By: Diane Kashin, Ed.D, RECE. All of this is a great forest. Inside the forest is the child. The forest is beautiful, fascinating, green, and full of hopes; there are no paths. Although it isn`t easy, we have to make our own paths, as teachers and children and families, in the forest. Sometimes we find … Continue reading
I have learned many things since starting this blog and co-moderating the live #ReggioPLC Twitter chat. In reflecting back over the last year since the hash tag #ReggioPLC was created I think our decision to frame the topics of last year’s bi-monthly chats around the principles of the Reggio Emilia Approach was very meaningful and … Continue reading
By: Diane Kashin, Ed.D, RECE. I had the amazing good fortune to spend time with Lella Gandini, North American Liaison for the Dissemination of the Reggio Emilia Approach this past spring. Lella visiting Acorn School, Spring, 2014 When I began writing this blog, I “googled” the words, “relationships, laughter, play and Reggio inspired practice” and … Continue reading
For many years I have had a dream. I dream about expanding opportunities for young children to be in and with nature on a regular basis. I have been dreaming since 2008. It was in 2008 that I was given a guided tour of Swan Lake, a remarkable and magical property in my hometown of … Continue reading
By: Diane Kashin, Ed.D, RECE. What is the point of entry for teachers who want to transform their practice, moving away from a theme-based approach to emergent curriculum, which builds on children’s authentic interests. After spending five days in the forest we have come to the realization that the outdoor environment is not just the … Continue reading
By: Diane Kashin, Ed.D, RECE Loris Malaguzzi so eloquently reminded us that our image of the child is where our teaching should begin. It’s necessary that we believe that the child is very intelligent, that the child is strong and beautiful and has very ambitious desires and requests. This is the image of the child … Continue reading
We began the 5-day session by joining in a circle in the open concept eating, gathering room at Tawingo College, a beautiful 150-acre campus that also has an Outdoor Kindergarten. We were invited to introduce ourselves by stating our name, followed by an animal and then a sound associated with this animal. Shortly after this … Continue reading
About a year ago, Louise and I, along with Rosalba from the Acorn School and numerous other educators began a journey of professional learning that focused on the principles of the Reggio Emilia Approach as well as drawing inspiration from the philosophy of Frances and David Hawkins. We began the journey when we conceptualized the … Continue reading
By: Diane Kashin, Ed.D, RECE. Many years ago I declared myself Reggio inspired. Now along with others, and in collaboration with Acorn School, under the pedagogical leadership of Rosalba Bortolotti, we are declaring a dual allegiance and making it known that we are now Hawkins inspired as well. Since 2013, when a contract was signed … Continue reading
We are getting excited as we get closer to greeting our friend Suzanne Axelsson on her arrival to Canada from Sweden! Suzanne is the author of the blog Interaction Imagination, and shared her biography with us below: Suzanne Axelsson lives and works as a preschool teacher in Stockholm, Sweden. She has a masters in ECE, … Continue reading
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