Category: Inspiration

Inspiration, tips and fun stuff

Moving from rostered duties, to a key child approach

To duty roster or not to duty roster, that is the question? During my 14-year teaching career, I have taught in a learning service WITH assigned duty rosters, and am currently working in a learning service WITHOUT duty rosters. When I started in my current learning service and was told there were no rosters I felt a little uneasy. “How...

/ March 15, 2016

Alternative job description for early childhood teachers

You must have a warm, smiling face that makes every child feel special and loved. You must be able to laugh at jokes that you don’t understand, or you don’t find funny. Child humour can be a confusing minefield to navigate. You will preferably have a little bit of quirkiness. If a child requests that you be the captain of...

/ February 11, 2016

Mentoring advice part two – Leadership

  Recently we asked you to share with us the one piece of advice or lesson learnt from a mentor that has influenced your teaching the most. In the second of our articles on mentoring, we focus on leadership advice. There are some great words of wisdom here, we hope that one or two of them strike a chord with you, and...

/ January 5, 2016

Stuck for teacher gift ideas?

There is truth in the old saying “it’s the thought that counts”, and when it comes to buying something for the teachers who hold a special place in your child’s heart, rest assured a gift that has been carefully thought about means more than you can imagine. It’s getting close to that time of the year when we not only...

/ December 15, 2015

Avoiding end of year teacher burnout

It’s important to try and enjoy the festivities. Enjoy the celebrations with the children you work with, try to see the magic and wonder of the holiday season through their eyes, but at the same time finish the year without burning out. Here’s 7 tips from experienced teachers to help you at this crazy time of year.   Teachers are...

/ December 15, 2015

A commentary from Kath Cooper – Educator, Lecturer, Mother and Nani

This blog post is the first of two, and focuses on Kath’s perspectives as an Educator and Lecturer. Stay tuned for the second post next week. Kia ora koutou, nga mihi maioha ki a koutou katoa. Ko Kath Cooper ahau, No Pirongia me Kent  ahau. Hello, warm greetings to everyone, my name is Kath Cooper and my family come from...

/ January 19, 2015