The Everything ECE Podcast
Carla Ward
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The Everything ECE Podcast, brought to you by Early Learning Foundations, is a podcast for early childhood educators and leaders. If you work in a child care, preschool or kindergarten setting, The Everything ECE Podcast will provide you with inspiration and actionable steps with professional and personal tips and tricks to find that ideal work-life balance.
Join host, Carla Ward, each week as she brings you early childhood topics to help enhance your program and teacher life. The Everything ECE Podcast will inspire you to take action in your profession and classroom.
Available episodes
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2 days ago
#116: Artistic Innovation with Elena Loson from Nube Lab
In this episode, Carla interviews Elena Loson from Nube Lab in Chile. Nube Lab is a trailblazing organization that seamlessly blends the arts with education. Elena shares their remarkable journey, from intuitive beginnings to holistic community engagement. Nube Lab offers extracurricular programs, teacher training, and creative curriculum units that integrate soft skills, empowering students with 21st-century skills. Explore how they're reshaping education through creativity, providing resources and fostering collaboration among educators. Join them in their mission to revolutionize learning through the arts.
Podcast Notes: https://elfoundations.com/116-2/
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Sep 15, 2023
#115: Navigating Professional Friendships with Diane Kashin
In this episode, Carla welcomes Diane Kashin, a prominent figure in the world of early childhood education in Ontario, Canada, and a retired ECE professor. Diane highlights the importance of professional friendships in the ECE community and shares her experiences as a blogger in the field, where she explores various aspects of early childhood education.
Carla and Diane delve into the significance of early childhood friendships for children and educators. They emphasize the role of educators in modelling positive friendships for children and helping them develop essential social skills. Diane also introduces her upcoming book, "Cultivating Professional Friendships in Early Childhood Education," which explores the value of professional friendships, the challenges they may face, and the deep reflections that come from such relationships. She underscores the importance of self-awareness in fostering healthy professional friendships and shares stories of her own friendships in the field.
The podcast includes a powerful message of gratitude and the idea that understanding one's identity is crucial in building and maintaining successful personal and professional friendships.
Cultivating Professional Friendships in Early Childhood Education-Book Link
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Sep 8, 2023
#114: Investing in Children's Financial Future with Emily Naddaf from Wealthsimple Foundation
Join host Carla Ward as she discusses an important topic that usually takes a back seat in Early Childhood Education - securing our children's financial future. Emily Naddaf from Wealthsimple Foundation shares insights on why early financial education and savings matter.
Discover government programs like the Canada Learning Bond and Canada Education Savings Grant, which offer up to $2,000 and 20% matching for education savings.
Learn how easy it is to open a Registered Education Savings Plan (RESP) and the importance of understanding fees and withdrawal rules. Start early, maximize opportunities, and empower the next generation.
For more information, check out the provided link to Wealthsimple's CLB program.
Join Carla and Emily in this eye-opening conversation about shaping a brighter future for our children through financial literacy and strategic savings.
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Sep 1, 2023
#113: How to Turn Your Expertise and Knowledge Into a Profitable Digital Course with Amy Porterfield
Online marketing expert author and top-ranked podcast host, Amy Porterfield, joins Carla Ward on The Everything ECE Podcast to discuss digital courses and why Early Childhood Educators need to join the world of generating passive income. Amy’s action-by-action approach proves that even the newest online entrepreneurs can bypass the overwhelm, and instead generate exciting momentum as they build a business they love.
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Aug 25, 2023
#112: Discussing the Child Care Crisis with Renee August
In this week's episode of The Everything ECE Podcast, Carla Ward is joined by Renee August from the Montana Association of Education of Young Children. The focus of this episode revolves around the pressing topic of the child care crisis. This widespread concern stretches across North America, and its impact likely extends to other corners of the globe. The conversation underscores the urgency for individuals beyond the profession to acknowledge and appreciate the vital role played by early childhood educators. The podcast delves into the crucial efforts undertaken by these educators during a child's formative years, highlighting the gravity of the situation. Tune in to gain valuable insights from this dynamic conversation between Carla and Renee.
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Aug 18, 2023
#111: International Fairy Tea Party with Suzanne Axelsson
Believing in magic and fairies is not just for children. There is something beautiful about believing, and this week on The Everything ECE Podcast, Suzanne Axellson joins Carla Ward to talk about a very magical day coming up on the September Equinox: International Fairy Tea Party Day. Suzanne and Carla discuss what it is, how we can celebrate across the globe and why we should be participating. International Fairy Tea Party Day is an invitation to remember that believing is the key to the doorways of the extraordinary. Early Childhood Educators know how to bring the magic. Join Carla and Suzanne to see how you can bring this magical learning experience to your students.
Warning: Not to be listened to near little believers.
Show Notes
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Aug 11, 2023
#110: Teaching Math Holistically with Gillian Berard
One of the key elements to helping children learn and love math is providing holistic experiences. Gillian Berard joins The Everything ECE Podcast this week to help deepen our understanding of holistic math and inquiry-based learning. Gillian is a Holistic Numeracy Architect, and when you hear her speak, you can feel her passion and knowledge shine through.
Show Notes and Links
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Aug 4, 2023
#109: Bridging the Communication Gap Between Child Care and Home with Kris Szajner from Seesaw Learning
Having a tool that not only saves you time but also enhances communication with parents and families while children are in your care cultivates stronger relationships that support our youngest learners. In this episode, Kris Szajner from Seesaw Learning discusses the importance of bridging the gap between child care and home and why transparency is so important. He also delves into how using technology productively as learners rather than consumers helps shape children's futures.
Connect 2023- https://connect.seesaw.me/series/connect-2023/landing_page?
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Jul 21, 2023
#108: Involving Parents in Play with Pretend City
Just when you think you’ve figured out all the possible career paths for an Early Childhood Educator, along comes Pretend City. It is literally a mini city intentionally designed to support children and their families in play. In this episode, the education managers of Pretend City talk all about their organization, the programs they run and how they support the children and their families. Check out the episode and by the end you will probably be looking for spaces in your area to build your own Pretend City. The concept is amazing and the support that Pretend City offers is next level! You will be so inspired!
