In this episode I unravel the significance of understanding your teaching beliefs. I know that starting out can feel like stepping into a maze, but fear not! I'm here to guide you through the wonderful world of educational philosophies in a clear and engaging way.In this episode, I'll talk about something super important: your teaching compass, or as some call it, your educational philosophy. We'll chat about how understanding what you believe about how kids learn can make a huge difference in how you teach.We'll break down Montessori, Reggio Emilia, Steiner Waldorf and a few other educational theorists in simple terms, and show you how these ideas about teaching can help shape your own approach. Think of it as choosing your own adventure in teaching!Whether you're just starting your teaching career or diving into homeschooling for the first time, this episode is like a treasure chest filled with ideas to help you find your unique teaching style. By the end, you'll feel inspired and confident to explore and express your own teaching philosophy, making your educational journey a whole lot more enjoyable!Get your Inquiry 101 guide here https://resources.edslessons.com/inquiry-101-courseRead the blog post at https://edslessons.com/reggio-emilia-steiner-or-montessori-which-approach-is-best/Read more about Reggio Emilia at https://www.reggiochildren.it/en/reggio-emilia-approach/Read about the Montessori at https://www.mwei.edu.au/careers/what-is-montessori/Read about the Steiner approach at https://www.steinerwaldorf.org/steiner-education/what-is-steiner-education/If you like the show please subscribe and leave a review which will really benefit the show showing up for others.If you'd like to get in touch with me do so at:Email: [email protected]: https://www.instagram.com/edslessons/Website: https://www.edslessons.comPinterest: https://www.pinterest.com.au/edslessons/ 

So as we come to the close of 2023, I encourage you to start pondering how you as an educator truly impacted the lives of children in your care.  And what about you? Did you grow? Are you just going do the same things next year as you did this past year? Or are you going to challenge yourself this coming year to try something a little different, to take a bit of risk, to have a go and get a little uncomfortable? We cannot grow or learn without some discomfort. We all know how challenging learning something new can be, but also how rewarding it is.And so for next year I invite you to join me in embracing a new challenge. Let’s not be so hung up about sticking to curriculum programs, but let’s focus on the strategy like inquiry, that really excites children and gives them ownership over their learning. Inquiry is such an exciting way for kids to learn. Let’s focus on bringing joy to our student’s lives and to our own. Let’s embrace strategies that give us a break and make teaching and the facilitation of learning fun for us too. The challenge for the rest of the holidays is for you and me just to ponder and wonder and think about how we want to make a difference in the lives of the kids we teach? How do we want to impact their learning and curiosity? And how do we also want to make a difference in our own lives as educators.Check out the blog post for my list of inspirational books, podcasts and websites for teachers and educators. https://edslessons.com/top-inspirational-resources-for-early-childhood-teachers/For a mere $8 you can purchase and download my step-by-step Inquiry 101 guide to get you started with your inquiry teaching journey. https://resources.edslessons.com/inquiry-101/buyI'm considering creating a webinar or online course to help teachers get started with inquiry. But first I need to know if you would be interested in learning the basics of inquiry so that you can integrate it into your lessons. If you register your interest, you will become part of the foundational group that together with me, designs the content of the course so that you have exactly what you need to become comfortable and confident with inquiry-based teaching. Register your interest here https://resources.edslessons.com/inquiry-101-courseIf you like the show please subscribe and leave a review which will really help others find the show.If you'd like to get in touch with me do so at:Email: [email protected]: https://www.instagram.com/edslessons/Website: https://www.edslessons.comPinterest: https://www.pinterest.com.au/edslessons/ Or leave me a voice message at https://www.speakpipe.com/bloomingcurious

Most adults (and many children) spend hours in front of a screen each day.  In fact, research from GWI https://datareportal.com/reports/digital-2022-global-overview-report reveals that the typical internet user now spends almost 7 hours per day using the internet across all devices. It’s crazy to think that statistic equates to a person spending 40 percent of their waking life online. The GWI’s broad global survey of internet users aged 16 to 64 also reports that we are spending 2 hours and 27 minutes on social media per day.In this episode I discuss my own findings and experience as it relates to what I believe is a correlation between tech use, decreased academic performance and an increase in anxiety and mental wellbeing.I talk about the positive findings into spending time in nature and give you ten tips to help you reduce screen time and get outdoors these holidays.We all need a break from our fast paced lives and hopefully these recommendations will help you click that reset button and create new healthier habits that stay with you well past the holidays.Check out links to the article I talk about here: https://www.skynews.com.au/australia-news/worldwide-testing-reveals-drastic-decline-in-australian-students-performance-across-maths-reading-and-science/news-story/4de1febdde5ae7d33c1ce074797af690 The benefits of spending time outdoors at https://www.apa.org/monitor/2020/04/nurtured-nature Download my free PDF with 24 activities you can do as a family to get kids outdoors and keep them curious by clicking on this link https://resources.edslessons.com/24-fun-activities-that-instil-curiosity-in-kidsRead the full blog post to this podcast at https://edslessons.com/ten-tips-to-take-a-break-from-screens-and-get-outside/If you like the show please subscribe and leave a review which will really benefit the show showing up for others.If you'd like to get in touch with me do so at:Email: [email protected]: https://www.instagram.com/edslessons/Website: https://www.edslessons.comPinterest: https://www.pinterest.com.au/edslessons/ Or leave me a voice message at https://www.speakpipe.com/bloomingcurious

