By: Diane Kashin, Ed.D, RECE. and Rosalba Bortolotti, RECE. It was twenty-five years ago when our story began. We were brought together by a mutual interest in early childhood education and the Reggio Emilia Approach. When we met, Rosalba was working at a child care centre and I had just begun to teach early childhood … Continue reading
By: Diane Kashin, Ed.D, RECE. The York Region Nature Collaborative has been offering a series of Land as Teacher webinars. On February 13th, I had the honour of co-presenting Land as Teacher: Foundations for Early Learning, the fifth offering in the series. Rather than a presentation, it was a dialogue about contexts and perspectives between … Continue reading
By: Diane Kashin, Ed.D, RECE. Stories spiral in and out of my mind when I visit the pond near my house. These stories are woven together by threads of relationships. There are stories within stories that relate to my professional and personal growth in my final season. The pond is the backdrop to a documented … Continue reading
By: Diane Kashin, Ed.D, RECE. I think I have always been fascinated by small world play. As a child and as an adult. I have fond memories of creating miniature worlds especially outdoors. I used rocks, mud, grass, straw and sticks to form a world that I could play inside of. I was in control. … Continue reading
By: Diane Kashin, Ed.D, RECE. As the sun sets on the year 2020, none of us has escaped the challenges that it has brought. As the sun rises on the year 2021, it is time again for me to think about what lies ahead. I was hopeful in January as I felt that the year … Continue reading
By: Diane Kashin, Ed.D, RECE. After going into lockdown a few days after facilitating my last face to face workshop in March I have pivoted to online professional learning as webinars have become the new normal. This is unprecedented as we are now required to maintain physical distance but be socially connected. During these uncertain … Continue reading
By: Diane Kashin, Ed.D, RECE. There is no question that we are living in difficult times. It is during challenging circumstances that music can bring solace when we are feeling stressed, isolated and alone. It helps us feel less socially disconnected. The child of 2020 should have exposure to the songs that can evoke warm … Continue reading
By: Diane Kashin, Ed.D, RECE. We live in extraordinary times. How early learning professionals respond to COVID-19 is history in the making. I can only imagine what it must be like to return to teaching after closures due to the pandemic. In times like these, I personally find solace and comfort in returning to revisit, … Continue reading
By: Diane Kashin, Ed.D, RECE. and Nicole Pierce RECE. In the time of COVID as children return to early learning environments after being in isolation in their homes, how will they feel? Will children feel a sense of belonging in this new normal of physical distancing, mask wearing, toy sanitizing and hand washing? They will … Continue reading
By: Diane Kashin, Ed.D, RECE. When I started this series focused on the six pedagogical approaches of How Does Learning Happen? Ontario’s Pedagogy for the Early Years (2014) it was my way of giving back to early childhood educators who were looking for professional learning opportunities during quarantine especially those in my home province of Ontario, … Continue reading
Technology Rich Inquiry Based Research 