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!

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.

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.

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!

Show Notes: elfoundations.com/79

How to Work with Carla

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!

Show Notes: elfoundations.com/78

How to Work with Carla

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.

Show Notes: elfoundations.com/77

How to Work with Carla

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.

Show Notes: elfoundations.com/76

How to Work with Carla

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. 

Show Notes: elfoundations.com/75

How to Work with Carla

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.

Show Notes: elfoundations.com/74

How to Work with Carla

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!

Show Notes: elfoundations.com/73

How to Work with Carla