By: Diane Kashin, EdD, RECE. When my grandchildren visit I am constantly curiously observing. When I observe with curiosity I wonder why they are interested in the experiences that they find engaging. Reese who is three, likes playing with small, even tiny loose parts. What does this mean? If you are thinking developmentally, and fine … Continue reading
Filed under Children’s Literature …
Children’s Books as Prompts for Reflection
By: Diane Kashin, Ed.D, RECE. Think back to your childhood, can you recall a book that you connected with, cared for, loved and cherished? That book was your friend. You had a reciprocal relationship with the story, the pages, and pictures. Do you still have the book? A musty volume of illustrated children’s stories sits … Continue reading
Stick and Stone Inspires Reflection: Using Children’s Literature for Professional Learning
By: Diane Kashin, Ed.D, RECE. One of the greatest joys of my life has been sharing my favourite children’s books with my grandchildren. Inspired many years ago, by the amazing duo of Margie Carter and Deb Curtis, I have been using children’s literature as prompts for reflection with early childhood education students and teachers. In … Continue reading
Knuffle Bunny Inspires Reflection: Using Children’s Literature for Professional Learning
By: Diane Kashin, Ed.D, RECE. Like, my grandchildren, I love Knuffle Bunny, a floppy stuffed rabbit, featured in a series of books by Mo Willems. I first became aware of, Knuffle Bunny: A Cautionary Tale when I was teaching a history and philosophy course to early childhood education students. The idea of using children’s books … Continue reading
2020 Visioning in Early Learning: My One Word for the Year
By: Diane Kashin, Ed. D, RECE. This past year has been a difficult one for me. Early in 2019, I was diagnosed with breast cancer. Between surgery, chemotherapy and radiation treatments, my year was about healing and recovery. Normally, I would have been traveling and presenting workshops to the early learning community. I missed this … Continue reading
Meta, Meta, Meta: Higher Perspectives in Early Learning
By: Diane Kashin, Ed. D, RECE. According to the urban dictionary, the definition of meta is about “the thing” itself. It is seeing the “thing” from a higher perspective instead of from within the “thing”, like being self-aware. I have written before about seeking multiple perspectives in early learning as inspired by the Reggio Emilia … Continue reading
Give the Gift of the Classics: Using Children’s Books to Spark Inquiry
By: Diane Kashin, Ed. D, RECE. A classic children’s book is one that has endured the test of time. These books have endearing qualities that make them interesting to children today and nostalgic for teachers and parents. Think back to your childhood. Is there a book that evokes that wistful feeling that makes you want … Continue reading