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Expanding Horizons and Resources

 

If you are a young adult like me, when you hear "horizons," you may think of a certain Nintendo-made video game that came out right before the pandemic. Like the main character in said video game, I took time this week to explore. Unlike the main character, I didn't travel on a plane to explore. Instead, I ventured into the cacophony of podcasts and websites that exist on the internet. To find new ideas and concepts that were not initially on my horizons. 

In terms of podcasts, there are many. However, a couple stood out to me while searching: Child Care Bar & Grill with Lisa Murphy, Jeff Johnson, and a variety of guest speakers; and Awakened on Reggio with Sandy Lanes and guest speakers.

Child Care Bar & Grill puts a fun and relaxed spin on the conversation of Early Childhood and discusses a wide variety of topics. From various play theories, major events, and how they impact early childhood to conversations with wise and credible individuals, they cover it all. I am a fan of Lisa Murphy and her style of messy play, so this was an exciting find. As a disclaimer: They do cuss in these podcasts. So if profanity makes you uncomfortable, maybe find a different podcast or take this podcast in doses.

Awakened on Reggio focuses on how individuals worldwide are making a difference in the early childhood field. It is encouraging to hear how people are making a positive impact in their community, so I look forward to listening to each episode.

In addition to podcasts, there are other invaluable resources that an individual in the early childhood field can benefit from. For information regarding early childhood and best practices, I turn to naeyc.org. For information regarding the state of education in areas where there is a great need for high-quality education, I turn to savethechildren.org. The National Association of the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) is an amazing resource for educators and families seeking to learn the best practice/method to teach children. This is a source that I have visited regularly for about two years, and I still find it an incredible resource to learn and grow.

Save the Children focuses on helping children whose education is at risk due to crisis. They provide quality education to these individuals in order to support their success. They have ways that you can support and learn how the state of education is in various parts of the world. They also provide research about these areas that show their growth.

There are so many different ways to gain information, and these are a few that I have found useful as I pursue higher education.

Comments

  1. Amy AndressMay 15, 2021 at 5:26 PM

    Thank you for your blog post! I learned so much about Reggio Emilia when I worked in childcare years ago. I was excited to see the podcast you posted "Awakened to Reggio". I'm definitely adding this to my podcast list! NAEYC is also one of my favorite organizations. I agree that they are an invaluable resource!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Itze Montejo-HyattMay 16, 2021 at 5:13 PM

      I love the play-based environment of a Reggio classroom. NAEYC's webinars are a great resource! Last June they had all their webinars available for free. I probably watched about 7 and learned so much!

      Delete
  2. BriannaMay 16, 2021 at 9:54 AM

    Your post this week made me what to check out both blogs! I have never heard of Lisa Murphy, so I decided to look her up. I will definitely be looking into both blogs.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Itze Montejo-HyattMay 16, 2021 at 5:08 PM

      If you Google "Ooey Gooey Lady" you will find Lisa Murphy's website. I recommend her if you are looking for ways to merge mess and play!

      Delete
  3. Channette's Early Childhood Studies BlogMay 16, 2021 at 3:22 PM

    Thank you for your post. I have never heard of Reggio Emilia or Lisa Murphy. I look forward to listening to those podcast. At my facility we receive our accreditation from NAEYC. They are a fantastic organization. There policies, recommendations and procedures are focused on providing the best care for children.

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    Replies
    1. Itze Montejo-HyattMay 16, 2021 at 5:11 PM

      If you Google, "Ooey Gooey Lady" you'll find a lot more about Lisa Murphy. Something I like about her is her honesty. In a webinar she shared the questions she would ask parents before enrolling their child, with the purpose of determining if the parents were as passionate about providing a caring and enriching environment as she was.

      Delete
  4. Kathleen MontoyaMay 16, 2021 at 4:55 PM

    I've never done podcasts before, I guess I'm showing my age :). How do you find them? I love Lisa Murphy. She was at the OAEYC conference. She is so inspiring :). I am also researching Save the Children for my blog. I've never used it as a resource before.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Itze Montejo-HyattMay 16, 2021 at 5:07 PM

      Hi Kathleen!
      If you have an iPhone there are Apple Podcasts that you can listen to. You can search up genres or topics on the app. I am a big fan of educational podcasts.

      Delete
    2. Kathleen MontoyaMay 22, 2021 at 12:53 PM

      thanks Itze

      Delete
  5. Teach the ChildrenMay 16, 2021 at 7:24 PM

    I also love Lisa Murphy. Majority of the books in my classroom are by her and the children loves them. Never heard any of her pod casts. This gives me something to do in my free time now. Thanks...

    ReplyDelete

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