Michigan Preschool Economics: How Investing In Early Childhood Education Pays Off
This correlation between early education and "successful life circumstance" has been known for quite a while but governments have chosen not to act. How ironic that now when their justice, prison and social services are stretched to the max. the concept is re-examined. To little to late.
Full article can be read from the link above.
"From an adult perspective, it doesn’t look like much “real” learning is happening in a preschool classroom. Singing, coloring, and cutting with scissors are part of the mix, and maybe a dress-up corner, but it’s not what we think of as “school” when we’re older.
But that’s a mistaken idea, say early childhood experts, and a dangerous one when it’s used to justify underfunding preschool programs. In fact, several studies have shown preschool is associated with higher earnings, employability, and less crime compared to kids who did not go to preschool.
And when more people are contributing to the tax base and not consuming resources through the criminal justice or welfare systems, more tax revenue is available for other public needs."
Thursday, 13 June 2013
Risk and life
A very thoughtful advertisement about risk and life spotted by Lenore over at Free Range Kids - visit them if you have a chance.
Sunday, 26 May 2013
Betty Spears Childcare Centre, Tempe, Sydney, New South Wales
I could write a screed about the the design, the consultation process and the developmental intent and appropriateness of the elements however the centre, staff, parents and most importantly, children are happy and I think the before/after shots speak for themselves.
Main Playspace, After, 2013
Main Playspace, Before, 2012
Main Playspace, After, 2013
Main Playspace, After, 2013
Main Playspace, After, 2013
Main Playspace, Before, 2012
Main Playspace, After, 2013
Main Playspace, After, 2013
Main Playspace, Before, 2012
Main Playspace, After, 2013
Main Playspace, After, 2013
Main Playspace, Before, 2012
Main Playspace, After, 2013
Main Playspace, After, 2013
Main Playspace, Before, 2012
Main Playspace, After, 2013
Main Playspace, Before, 2012
Main Playspace, After, 2013
Main Playspace, After, 2013
Main Playspace, After, 2013
Main Playspace, Before, 2012
Main Playspace, Before, 2012
Main Playspace, After, 2013
Main Playspace, After, 2013
Main Playspace, After, 2013
Saturday, 25 May 2013
Knowles Science Teaching Foundation: Food for Thought: Student Perspectives on School Gardens
Knowles Science Teaching Foundation: Food for Thought: Student Perspectives on School Gardens: "Has having a school garden helped change your thinking about food and nutrition?"
A great article addressing the myriad benefits of involving children of all ages in centre/school gardening projects and how they dovetail with and in some areas surpass "real" school subjects.
A great article addressing the myriad benefits of involving children of all ages in centre/school gardening projects and how they dovetail with and in some areas surpass "real" school subjects.
"I had wanted to start a school garden ever since I started teaching at YES Prep North Forest in Houston, Texas, almost three years ago. The neighborhood around our school is a fast food hot spot with few options for healthy eating, and I wanted to give my students an opportunity to see where their food comes from and explore the connections between what they eat and their health. This past fall, we finally did just that. Everything from conducting experiments around plant growth to designing and building the garden has been driven by the students.
While I initially saw the garden as a tool for understanding nutrition and making authentic connections to biology content in the classroom, it has turned out to be so much more. Some of the most valuable moments have been things I did not anticipate or plan for like the real problem-solving that has happened when things weren't growing well in the fall (which got the students involved in soil-testing, talking to local experts, and Internet research) or the teamwork that happened naturally between students from all five grade levels as they worked on the garden. From small victories like overcoming fears of eating plants like mint right out of the garden ("you can eat that, Miss? Oh my gosh, it tastes like gum!") to bigger changes affecting the eating habits of whole families, our school garden is slowly changing the way students think about their food.
Our garden now has a thriving native plant section to attract butterflies and pollinators, as well as tomatoes, cucumbers, banana and green peppers, onions, strawberries, eggplant, dill, mint, thyme, lettuce, and basil. Recently, I sat down with a few of my students to discuss how their views on food and gardens have progressed since our project started..........."
While I initially saw the garden as a tool for understanding nutrition and making authentic connections to biology content in the classroom, it has turned out to be so much more. Some of the most valuable moments have been things I did not anticipate or plan for like the real problem-solving that has happened when things weren't growing well in the fall (which got the students involved in soil-testing, talking to local experts, and Internet research) or the teamwork that happened naturally between students from all five grade levels as they worked on the garden. From small victories like overcoming fears of eating plants like mint right out of the garden ("you can eat that, Miss? Oh my gosh, it tastes like gum!") to bigger changes affecting the eating habits of whole families, our school garden is slowly changing the way students think about their food.
Our garden now has a thriving native plant section to attract butterflies and pollinators, as well as tomatoes, cucumbers, banana and green peppers, onions, strawberries, eggplant, dill, mint, thyme, lettuce, and basil. Recently, I sat down with a few of my students to discuss how their views on food and gardens have progressed since our project started..........."
Friday, 10 May 2013
Recycled hardwood table, chair and stool set
My husband has just completed a table, chair and stool set, made from recycled timber (Melaleuca leucadendra) that we managed to "liberate" from the local council arborists who were going to chip it.
The pieces are going to a current project that J M Landscapes have nearly completed. I'm impressed with the pieces and so were the children.
Wednesday, 24 April 2013
Newest completed project: Bronte Public School, Bronte Sydney
Bronte Public School, Bronte, Sydney, New South Wales
Construction: J M Landscapes
Main Playspace, After, 2013
Main Playspace, After, 2013
Main Playspace, Before, 2012
Main Playspace, Before, 2012
Main Playspace, Before, 2012
Main Playspace, After, 2013
Main Playspace, After, 2013
Main Playspace, After, 2013
Main Playspace, After, 2013
Main Playspace, After, 2013
Main Playspace, Before, 2012
Main Playspace, Before, 2012
Main Playspace, Before, 2012
Main Playspace, After, 2013
Main Playspace, After, 2013
Main Playspace, After, 2013
Main Playspace, After, 2013
Main Playspace, After, 2013
Chicken/Rabbit area, Before, 2012
Playspace, After, 2013
Playspace, After, 2013
Playspace, After, 2013
Playspace, After, 2013
Playspace, After, 2013
Playspace, After, 2013
Playspace, After, 2013
Playspace, After, 2013
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