By: Diane Kashin, Ed.D, RECE. If the child is made of one hundred languages, what is the language of wood? How do wooden toys speak to children? What do they say to their parents? What worlds to discover do wooden toys hold for children and for their families? Made by nature, wood has so many … Continue reading
COVID Gifts in the Early Years
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
Competence and Capacity in the Early Years
By: Diane Kashin, Ed.D, RECE. We are living in extraordinarily difficult times profoundly impacting the three subjects of education; children, families and teachers. Every day, I find myself in a paradox. I see images and words shared on social media that demonstrate that choices are being made to continue within the restrictions and limitations to … Continue reading
Singing with Children During Difficult Times
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
Revisiting to Reset: The Reggio Emilia Approach to Early Childhood Education during Challenging Times
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
The Importance of Rituals and Traditions in Early Learning: Now More Than Ever!
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
Continuous Professional Learning for Early Childhood Educators: Reflective Practice and Collaborative Inquiry
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
Continuous Professional Learning for Early Childhood Educators: Pedagogical Documentation
By: Diane Kashin, Ed.D, RECE. As many early childhood educators in Ontario are considering their return to programs across the province, we, as a profession, are at a crossroad. To be at a crossroad is to be at a point where you have to make very important decisions. Will you go bravely into this new world of child … Continue reading
Continuous Professional Learning for Early Childhood Educators: Creating Environments as a “Third Teacher”
By: Diane Kashin, Ed.D, RECE. and Laura Salau, RECE. To early childhood educators around the world, but especially to those in our province, Ontario, Canada, this blog post is designed to support your continuous professional learning. It is the fourth post in a series focused on the pedagogical approaches from How Does Learning Happen? (2014). These approaches … Continue reading
Continuous Professional Learning for Early Childhood Educators: Educators as Co-Learners
By: Diane Kashin, Ed.D, RECE. I have always believed that early childhood educators are the salt of the earth, a phrase that refers to groups of people who have great worth to society. In my long career as a proud early childhood educator, never has this been more apparent to me than during this unprecedented … Continue reading