A Pedagogy for Ecology —Connecting to nature as place and well-being

“Every child lives someplace. And that someplace begins to matter when children are invited to know where they are and to participate in the unfolding life of that place—coming to know the changes in light and in the feel of the air, and participating in a community of people who speak of such things to each other.” Ann Pelo

Join us, as we explore a pedagogy for ecology, an exploration of connecting to the place we live and breathe in, on this planet of ours. How can we support connections to nature with children and ourselves? How can we support encounters in nature that help us to see children’s inquiries?

We will converse around the practices Ann has developed, to give us a framework of “being” in nature and of relating to the place where we belong.

This online conversation will inspire you in your own well-being as well as the children you work with every day.

This Online Conversation Supports:

• The Kindergarten Program 2016:

  • Pedagogical Approaches of Educators as co-learners; Environment as third teacher

• CECE Code of Ethics and Standards of Practice July 2017:

  • Standard 2: Curriculum and Pedagogy
  • Standard 3: Safety, Health and Well-Being in the Learning Environment

About Ann Pelo:

This Online Conversation features guest speaker, Ann Pelo, a noted teacher educator, program consultant, and author whose primary work focuses on reflective pedagogical practice, social justice and ecological teaching and learning, and the art of mentoring. Her work is anchored by a commitment to the right of educators to be intellectually, emotionally, and spiritually engaged by their work. Ann is nourished by teachers’ commitment to growth and challenge, by children’s potent capacity for questions, and by families’ deep commitment to their children.

She is the author of six books: From Teaching to Thinking: A Pedagogy for Reimagining Our Work (2018), The Goodness of Rain: Developing an Ecological Identity in Young Children (2013), Season by Season the Year Unfolds: A Guidebook for Developing an Intentional Culture in Early Childhood Programs (2010), Rethinking Early Childhood Education (2008),The Language of Art: Inquiry-based Studio Practices in Early Childhood Settings (2007), and, with Fran Davidson, That’s Not Fair: A Teacher’s Guide to Activism with Young Children (2000).

We are thrilled to host her, here, in the Early Learning Café.

What should you expect?

• Recommended reading before the Online Conversation
• A 2 hour live online conversation with Ann that includes both large and small-group discussions
• Opportunity for reflections and Café feedback
• Certificate of completion
• Ongoing access to this café’s supplementary materials

What do you need in order to participate?

This program includes a live, participatory online conversation among all the participants. Therefore, in order to participate, you will need the access to:

• an internet device: a computer (laptop or desktop) or tablet (iPad or Android tablet)
• your device must include a camera and microphone
• a high-speed internet connection (at least 5 Mbps download and 1 Mbps upload speeds)
• We highly recommend that you complete the free ELC Cafe called “The Early Learning Café Meeting Space” Completing this café will ensure that you have the required hardware and application (RingCentral Meetings) for your computer, that they are working properly, and you are able to access our online meeting space.