Leading educators ‘inspirational’

“The Courier”, Timaru, April 26^th, 2012 page 8

Leading educators ‘inspirational’

By Lynne Bruce

TEACHERS from South Canterbury and Waimate attended a professional development day last week at which they heard from world renowned early childhood education leaders.

Margaret Carr, from Waikato University, and Wendy Lee, Director of the Educational Leadership Project, on their first visit to Timaru, shared the latest research from their ‘hot-off the press’ book Learning Stories: Constructing learner identities in early education.

Teachers were excited to know more about how this research impacted on their narrative assessment and planning for learning (“learning stories”) to ensure children develop their ‘learner identity’ to be successful life-long learners.

Teachers said the presenters were ‘top-of-the-line’, ‘motivational’ and ‘magical’.

One teacher said it was inspirational having such influential educators share their knowledge and experiences so ‘we can be the best teachers we can’. Another stated it was an honour to finally meet Professor Carr, who had so strongly influenced her own teaching. Professor Carr was a co-author of the national ECE curriculum Te Whariki, whose later research on dispositions for learning guided the development of school key competencies.

Leading educators: Waikato University Professor Dr Margaret Carr and Educational Leadership Project Director Wendy Lee address Timaru area kindergarten teachers last week about supporting children’s learning.