Storypark as a teaching and learning tool

Storypark as a teaching and learning tool in a curriculum and pedagogy unit in the Department of Educational Studies, Macquarie University. Dr Rebecca Andrews and Ms Paula Haalebos. The staff and second year early childhood students in the Department of Educational Studies, Macquarie University were provided access, free of charge, to Storypark. We found Storypark, as an example of an electronic documentation...

/ October 11, 2018

Farewell Teaching

After 17 years as an early childhood educator, I have hung up my teaching hat and moved onto a new career with Storypark. It has been 17 years of fulfilment, joy, and immense rewards. I have laughed more than I’ve ever laughed before. I have been so proud of children that are not my own, something I never thought would...

/ September 19, 2018

Living a sustainable centre life

Here are some simple, every day practices you can implement to lead your early learning service on a journey to living more sustainably.  At the dining table Place a compost bowl on the lunch table for food scraps that can be recycled, and another one for recyclable soft packaging. Explain to the children what goes in and why. Install a...

/ September 18, 2018

It’s Just a Phase! The Negotiator

If your child is somewhere between three and four years old, you have probably noticed her newfound negotiating skills. Maybe your first clue was a bedtime conversation like this: “Let’s get your pyjamas on and I’ll read you a story.” “Two stories – I want two stories.” You’ve always had a deal – pyjamas go on and one story is...

/ September 7, 2018

It’s Just a Phase: The Interrupter

You’re having a catch-up phone conversation with a friend. She’s sharing the nitty-gritty details of her life when your 3-year-old decides he wants to share the nitty-gritty details of his life. “Mom. Mom. Mom. Mom.” You try to shush him, but there’s no stopping the intentional mission of…The Interrupter. With a hint of frustration, your friend asks, “Is this a...

/ August 17, 2018

Chapter books for young children

‘One more chapter! Just one?’ My son was two-and-a-half when he discovered the pleasure of listening to an adult read a chapter book to him, and the corresponding pleasure of begging for ‘just one more’ when that adult came to the end of a section. But we quickly ran into a problem. He was still too little for anything remotely...

/ July 22, 2018

Making Small Feel Tall: The Early Childhood Classroom at a Child’s Eye Level

Imagine being a pint-sized person just under a meter tall. You know, child-size. Now imagine how the world looks from this vantage point: Everything is always (literally) over your head. You can’t look people in the eye.  You have no idea what’s on the shelf or the counter unless someone gives you a boost. You must climb into chairs. And,...

/ July 16, 2018

Sustainability tips for ECE leaders

Currently, we are over-using the earth, and that’s a worry. Our buy now, think later mindset is creating a world where we will shortly start to run out of resources. Role modeling is a very effective teaching strategy and one we can use to make a difference in this situation. It is our responsibility to alert children, teachers, families, and...

/ July 15, 2018

How technology now helps Australian parents to feel more confident

Technology now helps parents to feel more confident and better understand their children’s development. Storypark’s new partnership with the Australian Government funded parenting website raisingchildren.net.au delivers trusted information and insights about children’s development into the hands of more parents in Australia. Storypark is used by more than a third of all ECE services in Australia. Their team of global advisors...

/ June 19, 2018

Insights into the updated National Quality Framework 2018

Research shows quality education and care early in life leads to better health, education and employment outcomes later in life. The early years are critical for establishing self-esteem, resilience, healthy growth and capacity to learn. Quality education and care shapes every child’s future and lays the foundation for development and learning. The National Quality Framework (NQF) introduced a new quality...

/ June 18, 2018