Weekly News for Educators & Parents

We are very excited to finally have our blog up and running and to tell you all the exciting things on the go. We hope that you can take the time to browse our blog weekly and learn how to incorporate music & wellbeing practices into every day routines. In this blog you will also find the latest information for Australian Early Childhood and Primary Education Professionals.

Posted on 31st  March 2012

Follow the Child through Musical Play –

Early Years Exhibition & Conference Sydney 2012 – 17 & 18th March 2012

At first, I thought that it would be just a short trip to Sydney, but it turned out to be an amazing three days packed with excitement and unforgettable experiences.

The Expo and the whole Early Years Conference in Sydney this year was a great success and I would like to extend my congratulations to the management and team of Exhibitions Group, CCNSW and all of YOU, participants who made it possible!

More than 230 people were booked came to learn how to Follow the Child through Musical Play and many could not get in as the room was overcrowded…

Bonkers was  in the middle of everybody’s attention, but he truly enjoyed making music with all lovely educators from NSW and had lots of fun!

 

 

 

The presentation was filled with fun, singing, dancing, storytelling, but one of the main focuses of the session was to share practical ideas and show how a music program can support National Quality Standards and Early Years Learning Framework.

Over the last two weeks I have been receiving a large number of emails with lovely comments and positive feedback about my session. I am also thrilled to see so much interest in learning more about music and how to implement it  in children’s services and schools.

“…Galina, I agree with you about music and movement and how it helps to develop the child’s brain. Your session was the best training I’ve ever had in my life…Hope you will accept the invitation to our centre to introduce your programs.” – Dorota Szarzanowicz, Marayong NSW

“…Speechless… just amazing! Inspirational – want all Tasmanian educators to have same opportunity to learn from you…” – Patricia Reid, Tasmania

Thank you again for your enthusiasm, commitment to early childhood and belief in music!

Sunshine Kids Camperdown, Sydney – 16th March 2012

Presenting at the EYEC 2012 was lots of fun…

But the whole trip begun with ‘Learning through Music’ Professional Development workshop for educators at Camperdown Sunshine Kids, Sydney.

Friday night can be very challenging for a professional development…, however all educators were so enthusiastic and keen to learn that it made it easy and enjoyable to present. Everyone was professional, friendly, active and happy to sing and dance non stop.

 

Connecting and contributing to the world can be taught and achieved through music.

If staff had so much fun…children will love it too!

Creating a music program that reflects and supports the NQS Quality Area and all five Outcomes of EYLF is not so difficult. We just need to remember to use highly educational and age appropriate material and be creative in a way how we deliver the program to children.

The workshop at Sunshine Kids has proven again and again that all early childhood educators are enthusiastic about new ideas and want to learn more practical tools.

Very often all Five Outcomes from the Early Years Learning Framework can be covered in one musical experience!

Music is not only helping children improve their social skills, concentration, speech, language, listening skills, gross motor and fine motor skills, co-operation and team work, patience, imagination, self-esteem, acceptance, memory, spatial intelligence, sense of beat, rhythm, singing, playing instruments, appreciation and love of music, multicultural and social identity. Music helps children AND ADULTS develop a strong sense of wellbeing. Music is powerful! Music is magic!

As you can see the trip was amazing! I am still receiving emails and invitations to come back to Sydney for more presentations, workshops and introduce Bonkers Beat Music & Wellbeing Programs in childcare centres, kinders and schools.

So, I hope to see you and many other lovely educators of NSW very soon…  

For more information about upcoming conferences and events with Galina and Bonkers the Monkey, join our ‘Sing & Stretch’ Club.

 

Posted on 3rd March 2012

Learning through Music

“The true beauty of music is that it connects people. It carries a message, and we, the musicians, are the messengers.” ~ Roy Ayers

…And I believe that every educator can be a musician and can implement music and songs in their kinder, childcare or school settings and use it EVERY DAY!

Look at these enthusiastic and “musical” staff from Monash Vale ELC where in February this year I was running “Learning through Music” workshop. All staff were very tired after a long day working with children, but as soon as they heard “Bonkers Beat’, they all gone bonkers…

Learning by doing with Bonkers is the best way to teach children and encourage them to tidy up at kinder, at home and slean up after them selves on streets and on a beach.

The night was full of dancing, singing, playing musical instruments and storytelling.

Everyone was having fun and danced their hearts out! Dancing with Bill was also fun and easy…

He knew how to move gracefully and truly enjoyed the “Waltz of the Week” with Bonkers and Galina.

It was a great session and all staff were AMAZING!

“…I love your work! Very impressive and I can’t wait to try this with children tomorrow! “ – Mursal Gudaz

Singing and dancing is not only good for children…

Making music helps all educators to connect and bond, release emotions and express themselves, to buid up confidence and have fun, but first of all to enrich their own lives and enjoy EVERY DAY!                                  Wellbeing Practices for Life

“Welcome a New Day” is a great way for children to start the day in the morning and this session can be used during family grouping time. It is recommended to run any yoga or stretching activities before breakfast or after rest or sleep time.

Any educator can run this session.

But to run it successfully, you need to remember to:

• Keep the session simple
• Use clear instructions
• Make it exciting & fun
• Keep it achievable & age appropriate
• Make it educational & stimulating

To support every child in achieving learning outcomes it is extremely important to assess and monitor children’s learning and to have:

• Written programming for the group & each child
• Written evaluations & reflections of the program
• Observation of children’s interests & extension of their experiences
• Discussions with older children & implementation of their ideas
• Invitation to parents to participate, contribute & evaluate

Please ask me any questions and enjoy learning and growing together with children.

