Growing Seeds Learning Community

Our mission is providing families, children and staff a learning community in which all participants develop through a spiral dance of observation, inquiry, reflection and documentation. We create an intentional environment where each participant is respected as a responsible contributing member in our community. We see the participants as co-researchers, co-learners and collaborators in the building of our community.

Growing Seeds Learning Community

Intentional Teacher

An intentional teacher is one who consciously plans the environment, selecting materials that will support Rotating22the curriculum derived from children's emerging theories.

Effective teachers are continually reflecting on their practice. Because the environment of early learning is multilayered and multifaceted, teachers need to have a constantly questioning heart and mind in order to evaluate children's experiences. Reflection is a practice: a way of being with intention and thoughtfulness. Reflection for teachers involves making time and space to think about their practices and their day. It is the process of thinking back and closely analyzing the process and practices of every day. When reflective practices become part of your daily way of living, you can become more intentional and present in your work and in life.

Reflection should become a practice that students become familiar with. Our goals for children include developing critical thinking strategies and tools for learning throughout life. We develop these skills by utilizing them ourselves. We want children to understand how we construct meaning, make connections and learn as adults. We model our own learning, processes, and reflections for further understanding. Through this process we send a strong message to children that we value and honor the process of learning, which includes reflection.