My daily practice is guided by a blend of philosophies that prioritize each child’s voice, the importance of the environment, and our responsibility to one another and the land. I have woven my approach from three interconnected threads:
- The Reggio Emilia Approach: I view children as capable, curious researchers of their own experience. I treat the environment as the “third teacher” and use child-led, open-ended inquiry (like our ongoing exploration of the caterpillar-to-butterfly cycle) to help children actively make sense of the world through discovery and wonder.
- Ontario’s How Does Learning Happen? (HDLH): This framework is the heartbeat of my program. It keeps me grounded in the essential conditions for learning: ensuring every child experiences a profound sense of belonging, supporting their well-being, fostering engagement, and providing diverse ways for them to express their unique ideas.
- The Seven Grandfather Teachings: These provide the moral compass of our space. Teachings like Love, Respect, Bravery, Truth, Honesty, Humility, and Wisdom give me the framework for how I facilitate interactions, how I help children navigate conflicts, and how we care for the living world together.
A Note on My Responsibility as a Settler
It is deeply important to me to be transparent about my role in this work. As a settler, I recognize that I am a guest on this land. For me, integrating The Seven Grandfather Teachings and land-based practices is an act of ongoing learning and reconciliation. It is my way of demonstrating humility and a commitment to honouring the original stewards of this territory.
I do not claim to hold Indigenous knowledge; rather, I commit to being a lifelong student of these teachings and to creating a space where the children in my care learn to walk softly, act with integrity, and view themselves as protectors of the natural world.
Through these practices, I aim to foster a generation that is not only kind and brave but deeply connected to the place they call home. By blending experiential inquiry (Reggio) with social-emotional wisdom (Grandfather Teachings) and the relational goals of How Does Learning Happen?, I ensure that my program is a space where children learn not just about the world, but how to be in it with purpose and care.
These values are the lived experience of every day at Sorrel & Cedar.
Sorrel & Cedar ELC 