Pretend City – Website
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Jul 14, 2023
#107: Saying Hello
Adele, Lionel Richie, Lady Gaga and The Beatles all have this one thing in common; a song about Hello. Saying hello is an incredibly powerful word that we can say as human beings to other human beings. When we say hello we are acknowledging another person's existence. In this episode Carla Ward dives into the power behind saying hello and why we should be teaching children to say it and it's not just to be polite. Book Mention: Bringing Up Bebe
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Jul 7, 2023
#106: Multisensory Storytelling with Laura Shea
One of the most cherished and impactful moments within the profession of Early Childhood Education is the art of storytelling. It serves as a powerful tool to connect children with the world beyond their immediate surroundings and fosters self-discovery.
On this week's episode of The Everything ECE Podcast, guest Laura Shea, the founder of Little Stories That Stick brings a fresh perspective to storytelling, particularly through her advocacy for multisensory techniques. Prepare to be amazed as she shares practical insights that you can easily incorporate into your own program. You may be surprised to discover that you're already implementing some of these techniques without even realizing it!
Join host, Carla Ward, and Laura for an enlightening conversation as Laura unravels the impact and benefits of storytelling in Early Childhood Education. Links
Brain.fm
Little Stories That Stick- Instagram
Little Stories That Stick- Website
Story Download
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Jun 30, 2023
#105: Nanny 101 with Danny Rosenthal
In this week's podcast episode, we dive into the world of Early Childhood Education and explore the often overlooked role of nannies in shaping young minds. While educators in child care centers, home child care, and parent drop-in programs are commonly acknowledged, the significance of in-home nannies can sometimes slip our minds.
Join us as we have a fascinating conversation with Danny Rosenthal, the president of United Nanny, who sheds light on the vital work of nannies and emphasizes the similarities between their roles and traditional educators. Discover how building connections with parents plays a crucial part in their journey of nurturing children to reach their full potential.
Don't miss out on this eye-opening episode! Tune in now to gain insightful perspectives on the world of nannying.
United Nanny - Website
United Nanny - Instagram
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Jun 23, 2023
#104: Stop Defending Play
This episode delves into the importance of shifting from a defensive stance to playing offense and becoming advocates for play. It emphasizes that play isn't just child's play—it plays a vital role in children's cognitive growth, creativity, and overall development. It's time to spread this valuable information far and wide!
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Jun 15, 2023
#103: Supporting Emotional Intelligence with Stephanie Danso
In this episode of The Everything ECE Podcast, host Carla Ward engages in an enlightening discussion with Stephanie Danso, a seasoned social worker on the topic of supporting emotional development. Together, they explore the vital role of emotional development in early childhood education and offer valuable insights for early childhood educators.
Stephanie brings her expertise to the forefront as she shares strategies for nurturing emotional development in young children. Stephanie provides examples from her own life and upbringing when she could have benefitted from the support of adults to develop her emotions further.
Join The Everything ECE Podcast to gain essential knowledge and inspiration for supporting emotional development in early childhood education. Stephanie Danso - Website
Stephanie's Books - Website
Stephanie Danso - Instagram
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Jun 9, 2023
#102: Helping ECEs Find Their Voice with Rae Pica
Rae Pica joins The Everything ECE Podcast this week to discuss the critical topic of Early Childhood Educators discovering their voices. Rae, a renowned author, educator, consultant, speaker, and strong supporter of Early Childhood Educators shares her invaluable insights as to what early childhood educators can do to raise their voices. Tune in to The Everything ECE Podcast and embark on this enlightening journey. Links: Rae Pica - Website
Rae Pica - Instagram
Become an Early Childhood Author - Course
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Jun 1, 2023
#101: Trauma-Informed Care with Ana Valle Rivera
Trauma-informed care is essential in early childhood education to support children who have experienced trauma. In this podcast we speak with Ana Valle Rivera who will help us understand the impact of trauma on children's development, behavior, and learning. By recognizing trauma and its effects, educators can provide appropriate support and create safe, nurturing environments. Links Mentioned in the Podcast
Ana Valle Rivera - Website
Early Years Thriving - Website
The Whole Brain Child Book- link
Infant and Childhood Mental Health Certifcation Program- link
Articles of Interest:
Violence Prevention
Affects of Childhood Trauma on Learning
Canadian Support Services
Nadine Burk Harris Ted Talk
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May 12, 2023
#100: The Power of Connections
You are invited to celebrate the 100th episode of The Everything ECE Podcast. Thank you so much for being part of this journey and for your continued support. Over the last 100 episodes, Carla has explored amazing topics, had incredible guest speakers, and connected with fantastic organizations in the ECE world.
In this episode, as a thank you, Carla is excited to offer two bonuses, the chance to win one of her favorite books, and an incredible opportunity to start your own podcast. You can check out the podcast to find out how you can get in on the action.
This episode of The Everything ECE Podcast, titled "The Power of Connections," focuses on an essential component of early childhood education. Carla highlights how connections are a decisive element in creating a positive climate that impacts everyone's daily mood and relationships. She encourages you to join her in exploring the important role of meaningful adult-child connections in fostering social and emotional development.
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May 5, 2023
#99: Obstacles within the ECE Profession with Ashleigh Davies
In this episode of The Everything ECE Podcast, Ashleigh Davies joins Carla Ward and shares her insights on the various obstacles that early childhood education is facing in the public and private college sectors. She discusses the lack of recognition and respect for early childhood educators and the low wages that they receive despite the critical role they play in shaping the lives of young children.
This episode is a must-listen for anyone interested in the early childhood education profession or concerned about the quality of care and education that young children receive. Join Carla and Ashleigh as they navigate the obstacles within the ECE profession.
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Apr 28, 2023
#98: Breaking Up With Calendar Time with Samuel Broaden
Calendar time is always a hot topic in early childhood education. Come along with Carla Ward and guest, Samuel Broaden of Honoring Childhood, as they navigate why calendar time does not serve the children and their developmental journey.
