas. It feels like a true community of like-minded educators, which is so needed today."

"A wonderful experience with knowledgable presenters! An experience that all educators should participate in."