What to Remember when Addressing Concerning Behavior
As mentioned in last month’s blog, I have found there are four primary reasons why teachers need to communicate with parents. In the last blog, I covered reasons for positive communication and regular specific praise of a student. If a teacher successfully opens the line of communication with parents, it can make addressing concerning behavior – this month’s topic -- easier to discuss. Understandably, parents do not like hearing about issues concerning their child. The conver
Elements of Self-Care and Resiliency
This week on the blog we are proud to introduce our first guest blogger, Ingrid Anderson, EdD. Dr. Anderson is an assistant professor of practice in curriculum and instruction at Portland State University. She works with faculty across campus to foster interdisciplinary and innovative community partnerships creating opportunities for professional development, research, advocacy, and services to children and families. Dr. Anderson’s focus is on early childhood educators’ expe
Nature Schools and Kindergarten Readiness
I am fortunate that the parents and teachers who choose my preschool take a broad view of kindergarten readiness. They accept that a child-centered, play based curriculum will have less singular emphasis on letter identification and more emphasis on developing the whole child. But parents new to a nature or forest school concept, or teachers and administrators wishing to include more nature-based play in their early childhood programs, may need more information about their ac
Responding with Compassion to Challenging Behavior
We’re wrapping up “the most wonderful time of the year” and getting ready to head back to the daily grind. It’s the time when we reflect on how we want to improve in the coming months, and what we want to change about the way we live our lives. After all, none of us are perfect! We’ve all got a problem or two that gets us down from time to time. Does this truth only apply to adults? Of course not. Sometimes kids have real problems in their lives, too. Unfortunately, it’s not
