By: Diane Kashin, Ed.D, RECE. Ontario’s pedagogy for the early years: How Does Learning Happen (2014) is considered a pedagogical document. It suggests a number of pedagogical approaches to “nurture learning and development in the early years” that includes “using pedagogical documentation as a means to value, discuss and make learning visible” (p. 16). In my … Continue reading
Loose Parts Outside for Adventurous Play!
By: Diane Kashin, Ed.D, RECE. I love loose parts. I love playing with loose parts and sharing loose parts with other educators. My hope is when adults mess about with loose parts that there will be recognition of the possibilities and importance of loose parts provision for children. I have presented many loose parts workshops indoors. … Continue reading
The Missing Link: Teacher Research and the Reggio Emilia Educational Project
By: Diane Kashin, Ed.D, RECE. I have been reflecting on the principles and philosophy of the Reggio Emilia Educational Project but I am going to make a concerted effort not to label my reflections as Reggio inspired. Yes, it is true, for many years, I have found the work of educators from Reggio inspiring but I … Continue reading
The ReWord Challenge: Reflecting on the Principles and Philosophy of the Reggio Emilia Educational Project
By: Diane Kashin, Ed.D, RECE. On August 11th, 2016, I helped organize a workshop attended by 100 educators: Global Perspectives on Reggio-inspired Practice in Context: Global Perspectives. There were four presentations, two of which represented a United Kingdom context, Debi-Keyte–Hartland and Hayley Peacock from Little Barn Owls Day Nursery and Farm School. Suzanne Axelsson, a preschool … Continue reading
Accepting the Gift of Time in the Process of Pedagogical Documentation
By: Diane Kashin, Ed.D, RECE. With the fullness of time, I have begun to go deeper in my understanding of the process of documentation that is pedagogical. Time is a gift I was given during the week that was The Rhythm of Learning in Nature 2016. In the inaugural season of #Rhythm2015, my gift for … Continue reading
Now Trending in Early Childhood Education: Nature!
By: Diane Kashin, Ed.D, RECE. Over the many years that I have been an early childhood educator, I have been fascinated with developing trends. I always found it very interesting to reflect on what topics are being written about and spoken about the most. A trend in fashion, can be something that comes and goes. What … Continue reading
ABCs of ECE: The Game and the Challenge!
By: Diane Kashin, Ed.D, RECE. This spring, I shared the experience of spending two weeks in Adelaide, South Australia, with Cindy Green, my long time colleague and critical friend. The trip produced a few blog posts and many cherished memories of people we met and places we visited. Cindy wrote about touring some inspiring spaces. … Continue reading
Inspiring Spaces: Risk, Choice and Playful Learning
By: Cindy Green B.Sc., RECE. I am grateful to my long time friend and colleague, Diane Kashin for inviting me to accompany her on a journey to present in, and visit Adelaide, South Australia. Upon return from our adventures there are so many experiences that we continue to reflect on regarding the multiples perspectives evident in … Continue reading
Buttons Connect in Reggio-Inspired Practice
By: Diane Kashin, Ed.D, RECE. Many, many years ago, when I discovered emergent curriculum and specifically the Project Approach I was teaching early childhood education at a large community college. I wanted my students to understand how a topic worthy of further investigation can emerge from hands on experience. I wanted the topic to be something … Continue reading
Visual Reflections: A Language of Documentation and Collaborative Professional Learning
By: Diane Kashin, Ed.D, RECE. This will be the first of a series of blog posts about the recent experience in Adelaide, South Australia shared with my friend and colleague, Cindy Green. We were brought to this beautiful, remarkable city to present a series of four workshops for EChO, the Early Childhood Organization of South Australia. We … Continue reading