Provoking Minds - An Early Childhood Podcast

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Drawing on over 125 years of experience, we explore and discuss meaningful topics in early childhood education with some of the sector's most experienced educators and subject matter experts. With each short episode, our aim is to provoke minds and inspir

KU Children's Services


    • Mar 2, 2022 LATEST EPISODE
    • infrequent NEW EPISODES
    • 14m AVG DURATION
    • 22 EPISODES


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    Latest episodes from Provoking Minds - An Early Childhood Podcast

    10 Minutes Exploring the Becoming Eco Smart Together Program

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 2, 2022 10:46


    A world that cares for people must also care for the planet while ensuring a fair share for all, including current and future generations of children. Educators have a duty of care to support children's right to live within a well world. Join KU Sustainability Manager Deb Watson and KU West Pymble Preschool Director Katrina Hendry as they explore Becoming Eco Smart Together, a journey of continual growth for the early childhood community that steps towards a more sustainable world.

    Spotlight on Infant and Toddler Agency with Fran Bastion and Lynn Farrell

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 13, 2021 18:31


    In this episode Lynn Farrell and Fran Bastion discuss agency from a children's rights perspective. They also explore what an infant and toddler program might look and feel like when our youngest children are afforded agency.

    Spotlight on Secure Relationships with Megan Dodds

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 8, 2021 28:53


    Laure Hislop talks with Megan Dodds about how she has maintained her sustained commitment to the teachings of Circle of Security. She talks about her enthusiasm for professional learning and how she continues to look at improved ways to 'be with' children. Hear how she mentors her team as they work through a 'Curriculum of Feelings'.

    10 Minutes with Deb Watson on Education for Sustainability - Because We Care

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 14, 2021 9:09


    'Because We Care - Education for Sustainability in Action' can be purchased at https://ku-professional-services-and-learning.myshopify.com/products/because-we-care

    Meet the Educators: Children Leading Their Own Learning

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 17, 2021 17:12


    “A career highlight,” says Susan James. This episode invites listeners to hear about the project ‘Inside Mary Elizabeth's House' from the teachers' perspective. Susan James and Bei Bei Liu offer some critical insights into the evolution of the project, and interrogate some key practices that enabled collaborative thinking and theorising and the co-construction of inquiry based curriculum.

    10 Minutes on Developing Speech with Speech Pathologist Vickie Ren

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 13, 2021 10:28


    Vickie Ren provides insights into what a speech pathologist does and explores how language develops in young children. She also gives some tips for early childhood educators on what to look out for as children's language develops.

    10 Minutes on Children Leading Their Own Learning

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 15, 2021 10:33


    This episode is an invitation to share a story of an unexpected, co-created project and investigation. Inside Mary Elizabeth's House will offer listeners an insight into the pursuit of big ideas undertaken by children with educators – a story of co-constructed curriculum at its best.

    Spotlight on Rituals with Jan Faulkner and Laure Hislop

    Play Episode Listen Later May 30, 2021 14:02


    Why are routines and rituals important in our early childhood programs? Jan Faulkner and Laure Hislop unpack this question and discuss the special significance they have to children's wellbeing, relationships and sense of belonging.

    10 Minutes on Gender with Associate Professor Kylie Smith

    Play Episode Listen Later May 13, 2021 11:41


    We are joined by Associate Professor Kylie Smith to explore the topic of gender and play. Kylie shares insight into how young children develop their understanding of gender and the important role early educators have in noticing and challenging gender stereotypes and bias.

    Spotlight on the Art of Teaching with Dr Gai Lindsay

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 12, 2021 20:43


    Listen to Dr Gai Lindsay's inspirational reflections on the importance of the arts in the lives of young children. Hear her talk about why children have the right to an early childhood education that is rich in the joy of art.

    A Story Worth Telling with Ann Pelo – Part 3 Sam's Story - Episode 2

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 6, 2021 16:23


    In the final episode of this series, Ann Pelo discusses Sam's Story using the Thinking Lens to guide educators to dive deeply into Sam's identity. Amal Nsar and Caitlin Burns from The Joey Club Sydney will reflect upon the Thinking Lens as a protocol for writing and as a generative tool for rich and robust professional conversations.

