Posts

Celebrations: Easter

Celebrations: Easter

Celebrations. To do, or not to do? Is it even that simple? Early childhood educators are often faced with ongoing internal discussions, rules, policies or expectations about how national celebrations such as Christmas and Easter are marked.…
Five reasons your service should support a trainee early childhood educator

Five reasons your service should support a trainee early childhood educator

As Australia’s early learning sector continues to grow, its benefit to young children as well as to future prospects of the Australian economy are increasingly being recognised, both by the government and the general community. Despite…
An EYLF wish list: What’s on yours?

An EYLF wish list: What’s on yours?

Rolled out more than ten years ago and a key element of the National Quality Framework, the Early Years Learning Framework (EYLF) has had an enormous positive impact on early childhood education in Australia. The review process, which is…
Remote Karen-Hope

Silver linings and unexpected outcomes—early childhood professional placements in the time of COVID-19

Less doing means more listening  More listening means deeper understanding  Deeper understanding means authentic connections  Authentic connections mean stronger relationships   Stronger relationships mean deeper respect  Deeper…
Why social justice is more important than ever

Why social justice is more important than ever

A commitment to social justice means taking responsibility for working individually and collectively to ensure that everyone has meaningful opportunities to participate in the economic, social, cultural, communal and political life of the nation. The…
Family trees and belonging walls

Family trees and belonging walls

As educators, we talk about fostering a sense of belonging and identity within our services and communities—one way we do this is through the use of photo displays. Reflecting on this in relation to how we display images of ourselves, our…
Honouring educators

Honouring educators

Each year hundreds of Australians receive Australia Day Honours for the outstanding service and contributions they make to everyday life in Australia. This year, three notable Australians, The Honourable Jay Weatherill, Megan Mitchell and Professor…
Australia Day, Invasion Day, Survival Day

Australia Day, Invasion Day, Survival Day

Every year on the 26th of January we celebrate what it means to be Australian. It’s a day when we welcome new Australians into the fold through citizenship ceremonies and we get together for barbecues, that most inexplicably Australian of…
What children ‘really’ want for Christmas

What children ‘really’ want for Christmas

Many of us are looking forward to celebrating the end of the year with friends and family—perhaps even more than usual after the stress and isolation of COVID-19. Hopefully, the New Year will bring more reasons for optimism and fewer challenges…
The 12 days of Christmas (except when it’s more!)

The 12 days of Christmas (except when it’s more!)

‘Being a professional requires you to exercise pedagogical judgment—every day. It does seem though we now have a ‘Christmas’ curriculum and it starts early.’ Karen Hope encourages educators to reflect on more than just the art and…
Can you hear me? Creativity in the time of COVID-19

Can you hear me? Creativity in the time of COVID-19

KAREN HOPE shares what she has learnt about being ‘creative’ during the pandemic and engaging with children over Zoom, as well as the resources she has found useful—specifically from Nick Cave and the Reggio Emilia Educational Project. Early…
2020—the year that wasn’t…

2020—the year that wasn’t…

Has 2020 had an impact on children’s learning? Catherine Beckingham, an early childhood teacher from Melbourne talks about the interruption of children’s learning this year, what they’ve learned from spending time at home and what’s…