Can We Talk?: Conversations In The Early Years

In this episode, ASCY’s Shari Bell and Tracey Webster sit down with award-winning, bestselling author, speaker, and consultant Monique Gray Smith. Monique was a presenter at our November 2024 Embracing The Early Years Professional Learning Day, and this podcast builds on the themes she shared during that event. In this episode, Monique guides us on the importance of ‘Being a Light’ and explores what it takes to support others through our own light. She emphasizes how cultivating gratitude, love, joy, happiness, and hope – often through connecting with nature – is essential for this journey.About Monique Gray SmithMonique Gray Smith is an award-winning, bestselling author, speaker, and consultant with a deep passion for supporting the well-being of Indigenous communities. Known for her expertise in early childhood education, resilience, and personal empowerment, Monique’s work often highlights the importance of cultural connections, gratitude, and healing. She works with individuals, organizations, and communities to inspire positive change and foster a deeper sense of connection to self and others.For more about Monique and her upcoming projects, visit her website https://www.moniquegraysmith.com/ 

In this episode, ASCY’s Kim Burns sits down with Susan Bennett-Armistead, a renowned expert in early childhood literacy and the author of Literacy and the Youngest Learner.Together, they dive into the vital role literacy plays in a child's development and explore how we can bridge the world of literacy with the natural environment. Susan, who has spent much of her career studying how young children develop literacy skills, will share her insights on how nature can be a powerful tool in nurturing those connections.Whether you're an educator, a parent, or simply intrigued by the link between literacy and the natural world, this episode is for you!

In this episode, ASCY’s Paola Hohenadel and Leslie Busija chat with Kerry Drake from Mohawk College about the valuable experience of mentoring ECE students during their placements in early childhood education programs.Kerry is a Registered Early Childhood Educator and a Post-Secondary Professor at Mohawk College and McMaster University with a Masters of Education in Curriculum Studies and Leadership. As a Registered Early Childhood Educator, Kerry has had experience working with all age groups in child care centres, full day kindergarten classrooms, and before and after school programs, and still supplies occasionally to stay current in her practice. Altogether, Kerry has over 18 years of experience between the front-line field and post secondary settings.Kerry is passionate about mentorship and the role that it plays in the future of our profession.As a professor, Kerry creates student focused, innovative and inclusive classrooms that are delivered through a lens of diversity and equityShe challenges others to dive deeper into their understanding of children’s behaviours, to advocate for the field of early childhood education, and to build strong and authentic relationships. Kerry actively promotes being a reflective practitioner and motivates her students to become leaders in the field by engaging in life-long learners and by developing their ability to have compassion for others lived experiences.The Mohawk College ECE Mentor Placement Support Hub https://ecampusontario.pressbooks.pub/mohawkcollegeecefieldplacementpracticumsupporthub/ The general email for Field Placement Specialist (FPS) : earlychildhoodeducation@mohawkcollege.ca 

In this episode ASCY’s Sue Lepore chats with Malinda Lockhart, Cassidy Taylor and Jackie Wilson from Imagineers Early Learning Centre in Hamilton about the use of Tools For Life, Early Years Edition. Their program has been enacting TFL for many years and are seasoned and skilled long time practitioners of this approach.  They have dedicated their practice to social emotional learning and making their entire centre a place whereby all children thrive to the best of their potential.Watch a two-part recorded session on Tools For Life (Vimeo): https://vimeo.com/765900374?share=copyListen to the two-part recorded session on Tools For Life (Spotify): https://open.spotify.com/episode/2p1sXAOAscL6zSt8uXKtpF?si=35b593ee0042413fFor more information about TFL: https://www.tflearlyyears.com/

Marissa Patryshon, an Occupational Therapist from Lynwood Charlton, dives into the vital topic of sensory-sensitive environments. She discusses the innovative sensory kit crafted for educators, aimed at helping children understand their sensory preferences. The conversation highlights the power of multi-sensory engagement in boosting learning and the benefits of obstacle courses for physical and emotional development. Marissa also shares practical insights for creating inclusive educational spaces that cater to diverse sensory needs.

