Dr. Sharon R. Jackson is a life-long early childhood advocate and a seasoned professional with experience in local, state, and national presentations throughout her career. She is an encourager by nature…From a background that includes public schools, military childcare centers, faith-based organizations, and for-profit settings, her experience is not only wide-ranging but also deeply grounded in appropriate practice and respect for young children. Dr. Jackson has held positions of leadership in her community and in the organizations in which she has been employed. She earned her PhD from Texas A&M University and is currently a professor of early childhood education at Blinn College in College Station.

Today, we're talking about the importance of the environment as the third teacher – the philosophy that spaces can significantly influence development and learning. Sharon will emphasize just how important the environment is–It's not just physical objects like books and toys; it also includes the emotional well-being of the children. While we discuss the third teacher that originated from the Reggio philosophy, we will also talk about the role of parents as the child's first teacher. We're also going to chat about the adult in the classroom as the second teacher. Second teachers have the important job of giving comfort, consistency, and connection in creating a supportive social-emotional environment for young children. Together, we'll discuss the benefits of a well-laid-out environment, such as promoting learning, language development, and creativity, as well as building children's confidence! We will address the challenges of creating an appropriate environment, including the pressure to focus on academics and parental expectations.

Recognizing the needed respect for children in the stage that they are in, being who they are, rather than pushing and rushing them toward some other agenda is so valuable. What a difference that mindset shift could make in creating environments for the children in our care. I hope this episode makes you pause for a moment and think about your classroom environment a little differently. And I hope you'll "get on your knees at the door" and consider the children's perspective and also…God's perspective on this adventure in early childhood.

Dr. Jackson's article on Environments

Curating Play - https://curatingplay.com/

Early Essentials - https://earlyessentials.org/

As always, we would love to connect with you on Instagram and on Facebook