Blooming Curious

In this episode, Edwina explores the importance of harnessing children's natural curiosity through everyday moments. She offers practical advice for homeschooling parents and anyone wanting to create a curiosity-rich learning environment at home. Key strategies include becoming a professional question-asker, modelling curiosity by wondering out loud, and following children's natural fascinations instead of a rigid agenda.

🔗 Links mentioned:

🆓 Download the FREE e-guide How to Nurture Natural Curiosity HERE

✍️ To sign up to Get Curious, the newsletter that gives you a dose of weekly inspiration, and the strategies and resources to help you, help children to thrive in their learning, go HERE

💌 Connect with Edwina:

Email: [email protected]

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/blooming_curious/

Website: https://www.bloomingcurious.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bloomingcurious

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@edsbloomingcurious

☕️ If you appreciate my work and want to encourage me to keep going, you can do so by buying me a coffee! Any contribution will be gratefully received and will certainly give me the support I need to keep going.☕️

00:00 Introduction: The Endless 'Why' Questions

00:18 The Importance of Curiosity in Learning

00:26 Welcome and Episode Overview

00:36 Curiosity in Everyday Moments

01:11 Three Practical Ways to Foster Curiosity

02:43 Addressing Common Concerns

02:57 Introducing the Curiosity Bundle

03:06 How the Curiosity Bundle Works

04:58 Conclusion: Embrace Curiosity

05:30 Final Thoughts and Farewell

In this episode of Blooming Curious, Edwina discusses how adults can model curiosity to help children become curious learners. She highlights that children's curiosity mirrors that of the adults around them and provides five practical strategies to foster a curious mindset.

🔗 For links mentioned:

Get the Curiosity Toolkit

🆓 Download the FREE e-guide How to Nurture Natural Curiosity HERE

✍️ To sign up to Get Curious, the newsletter that gives you a dose of weekly inspiration, and the strategies and resources to help you, help children to thrive in their learning, go HERE.

💌 Connect with Edwina:

Email: [email protected]

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/blooming_curious/

Website: https://www.bloomingcurious.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bloomingcurious

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@edsbloomingcurious

☕️ If you appreciate my work and want to encourage me to keep going, you can do so by buying me a coffee! Any contribution will be gratefully received and will certainly give me the support I need to keep going.☕️

00:00 Introduction: The Importance of Modelling Curiosity

00:07 The Problem with Adult Curiosity

01:01 Five Practical Ways to Model Curiosity

02:13 Curiosity in Action: Real-Life Examples

03:35 The Role of Educators in Fostering Curiosity

04:11 Conclusion and Resources

Discover the missing ingredient in early learning environments that can transform how children learn. Edwina reveals a teaching experience that changed everything, and how this experience ignited a passion for learning in her students. Learn how to integrate curiosity into teaching with a downloadable toolkit designed to shift from compliance-based teaching to connection-based learning. Tune in to explore how to spark lifelong curiosity in early learners - the secret to raising inquisitive, joyful kids.

🔗 Links:

The Curiosity Toolkit

🆓 Download the FREE e-guide How to Nurture Natural Curiosity HERE

✍️ To sign up to Get Curious, the newsletter that gives you a dose of weekly inspiration, and the strategies and resources to help you, help children to thrive in their learning, go HERE

💌 Connect with Edwina:Email: [email protected]

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/blooming_curious/

Website: https://www.bloomingcurious.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bloomingcurious

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@edsbloomingcurious

☕️ If you appreciate my work and want to encourage me to keep going, you can do so by buying me a coffee! Any contribution will be gratefully received and will certainly give me the support I need to keep going.☕️

00:00 Introduction: The Secret to Lifelong Learning

00:51 A Transformative Teaching Moment

02:28 The Power of Curiosity in Learning

03:15 Curiosity Toolkit for Educators

04:02 Conclusion and Next Steps

Summer break, is not just as a time for recovery, but also an opportunity for a mindset reset towards intentional growth. The episode offers practical tips for true rest, reflective journaling prompts, and book recommendations to reignite and recharge for a human-centred return to teaching. Tune in to learn how to embrace rest, reflection, and inspiration this summer.

🔗 Links mentioned:

Get the Curiosity Toolkit

Read: How to stay curious as an educator

Top Inspirational Resources for Early Childhood Educators

🆓 Download the FREE e-guide How to Nurture Natural Curiosity HERE

.✍️ To sign up to Get Curious, the newsletter that gives you a dose of weekly inspiration, and the strategies and resources to help you, help children to thrive in their learning, go HERE

💌 Connect with Edwina:

Email: [email protected]

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/blooming_curious/

Website: https://www.bloomingcurious.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bloomingcurious

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@edsbloomingcurious

☕️ If you appreciate my work and want to encourage me to keep going, you can do so by buying me a coffee! Any contribution will be gratefully received and will certainly give me the support I need to keep going.☕️

