Innehållsförteckning för OCTOBER/NOVEMBER ISSUE 11 2021 THE EARLY YEARS LEARNING FRAMEWORK från Pedagogy+

The origin of the word kind is from Old English gecynd (kind, nature, race), from Proto-Germanic kundi (natural, native) The word ‘kind’ is related to ‘kin’ and both have belonging embedded in their meanings. True kindness is so important, extending kinship to all, showing that all of us belong here… What kind of world do we want to become? I hope for a world in which ‘kind’ (i.e., class or racial group) of the person does not affect how others show real kindness to them, in which we are all kind to each other, recognising true equality. Anita Sethi (excerpt) I belong here, 2021…

In 2018 when the Victorian Labor party made a $5 billion election commitment to fund universal three-year-old kindergarten (preschool), it was not an idea that materialised out of nowhere. A number of sector peak bodies, academics, the profession and parents had long been advocating for a second year of funded kindergarten. It was no coincidence that seminal reports such as ‘Lifting our Game’ and ‘Two Years are Better than One’ were released around this time. Advocates were also looking at Australia’s track record on ECEC compared to our international counterparts and emphasised that we were seriously lagging. It was a moment of the stars aligning for policy, politics, and serious investment in early childhood education. Three-year-old kindergarten had existed for many years in Victoria prior to the announcement, but it…

SOCIAL bombshell, Instagram and TikTok sensation Carla from Bankstown (@carlafrombankstown) has amused us with her irreverent and direct reporting from the premier’s office. As PA to previous NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian (in the wonderful world of comedy) Carla has had her finger on the pulse – and told it how it is. Benjamin James AKA Carla from Bankstown has absolutely enjoyed making people smile during challenging times – soon to be seen on Celebrity Apprentice Class of 2022. Don’t miss it… WHAT INSPIRES YOU EACH DAY TO WAKE UP AND CONQUER THE WORLD? Knowing that I am being my authentic self and making people laugh. WHAT THREE WORDS WOULD YOU USE TO DESCRIBE YOURSELF (OTHER THAN FABULOUS OF COURSE)? Thick, juicy, gronk. WHAT HAVE BEEN YOUR DAILY ROUTINES DURING THE…

I wandered lonely as a cloudThat floats on high o’er vales and hills,When all at once I saw a crowd,A host, of golden daffodils;Beside the lake, beneath the trees,Fluttering and dancing in the breeze. Continuous as the stars that shineAnd twinkle on the milky way,They stretched in never-ending lineAlong the margin of a bay:Ten thousand saw I at a glance,Tossing their heads in sprightly dance. The waves beside them danced; but theyOut-did the sparkling waves in glee:A poet could not but be gay,In such a jocund company:I gazed—and gazed—but little thoughtWhat wealth the show to me had brought: For oft, when on my couch I lieIn vacant or in pensive mood,They flash upon that inward eyeWhich is the bliss of solitude;And then my heart with pleasure fills,And dances with the…

Spending time in most early childhood centres, an observer will note that at sometime during the day, the children will have an engagement with literature. They will go to the book area (crawl or walk) and select a book, usually a picture book, and explore its contents in some way; physically by turning the pages, pointing to some aspects of the illustrations and verbally by repeating some part of the text, naming, babbling. This interaction can be a solitary or shared experience; a brief perusal or some form of deeper involvement. The books they have to choose from may include narrative-based picture books, concept books, reference books and nursery rhymes. These many and varied tomes will be available every day and are a valued resource in any classroom in terms…

Annette Sax and the team at Yarn Strong Sista have moved with the times. With over 20 years of experience offering a range of specialist services and providing First Nations designed resources and educational tools to the early childhood and school sectors, they have expanded into four other projects: Foregrounding Anti Bias Perspectives YarnStrongBruthaAboriginal Homewares and Fashion Accessories YarnStrongSistaPress Developing and publishing of Aboriginal Board Books and Paperbacks EnterpriseforEmpowermentFirst Nations Scholarship and Awards To learn more about Yarn Strong Sista, the fabulous range of resources and the bespoke experiences on offer, go to: www.yarnstrongsista.com Possum Skin Pedagogy, an incredibly collaborative project, has resulted in the development of a wonderful resource – the Possum Skin Pedagogy Educator’s Guide. …Annette’s words stir interest and the imagination… ‘Imagine what the…

Much loved. When everything was unknown, they were there. Where anything could happen, they were there. These repositories of hugs, of fears, of hopes, of tears, of snots and smears. Alone at night, they were the comforters, when monsters lurked in darkened corners, when raised voices muffled through floors and walls. These silent witnesses, these constant companions, defenders of innocence. Their touch, yes, but their smell, that instantly calming, all embracing musk, unique to each, soothing and smoothing the journey from consciousness to un, from purity to im, from infancy to adult-terre. Sworn to secrecy, unconditionally there, unjudgementally fair and almost always a bear. – Mark Nixon 2013 It has always troubled me when I heard, or saw educators, remove children’s loved companions and put them in lockers, on top…