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Apr 20, 2023
#97: 7 Fundamental Foundations for Growth with Asher Cloran
Asher Cloran of Life Rocks joins Carla Ward on The Everything ECE Podcast to talk about connecting children with nature, the benefits and the 7 fundamental foundations needed for growth. It was a very eye opening interview and one that all early childhood educators, parents and nature lovers should tune in for. Asher shares some wonderful insights on why children and adults need to spend time in nature. Resources
LifeRocks:
Website
Instagram
YouTube
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Apr 14, 2023
#96: Systems for the First 5 Years with Kimberly Goll
As an advocate for Early Childhood Education, it can be challenging to see progress at the pace one desires. However, a recent guest on The Everything ECE Podcast, Kimberly Goll, President and Chief Executive Officer of First 5 Orange County in the United States, is playing the long game and seeing positive results. In the episode, Goll discusses the various systems they have implemented to support children's first five years, emphasizing that it extends beyond just the child care profession. The conversation is insightful and offers new ideas for advocacy efforts. Listeners are sure to find it fascinating and inspiring. Check out the episode today!
Resources:
First 5 Orange County - Website
Kid Builders Activities - Website
Early Development Index - Website
Child Care Landscape Analysis - Website
Strengthening Families - Website
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Apr 6, 2023
#95: 3 Ways AI Can Support Early Childhood Educators
In the latest episode of The Everything ECE Podcast, Carla Ward introduces the topic of "3 Ways AI can Support Early Childhood Educators". Educators often struggle, trying to be everything for everyone, and AI can provide much-needed assistance. The episode explains how embracing this technology can make life easier for Early Childhood Educators. Even if the idea of AI is daunting, this episode will help listeners get a little taste of its benefits. Give the episode a listen and discover how AI can support Early Childhood Educators.
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Mar 23, 2023
#94: Learning and Connections with Maxwell Roach
Today’s podcast guest is Maxwell Roach, founder of JonAyves Learning Club. He and Carla have a fantastic conversation covering a bunch of topics surrounding education from music to $10 a day child care to 3 year olds doing long division. It is an awesome conversation!
Show Notes: www.elfoundations.com/94
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Mar 16, 2023
#93: Art Therapy with Lynn Cukaj
What is art therapy? Lynn Cukaj has the answer! Join her on The Everything ECE Podcast with Carla Ward where they talk about what art therapy is and what it isn’t.
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Mar 9, 2023
#92: An ECE Rant with Kayla Papalia
Every now and then, as a podcaster, you have a guest that you connect with and you have a plan for one topic but land up completely talking about something else! This happened when Kayla Papalia joined The Everything ECE Podcast this week and it was glorious. They were supposed to be discussing toys in the classroom but ended up recording a very raw conversation all about early childhood education. Carla and Kayla talk about everything from money to time to toxic positivity to the child care shortage and everything in between! Join Carla and Kayla and listen to their very open and raw conversation about Early Childhood Education.
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Mar 3, 2023
#91: Playfully Teaching the Alphabet with Breanna Churchill
Play is so incredibly powerful, so many of us already know this. We also know the importance of literacy. Many educators can agree that one can be done with the other.
Breanna Churchill, the founder of The Brown Bear Book Club and joins The Everything ECE Podcast this week to chat all about how to playfully teach the alphabet to children, no flash cards needed.
Links
_www.brownbearbookclub.com_
The Brown Bear Book Club on YouTube- _https://youtu.be/IAoe9dCgotw_
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Feb 10, 2023
#90: Running a Home Child Care with Shirley Rempel
Have you ever considered running a home child business? Or maybe you’re already running one? Today’s podcast guest has been running her home child care for 13 years and she absolutely loves it! Early Childhood Educator, Shirley Rempel joins The Everything ECE Podcast and shares all about how she got started, what she loves about running a home child care business, how she is finding work/ life balance and tips for anyone looking to start their own home child care business.
Show notes: www.elfoundations.com/90
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Feb 2, 2023
#89: Let Them Pick Their Nose with Kristen Peterson
Everybody picks their nose! Not convinced? Give today's podcast episode a listen and see if it can change your mind! It sounds like a gross and controversial topic but letting children pick their noses goes well beyond the finger up the nose. Join Carla Ward and Kristen Peterson where they deep dive (ha!) into nose picking and why educators should let it go.
Join the Camp Renegade Play Virtual Summit
https://www.kristenrbpeterson.com/a/2147502944/hhwNViYF
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Jan 27, 2023
#88: Protecting Your Time and Energy with Adva Hannan
Have you ever worked somewhere where you feel you spend more time at work than at home? Many educators are guilty of this because there is always something to do. On today’s podcast, Adva Hannan, talks about protecting your time and energy. It is important that you have a balance between work and home and not staying at work until all hours. Adva can help you protect your time and energy!
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Jan 13, 2023
#87: Social-Emotional Risky Play with Laura Hansen
So often, when people think about risky play, they think about physical risk. In this episode of The Everything ECE Podcast, Laura Hansen presents the concept of social-emotional risky play in early childhood education. Children need to be emotionally ready to take risks before they physically take that risk. In addition, educators also need to be emotionally ready to support children’s risky play. This episode is a great way to self-reflect on your own feelings about risky play and how you can support yourself and your students.
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Jan 6, 2023
#86: Observations in Early Childhood Education
There are many ways to observe a child in Early Childhood Education. In today's podcast, listeners will learn five observation methods they can use from a social science perspective. Observations help educators get to know their students, help with program planning and help document changes in behaviours.
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Dec 1, 2022
#85: An ECE Revolution with Rae Pica
Things need to change in Early Childhood Education and soon!
Are you ready to get loud(er)? Are you ready to be heard? Are you ready to start a revolution? Well, on today’s episode of The Everything ECE Podcast, the amazing Rae Pica is ready to guide you on how! Rae has launched her book, Spark an ECE Revolution and she shares some golden nuggets in the episode on why and how we need to get started.
www.raepica.com
Spark a Revolution- https://raepica.teachable.com/p/revolution
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Nov 24, 2022
#84: Marks That Matter
Mark-making is the creation of different lines, dots, patterns, textures and shapes. It is the first step in a child's development toward learning to write. In this episode of The Everything ECE Podcast, host, Carla Ward, takes you through the benefits of mark-making, why we can't skip it and go straight to writing letters and how to support mark-making in the classroom.