00:00 Welcome to Blooming Curious

00:47 The Importance of Summer Break

01:32 Ways to Recharge and Reflect

03:35 Book Recommendations for Educators

05:08 Preparing for a Human-Centered Future

06:53 Curiosity Toolkit and Community

07:46 Final Thoughts and Encouragement

Introducing the ultimate engagement strategy... The Curiosity Toolkit: A simple way to engage children and foster curiosity. In this episode, Edwina shares the experience that changed everything for her. She introduces the Curiosity Toolkit, a resource designed for home and classroom educators to easily incorporate curiosity into their teaching practice. This toolkit doesn't require a complete overhaul of current strategies but offers a mindset shift with practical tweaks. It includes clear strategies, guiding questions, curiosity prompts, and ready-to-use examples that can be applied in any learning environment.

🔗 For links mentioned:

Get the Curiosity Toolkit

Read: Preparing Children for Future Ready Learning with the Curiosity Toolkit

🆓 Download the FREE e-guide How to Nurture Natural Curiosity HERE

✍️ To sign up to Get Curious, the newsletter that gives you a dose of weekly inspiration, and the strategies and resources to help you, help children to thrive in their learning, go HERE

💌 Connect with Edwina:Email: [email protected]

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/blooming_curious/

Website: https://www.bloomingcurious.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bloomingcurious

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@edsbloomingcurious

☕️ If you appreciate my work and want to encourage me to keep going, you can do so by buying me a coffee! Any contribution will be gratefully received and will certainly give me the support I need to keep going.☕️

00:00 Introduction to the Curiosity Toolkit

05:23 What is the Curiosity Toolkit?

05:46 How the Curiosity Toolkit Works

In this episode, we look at the challenges faced by educators today, from disengaged students to a stifling curriculum. We discuss the results of a recent survey highlighting these issues and propose a pivotal change: focusing on curiosity, creativity, and adaptability to prepare students for a future integrated with AI.

If we are to prepare students for a unknown future, then we must face the reality that rote learning and the curriculum are really not that important in the overall scheme of things. Is curiosity the differentiator between success and failure in the future?

🔗 Links mentioned:

🆓 Download the FREE e-guide How to Nurture Natural Curiosity HERE

🆓 Download the Free Lesson plan HERE

✍️ To sign up to Get Curious, the newsletter that gives you a dose of weekly inspiration, and the strategies and resources to help you, help children to thrive in their learning, go HERE

💌 Connect with Edwina:

Email: [email protected]

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/blooming_curious/

Website: https://www.bloomingcurious.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bloomingcurious

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@edsbloomingcurious

☕️ If you appreciate my work and want to encourage me to keep going, you can do so by buying me a coffee! Any contribution will be gratefully received and will certainly give me the support I need to keep going.☕️

00:00 The Struggles of Modern Teaching

00:19 Survey Results: Teachers' Frustrations

01:23 The Turning Point in Education

02:00 The Importance of Curiosity in the Age of AI

03:35 Introducing the Curiosity Bundle

04:23 Final Thoughts and Call to Action

In this episode, Edwina looks at how to turn a 'Wonder Wall' from a static classroom decoration into a dynamic part of the learning process. By using students' questions for guided inquiry, educators can make Wonder Walls meaningful and interactive. This episode provides practical steps for incorporating inquiry-based learning into the curriculum through Wonder Walls.

🔗 Links: Listen to this interview with the Queen of Learning walls, Jessica Vance

🆓 Download the FREE e-guide How to Nurture Natural Curiosity HERE

✍️ To sign up to Get Curious, the newsletter that gives you a dose of weekly inspiration, and the strategies and resources to help you, help children to thrive in their learning, go HERE

💌 Connect with Edwina:Email: [email protected]

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/blooming_curious/

Website: https://www.bloomingcurious.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bloomingcurious

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@edsbloomingcurious

☕️ If you appreciate my work and want to encourage me to keep going, you can do so by buying me a coffee! Any contribution will be gratefully received and will certainly give me the support I need to keep going.☕️

00:00 Introduction: The Missed Opportunity of Wonder Walls

01:45 Understanding Wonder Walls and Learning Walls

02:24 Activating the Wonder Wall for Inquiry-Based Learning

03:52 Practical Tips for Dynamic Wonder Walls

04:53 Incorporating Wonder Walls into Your Teaching Routine

05:26 Conclusion and Weekly Inspiration

Transform Your Teaching: Integrated Learning with The Tiger Who Came to Tea. This episode addresses the common frustrations that educators face with lesson planning, and offers a solution through integrated learning using picture books. I share my personal experiences and insights from my teaching career, highlighting the effectiveness of using picture books to create comprehensive, hands-on lesson plans that cover multiple curriculum areas. In this episode I introduce you to a ready-made lesson plan designed to save you time and engage students with creative and interactive learning experiences.

