Newsletter

Hey Reader! Have you ever heard the phrase “the environment as the 3rd teacher?” This is a common phrase in the Reggio Emilia approach to early childhood learning. I think we would all agree that our environment makes a difference in how we feel, how we behave, and how we interact with others. Imagine walking into a traditional cathedral-style sanctuary with stained glass windows, a pipe organ, and a giant pulpit. How would you feel? Maybe a feeling of reverence, or respect; maybe awe-struck…

Hey Reader! One of my personal growth goals for 2024 is to get better at gardening – typically, when I plant flowers in my flower bed, they are dead in two weeks. But…this is the year where that will change – I hope! What I’ve learned so far is that there are several really important factors in successfully growing something! You have to have the right sunlight, the right soil, the right amount of water, and even have to worry about rabbits, aphids, and fungus! As I’ve been working on my…

Hey Reader! In a recent conversation with Prerna Richards, she said “Joy is the emotion of learning.” I had to think about that for a moment, but she’s right! When our brain is signaling JOY, we are able to learn because we are not stuck in our survival brains. Our episode is filled with lots of great ideas for increasing joy and decreasing stress in the classroom. If you haven’t had a chance, you can listen HERE! I’m going to focus on just one of those things today and give you a few ideas…

Hey Reader! “You are unique! God has made you specifically just the way you are.” Has anyone ever said that to you? How does it make you feel? Years ago, someone challenged me to look in the mirror and tell myself “I am fearfully and wonderfully made.” (Psalm 139:14) I cried when I did it. In fact, I couldn’t even get the full sentence out the first time. It actually took quite a few tries over the course of several weeks before I was able to stand in front of my mirror and confidently say…

Hey Reader! So many of us work in churches where our classrooms are shared with Sunday School, Wednesday night and other church programming. It can be a challenge to share spaces when you feel like you’re in that room so many more hours than “they” are. Would you allow me to give you a gentle reminder today? “They” (church ministry leaders, church volunteers, even paid childcare workers) are actually on the same team as “us”. We are all called to minister to young families by caring for their…

Hey Reader! First…would you pause and pray for us? We are headed to Georgetown today to setup for our Central State Conference tomorrow and Friday! Thank you! Now…let’s get into some brain science! Have you ever tried to reason with a three-year-old who is having a melt-down? How did that go for you? Probably not well! There is some amazing brain research that actually helps us explain why that is and what we can do instead! First, let’s talk about the fact that we have “upstairs brain”,…

Hey Reader! As an adult with a type A personality who is very performance and productivity-driven, I actually have to be intentional about bringing some playful fun into my life! Can you relate to that? Many of us live such busy lives that we have forgotten what “play” for adults actually looks like. If I asked you “What would you like to do for fun?” many of you would reply “nothing” or “sleep” or “rest” or “take a nap”. At least that’s been my experience when I’ve talked about this topic to…

Hey Reader! Splish, Splash! It’s the perfect time of year to add in a little water play to your plans for the day/week/month! Whether you’re at home with young children or still in the classroom this summer, let’s explore a couple of fun ways to add water play to your day – and, as always, let’s explore what children are actually learning from these FUN, open-ended activities. **Obviously, NEVER allow young children to participate in water play without supervision. Young children can drown in…

Hey Reader! Today I just want to acknowledge the hard work that you do every day as an early educator. You serve in so many roles each day that there is no degree or training class that could prepare and equip you for what you are responsible for each day! You carry a lot of weight, a lot of responsibility, a lot of burden. On most days, you might find yourself as A teacher – I mean, I hope that you’re teaching these littles something! A coach – you’re coaching them along to better language,…

Hey Reader! In a recent podcast interview with Stacy Benge, we had a great conversation around the focus on school readiness for parents, legislators and even many early childhood teachers. Listen HERE for the full conversation. I want to share briefly about one comment she made at the very beginning of the episode that just keeps rolling around in my mind. “If we change our mindset from asking ‘What do I need to teach children to get ready?’, but instead ask ‘What needs to be developed for…