This episode is sponsored by Famly. Famly is an Early Childhood Platform that gives all the adults involved in a child’s early life a place to connect, learn, and handle admin together.
First built in Denmark in 2013, the platform is designed to help different grown-ups who care for young children either to collaborate or to take work out of their hands.
This means more information is shared between the families, early education providers, and all people involved in a child’s life so that everyone gets a better understanding of how to help them thrive. And on top of that, we help to save more educator time for t…
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Nov 17, 2022
#83: Beyond Documentation Apps
Veronica Green joins Carla on The Everything ECE Podcast to discuss going beyond documentation apps in child care. They discuss the intent and the intended audience behind documentation and ways to use documentation in an authentic way and not just something to check off a to-do list.
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Nov 10, 2022
#82: Building a Sense of Belonging for Your Team
Do you belong at your child care centre? Do you feel a sense of belonging in your place of work? Hopefully, you just answered yes but more often than not, that is not the case for all ECEs. This episode is about building a sense of belonging within your team and why it is so important! Adults need to feel a sense of belonging to thrive!
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Nov 3, 2022
#81: The Ah-Ha Moments: Letting Children Be Who They Are with Lynette Arthur
This episode is one with many twists and turns. Carla had the pleasure of speaking with Lynette Arthur. They discussed the many things surrounding the wonder of children and the AHA moments that so often come up while teaching and why it’s important to lean in and let them be who they’re going to be. One minute the conversation is about magic and the next, it’s about the funeral and resurrection of a class guinea pig! Most unusual but quite perfect for Halloween week.
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Oct 21, 2022
#80: Play Invitations with Julie Hansen
Inviting children to play does not mean inviting them to what you, the educator, thinks will be fun. It’s about meeting the needs of the individual child. There needs to be a purpose and intent behind everything we do in Early Childhood Education. Our why. Today’s podcast guest, Julie Hansen, owner of Inspired ECE, shares amazing strategies on how to bring inquiry-based learning and play invitations to our programs.
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Oct 13, 2022
#79: Mindfulness in the Classroom with Rachelle Gibbs
Rachelle Gibbs, an RECE, professional coach and meditation teacher, joins The Everything ECE Podcast to discuss mindfulness and why we need to embrace it not only in our daily lives but the lives of our students. She takes us through a step-by-step process on how to be present while brushing our teeth and let me tell you...it's beyond what you expect! Rachelle shares many ways to bring mindfulness to your program and how to keep it fun!
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Oct 7, 2022
#78: My Top 5 Resource Books
As educators who teach children, it is important for us to also be researchers and keep ourselves connected with learning. That means reading books and blogs and listening to podcasts; finding ways to absorb new information. In this episode, Carla shares 5 resource books that have made an impact on her teaching and will hopefully make an impact on you too!
_Links_
The Hundred Languages of Children
Teach Like a Pirate
The Art of Self-Directed Learning
The Innovators Mindset
The Third Teacher
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Sep 29, 2022
#77: Allergy Conscious Programs with Corinna Meckelborg
Does your childcare program have children with allergies attending? Are you attracting new families with children who have allergies? If not, ask yourself why? Is your centre allergy-conscious? Do families feel that you and your team are aware of and understand allergies? Today's episode with Corinna Meckelborg talks about how we can be allergy conscious and more inclusive for children with allergies.
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Sep 22, 2022
#76: Intrinsic Motivation
This episode talks about building intrinsic motivation in children in Early Childhood Education to help them become individuals with the inner drive that propels them to pursue an activity without an external reward because the action itself is enjoyable. There are so many benefits to being intrinsically motivated and if we can support children on that journey, we are giving them the gift of a lifetime.
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Sep 9, 2022
#75: Welcome Traditions
How a child feels when they enter a child care program sets the course for their sense of belonging, engagement, expression and well-being. Having a welcome tradition sends a message that today is a new day and that they are welcome. A welcome tradition is predictable so a child feels a sense of purpose upon arriving at your program and knows what the first thing is that they do. Join Carla Ward in episode 75 where she shares some welcome tradition ideas.
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Aug 26, 2022
#74 Neurodiversity with Monica Maddison
Monica Maddison joins The Everything ECE Podcast in this episode to teach us all about supporting neurodiverse children. Monica talks about pedagogical intent, pre-requisite skills needed for success and how to support children through our environments. This is a fantastic interview that really gets you self-reflecting on your practice as an Early Childhood Educator.
Books mentioned in the podcast episode: _The Whole Brain Child_
_Free to Learn_
_How to Listen with Intention_
_Brain-Body Parenting_
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Aug 23, 2022
#73: Diving into Digital Courses with Amy Porterfield
Today’s guest is the incredible Amy Porterfield; corporate girl turned entrepreneur. Amy is a digital course creator and in this episode, she will introduce you to the idea of diving into digital courses as an early childhood educator. Digital courses are a fantastic way to share your knowledge as an ECE and make money as a side hustle or even as a full-time gig. We do hope you enjoy this episode and that it gets the wheels turning on new possibilities.
Like the idea of digital course creation? Join Amy in her bootcamp where she will guide you through how to get started! You can sign up to join Amy at www.elfoundations.com/bootcamp
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Aug 18, 2022
#72: Setting Up Your Play-Based Classroom Part 2
As you continue to set up your play-based classroom, we take a look at the types of plants to bring in and their benefits. We also talk about lighting and the effects it can have on the volume of a room. Setting up a play-based classroom sends a message to children that they are competent and capable learners. Doesn't everybody deserve to feel that way?
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Aug 11, 2022
#71: Setting Up Your Play-Based Classroom
The environment is one of the most important investments you can make in your program. It takes time and effort but once it's done, you have set yourself and your students up for a wonderful year filled with a sense of wonder, belonging and play! Carla Ward takes you from start to finish on setting up your classroom to receive students and be a Third Teacher.
