Reggio Reflections Part 2: Welcome
Accoglienza. A welcoming embrace. This was one of the first things our hosts in Reggio Emilia said to our eager and attentive study group on our very first day. I learned quickly however, that accoglienza is not just a word; not just a standard greeting. It was...
Reggio Reflections Part 1: Environments
Last week, I had the unique privilege to engage in an in-depth study tour at the Loris Malaguzzi International Center; focused specifically on the role of the Teacher, Pedagogista, and Atelierista. As excited as I was to dive into those topics, I was equally as...
Strengthening Relationships with Young Children
Understanding how power dynamics influence relationships with young children is an important part of being a conscious and reflective educator. Understanding these same power dynamics also supports in creating a socially just and culturally aware classroom. Join me...
School Sweet School: Creating Home-Like, Community-Centered Early Childhood Environments
I recently visited a Head Start program in Arizona to learn more about their Reggio-Inspired curriculum. Taking the most critical aspects of the Reggio approach and aligning them with the Head Start Performance Standards and Early Learning Outcomes Framework is no...
Using a Design Thinking Approach to Quality Improvement in Early Childhood
Managing early childhood programs at the center or organizational level is a complicated, multi-faceted job. Not only does a successful leader or team need to know about best practices in child development and pedagogy, but also about marketing, finance, development,...
Leadership in Early Childhood: Highlighting Alternative Opportunities in the Field
When I first started my career in early childhood education over twenty years ago, the only natural career trajectory was to start off as a teacher, move on to an assistant director role, and then eventually obtain a center director position; the pinnacle of early...
Prioritizing the Role of Coach in Early Childhood Education: A Head Start Lens
Early childhood programs have traditionally focused most of their professional development efforts on opportunities such as inservice days, workshops, and continuing education. As wonderful as some of these learning opportunities can be, recent research has shown...
Natural Playscapes in Urban Environments
I recently attended a design workshop facilitated by Early Childhood Health Outdoors (ECHO) and the Natural Wildlife Federation in preparation for the redevelopment of the infant and toddler playground at one of the early childhood centers I work closely with. The...
The Millennial Director: The New Face of Early Childhood Leadership
When the concept of a workforce shortage in early childhood education is discussed, we often center the conversation around classroom teachers. Next to classroom teachers, school leaders have the second largest impact on child outcomes, yet very little discussion...
Using Cultural Institutions as Inspiration for Early Childhood Curriculum
I often hear about the pressure that many early childhood teachers feel to meet academic performance outcomes for the children in their classroom. “I have to make sure I complete my observations and assessments,” they say. Or, “my children have to be reading, or...