In 2022, Blue Gum Community School is opening a new Early Childhood School in Sydney. The school’s new campus in Hornsby NSW will bring together a Preschool and K-2 Primary School for families and children – intentionally blurring the line between early childhood education and the early years of school. Blue Gum has always ‘crossed borders’ pedagogically, and this is no exception. It is a school determined to resist traditional approaches to education in a pursuit of teaching and learning methods that invite deep engagement and position educators and students as co-researchers in the educational process. The initial vision for opening a new Blue Gum in Sydney was the unexpected result of a serendipitous moment shared between Jill McLachlan (author of Unearthing Why: Stories of thinking and learning with children)…

As the world becomes busier, many educators and organisations find themselves drawn to digital documentation. Used responsibly, these platforms can offer a positive system to capture learning for educators and offer a window into the children’s learning for parents. Digital platforms that share the learning of children are simply that…a digital platform, a tool that, when used well, can be: asystemtogatherdata of children’s learning processes avisualaccountofdaily events in the learning environment with accompanying narrative anotherstrategytoengagein a reciprocal online dialogue with families (which should never replace engaging personally) aplacefordatacollection and a potential source of data for research However, it is vital that educators never lose sight of the ethics associated with digital platforms. Children, who are the subjects of the documentation, are participants with the educators in…

My nanny (Irish grandmother) was a treasure chest of ‘sayings’. Almost one for every occasion in life – some funny, some not, but as I have come to realise, all came from a place of wisdom. Two that I grappled with as a youngster were, ‘Dinna fret, to be sure you are better off you’ve got it to come’ and ‘You’ll get an orange at Christmas’ To a child (me), her words were nonsensical - I wanted it now, and why did Father Christmas always leave an orange in my stocking? As I attained my teen years, understanding the legend of St Nicholas and gifts of gold—the orange in my Christmas stocking being representative of that gold, as were the gold-wrapped chocolate money pieces that we only ever had at…

More and more I notice the challenges some early childhood educators experience in their understanding of the reflective practice cycle, and more specifically, the critical reflection process. For me,, critical reflections are the most miss-understood, undervalued part of many teams’ planning and documentation processes. We can write up ‘evaluations’ of daily or weekly plans, ‘reflections on the day’, ‘reflections on learning’. However, in many cases, they are just brief jottings or paragraphs written to satisfy others, with little or no connection to improvement or changes. The reflective practice cycle, including critical reflections, should be the powerhouse of ideas, the basis for self-assessment, the window into change, the driver of excellence, and a voice for all. Critical reflections are not meant to be ‘critical’ as in good or bad, but rather…

'When you strongly believe in a principle or a cause, courage to pursure it will follow'SHIRIN EBADI Human Rights Activist Dr. Anne Kennedy is a highly respected and experienced consultant in early childhood education. Anne was a member of the Charles Sturt University writing team that developed the first national early learning framework for Australia in 2009. Approved Learning Frameworks Update: www.mq.edu.au/faculty-of-arts/alfsupdate Those of you who have participated in professional learning programs with Colin Slattery, Director of Semann & Slattery, would have experienced the concept of taking a ‘balcony moment.’ A balcony moment is about reflecting on our work as though we are looking down on the action or activities that have occurred or are taking place. Wise thinkers tell us that reflecting on our history provides insights into where…

Sally Barnes has worked in early childhood education for more than thirty years. She has experience as an early childhood teacher and director, curriculum policy officer, compliance officer, consultant and academic. As a curriculum writer and developer, Sally has been involved in the development of two curriculum frameworks, including the Early Years Learning Framework, Australia’s first national learning framework for the prior to school early childhood sector. She has worked in remote, rural, and metropolitan settings in South Australia and in a variety of early years settings in the United Kingdom. When Belonging, Being and Becoming: The Early Years Learning Framework (EYLF) was published in 2009, it was heralded as a landmark event in the history of early childhood education in Australia. As the first national framework to focus on…

Originating in Japan, Haiku is a form of poetry composed in short, unrhymed lines. A traditional haiku poem evokes natural imagery – scenes specific to nature, recalling a season. The Japanese developed the art form over many hundreds of years – the intention is simplicity, intensity and directness of expression celebrating a vision of life in three succinct lines. Written in short verse and one stanza, haiku generally follow the non-rhyming 5-7-5 structure…just three lines and 17 syllables in total. First line: 5 syllablesSecond line: 7 syllablesThird line: 5 syllables Line 1: 5 syllables – Rain rain wet wet rainLine 2: 7 syllables – Pitter patter all day longLine 3: 5 syllables – On my umbrella But we need to be mindful of the linguistic and written differences between the…