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Aug 4, 2022
#70: Supporting Daily Transitions
Transitions for little ones can be really challenging for a number of reasons. One thing that doesn't help, is adults barking orders and commands thinking this will make the transition happen faster. In this episode, Carla Ward talks about how to have positive and supportive transitions in early childhood education programs.
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Jul 29, 2022
#69: Learning from Children with Joshua Shanthiyapillai
Meet Joshua Shanthiyapillai! He is new to the education field and his energy for early childhood education is contagious! Join Carla in episode #69 of The Everything ECE Podcast where they talk about how much there is to learn from children.
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Jul 21, 2022
#68: Block Play
Block play is one of the most overlooked but most valuable teaching tools in a classroom. I’m talking open-ended, no restrictions block play. Blocks are open-ended and they really encourage the creativeness that children have and allows their imagination to come out in a very physical way.
Carla's Block Centre Suggestions
Large blocks.
Wicker baskets
Smaller blocks
Ramps
Sticks
Boxes.
Loose parts
Material
Toys with cars, people and animals.
Tree trunks
Non-fiction books about buildings around the world. Fiction books
Post-it Notes
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Jul 14, 2022
#67: Differentiated Teaching with Tiffini Jacobs
Do you know how to differentiate learning in your classroom? Do you know how to do it without constantly having to change the activities? Or do it without burnout? Tiffini Jacobs @thealignedteachernetwork has some awesome ideas! Check out episode #67 of The Everything ECE Podcast to feel inspired! From shelf activities to following the children's interests, there are definitely some great takeaways.
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Jul 7, 2022
#66: 5 Signs You Should Start Your Own ECE Podcast
If you're waiting for a sign for why you should start your own podcast, this is it! In fact, here are 5 signs for you, all neatly wrapped into one podcast.
If you want to make an impact, position yourself as an authority figure in your field or want to reach a bigger audience, listen to today's episode. It is exactly the sign you've been waiting for.
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Jul 1, 2022
#65: Supporting Your Child Care Team with Joanne Chesterfield
Working in Early Childhood Education is tough, but a good team can make all the difference and often, a good team, means a good, strong leader who supports their team. Joanne Chesterfield talks to us about team building and some of the amazing things she has done with her team to keep motivations high and leadership strong.
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Jun 16, 2022
#64: 6 Steps to Conflict Resolution
Join host, Carla Ward, and guest, Cathy Turalinski as she brings her decades of knowledge to The Everything ECE Podcast and walks us through the 6 Steps to Conflict Resolution. Download your 6 Steps to Conflict Resolution here.
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Jun 9, 2022
#63: The Power of Playdough
In this episode, we touch on some of the obvious skills that come from playdough. Carla provides tips on how to ensure you always have fresh playdough in your classroom and also gives you some tools to help parents understand why playdough is more important than having their child write their letters over and over again on a worksheet. She also shares her favourite playdough prop to have in the classroom! The answer may surprise you.
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Jun 2, 2022
#62: Celebrating Autistic Ability with Mishka Sibert
Miska Sibert joins Carla Ward on the podcast to talk about the importance of celebrating autistic ability. She also discusses what it's like being the sibling of an autistic person and how she needed to shift her thinking. She realized that it was about doing things with her brother, not for him and how it changed their relationship for the better!
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May 26, 2022
#61: The Magic of Loose Parts
This episode takes what we know about loose parts to the next level! Whether you're an experienced ECE or new to the field, you are guaranteed to walk away with something new in your wheelhouse! Veronica Green breaks down all things Loose Parts including:
* what are loose parts
* how to start
* your mindset
* reflection
* sensory
* how you plan for holistic learning experiences
* so much more!
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May 19, 2022
#60: Just Listen
Before we ask a child what they’re doing, what if we paused and listened. Just listened. Maybe instead of interrupting play to serve our curiosity, we listen to what a child is saying to themselves or their peers. How much deeper could that child's play be if we stayed a quiet observer? Join Carla as she discusses why we need to get out of children's way and let them play!
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May 12, 2022
#59: Getting Dirty with Jane Pilskalnietis
Jane Pilskalnietis shares so much wisdom on WHY we need to get comfortable with getting messy! Did you know dirt helps us age better, releases serotonin AND helps with gut health?! Those are just a fraction of the benefits Jane shares. She also dives deep into what we can offer in our outdoor environment to give children autonomy in their play.
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May 5, 2022
#58: Positive Teaching with Wendy Snyder
In this interview, we uncover the greatness of strong-willed children, the challenges of being their educator or parent and how we can take a positive approach in a conflict to ensure that the child feels seen and heard without getting into a power struggle.
Taking a positive teaching approach supports the fundamental principles of How Does Learning Happen: Belonging, Well-Being, Engagement and Expression.
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Apr 28, 2022
#57: Breaking the Supply Teacher Stigma- Cohosted by MeLor Staffing
There is sometimes a stigma that comes with being a supply teacher and sometimes educators are faced with not being set up for success. This episode's podcast guests are breaking the stigma of supply teaching! MeLor is an elite staffing agency in Toronto, Canada supporting child care centres and breaking through the supply teacher stigma! Find out how they set their staff up for success before they even step into a centre.
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Apr 21, 2022
#56: Transitioning from Teacher to Supervisor with Stephanie-Rachel Gomes
If you are toying with the idea of becoming a centre supervisor then this is the episode for you! Today's podcast guest is Stephanie-Rachel Gomes of Play to Grow (@playtogrow) who talks all about how she transitioned from being a classroom teacher to a supervisor during a pandemic. She shares some awesome tips that can help anyone wanting to move into the supervisor role!
Becoming a supervisor can change the path for the Early Childhood Educators in a centre, the children and the families. Your passion can make a huge impact!
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Apr 14, 2022
#55: Play in FDK with Kathleen Gomes
We want to believe that play is everywhere in every program with children but that is just not the reality! Today's podcast guest is Kathleen Gomes and she joins Carla Ward to talk about bringing play into full-day kindergarten (FDK). She has some great tips on how to start small in to make a big impact!