    A Story Worth Telling with Ann Pelo – Part 3 Sam's Story - Episode 1

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 4, 2021 21:49


    Ann Pelo illuminates the world of the toddler in the story she shares of time spent with Sam at The Joey Club Sydney, capturing incidental moments that tell rich stories of identity, community connection, thinking and learning. Amal Nasr, Director of The Joey Club, and Caitlin Burns, Early Childhood Teacher working with the infant and toddlers, will then discuss Sam's story, the immediacy and intimacy of the connection between Sam and Ann and the potent picture she crafted in telling of Sam's Story – a story that matters.

    A Story Worth Telling with Ann Pelo - Part 2 Lily's Story - Episode 2

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 26, 2021 16:52


    Ann Pelo revisits Lily's Story using the thinking lens as a protocol to guide us to reflect and document purposefully with care and insight. Fran Bastion and Kelly Slip, Director of KU Isobel Pulsford Preschool, consider together the thinking lens as a protocol or discipline that enriches the opportunity for educators to write with care and reverence the stories that matter.

    A Story Worth Telling with Ann Pelo - Part 2 Lily's Story - Episode 1

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 24, 2021 10:20


    Ann Pelo extends an invitation to educators to be present and attuned to the children in our care. She offers a beautifully crafted narrative of Lily in companionship with Ann – a moment of connection and synchronicity. Her offering again asks the question, ‘Why is this a story worth telling?' Fran Bastion and Kelly Slip, Director of KU Isobel Pulsford Preschool, discuss the thoughtful nuances in the life of the story, delighting in seeing Lily through Ann's eyes.

    A Story Worth Telling with Ann Pelo - Part 1 Kids and Cars - Episode 2

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 19, 2021 16:10


    Ann Pelo revisits the tenets of the story ‘Kids and Cars' and offers the Thinking Lens as a protocol for thinking, writing and reflection. Fran Bastion is again joined by Kelly Slip, Director of KU Isobel Pulsford Preschool, and they continue their conversation about pedagogical documentation and discuss using protocols such as the Thinking Lens to reframe the documentation process.

    A Story Worth Telling with Ann Pelo - Part 1 Kids and Cars - Episode 1

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 17, 2021 19:08


    In the first episode of this series, renowned thinker and author Ann Pelo shares a story ‘Kids and Cars' – a story of play and connection at KU Isobel Pulsford Preschool. Joining her attentions to the children's attention she poses the question, ‘Why is this a story worth telling?' Fran Bastion and Kelly Slip, Director of KU Isobel Pulsford Preschool, discuss Ann's narration and the implications for reflective practice and meaningful documentation.

    Spotlight on Children's Literature with Laure Hislop and Fran Bastion

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 1, 2020 13:54


    Fran Bastion and Laure Hislop share their memories and thoughtful reflections on children's literature as well as inspirational tips for choosing and sharing books in early childhood programs.

    KU Centre of Influence: Pay It Forward

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 28, 2020 8:52


    KU Chatswood Community Preschool undertook practitioner research to enhance the orientation process. Director Kathy Hatcher shares with us their highly successful strategy, which is based on gratitude and holds relevance for many, including this culturally and linguistically diverse community.

    10 Minutes on Attachment Theory with Dr Robyn Dolby

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 13, 2020 12:02


    Dr Robyn Dolby, a psychologist with 40 years' experience in infant mental health, discusses the importance of attachment to children's learning and connections and gives some tips for how early childhood educators can apply this theory to practice.

    10 Minutes with Education for Sustainability Facilitator Deb Watson

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 17, 2020 9:59


    Deb Watson's childhood experiences in nature sparked a lifelong passion for the environment. She considers why connecting young children to the natural world continues to matter, and offers inspiration on incorporating it sustainably within an early childhood education program.

    10 Minutes on Critical Reflection with Jan Faulkner and Marg McLeish

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 3, 2020 10:49


    Why is critical reflection important? Marg McLeish and Jan Faulkner discuss what it means to our practice as early childhood educators, and share some tips to get started.

    10 Minutes with Infant and Toddler Care Expert Lynn Farrell

    Play Episode Listen Later May 1, 2020 9:58


    In our first episode of Provoking Minds - An Early Childhood Podcast, we chat with Lynn Farrell about Infant-Toddler Relationships and Wellbeing, reflecting on her professional growth and learning, research and child rights.

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