Swami Sarasvati said:

“Instead of just putting years onto your life, put life into your years.”

Weekly News for Early Childhood (Australian based framework, EYLF)

ACECQA 2012!

Australian Children’s Education and Care Quality Authority has been online since January 2012 and has various materials available to download as well as recently released – Supervisor Certificate Forms and Quality Improvement Plans. Click here

Don’t be shy, have an adventure and explore! Check out the entire website! Click here

In Home Care and Occasional Care News!

DEEWR has extended the closing date for those wishing to apply for In Home Care and Occasional Care places, the closing date is now Friday March 30^th 2012.

For further information and application forms click here

Did you know that you can shop with Early Childhood Australia?

Early Childhood Australia offers an online shopping feature! That includes Books, Subscriptions and Memberships! Click here to view that various products available! Ebay- eat your heart out!

Registrations are now open for – 2012 K-2 Conference Connected Learning-United in Play

This year, speakers include Lilian Katz, Professor Emerita at the University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign, Kathy Walker, a Melbourne-based educational consultant who conducts a range of professional development programs throughout Australia and child psychologist Louise Porter.

To register or find out more click here

18th February 2012

Wellbeing Practices for Life

Weekly News for Early Childhood (Australian based framework, EYLF)

Fantastic Opportunity for an Early Childhood Professional!!

AJEC calls for new Committee Members-ECA is seeking to expand the AJEC committee for the Australasian Journal of Early Childhood. Committee members are ECEC specialists with at least a masters degree in the field and experience with research and academic publications. For more information about these positions, or to express your interest, please go to the AJEC website. Applications will close 25 February 2012.

EYLF PLP has released their newest informative video, Check It Out!

Latest video in the Talking about practice series, ‘Planning and documentation’, is now available–‘Planning and documentation’, the sixth video in the Talking about practice series is now available for viewing and download. In this three-part video, Heather Barnes speaks to three educators about how they implement all the steps of the planning cycle, despite working in different settings (Long Day Care, Preschool and Family Day Care) and in different parts of Australia (Vic, WA and Qld). Earlier videos in the series are available on the EYLF PLP website.

Support Clean Up Australia Day & Expand on your Kitchen Garden Experiences!!!

Clean Up Australia Day –Now is the time to register your service or school for Clean Up Australia Day 2012, held on 2 March. Click here for information on how to get involved in cleaning up a site near you. If your primary school has started a kitchen garden, installed a compost or worm farm, commenced a recycling or energy saving initiative or any kind of environmental project, make a short video about it to enter the Green Kids Award.

ACECQA website is now up and running- Information, Down loadable forms and more available now! Check it out !!!

Supervisor Certificate forms available from ACECQA—Information and application forms regarding Supervisor Certificates are now available from ACECQA. Depending on your situation, you may need the CS01 Application for Supervisor Certificate or the CS02 Request for Supervisor Certificate for Specified Class of Persons

10th February 2012

Learning through Music

And I look after them, so…

I respect my friends,

I respect my friends,

I respect my friends,

And that is good to do, Oh!

2. I love books and I love toys

And I look after them, so…

I respect all things,

I respect all things,

I respect all things,

And that is good to do, Oh!

3. I love dogs and I love cats

And other living creatures

I respect them all,

I respect them all,

I respect them all,

And that is good to do, Oh!

4. I love trees and flowers too

And I look after them, so…

I respect all plants,

I respect all plants,

I respect them all,

And that is good to do, Oh!

Wellbeing Practices for Life

Weekly News for Early childhood (Australian based framework, EYLF)

‘The nature of the two frameworks’

The Early Years Learning Framework and the Australian Curriculum have a great deal in common. Both take up the challenge of the Melbourne Declaration;
both respond to a rapidly changing world context; and both are underpinned by the belief that education has the power to transform the individual and society.

The Early Years Learning Framework is focused on learning and the role of the educator. It aims to guide the complex, interactive work of early childhood educators that enables particular kinds of learning and nurtures particular kinds of learners4. The framework therefore gives serious attention to essential elements of high-quality early childhood practice, including play-based pedagogies, strong relationships with children and families and intentional teaching.

On these foundations, the EYLF is structured around three interrelated elements: Principles, Practices and Learning Outcomes.

The EYLF (p. 19) identifies five Learning Outcomes as fundamental to the current and future wellbeing, engagement and success of young learners:

• Children have a strong sense of identity
• Children are connected with and contribute to their world
• Children have a strong sense of wellbeing
• Children are confident and involved learners
• Children are effective communicators.

The five Learning Outcomes include dispositions towards learning that underpin engagement, and the knowledge, skills and understandings that are essential foundations for future learning success.

The Australian Curriculum has a similar mission to foster ‘successful, confident and creative learners and active and informed citizens’.

The Australian Curriculum is based on principles of entitlement and responsibility. It sets out what will be taught, what students need to learn and the expected quality of that learning (The Shape of the Australian Curriculum, v3.0, ACARA 2011, p. 10 16a, 16b):

The Australian Curriculum recognises the entitlement of each student to knowledge, understanding and skills that provide a foundation for successful and lifelong learning and participation in the Australian community.

The Australian Curriculum is presented as a continuum that makes clear to teachers what is to be taught across the years of schooling. It makes clear to students what they should learn and the quality of learning expected of them as they progress through school.

The Australian Curriculum has four major components:

• Curriculum content—learning area knowledge, skills and understanding

• General capabilities—sets of skills, behaviours and dispositions that apply across subject-based content

• Cross-curriculum priorities—selected because they represent key issues and opportunities relevant to the lives of young Australians now and in the future

• Achievement standards—a description of what students are typically able to understand and do at particular points in their schooling.