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Apr 7, 2022
#54: Science in Early Childhood Education
Science needs to take more of a front and centre seat in the Early Childhood Classroom. When children play, they are experimenting all the time. “What happens if we balance this block here?”, "What happens when we put the ball at the top and it rolls down?" Now it’s time for us to support our little scientists with even more hands-on experiments to explore without teacher intervention. Sometimes it’s going to be messy but it is going to be fun and full of learning. Science provides children with so many opportunities to develop and practice different skills and it is such a powerful way to build that sense of wonder!
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Mar 31, 2022
#53: Diversity in Children's Books with Dr. JaNay Brown-Wood
This episode is packed with everything you need to know to create a sense of belonging and inclusivity within your classroom. Carla interviews Dr. JaNay Brown-Wood whose education and experience have led her to be an award-winning children’s author, poet, educator, and scholar. They dive into celebrating diversity and the importance of reflection in one's program.
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Mar 24, 2022
#52: Inquiry Based Teaching With Monica Bolante
Following children's interests has a huge impact on the person a child becomes. As an ECE you have to decide what role you want to play in a child's life. Do you want to spew out facts or help foster creativity and imagination? Do you want to help them develop their voice and give them confidence? Inquiry-based teaching supports a child's development, fosters their creativty and imagination. It helps them build confidence in who they are. Listen as Monica and Carla discuss the benefits and wonder that come along with inquiry based learning, working in a Reggio Inspired environment and how it supports children's learning.
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Mar 17, 2022
#51: 3 Steps to Confidently Step into the Classroom
Being a classroom educator is hard. Being a classroom educator without support is even harder! Join Carla as she talks with Adva Hannan about 3 steps to take to confidently step into the classroom.
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Mar 10, 2022
#50: Reasons to Love Being an ECE with Jiji Talmas
Can you think of 101 reasons to love being an Early Childhood Educator? Jiji Talmas did and she wrote a book about it! Join Carla and Jiji on The Everything ECE Podcast as they talk about how awesome being an ECE is and how to keep going on those tough days!
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Mar 4, 2022
#49: Building Resilience and Trauma-Informed Practices
In this episode of The Everything ECE Podcast, Carla has Angelique Davies and Mary Rella from Mothercraft College talk about building resilience and trauma-informed practices in Early Childhood settings. As well, they talk about a new program to support Early Childhood Educators working with infants, toddlers and young children in various early learning environments to increase their confidence and ability to identify, attune to and connect with infants and children who have experienced stress as a result of trauma
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Feb 25, 2022
#48: Transitioning Toddlers with Jessica Halal
Transitioning toddlers into a child care program for the first time can be a challenge for everyone; the child, the parents/ guardians and even the educator. My guest on today's episode, Jessica Halal, walks us through some incredible steps we can take as educators, to help support children and their families in the transition to ensure a strong, positive start!
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Feb 18, 2022
#47: 5 Things to Say Instead of "You're OK"
Think about a time as an adult when you were upset and someone told you to relax or calm down. Did it help? I would bet, probably not. So why do we expect that'll it will help children. So often we will say to a child, "You're ok" when clearly they are not. I know from experience, that saying this came from a place of wanting to reassure the child that they are in a safe space but really what we are doing is confusing them about their emotions and sending a message to stop crying. It's ok to not be ok. In this episode we take a look at 5 things to say instead of "You're OK." to help validate children's feelings and help them self-regulate.
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Feb 11, 2022
#46: Married to an ECE
In this episode, Carla invites her husband onto the podcast to talk about what it's like to be married to an Early Childhood Educator. You get a little bit of insight into their marriage and Jeff's perspective on what Early Childhood Educators do.
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Feb 4, 2022
#45: Connecting Over Food
Food bonds people together! Whether it's with your students in a child care setting or enjoying a meal as a team, food is key! Eating together creates a culture of belonging, ownership and collaboration. In episode 45, Carla dives into the benefits of eating with the students in your program and why having food at a staff meeting will make your team stronger!
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Jan 27, 2022
#44: The ABCs of Behaviour
Behaviour is a form of communication but sometimes it is really hard to determine what is trying to be communicated. This is especially true in the field of Early Childhood Education when children are trying to communicate through their behaviours. Enter the ABC of behaviour chart. This chart is a wonderful tool to help you observe the ABCs (the Antecedent, Behaviour and Consequence) to look for patterns in a child's behaviour to better support them. Listen to the podcast to learn more about how to observe and track.
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Jan 21, 2022
#43: Let Them Be Bored
Boredom can be a good thing for a child's development! Hear Carla out on The Everything ECE Podcast where she makes a case for boredom and why we need to stop trying to keep children entertained and instead give them opportunities to entertain themselves.
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Jan 13, 2022
#42: Gossiping in the ECE Workplace
We've all done it. You can probably think of at least one time when you engaged in workplace gossip. Gossip can make you feel a part of the team- if you're on the "ins" with the gossiper.
Gossip makes the workplace toxic. In episode #42, Carla talks about why we partake in gossip, why it is imperative that gossip not be tolerated in the workplace and how to change the behaviour. It will reduce the toxicity and increase positivity. Who doesn't want more positivity?
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Dec 23, 2021
#41: From Manuals to Modules with Beth Cannon
In today’s episode, Beth Cannon teaches us how to take those tired and outdated training manuals and turn them into current, up to date and relevant modules. We need to boost our field into the 21st century and make learning stick for our staff. As Leaders, we need to set the standard, and if we aren’t consistent in our training then we are not setting our staff up for success!
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Dec 16, 2021
#40: Preparing for the New Year
The new year is always a great time to set new goals. And before you say there's no point because they are usually broken, hear me out. What if they're not? What if you actually achieved your goal or got damn close? How awesome would that be! What if you try a different approach to goal setting? Like trying the three strategies mentioned in this episode to help you achieve your goals!
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Dec 9, 2021
#39: Ditch Your To-Do List and Actually Get Things Done
You don’t need that To-Do List haunting you any longer. In today's episode, Carla Ward is going to switch your mindset and help you see the light through those tasks and it all starts by ditching your to-do list.
