Professional Growth Through Reflective Practice
/
As an educator, reflective practice is a way of life and the guiding light of our co-learning journey with children.
Read More
Our Path in Life
/
There are two questions to consider when examining a challenge in life. How we answer each question determines our path forward.
Read MoreThe Benefits of Silence
/
Taking time for ourselves in silence is beneficial to our well-being and supports our work as early childhood educators.
Read MoreRemember To Breathe
/
Educators need to make sure that we are healthy by creating limits of what we can accomplish in a day. We need to take time for wellness as the foundation of our professional practice.
Read MoreUnderstanding Early Childhood Educator Vulnerability
/
Engaging in the work of early childhood education is to experience emotional vulnerability. Once we have designs for our emotional health, we will move beyond emotional vulnerability into resiliency.
Read MoreDeveloping a Self-Care Plan
/
Research has shown that where the educator's emotional state goes, so follow the children. Self-care then becomes a professional responsibility to ensure the emotional health of the classroom.
Read MoreCreate a Professional Well-Being Greenhouse
/
The brightness and hope in the world start with one stream of light from our contribution to the learning community. Our light shines brightest when we care for ourselves as we care for others.
Read MoreGetting Started
/
I am sitting at the kitchen table, facing the temptation to stay in my comfort zone instead of moving forward. How can I move away from my comfort zone and into new areas of learning and growth filled with possibilities?
Read MoreThe Care and Nurturing of Productive Relationships: Part Two
/
Communication can be our biggest stumbling block to having successful relationships. In this post, we look at strategies that we can use to build and enhance productive relationships with our program leadership.
Read MorePersonal Play Stories Guide Our Practice
/
Our childhood play stories have a connection to the work we do as educators. In our Rights of the Child Workshop we ask participants to share their play stories. What did we learn about this practice? How does this practice enhance our work as educators?
Read MoreTime to Think and Be
/
In early childhood education, we work in an environment of emotional labor. An environment that is always stimulating and busy with many demands on our emotions and energy. Educators rarely have a time when we are removed from demands on our attention. One solution to this condition is to take a break from our busyness and practice being in solitude.
Read MoreThe Emotional Lives of Early Childhood Educators
/
At a recent conference, a group of educators came together to discuss self-care. During the discussion one area of concern was the emotional labor involved in our work. This interaction started me on a journey in thinking about the emotions involved in my work with children. What did I discover?
Read MoreEmbracing Play for Educator Wellbeing
/
As an educator, we give time to others. We give selflessly to our schools, community, and children. The demands of serving others often take precedent over developing a rejuvenating self-care practice. Incorporating more play into our lives will support our growth and well-being.
Read MoreFind Your Calling
/
I read a quote that said the two most important days in a life is when you are born and when you find your calling. Too often we are looking for permission. We find something we love and are passionate about. We share it with others looking for a seal of approval.
Read MoreOur Daily Work is Professional Development
/
Recently I was in Reggio Emilia on a study tour of the Municipal schools. One idea that stuck with me during the trip was the Reggio educator’s view of professional development.
Read MoreEngaging in Self Compassion
/
Each year I promise myself that winter will be my quiet season – a time for rest and reflection and to revisit my thoughts. As we start March, I realize that another winter season has passed by and my plans for renewal were buried once again under a to-do list that is without end.
Read MoreThe Past is the Way to the Future
/
Early childhood educators change positions multiple times during our working career. In addition to turnover, many more educators move between programs. A large percentage of the field finds themselves in new classrooms or new schools each year. All the transitions to new classrooms/schools require early childhood educators to establish new classroom cultures.
Read MoreOur Journey as a Profession
/
Our field is on a journey to becoming a profession and the road ahead is a bumpy ever-changing one. Early childhood education and the current journey to professionalism requires educators to work together to raise all ships by advocating for a professional pathway and a salary that compensates those willing to take the path.
Read MoreCare and Nurturing of our Physical Self
/
Being an early childhood educator is challenging and physical work. Our work also carries an emotional labor, guiding children and supporting families. The work embodies a noble task and contributes to the betterment of society, but at what cost?
Read MoreDaily Pages for Reflective Practice
/
In early childhood education teachers often experience busy multitasking days. Our days are filled with joy and challenges in the care of others. In our practice exists a delicate balance between solving problems effectively and promoting our self-care. Writing daily pages is a tool educators can utilize for reflective practice.
Read More