“Education is not preparation for life; education is life itself.” – John Dewey

One of the greatest gifts teachers can give to their students is a life-long love of learning. Because children’s interests differ widely depending on their own experiences, meeting their learning needs demands the full and creative attention of a teacher’s mind and heart.

The Project Approach offers teachers a way to build their curriculum on the natural curiosity of children. When immersed in a topic that is local and relevant, students actively participate in the educational experience. This kind of authentic learning energises the child as they “become part of a community of investigators” instead of a passive recipient of information. Read more.

Young children have an innate attraction to nature; they thrive on stomping in puddles after a rain, collecting acorns, and stroking a baby animal’s soft fur. This love for the natural world, if nurtured in the right way, can support positive environmental behaviours and social action as children grow up. Read this interesting article.

“A treasure basket is an example of a sensory-rich and highly portable resource, making it a perfect ‘sensory snack’,” writes Sue Gascoyne. “ The sensory stimulation and hands-on approach is great for brain and memory development, gross and fine motor skills and strength.” Because there are no right or wrong ways of playing, sensory play of this sort can appeal to children with varying learning styles and abilities. Read on.

The bowerbird, a native of Australia and New Zealand, is a curator of its nest. What can we learn from the bowerbird about being a curator of children's creative work and building inspiring learning spaces that tell them: "You are important"? Read this from Dr Sandra Duncan.