Dragonfly Cove: May 2018

DRAGONFLY COVE

Welcome to our Dragonfly Cove Care Home and our Nook and a Book reading corner. This blog is a living, growing record of our kiddos during this beautiful time in our lives together. This kind of blogging is as personal and intimate as writing a journal or diary. Memories and experiences are the greatest gifts we can bestow on our children. Here we document and share the unique experiences, ideas and inspirations enriching our lives and the children in our care. You will see various pictures of our kiddos learning through play and inquiry in every day life♥

A couple of ideas and quotes related to our blog and growth...

"Life isn't about finding yourself; It's about creating yourself."
"Life isn't about waiting for the storm to pass; it's learning to dance in the rain"

My passion and love of learning stems from a belief that learning is a life-long process. We strive to be open and adaptable to the many changes and challenges of everyday life. I try to model continued learning as the children see me reading, studying and implementing new, creative adaptations and theory to our home indoor and outdoor environments and lives. By giving them these roots, my hope is they will also follow a path of inquiry and know as students of life, they will always be learning and growing♥

Here is an excerpt from "How Does Learning Happen? Ontario’s Pedagogy for the Early Years" which directly pertains to our blog here...

"a means of sharing perspectives with parents and colleagues. When families and others are invited to contribute to the documentation and share their own interpretations, it can provide even more insights that children, educators, and families can return to, reflect on, and remember in order to extend learning."

We love reading your thoughts and comments! Thanks so much for embarking on this special, memorable journey with us... lots of love♥

Tuesday, 29 May 2018

See beyond the surface

Our children look to us as the example to emulate.

I want to make sure I've shown them something good to follow.

I vow to stop measuring my worth

By my appearance...

By the cleanliness of my home...

By my children’s attire in public...

I don’t want them to measure their worth that way.

I vow to stop measuring my significance

By how much I accomplish...

By the sum of my bank accounts...

By the amount of likes on my posts...

I don’t want them to measure their significance that way.

I vow to stop measuring my value

By bulges, wrinkles, imperfections, and scars...

By how much I can accomplish in a day...

By the opinions of others...

I don’t want them to measure their value that way.

Today I choose to stop looking at the things I am not.

I will start looking at all the things I am.

I want them to see beyond the surface of themselves,

To see all that they are too.

Poem by Sherry Johnson

Adapted from the poetry writings and style of Rachel Stafford.

She wrote the first version of this poetry with so many people now making versions of their own. I encourage you to make your own based on your life and what you'd want for your children.

It's very therapeutic and helps guide your own thoughts and actions to set the best example you can for your children♥

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Thursday, 24 May 2018

"Life isn't about finding yourself; It's about creating yourself."

"Life isn't about finding yourself;

It's about creating yourself."

My passion and love of learning stems from a belief that learning is a life-long process. We strive to be open and adaptable to the many changes and challenges of everyday life. I try to model continued learning as the children see me reading, studying and implementing new, creative adaptations and theory to our home environment and lives. By giving them these roots, my hope is they will also follow a path of inquiry and know as students of life, they will always be learning and growing♥

Sherry Giasson-Johnson, 2018

Here are some web based learning opportunities on engaging children in the outdoor environment on You tube. I will add more as they become available:)

Engaging Young Children in the Outdoor Environment (Video #166)

Outdoor environments are more than swing sets and slides! This Apples Video Magazine will address the Illinois Early Learning Standards in revealing the mysterious process of creating an outdoor classroom. Young children can be equally engaged in learning through play outdoors as they are indoors. Viewers will understand the value of play in outdoor settings that promote social interactions, independence, creativity, and most importantly, friendships. Join the fun as we view outdoor play. Recorded: September 2009

Outdoor Environments for Learning in Early Years - Part 1

An online workshop to explore and learn how to use the outdoor environment to facilitate and enable learning in early years. This workshop is hosted by Collaboroo, an online community for primary teachers and early years teachers and delivered by Laura England, Early years teacher and blogger at Little Miss Early Years. Part 1 – The benefits of outdoor play Creating outdoor play spaces Making the most of the seasons

Outdoor Environments for Learning in Early Years Part 2

An online workshop to explore and learn how to use the outdoor environment to facilitate and enable learning in early years. This workshop is hosted by Collaboroo, an online community for primary teachers and early years teachers and delivered by Laura England, Early years teacher and blogger at Little Miss Early Years. Part 2 – Outdoor maths Loose parts play with nature Outdoor art