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Dec 2, 2021
#38: Documenting YOUR ECE Journey
As ECEs we are SO good at documenting the children's learning journeys but what yours? Join Carla on today's episode where she talks about why you should be documenting your journey as an Early Childhood Educator.
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Nov 25, 2021
#37: 5 Strategies Admin Need To Support Their Team
In this episode, we talk about 5 ways the administration can support their staff. Some may seem simple and straight forward, yet, they are usually the ones most likely to be forgotten.
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Nov 18, 2021
#36: Successful Behaviour Management Strategies with Ron Shuali
Join Carla and Ron Shuali as they talk about everything from children's behaviour to adult behaviour and how our reactions affect children's responses.
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Nov 11, 2021
#35: Healing Through Play with Amanda Evans
We know that children need play, but did you know that adults do too? Join Carla Ward as she interviews Amanda Evans all about her play program that involves children AND their parents. Amanda also tells us all about how healing takes place in play.
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Nov 5, 2021
#34: Identifying and Dealing with Overwhelm with Emma Tempest
Are you able to identify the difference between Overwhelming Feelings and Burnout?
In this episode, we talk with Emma Tempest about being overwhelmed. What works for you to unwind and destress may differ from someone else's. How can we identify the signs of overwhelm in ourselves to nip it in the bud before it becomes burnout?
Emma also talks about her Coaching Program that can help you through overwhelm and what works for you.
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Oct 28, 2021
#33: Using Baby Sign Language in the Classroom with Jamie Wagler
Jamie Wagler, Miss Jamie RECE talks to us about the importance of using baby sign language in all our early education programs.
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Oct 21, 2021
#32: Literacy in the Early Years with Jumpstart for Young Children
In this episode of The Everything ECE Podcast, Carla talks with CEO of JumpStart for Young Children, Naila Bolus, about the most important thing in education, literacy.
Every child has the potential to be a successful learner, and raising the quality of their environment will help boost their language skills. Creating a positive adult/child relationship will build a sense of belonging that also has a positive impact on a child's ability to learn.
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Oct 14, 2021
#31: Outdoor Play with Jane Pilskalnietis
Carla talks with Jane Pilskalnietis about the benefits of Outdoor Play. We learn why it is important to play outdoors in all types of weather, how is outdoor play different from indoor play, and how to prepare parents for outdoor play and get the buy-in.
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Oct 7, 2021
#30: Improving Staff Retention
Join Carla Ward and Jeron Bailey as they discuss one of the biggest problems in Early Childhood Education: High staff turnover. Listen as they discuss what can be done to increase staff retention, the repercussions of high staff turnover and what can be done to ensure quality staff stays.
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Sep 30, 2021
#29: Two Types of ECEs
What type of ECE are you? Join Carla as she talks about the two types of ECEs that you encounter in the classroom. Find out in this episode, the type of educators we need and why one is better than the other.
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Sep 24, 2021
#28: Rethinking Education in the Age of Technology with Dr. Shimi Kang
Sound the alarm! We need to take a step back and check-in with ourselves and our children! It's time we rethink how we use technology. Dr. Shimi Kang is here today to help us evaluate and take a look at our tech diet. Are we being healthy?
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Sep 16, 2021
#27: Stress and Your Vagus Nerve
Your vagus nerve is the main component of the parasympathetic nervous system. It is in charge of rest, digest and social engagement so in theory, we should have an awakened vagus system. But do we? Join Carla Ward as Dr. Alyssa Runyon explains to us the importance of awakening our vagus nerves as educators and for our students.
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Sep 9, 2021
#26: Increasing Parent Engagement
Parent engagement is so important to the growth of children. Ria Simon from HiMama shares with us why parent engagement is so incredibly important, how it benefits children and how to increase parent engagement.
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Sep 2, 2021
#25: Lenox Takes Flight- The Importance of children seeing themselves in books with Iolani Bullock
Iolani is a Bronx, NY native who caught the travel bug at a young age. She is a mother of two who believes in the power of normalizing difference and seeing diverse protagonists in children's literature. Iolani is the author of Lenox Takes Flight, a book created because she wanted her son to see himself represented in books.
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Aug 26, 2021
#24: "Yes, But..."
At some point in our lives, personal or professional most of us can admit that we have uttered the words, “Yes, but…” I’ve done it and I’ve certainly had it said in response to something I’ve said. Today I’m here to hopefully convince you that changing your “Yes, but” statement will take your skills as an educator and your student’s successes to the next level.
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Aug 19, 2021
Summer Series #8: Debunking Interests vs. Themes in Early Childhood Settings
Bringing all 8 episodes of the Summer Series together is knowing and understanding the difference between following children's interests and unintentionally creating a theme. Join Carla Ward and Tracy Money as they take a deeper dive into debunking interests vs. themes.
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Aug 12, 2021
Summer Series #7: Reflect and Act
This is where we look at the next steps for the children but also the next steps for the educators. What might we say and do differently next time to support the learning in the ways we had intended?
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Aug 5, 2021
Summer Series #6: Analysis and Interpretation
It's time to take all your observations and analyze the data. Join me, Carla Ward, as Tracy Money walks us through what to do with all the collected data and how to turn it into useful and authentic data that benefits the child.
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Jul 30, 2021
Summer Series #5: Pedagogical Documentation
Join Carla Ward with co-host, Tracy Money as they discuss pedagogical documentation. What it is, why is it important and how to do it effectively and efficiently. Learn how to document in a way to listen.
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Jul 22, 2021
Summer Series #4: Role of the Educator
"If we want to maximize the learning, we must be intentional in our role." - Tracy Money
The educator is a driving force in the classroom and plays a huge role in the learning that takes place in their program.
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Jul 16, 2021
Summer Series #3: Teaching and Learning Styles
It is important as educators to reflect on our own learning styles. Often a hands-on learner will provide hands-on opportunities for the students, a visual learner provides visual learning opportunities and so forth. We, as educators, need to ensure that we are providing multiple learning style options to the children in our programs.
