My father was a scientist

My father was a scientist. He was a left-brain thinker. My mother is an artist, loves nature and sees the world aesthetically. The two worlds often collided but came together when as a family we were outside, hunting for rocks, on beaches, by streams and in quarries. I had wild ideas back then about being … Continue reading →

Introduction to Reggio Inspired Practice: Participant Reflections

Diane and I found the inaugural offering of this intensive summer course in July, 2013 to be joyous, transformational, magical and wondrous. See some of the participant tweets, blogs and reflections below: Last week I had the good fortune to attend what I can only describe as the most meaningful professional learning opportunity I have … Continue reading →

Reflections on the Reggio Professional Learning Collaborative Summer Intensive

Hard to believe that is has been just over a week since I returned to my little cottage in Grand Bend, Ontario, two and a half hours from my real home, in Richmond Hill, Ontario. Normally, a full week home in the city in July would not have been my preference but in that week … Continue reading →

Leaving Traces of Professional Learning through Social Media

What if early learning professionals considered social media as a form of making learning visible, for leaving traces? Heeding Malaguzzi advice that “teachers must leave behind an isolated, silent mode of working, which leaves no traces” (1998, p. 68), many have turned to social media to make learning visible through electronic documentation.  No longer isolated … Continue reading →

An Introductory Course to Reggio Inspired Practice

Please join Diane and Louise this summer for an introduction to Reggio inspired practice. Participants will have the opportunity to learn with Reggio inspired teachers from Acorn School and to experience the beauty of Richland Academy. If you are interested in attending, please fill out the registration form (click on the link below) and return … Continue reading →

The Image of the Teacher: Rich, Competent, Theory Builder

By: Diane Kashin, Ed.D, RECE. The image of the child in the Reggio Emilia approach is one of a rich, competent, capable theory builder. This construct could be the image of the teacher as well, but to accept this image we must first embrace theory in our practice. I am here to tell you that … Continue reading →

Nothing without Joy: The Joys of Intentionality and Meaning Making while Messing About

By: Diane Kashin, Ed.D, RECE. This blog is an opportunity to reflect on the meaning of what I do collaboratively in a social and transparent context. In my professional life I am a teacher educator and professional learning consultant. I am constantly dialoging about the big ideas in my practice. Ultimately I am ethically responsible … Continue reading →