Tēnā koutou katoa Ko Kelly Goodsir tōku ingoa He kaiako ahau Ko te mata peak te maunga Ko tukituki te awa Nō Hasting Aotearoa and Melbourne Australia ahau Nō reira, tēnā koutou, tēnā koutou, tēnā tātou katoa. My name is Kelly Goodsir I am a teacher My mountain is te mata peak My river is tukituki I am from Hasting, New Zealand and Melbourne Australia Therefore, greetings to you, greetings to you, greetings to us all. I am a Pākehā (non-Māori) kaiako (teacher) who is honored to be sharing with you some reflections of how Te Whāriki, New Zealand’s bi-cultural curriculum, has influenced my pedagogy. 1997 — I graduated with my early childhood teaching diploma a year after the introduction of Te Whāriki. I can say with certainty the pedagogical…

THE AUSTRALIAN QUALITY CONTEXT The National Quality Agenda for Early Childhood Education and Care provides Australia with a vision that ‘all children have the best start in life to create a better future for themselves, and for the nation’ …and with the aspiration that all children in early childhood education and care settings experience quality teaching and learning. (Winter 2021) The National Quality Framework (NQF) 2012 comprises the: EducationandCareServicesNational Law Act (National Law) and Regulations National Quality Standard (NQS) Assessment and ratings process National Approved Learning Frameworks (ALFs) BelongingBeingandBecoming: The Early Years Learning Framework for Australia(EYLF) MyTimeOurPlace: Framework for School Aged Care in Australia (MTOP) BEING, BELONGING AND BECOMING. The Early Years Learning Framework for Australia (EYLF) The EYLF is a critical component of the NQF. It…

WE LOVE YOU, MAGOO Author & Illustrator Briony Stewart Children’s Boof of the Year 2021: EC Magoo has his own ideas about what a dog should do. Gorgeously, bright illustrations capture Magoo’s energy and very obvious emotion when things don’t quite go his way. The rhyming text is a delight to read out loud. The story is joyous and playful with a dash of naughtiness…its fun will appeal to the cheekiness of young readers, who are just learning the rules and who love to be the boss. LOOK BABY Author: Janeen Brian Illustrator: Renée Treml Look, Baby! is a perfect way to introduce and talk about the world with babies. Its interactivity, rhyme and rhythm and gentle illustrations encourage our little ones to find joy and excitement in stories and…

Lucy crosses the Embankment and steps out onto the bridge. A bitterly cold wind swirls around her, tugging her cloak. Glancing over the parapet, she stops for a moment, mesmerised by the slate iced waters of the Thames. The clatter of a carriage pulls her from her reverie. Lucy fights the wind, drags her cloak close against the chill and sets off at a fast pace. Dusk is falling, and there is still a good mile to go before reaching her destination. With a slowing of steps, Lucy turns left into Great Ormond Street. Oblivious to the world, she stands still, knowing these are moments to be treasured. Her heart quickens as she senses movement, not the wind this time, but the tiny bundle clasped to her breast is waking…

In professional learning Zoom workshops this week, two different versions of a similar concern have arisen. In one case, a group of educators were discussing ‘titles’ as a way to analyse and capture their noteworthy ‘mini-moments’ that were contributing to planning and formative assessment (see link below). One person, who had been introduced to the ideas previously, shook her head in frustration and said, ‘I can’t bother with the Fancy-Pants language! That one (a lovely title) just popped into my head! That won’t happen all the time!’ So, how to help her? Meanwhile, a group of teachers were pursuing a Practitioner Inquiry project related to assessment and documentation. They were at the stage of trying to formulate a question to capture their concerns, always a tricky place of trying to…

Published courtesy of Janeen Brian. Janeen is an award-winning author. To learn more about Janeen and her books and poetry, go to: www.janeenbrian.com The Puddle: first published The School Magazine, Countdown edition; Volume 80. Number 5, June 1995. More recently: 100 Australian poems for children. Random House. (2002)…

Has each child (and their family) a secure, respectful, reciprocal relationship with at least one educator? Does each child have a strong sense of wellbeing? Is each child a confident and involved learner? Is our pedagogy consistent with the principles and practices of the National Quality Standard and the Early Years Learning Framework? Are there things we can do differently to give every child in our program the best start in life? In what ways can we find answers to these questions? We are fortunate in Australia that for the first time, we have a suite of documents, developed in the same political, social and theoretical context, to regulate and promote quality care and education of our youngest children. The documents are underpinned by a vision that ‘all children have…

Outcome 1: Children have a strong sense of identity Outcome 2: Children are connected with and contribute to their world Outcome 3: Children have a strong sense of wellbeing Outcome 4: Children are confident and involved learners Outcome 5: Children are effective communicators BELONGING, BEING & BECOMING. The Early Years Learning Framework for Australia Victorian Early Years Learning and Development Framework Over a decade ago, the early childhood community was elated with the attention of Kevin Rudd and the Australian Federal Government and The Council of Australian Governments. At last, early education status and standing werw acknowledged, politically and publicly. The Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations awarded the tender for writing Australia’s first national early learning framework to a consortium led by Charles Sturt University and other academics from South Australia, Victoria, and…