by Claire | Mar 20, 2021 | Articles, Leadership, Pedagogy
What busy lives we lead. Always rushing from here to there, structuring our days, and time, to fit as much in as possible. Where does all of this over-scheduling leave us in terms of connecting? Connecting with the children we work with? And why is connecting so... 
by Claire | Mar 20, 2021 | Articles, Pedagogy
Connection, with each other and with our environments, is crucial to the act of learning, and thus as teachers we must strive to improve the connections for children in our care with the people, places and things in their world. 
by Claire | Mar 20, 2021 | Articles, Pedagogy
This quote was put up on our website a little while ago – I am not sure who wrote it. But it struck a chord with me immediately in the way it shares the importance of our role as early childhood teachers. The impact of our relationships in shaping the values... 
by Claire | Mar 20, 2021 | Articles, Kaupapa Maori, Pedagogy
In 2009, the Ministry of Education launched its resource Te Whatu Pōkeka, Kaupapa Māori assessment and learning exemplars. It was a resource that focused on assessment of Māori children in Māori early childhood settings and as Rita Walker said: 
by Claire | Mar 20, 2021 | Articles, Pedagogy
Over the last several years of teaching at Pigeon Mountain Kindergarten we gave much consideration as a teaching team to the importance of Resilience in supporting children’s learning. As we explored this disposition with children and considered teaching practices... 
by Claire | Mar 20, 2021 | Articles, Pedagogy
While visiting an early childhood centre recently, a small boy dressed as a little dog crawled towards me, panted, and stopped before me for a pat. I patted him on the head and commented on what a quiet, friendly dog he was. He nodded, panted again and his eyes shone....