This. It is an area I have grown in. Prior to being at BJS if a child in my care showed an interests in anything . like dinosaurs I would make sure everything had to do with dinos. But, when looking deeper at play it is so much more.

This sounds beautiful but I wonder how to fit this amount time in a public school setting.

I love the idea of this.

This has been one of the things I struggle with. I have a super strong personality and really can't find the balance between being completely removed and an active participant that doesn't dominate.

This reminds me of common core and the focus on the basics. I feel like there is a shift back to the education of the whole child and art and beauty are front and center.

love this quote.

I think this is so important. Having two sets of eyes and different adult interpretations

This captures the expression on so many of the faces in my documentation.

This reminds me of Vgotsky's Zone of Proximal Development

I think of all the wasted space in the hallways at my old school. teachers decorate bulletin boards but it never comes off the wall or is accesible to the children. Those bulletin board borders can run $7 a pop so teachers don't want students breaking them.

One of the things taht first struck me about teh classrooms here was how carefully materials were set out. It creates a feeling of wonder and does inspire connection and communication.

This is soooo hard for me. I want to go all the time . It is something I am working on. iw as once behind a mom and her toddler and the mom kept tugging on the child's arm. She was rushing so much she completely missed this little dandelion growing out of a crack in the sidewalk. It was the only plant around and not in a place it should be so it caught the child's attention. So often I am the mom/teacher with the never-ending to-do list. I am learning to go slower.

This made me cry. This was written before our current crisis with the Dentention Centers. It does make you wonder what inspired this statement. Do they know someone in jail or where they in public and someone got arrested.

This. I think this is what drew me to teaching. If I go too long without being around children I start to feel a little down. As an adult I often get too caught up in the to-do lists. Children often draw my attention to the beauty in the world and inspire wonder in me over the smallest things.

This stood out to me. I immediately thought of recess and outside time. There is no one that would argue that children shouldn't run and play. Yet, I was surprised at how little time outside time my children had when they started elementary school. I think that recently there is a pushback against the idea of the student needing to sit quietly indoors for long periods of time. Reggio's focus on documentation helps provide data to back up many of the philosophies and practices that are developmentally appropriate for kids. Hopefully that will help bring change.

cell phones. When watching a child vie for their parents attention when they are on the phone there is a point where they just give up and walkaway or ask for their own electronic. We adults are guilty of it with each other too. I went to lunch with a friend and they turned their phone off before we sat down. It made the lunch much more meaningful and I felt really listened to.

While I agree with that children use their sense to explore the world and build relationships. I would add that consent is super important here. The child that wants to touch must ask permission first. The child to be touched has a right to say no. This interaction helps build relationships and empathy.

This. The moment that has impressed is how well the four-year-olds in my class advocate for themselves. They are very self aware and able to articulate what they need. It is obvious that the teachers have really worked with them. Children who have been given the right emotional tools grow into adults taht treat others with respect. Too often we tell kids to "be nice" or"use your words" without explaining or teaching what that looks liek