Karolyn Hendra’s Feed Back
“I have seen real growth and development in your practice and class learning this term. I want you to rethink your presentation and acknowledge and celebrate your successes which are many. You are a caring and committed educator. I admire your commitment to knowing children and supporting them. They know you know and care for them and they respond positively to you because of that. As you continue to grow and learn in your role as an ECE you are and will continue to become an exceptional educator.
As you prepare for ECED 2200 I want you to consider what it means to “teach” in ECE and I want you to think about what you mean by “crafts”. These terms/definitions are being challenged currently in ECE. “The Early Learning Framework is an invitation to re-envision early care and learning spaces, education systems, and society. It is intended to promote dialogue about understandings of childhood, knowledge, education, and learning” (p.11).
The BC ELF (2019) talks about the role of the educator as someone who co-learns, co-researches, and actively engages children in the creation of theories, ideas and learning. “Educators do not see themselves as holding the “right” knowledge of pedagogy and practice. Rather, they are learners as well as educators, continually reflecting. This is not to say that “anything goes” in practice; instead educators make intentional choices inspired by the pedagogical approaches in this framework” (BC ELF,2019, p. 18).What similarities/differences do you see between the way you are describing your interactions and curriculum choices with/for children and what the ELF is talking about? This will be important moving forward as you, your instructor/mentor build evidence of your growing understanding and ability to practice in ways that align with the vision, principles and inquires of the BC Early Learning Framework.”
Feed Back from Karolyn Hendra Early Childhood Educator
Looking back at my Cayoosh practicum I do now understand how I did not do my job as E.C.E. I was capable of connecting and getting to know the children. I did not apply the early learning framework as a educator in my program planning. I lost sight of program planning. I was use to helping in a classroom as a parent / care giver and not as an early childhood educator. I am looking forward to this last practicum. I feel this environment is going to a great place for me to apply not just my social skills but my teaching skills . I do understand what Karolyn means. I need to bring more to the program and let the children lead their learning. I need to remember that learning is a collective , yet can be a collaborative group skill.
Goals
My goals for this practicum is to program plan with meaning. That means paying more attention to my actual role in the center and applying the E.L.F. to my program planning. Having been brought to my attention that i am also learning with the children. I am learning about them , their interests , and put it in a form of learning that is purposeful yet engaging.
This practicum I have the aspiration to be better at being an educator, not just a over glorified babysitter. I will be doing more activities with the children that is around my observations in the children’s interest and collective ideas as individuals and as a group . I noticed the Children down at Lil’ Quills like to sing. I have brought my guitar with me and hope to bring it out and sing with the kids.
While on one of my visits with Karolyn Hendra, we talked about how I should try to implement a ritual into my program. While i am here at Lil’ Quills I want to do a good morning song with the kids on my guitar after they arrive. Literacy has always been a part of my childhood. I want to share my love for books with the children also.