How Does Learning Happen?

The 4 Foundations of HDLH

HDLH is organized into 4 foundations that are imperative for children to grow and flourish:

• Belonging
• Well-Being
• Engagement
• Expression

What does Pedagogy mean?

The understanding of how learning takes place the philosophy and practice that support that understanding of learning

What does Pedagogy mean?

Curriculum is the content of learning, which is shaped by views of children, the role of educators and families, and most importantly, the relationships among them.

The pedagogy supports educators focus on interrelationships when developing meaningful curriculum for children

Children

Parents

Educators

Encouraging Expression with Educators

Educators

- To ensure the strength of team work, listening and exchanging healthy communication amongst educators is essential

- Educators are extremely creative, and validating, highlighting someone's strengths and even sharing ideas in a positive way encourages self-expression from educators

-Furthermore, to ensure that educators also have an enriched and supportive environment to provide education in, space and time must be provided in order for educators to circle back to each other, to speak, and to express themselves with confidence

Encouraging Expression in Children

Children

- Children express themselves in many ways, they just need to be either heard or observed

- Giving children ample opportunity and positive encouragement to express themselves through activities like art (painting, drawing, coloring, music) can also improve their language and literacy skills

- It is important to read children stories, this supports children's ability to distinguish different emotions and be able to express themselves more efficiently as they develop their vocabulary

Encouraging Expression with Families

Family

- Encouraging expression with families may look like scheduling time to speak one on one with families

- Before one on one time with families, it is important to have proper documentation of observations, new and emerging skills and interests of their child, and accurate reports to encourage communication and expression of wants and needs

- Relationship and trust forming is essential to parental and family expression. Getting to know families as a nucleus is just the beginning of their willingness to express themselves to the educator.

- Actively listening, responding appropriately and in a timely/consistent fashion to families and their concerns/requests further supports expression

Supporting Engagement for Children

Children

- Children learn best when they are interested in the context of the curriculum. It is important that an educator know the child and their interests to encourage and support engagement from a child. This could look like age appropriate open-ended toys and play (if a boy in the class really liked trains, there could be a dramatic play centered around being a train conductor with chairs and a costume), activities that are thought and sensory provoking (sensory bins with different textures/colors), and activities that reflect their experiences/culture in a positive, inclusive way

- Furthermore, it is also imperative that a child's educator is engage in order to have engagement from a child who is learning. Rather than educators acting as keepers of knowledge they are fully engaged at the child's level, asking questions with deep curiosity to further engage children and their interests.

Encouraging Engagement with Families

Family

- On top of clear, respectful, consistent communication with parents and families; it is important to keep parents in the loop. Providing parents and caregivers with newsletters/emails of upcoming events, volunteer opportunities, and of any/all activities that the child is engaged in themselves. This way, the parent/caregiver always is aware of what is going on during the time their are in the program and has the information to ask questions or further communication

- Meeting with families and speaking with them about any progress, activities, or just simply keeping and giving their child's artwork, school work, anything that their child was doing/engaged in, I believe a parent would like to see/have.

Supporting Engagement from Educators

Educators

- It is important to nurture educators creativity and give educators ample time and space to remain engaged in planning and implementing activities and learning plans.

At a workplace, having short yet effective meetings every morning to ensure and work upon morale and team work is great to encourage engagement. Furthermore, providing a desk/designated workplace for an educator to focus and work on is also simple and effective

- Something that is not said enough but makes a world of a difference for an educator is "thank you." Having conversations of appreciate towards other educators, staff appreciation days every couple of weeks, and moments of gratitude for everyone involved is not only absolutely essential but it is not done enough

Fostering Belonging for Children

Children

- It is imperative to a child's sense of belonging that an educator be respectful of their culture and individuality. Taking action to get to know a child for who they are by cultivating one on one time and asking questions about them.

- To enrich a child's sense of belonging, developing activities, creating environments and curriculum that is reflective of the information gathered would allow for deeper connection

- Celebrating diversity and ensuring the classroom is inclusive to the needs of a child is essential

Fostering Belonging for Families

Family

- One of the most powerful ways to ensure a sense of belonging in the classroom is to connect with parents and families

- Regular, open communication that is welcomed, judgement free, and respectful

- Building relationships with families also give the opportunity to both educators and families to voice concerns, views, and changes

- When families feel heard, they are more likely to be involved within the schools programs thus allowing more input in the curriculum and overall connection between parent and educator

- Encouraging involvement of activities can also support parents in building a community, meeting more staff, other parents, and children.

Fostering Belonging for Educators

Educators

- Educators can often feel burnt out and unheard in the beautiful chaos that is ECE.

- It is important to regularly connect with fellow and new ECE staff to allow discussion and feedback. When given the opportunity an ECE can feel that their voice, input, planning, and creativity is important and appreciated.

- To support a sense of belonging, representation and education are imperative. If there is a new ECE or an ECE that is from a culture/background that you or your workplace may be unfamiliar with, it is imperative to do research and create space that is respectful and warm to ensure teamwork, belonging, and overall positive experiences.