Category: Educator Professional Development
Articles and resources to support educators professional growth and development
Expanding our notion of family to include the Rainbow Family
Kath Cooper is back again to talk more about Rainbow Families. While celebrating and acknowledging all family compositions is important, time and again it is the unnoticed family structures that need a little more ‘love and attention’ from teachers. Rainbow Families are one of those. In this blog, acceptance of Rainbow Families will be discussed. A Rainbow Family is a...
More study tips for ECE students
In my previous blog, I started a conversation about the issues of working, life, family and studying. The challenges are real, and the trifecta of time, energy and location is often times a real challenge. I might ‘feel’ like studying, but there is a whānau event, I might have the time to study, but I don’t feel like it, and...
From start to review – the ongoing nature of reflective practice
Some practical advice for when undertaking the continuous improvement process is to become more comfortable with being uncomfortable. The sooner we are, the better we can accept the ongoing nature of true reflective practice. From Start to Review: the ongoing nature of reflective practice and how we can better use it to support our role and save time. Ok, let’s...
Study tips for ECE students
Early childhood teachers are a studious group of people, and this means they often find themselves engaging with some higher learning over the course of their life time. Taking on a ‘couple of papers’, starting a Master’s degree, or gaining a qualification in a specialist area. Studying is rewarding and awesome, it gives you a sense of accomplishment; you make...
Perfectionism in Young Children and How to Help
Perfectionism in Young Children and How to Help Written by Dr. Kaylene Henderson, Child Psychiatrist, and Parent Educator There’s a perception in our society that perfectionism is a good thing, akin to ‘being perfect’; That it’s something to strive for or to drop into conversation in job interviews… Yet the reality is quite different. Perfectionism leads people to place unreasonably...
Things teen mums want you to know
Some people have their children early, some late. In this blog, I’m discussing the stigma related to having my child young. So, what’s one to do when face to face with a youthful looking mum, a teen mum at that, well, read on, and grab yourself some sweet tips to be inclusive, open and less likely to offend. Also, I...
Reflective and Co-Constructed Practice: This is How Learning Happens!
This week’s guest post is written by Diane Kashin and Cindy Green, of Ontario Canada. In 2014, our province published How Does Learning Happen? Ontario’s Pedagogy for the Early Years. At the centre of learning are children, educators, and families. With the view of children, families and educators as capable, competent and rich in potential, the four conditions for learning are;...
The research behind family engagement in children’s learning
The impact parental involvement has on children’s learning is well documented. Researchers have evidence for the positive effects of parent involvement on children, families, and school when schools and parents continuously support and encourage the children’s learning and development. The most accurate predictor of a student’s achievement in school is not income or social status but the extent to which...
Dear Zoo – extending children’s interests is different to extending learning
A child would come to my Kinder room on a Monday morning and be very excited to share their stories about their trip to the Zoo on the weekend. So as a graduate teacher 6 years ago, I was so proud of my efforts in setting up a table with beautiful fabric, a range of animals, and some construction materials...
Embracing a vision for children’s learning with the early years frameworks
When using the Early Years Learning Framework always remember… That it is just that – a framework. It’s not a syllabus, nor a program, not a curriculum, nor a model, neither is it an assessment tool. Above all, it is not a detailed description of everything children will learn. A framework is developed on sound Principles, Practices (Strands – Goals)...