In today’s world where technology is easily accessible, it can be challenging to keep children off screens, especially during the holidays.The constant exposure to technology can lead to a decrease in children’s natural curiosity and creativity.  If you want your children to love learning and have curiosity, then check out these 24 fun learning activities that not only benefit your child’s learning but are fun for the whole family, and some even give parents some much needed respite.Get all the details on the blog here https://edslessons.com/24-fun-learning-activities-for-kids/Download your free PDF that includes book recommendations and inquiry questions to get kids thinking and wondering here https://resources.edslessons.com/24-fun-activities-that-instil-curiosity-in-kidsDownload your free e-guide to show you just how easy it is to encourage curiosity naturally in your everyday activities. Perfect for parents and home school educators. Download your free e-guide here https://resources.edslessons.com/free-e-guide-how-to-encourage-natural-curiosity-in-childrenIf you like the show please subscribe and leave a review which will really benefit the show showing up for others.If you'd like to get in touch with me do so at:Email: [email protected]: https://www.instagram.com/edslessons/Website: https://www.edslessons.comPinterest: https://www.pinterest.com.au/edslessons/Or leave me a voice message at https://www.speakpipe.com/bloomingcurious

Technology is here to stay. It's a wonderful thing when used appropriately especially with and in front of young children.They really don't need screens in the hands, when there are alternatives.But in a world where everyone has a screen in their hands almost permanently, what alternatives are there for our kids? Especially when we are out in public places.In today's episode I give you two simple alternatives, or challenges - which on the face of it might appear lame and possibly non-starters, but have a go, stay with it, and see if anything changes in your children's behaviour and in your ability to remain in the moment.Check out the post on my blog at https://edslessons.com/raising-children-in-a-world-with-technology/If you like the show please subscribe and leave a review which will really benefit the show showing up for others.If you'd like to get in touch with me do so at: Email: [email protected]: https://www.instagram.com/edslessons/Website: https://www.edslessons.comPinterest: https://www.pinterest.com.au/edslessons/Or leave me a voice message at https://www.speakpipe.com/bloomingcurious

Does your home learning environment provide children with opportunities to explore and wonder?Children love to learn about the world around them using their senses.It makes sense then to create an environment for children that will allow them plenty of opportunity to do just that.You don't need to invest in tons of plastic toys to create a stimulating environment, but we do need to take some time to think about the objects and toys that will allow our children to wonder, problem solve and express themselves in creative ways.Today, I explore the objects and toys that we can bring into our homes that will allow our children to explore and learn in fun and creative ways.Download a copy of my e-guide which includes a list of open-ended questions https://resources.edslessons.com/free-e-guide-how-to-encourage-natural-curiosity-in-childrenBlog post https://edslessons.com/how-to-create-an-environment-for-inquiry-based-learning/If you like the show and you'd like to get in touch with me do so at:Email: [email protected]: https://www.instagram.com/edslessons/Website: https://www.edslessons.comPinterest: https://www.pinterest.com.au/edslessons/Or leave me a voice message at https://www.speakpipe.com/bloomingcurious

Curiosity is the one trait that lifelong learners share, and the one trait that we educators and parents must ensure we foster in our children if they are to be interested in learning. Today I share 5 ways we can keep our kids curious so that learning becomes a pleasure instead of a chore.Check out the blog post athttps://edslessons.com/how-to-develop-childrens-curiosity/If you like the show and you'd like to get in touch with me do so at:Email: [email protected]: https://www.instagram.com/edslessons/Website: https://www.edslessons.comOr leave me a voice message at https://www.speakpipe.com/bloomingcurious

Welcome to the first episode of the Blooming Curious podcast.Today's episode is an introduction to what Blooming Curious is going to be about, and why I believe that curiosity is the cornerstone for learning.Here is an article all about the importance of curiosty and learning.https://www.edutopia.org/blog/why-curiosity-enhances-learning-marianne-stenger#:~:text=A%20neurological%20study%20has%20shown,actively%20seek%20out%20the%20answers. If you like the show and you'd like to get in touch with me do so at:Email: [email protected]: https://www.instagram.com/edslessons/Website: https://www.edslessons.comOr leave me a voice message at https://www.speakpipe.com/bloomingcurious