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Jul 8, 2021
Summer Series #2: Knowing Your Learner
In this episode, Carla Ward and Tracy Money talk about the importance of knowing your learner and building meaningful relationships with them in your program.
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Jul 2, 2021
Summer Series #1: Planning for Learning
Join Carla Ward and Tracy Money on this 8 episode Summer Series as they dive deep into Planning for Learning in the childcare classroom.
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Jun 17, 2021
#23: Building Resilient Children
Being resilient means being able to withstand or recover quickly from difficult conditions. If we can teach children how to be resilient then we are setting them up for a lifetime of success.
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Jun 11, 2021
#22: Plants in the Classroom
Plants can and should play important roles in any classroom. Listen to episode 22 to find out the benefits of plants in the classroom!
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Jun 3, 2021
#21: Working with Children in Poverty
Join Katherine Morris as she shares incredible insight into working with children in poverty, the power we have as educators to support children and help them feel loved.
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May 21, 2021
#20: Greet and Goodbye
How we program is incredibly important but having a strong start and end to a day builds predictability and in turn, creates a sense of safety and belonging for children in your program.
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May 13, 2021
#19: Creating YES Spaces
Creating a space where children are able to imagine and play without limits will help them build confidence, curiosity and confidence.
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May 6, 2021
#18: Building Meaningful Adult-Child Relationships
The relationships that we as educators have with children play a huge role in their future success. We need to use different methods of communication to help children feel a sense of belonging, well-being, expression and engagement.
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Apr 29, 2021
#17: 5 Things I Wish I Knew Going into the Early Childhood Field
I have learned so much along my educational journey but there are 5 things I wish I knew sooner to really amplify my teaching game.
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Apr 22, 2021
#16: Integrating Play and the Arts Into Our Classrooms with Maya Saggar
Integrating play can happen in any program in any grade! Maya Saggar shares some amazing suggestions as to how you can promote play and the arts in your classroom.
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Apr 15, 2021
#15: A Discussion On Vision Therapy with Dr. Fabian Tai
Vision is so much more than eyesight. In this episode with Dr. Fabian Tai, we dig deep into the difference between eyesight and vision. Why healthy vision is so important and how we can help develop vision skills in early childhood programs.
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Apr 9, 2021
#14: Consistency in Chaos
In a time when our world is so unpredictable, it is important for educators to provide consistency when and where we can in our classroom environments.
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Apr 1, 2021
#13: Is There a Place For Worksheets in Early Childhood Education?
On today’s episode of the Everything ECE Podcast we look at if worksheets have a place in early childhood programs. The simple quick answer is no but nothing is ever so concrete as that. Join Carla Ward as she talks about worksheets vs. multi-sensory learning.
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Mar 26, 2021
12: The 5 W's of Loose Parts
Interested in adding loose parts to your classroom or upping your loose parts game? Give this episode a listen!
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Mar 18, 2021
#11: A Conversation with Helen Meissner
Join me and Helen Meissner as we talk everything ECE from processed art to coping during COVID.
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Mar 11, 2021
#10: ECE Entrepreneurship with Anisha Angella
On today's episode, I connect with educational consultant, Anisha Angella, also known as Your Chidcare Coach. In this episode, Anisha tells us how to know when we're ready to start our journey as an entrepreneur and the first steps to take.
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Mar 5, 2021
9: Reading Readiness
Preschoolers do not need to know how to read before they reach kindergarten and we need to stop putting that pressure on them. Today's episode talks about the reading brain and how we can prepare children to become readers while staying developmentally appropriate.
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Feb 26, 2021
8: Bringing Back Consequences and Risky Play
As educators, we need to bring back consequences and risky play to support children in becoming resilient risk assessors.
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Feb 18, 2021
#7 From Theme to Play Based
Making the transition from theme to play based teaching is no easy task but SO worth it. Listen to how I made the transition, how you can get started and why you shouldn't wait!
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Feb 11, 2021
#6: The 3 Gross Motor Skills That All Preschoolers Need with Robyn Papworth
My guest in this episode, Robyn Papworth, is a pro when it comes to gross motor skills. Robyn is the founder of Play, Move, Improve. Robyn is an exercise physiologist, developmental educator and mother of three whose mission is to help children learn through play.
She's sharing the three gross motor skills all preschoolers need, as well as some tangible action items that you can implement in your programs right away without having to purchase a thing.
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Feb 4, 2021
#5 Embracing Failure
Failure sucks! No doubt about that but embracing failure can be so wonderful in how we grow as humans. Teaching children to embrace failure will help them develop a growth mindset and become resilient. Isn't that what we want for our children?
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Jan 28, 2021
#4: 3 Steps to a Calmer Classroom
Classrooms can be busy and loud. But there are different kinds of loud in a classroom. In this episode, we talk about 3 steps any educator can take in their classroom to create a calm environment. Listen to the episode to find out how you can get a free download to calm your classroom.
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Jan 22, 2021
#3: Teaching Children to Self-Advocate
Learn simple a simple strategy to incorporate into your classroom to help children learn to self-advocate and ask for what they need. Help children become solution-focused thinkers.
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Jan 14, 2021
#2 Showing Off Your ECE Awesomeness
Many ECES continue to battle the stigma that we are glorified babysitters. In today’s episode, we are going to talk about the actions that Early Childhood Educators can take now to shed light on the professionals that they are.
We talk about why every early childhood educator should have a social media account and how to move from your inner circle outwards to show the world what Early Childhood Educators do!
To see the show notes and the links mentioned in this episode visit www.elfoundations.com/2
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Jan 7, 2021
#1: Choosing a Word to Guide You Through 2021
I'm sure most of us have made and tried to keep a new year's resolution. And I'm sure most of us have failed at keeping it! This year, instead of making a new year's resolution, try choosing a word.
In this episode, we talk about why choosing a word is better than a resolution!
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Dec 26, 2020
Pilot Episode
Welcome to The Everything ECE Podcast. Thank you so much for tuning in! I am so excited to join you on your journey as an Early Childhood Educator. What you do is so important and I want to support you so that you feel inspired both in and out of the classroom! To make sure you don't miss any future episodes, make sure to subscribe to our podcast.
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