From Roots to Blossoms: Growing Learning Through Nature and Play
Early Learning Framework: From Roots to Blossoms: Growing Learning Through Nature and Play
Why Create a Framework
A framework can be used as a guide to help support the development of strategies, ideas and values of an educator, organization or community. It is an opportunity to recognize individual uniqueness of children, social and cultural identities within communities and to provide tools that support all children and families.
A framework is an opportunity to create a document to help inspire and educate professionals, educators and families of an approach to early learning that directly speaks to a pedagogical approach for both outdoor and indoor learning.
A framework helps provide a language and understanding of the important components of how early learning unfolds and to support educators in adopting new ways to implement play based learning.
A framework can create space for reflection to help one identify strengths, provide awareness to one's own beliefs, give opportunity to integrate learnings and honor one's profession.
A framework can help maintain transparency and accountability to the early childhood profession.
Using This Framework
The document is flexible and can change over time. It is believed all educators, families and professionals have their own beliefs, values, and there are multiple ways of knowing, being, doing and understanding child development and how children learn. The goal of the framework is to stay open to new ideas and explore ways that are respectful and relevant to one's own pedagogical style or parenting beliefs.
This framework does not define early learning as academia but as holistic learning that supports early childhood development in all domains
The framework is designed to help give space for reflection in regards to how an educator, caregiver or parent may support views and beliefs in which they feel a connection too. When an educator, caregiver or parent reflects, they are able to contemplate if they are taking action towards their beliefs and views. They are asking themselves if they are able to support and carry out their views and beliefs. If the answer is no, educators, caregivers and parents can use reflection and move towards what changes need to be made. Sometimes in a program it may seem impossible due to factors that are not in one's control. However sometimes even one small change whether it is collaborating with other educators, having empathy for a family that you can not help, becoming an advocate for your beliefs and values, changing your approach on an aspect throughout your day can be the first stepping stone in making change.
This framework is to be shared and to bring a sense of togetherness for educators, professionals and families. Working toward the common goal of the best interest of the child and family, yet giving the educator, caregiver and family a sense of value and support. It is a community effort to care and educate young children.
Co-learning and interweaving culture and community is important in both outdoor and indoor learning. Using outdoor space is an opportunity to honor the land in which you use as your learning space and to remember the roots of the land which has a shared history with those before us.
Cultivating a connection to the environment is important. Having your learning environment outdoors and on the land should promote gratitude and appreciation for the land in which you work and play. Learning from Indigenous perspectives there is a responsibility that comes with land and place. Before one can teach on the land one first needs to bring a deep understanding of where your space currently is, who was there before you and where you came from. Deep in the soil, in the roots of the trees, in the seeds of the flowers there is history, stories and connection of Indigenous cultures of whose lands these once were and in spirit they continue to be. From a western worldview we see these lands as property of ownership but learning that lands are sacred and to be respected and honored is important. It is important to connect with and use the guidance of an Elder or Knowledge Keeper to understand ideas one may bring to their environment. Before we can develop belonging, connection and autonomy we first need to understand it ourselves.
Framework Content:
1. The View and Rights of the Child
4. How Connection, Belonging and Autonomy Support Learning
5. The Environment in Which We Learn
6. Inclusiveness, Diversity, Identity
7. Moving Away from Curriculum and Towards Your Approach
8. Into the Garden, Out in the Woods, Through the Forest