#65 Shine as an Educator – A programming mission…

Shine As An Educator

So last week I challenged you to look on your programming with fresh eyes.

To look at your programming as a valuable asset in your care setting. And three key

points to focus and reflect on over the week.

We also visited the mindset over our programming, I strongly encouraged you to explore

and recognise your mindset with your programming. If you are struggling, just can’t

make it work or seriously hate it then something needs to change.

And the sooner you take Action to change it, the better you will be.

Now let’s keep going with our programming.

We are on a mission… a programming mission!!

Often when I speak to educators who are struggling with their programming, they are

struggling in one of three areas

wether struggling in one area or all three areas – struggling is struggling

It’s time to move past the struggle, educators need

– a clear understanding,

– a new level of confidence

– and certainty, definitely certainty

But first the three struggles, do any of these ring true with your programming?

1. The struggles of actually knowing where to start, not sure how much, when or how?

2. The questioning of what to write, what outcomes, principles, practices or theorists to

use, what to include – the questioning and second guessing over the use of correct

language and getting it right?

3. The challenge of choosing meaningful, valuable follow ups, what next questions or

extensions? When to use them, why to use them, some educators add them every time

because they can’t decide?

Three real struggles for early childhood educators

Three real struggles that need to be individually tackled

Three real struggles that once you master you will feel amazing – as an early childhood

educator – you will have understanding, confidence and certainty.

Now to over come struggles, we need to tackle them and let’s go into some ways to

tackle these struggles but first…

Critical Reflection Question

How are you struggling with your programming?

The first step to making improvements is getting real!!

If you are super real with asking yourself this question – What does it bring up for you??

What does your inner voice say??

Are you actually struggling with your programming?

There is no point continuing to struggle. Struggle becomes hate and that is the last thing

we want to do with our programming. Remembering that last week we agreed

programming is a valuable, needed, important part to both us as educators and the

precious children that we care for.

Now let’s tackle this head on – choose the way you are struggling. The most true to you

– every one will be different, you may not be even struggling you may have worked your

way through to feeling confident.

But let’s look at the area you are the weakest in, let’s choose a place to start…

Our three points again

1. Actually knowing where to start

2. The questioning of what to write

3. Choosing meaningful valuable follow ups.

Now you have chosen ONE to focus on here is our

Challenge

Take Action to over come the struggle that spoke to you.

There are easy steps to each one. You will not magically know the answers without

recognising that Action steps are needed.

1. Actually knowing where to start… The easiest way to start is by recognising how you

like to document – if I ask you to write a letter would it be via pen and paper or email.

Three very clear questions to help you to move forward with where to start.

You also need to ask your service

– Have they got a way they prefer?

– Have they got a way they will help you with more easily?

– Have they got a way they prefer to train you?

Three very clear questions to help you to move forward with where to start.

Check out Simple Reflect – The latest documenting tool for Educators

2. The question of what to write? So this one I love to share with educators because once

you have this – you have it!!

As early childhood educators we need to recognise that the language of the EYLF

needsto be our guide, and like it or not it needs to be learnt and used.

How do we bring the Eylf into our normal every day language? The exact same way we

would bring any new language to become comfortable and second nature…

We use it as best we can – We read it, learn it, practice it –

How many times have you read the

Belonging, Being and Becoming: Early Years Learning Framework

Read it again, take notes that will help you.

BUT HERE IS A WORD OF WARNING – do this in bite size pieces – don’t overwhelm

yourself so you give up.

Keep going, Keep going, Keep going, you will be gathering vital skills and a new

understanding of the EYLF, you will use them every day!

3. Choosing meaningful valuable follow ups. This one can be a little harder, this one

takes an understanding of child development, a love for creativity and a knowledge of

the child you are programming for.

This one can take time to do well.

So don’t be hard on yourself and expect to get it right, right from the start.

If a child is new – it’s ok to say I don’t know this child well enough yet to know what to

follow up with or extend their experience by.

If a child is exploring something you believe is a one off and you want to document it

but no follow up or extension is needed then that is ok.

If a child is interested, engaged and getting value from an experience it is ok to say our

follow up or extension will be to offer this experience again.

If YOU think a child will grow and learn from a follow up of extension idea – then write it

down, work out a time frame and implement.

Sometimes follow ups, what next questions or extensions – how ever you want to frame

them – are not obvious and they need a little thought or brain storming with others.

This is the fun part don’t dismiss it, know that you are offering your children the best,

valuable learning experiences you can AND that includes follow ups ect. when they are

actually needed.

Be brave and make the judgment call.

Top Tip Time

All three of my points involve finding support and brain storming with other educators.

All educators need to keep growing, our knowledge, our confidence and understanding

of the children we care for.

Recognise where you are on your journey as an early childhood educator.

And keep challenging yourself to continue to learn.

Now I need to share with you what I have coming up.

On Wednesday I will be giving a FREE webinar programming with Simple Reflect.

The link will be on the Simple Reflect page and I will set up a link HERE for the replay.

And the other thing is starting next Monday we will be sharing a 4 day programming

bootcamp.

If you do NOT have YOUR programming and documenting set up in a way that

– is super easy,

– is able to be done in a way that doesn’t take you forever

– is a meaningful and valuable part of your FDC

Then this is for YOU!!

Mind mapping, using the language of the EYLF and looking how to keep your

programming cycle a true cycle.

It will be running in the EYPMastermind and I will leave the link HERE

Have a beautiful week

AND

remember to shine as an Educator…

I would love to hear from you

Links for this Podcast:

simpereflect.com.au
shineasaneducator.com

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