By: Diane Kashin, Ed.D, RECE. Years ago, I was profoundly influenced by the legacy of Frances and David Hawkins. David Hawkins along with his wife Frances, an early childhood educator, were “committed to the idea that in order to best serve children, teachers need to be dedicated learners as well” (Lynch, Shaffer, & Hall, 2009, … Continue reading
By: Diane Kashin, Ed.D, RECE. As someone who has researched and reflected on early childhood education over many years, I have often wondered why practices that stifle creativity and agency continue. I wonder why these dubious practices are left unquestioned? I have visited countless early learning programs and wonder why from location to location the … Continue reading
By: Diane Kashin, Ed.D, RECE. I have made this confession before – when I worked directly with children I did not embrace outdoor play and learning. I could have never imagined that as retirement is looming over the horizon that I would be advocating for outdoor play and learning. I am volunteering with the York Region … Continue reading
By: Diane Kashin, Ed.D, RECE. In less than one week’s time I will be on the road to Reggio Emilia, in north central Italy. This will be my third and maybe the last time I participate in a study tour. Reggio Emilia is home to what are considered the best preschools in the world. According to … Continue reading
By: Diane Kashin, Ed.D, RECE. Building on my last blog post – The Back to Basics Conundrum in Early Learning: Reflecting on the Past to Move us Forward this post is about one of the most basic and essential elements of early childhood education … BLOCKS! Blocks can be defined as visual-spatial construction play objects; materials that … Continue reading
By: Diane Kashin, Ed.D, RECE. Recently, a kind and sharing early childhood educator posted my blog, Pedagogical Documentation: Why? When? Who? What? Where? How? on a Facebook group for Reggio-inspired educators. Since she tagged me, I looked and saw that it immediately garnered a comment. “Basic” was all she wrote. I replied “it was meant to be” … Continue reading
By: Diane Kashin, Ed.D, RECE. Curriculum can emerge from outdoor play experiences in wondrous and authentic ways. The changing seasons offer invitations for learning that cannot be duplicated indoors. Curriculum can and should emerge from nature. It is in nature that children’s interests will be piqued. Whether it be building snow forts in the winter, puddle … Continue reading
By: Diane Kashin, Ed.D, RECE. I regret to say that when I worked with young children I did not fully embrace the opportunity to help them build nature connections. I have made that confession in a previous post. However, in the last five or six years, nature pedagogy has become both a passion and a research … Continue reading
By: Diane Kashin, Ed.D, RECE. and Cindy Green, BSc, RECE. One of the most significant professional learning experiences that we have engaged in during the last few years was our trip to Adelaide, South Australia. While there to present workshops focused on the possibilities of buttons as loose parts and the beauty of agates as materials to … Continue reading
By: Diane Kashin, Ed.D, RECE. Many years ago, Jean Piaget, the famous Swiss psychologist who spent most of his life studying children and how they learn, said: Play is the answer to the question, how does anything new ever come about? ~ Jean Piaget The playing child is a learning child. We need to make … Continue reading
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