🔗 Links:

Teaching K-2 with Picture Books

Picture book lesson plans

🆓 Download the FREE e-guide How to Nurture Natural Curiosity HERE

✍️ To sign up to Get Curious, the newsletter that gives you a dose of weekly inspiration, and the strategies and resources to help you, help children to thrive in their learning, go HERE

💌 Connect with Edwina:

Email: [email protected]

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/blooming_curious/

Website: https://www.bloomingcurious.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bloomingcurious

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@edsbloomingcurious

☕️ If you appreciate my work and want to encourage me to keep going, you can do so by buying me a coffee! Any contribution will be gratefully received and will certainly give me the support I need to keep going.☕️

00:00 The Struggles of Lesson Planning

01:56 Integrating Play into Learning

02:57 Using Picture Books as Learning Catalysts

04:16 A Real-Life Example: Learning About Movement

07:16 Comprehensive Lesson Plan: The Tiger Who Came to Tea

09:57 Join the Blooming Community

10:35 Final Thoughts and Encouragement

Curiosity as the foundation of learning. Edwina reflects on the insights shared by various experienced educators like Sally Haughey, Claire Warden, Jessica Vance, Tonya Gilchrist, and April Zajko, about the decline of curiosity in children. Edwina critiques the prevalent easy-route teaching methods such as scripted lessons and reliance on worksheets and urge educators to deeply reflect on their teaching practices, stand up for their belief in nurturing curiosity, and embrace inquiry-based learning to truly enrich children’s learning experiences.

🔗 Links mentioned:

Interview with April Zajko

Interview with Claire Warden

Interview with Jessica Vance

Interview with Tonya Gilchrist

Interview with Sally Haughey

Read: The Most Effective Teaching Strategies for Student Learning

🆓 Download the FREE e-guide How to Nurture Natural Curiosity HERE

✍️ To sign up to Get Curious, the newsletter that gives you a dose of weekly inspiration, and the strategies and resources to help you, help children to thrive in their learning, go HERE

💌 Connect with Edwina:

Email: [email protected]

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/blooming_curious/

Website: https://www.bloomingcurious.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bloomingcurious

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@edsbloomingcurious

☕️ If you appreciate my work and want to encourage me to keep going, you can do so by buying me a coffee! Any contribution will be gratefully received and will certainly give me the support I need to keep going.☕️

00:00 Welcome to Blooming Curious

00:01 Highlighting Esteemed Educators

00:26 The Decline of Curiosity in Children

01:11 Challenges of Inquiry-Based Learning

02:04 Reflecting on Educational Values

02:54 Call to Action for Educators

03:36 Closing Thoughts and Gratitude

In this episode of Blooming Curious, I welcome Sally Haughey, (pronounced Hoy) the founder and CEO of Wunderled, formerly known as Fairy Dust Teaching. Sally shares her journey from beginning her teaching career in 1996 to building a global community of over 240,000 educators across 120 countries. Sally Emphasises a play-based philosophy inspired by Waldorf and Reggio Emilia approaches, she discusses the profound impact of play on children's development and imagination. She reveals the inspiration behind the creation and evolution of Wunderled and highlights the core philosophy that champions curiosity-driven and wonder-based teaching.

Sally also addresses the current challenges educators face, such as classroom management and emotional wellbeing, and provides strategies for incorporating play and building relationships with students. Tune in to learn more about Sally's upcoming projects, her vision for the future of education, and practical ways for educators to foster an engaging, play-centered learning environment.

🔗 Links mentioned: Sally's website; Wunderled

🆓 Download the FREE e-guide How to Nurture Natural Curiosity HERE

✍️ To sign up to Get Curious, the newsletter that gives you a dose of weekly inspiration, and the strategies and resources to help you, help children to thrive in their learning, go HERE

💌 Connect with Edwina:

Email: [email protected]

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/blooming_curious/

Website: https://www.bloomingcurious.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bloomingcurious

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@edsbloomingcurious

☕️ If you appreciate my work and want to encourage me to keep going, you can do so by buying me a coffee! Any contribution will be gratefully received and will certainly give me the support I need to keep going.☕️

00:00 Introduction to Sally Haughey and Wunderled

01:23 The Birth of Fairy Dust Teaching

03:23 The Evolution to Wunderled

05:38 Core Philosophy of Wunderled

07:06 Challenges in Traditional Education

09:14 Play-Based Learning in Practice

13:46 Balancing Curriculum and Play

14:30 The Importance of Relationships in Education

17:30 Empowering Educators and Students

30:14 The Future of Education

31:43 Introduction to Hummingbird Cottage

32:59 The Importance of Meeting Children's Needs

35:29 The Role of Play in Child Development

38:00 Delaying Formal Education

41:18 Parental Pressure and Educational Milestones

44:32 The Movement Towards Homeschooling

47:08 Challenges in Modern Education

51:42 Empowering Educators with Play-Based Learning

55:56 Conclusion and Final Thoughts