Paint exploration

I am grateful to Debra and the Kinder Campus community for allowing me to photograph the displays in the centre that have children's images and learning encounters. This is one way this centre makes children's experiences and thinking visible. 

The teachers have taken the time to articulate the preparation that went in to this experience, including having a look at renowned painters. You will see that the teachers were noticing, recognising and responding to children's curiosities in the experience. The children's comments are captured alongside the encounter. 

 "That's abstract art"

Environment - University and Community Early Learning Centre

Neutral tones and baskets to present order in the space

Using light 

Funky frames with the child and their family around the classroom

Looking back down the classroom - quite like the green paint on the walls - catches the natural light really well

Of course I am drawn to this...weaving...felting...hmmmm...missing my studio right now

How amazing are these children and their teachers??

More photographs from University and Community Early Learning Centre

 The children have their 3D constructions on display for the family information evening

Below is one of the classrooms

 Setting the table

 Natural materials and neutral tones

 Props for dressing up and pretend play

 Gem stones on the wire - suspended from the ceiling

 Bringing the space down to meet the children

The presentation of the environment here is very important to invite children to be curious in spaces and play

Photographs from University and Community Early Learning Centre

On the evening before the workshop on Friday, the teachers hosted a parent evening to showcase the children's learning projects over the past year. Some of the shots are of the documentation shared with  families.

The team is inspired by the Reggio Emilia Approach and plan to attend a study tour as a team (I think) in the next few years...next stop after that is Aotearoa NZ

 Some of the children attend Kindergarten as well - our equivalent of new entrant

A Place to Play - Presenter: Brittany Atkinson - 2.45 - 4.15pm

It is understood that children learn through their play. Through play, children build relationships, make meaning, and shape their identities. Educators create spaces for children to play. What does it mean for children’s play, children’s sense of citizenship, and their social learning when they create their own places for their play? Brittany will share her experiences of supporting and expanding children’s play as they shape their own play spaces – their own invented worlds where they imagine, create, solve problems, and invite and participate with ideas and others.

This workshop was an inspiring story about how a teacher grappled with her own bias related to rural vs urban living. Three scenarios were shared how with her 'partners' (aka colleagues/ teachers/ educators) she carefully observed children through play. The workshop started with Brittany reading this book to us about childhood memories - this is significant for the theme of the workshop.

A critical feature of her reflections included being involved in children's play rather than distancing from the activity. Some careful decisions were made with children as the environment was adapted to support their play priorities. One scenario tracked how the winter olympics was MEANINGFULLY included in the programme to inspire children's learning and parents engagement. Great examples were shared of children making a curling rink at the centre....one parent commented on how proud his grandfather would be to know he was learning to curl a stone (made from freezing ice in a milk bottle so the children could hold it and send it across the ice). The photos showed children using brooms to sweep the way clear for the 'stone'. I thought this was very cool!!!

 Meet some of the amazing teachers at the early childhood centre and faculty staff I am meeting. From left to right - Brittany (workshop presenter), Mary Lynne (the person looking after me and faculty member), Jennifer (educator - also worked at Puddleducks for 3 months in NZ), Lee (faculty and curriculum developer), Rebecca (teaching for 3 weeks) and Erica (teaching for 1 week).

Meeting with Angela - The power of home visits

Angela hosted me for an hour and a half this afternoon - meeting with me to discuss the life of the centre. It felt very familiar....as far as I can tell, Angela is leader/manager of multiple spaces in the centre and has been there for 25 years (Margy told me that....yes...I had a coffee and chat with Dr Margy Whalley for a hour and a half:O). We started off with passing on some communication to the staff - to get a sense of how full on it is at this place, there was a Skype meeting with a group from USA at 4pm and the time had been changed. Then we got to sit together over a herbal tea to discuss the life of the centre according to Angela. There is so much going on here in amongst a lot of changes in the political agenda for education.

Home visits - a window into culture and identity
Home visits are an important feature of the activities of the teachers. The teachers visit to meet the child in their own space and to enable them to engage in conversations about things relating to the environment of the child when at the centre....the loop concept.
One idea was to take photographs of the doors of where the children live while visiting so there is an image to revisit. it also helps children explain to others where they live and opportunities for story telling and rich language experiences. There are two 'traveller' communities that have children attending so I was intrigued about how this works. It is important for teachers to 'be with children and families' in their spaces and to get a sense of the culture of the family through being in their home. 

This is a blast from the past for us - something we would do for all families in the 90's. Could this be a way to strengthen relationships? The teachers have half a day per week for professional time (AKA non contact) - and children are gone by 3.30pm - staff work until 4.30pm so visits are done in this time. 

Assessment
Teachers here have learning stories and have had numerous exchanges with Wendy Lee and Margaret Carr over the past 10-15 years (at least). The documentation on the walls had a very familiar feeling to NZ and even looked like what I see in many services. I want to explore a bit more the approaches to assessment and how decisions about planning for learning are made. I scratched the surface today and will research more tomorrow and Friday. I had better pace myself.
There are some crazy things happening in the education system over here. I don't want to rant about them here too much as I have only been introduced to the ideas and if my understandings are right - it is ridiculous!! Lets just say that the team at Pen Green have found ways to stay true to their approach and frameworks as well as accommodate the needs of the external evaluators. This is an important lesson for us all.