In this episode, part of our series highlighting presenters from the May 2024 Embracing The Early Years Professional Learning Day, ASCY’s Nancy Baverstock and Leslie Busija engage in a conversation with Janet Nezon, the founder of Rainbow Plate. Janet shares her expertise on understanding children’s eating habits and how mealtimes can create a sense of belonging. She offers valuable tips for addressing food preferences and discusses the importance of balancing nutrition with fun and enjoyment during mealtimes in early childhood settings.  We’re excited to share that Janet will be joining us in person in Hamilton on November 29th for our upcoming Embracing the Early Years Professional Learning Day! Janet holds a BSc from the University of Toronto, as a Specialist in Nutritional Science, and a Master of Health Science in Health Promotion, from University of Toronto’s Faculty of Medicine. She founded Rainbow Plate with a mission to translate theory into practice; to bring a vibrant and fresh approach to food education for children.  Rainbow Plate’s joyful, sensory-based approach is backed by evidence, including our own published evaluation. It has been woven into engaging programs and resources that inspire children to cultivate lifelong positive relationships with food and eating. Since launching in 2012, Rainbow Plate programs and tools have reached more than 20,000 children and adults across Canada and around the world.  After years facilitating experiential workshops for children, Janet now supports educators, parents, caregivers, and health professionals through practical workshops, speaking, and resources. She has inspired the advancement of food literacy in early years organizations, schools, summer camps, public health, and community settings.      In addition to her academic background, Janet is a proud mom and a grandmother. Her work is rooted in evidence and seasoned with the flavours of real-life experience.           Instagram: @rainbowplate  Facebook: facebook.com/RainbowPlate                                                                                                          

In this episode, part of our series featuring presenters from the May 2024 Embracing The Early Years Professional Learning Day, ASCY’s Shari Bell engages in a deep conversation with Dr. Michael Ungar about how to support children, youth, and families with complex needs, to build resilience. Dr. Ungar's presentation highlighted the nine essential elements that all children require for resilience. Michael Ungar, Ph.D., is a Family Therapist and Professor of Social Work at Dalhousie University where he holds the Canada Research Chair in Child, Family and Community Resilience. His research on resilience around the world and across cultures has made him the number one ranked Social Work scholar in the world, with numerous educational institutions, government agencies, not-for-profits and businesses relying on his research and clinical work to guide their approaches to nurturing child, family, organizational and community wellbeing under stress. He the author of 18 books for mental health professionals, educators, caregivers and employers, including his most recent works The Limits of Resilience: When to Persevere, When to Change, and When to Quit, a book for individuals and organizations under stress, Change Your World: The Science of Resilience and the True Path to Success, a book about our emerging understanding of resilience as more than individual grit, and Working with Children and Youth with Complex Needs: 20 Skills to Build Resilience, a book for mental health professionals and educators. As well as having received numerous awards for his work, including the Canadian Association of Social Workers National Distinguished Service Award and being named a Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada, Dr. Ungar also maintains a blog, Nurturing Resilience, which can be read on Psychology Today’s website.Instagram: @MichaelUngarPhD 

In this episode, part of our series featuring presenters from the May 2024 Embracing The Early Years Professional Learning Day, ASCY’s Charlotte Edwards and Paola Hohenadel chat with author and educator Susan Stacey. They delve into the journey of pedagogical documentation and how to effectively navigate this process. Susan shares how documentation can inspire educators to wonder, co-construct knowledge with children, and build strong relationships with families and colleagues.Susan’s books, including her latest book, “Pedagogical Documentation in Early Childhood: Sharing Children’s Learning and Teachers’ Thinking - 2nd Edition”, is available at the ASCY Professional Resource Library. To learn more about Susan, visit her website at www.suestacey.ca. 

In this episode, ASCY’s Charlotte Edwards speaks with Tara Freeman from Lucky Day Nursery, in Hamilton, Ontario, about their journey in integrating and celebrating art and literacy within their programs. Tara shares insights on how she introduced ideas and inspired her team to embrace them. She also discusses their collaboration with an artist and the valuable lessons they learned along the way.Click here to watch the recording of this podcast on Vimeo: https://vimeo.com/1005891245/55e3c819ff 

This episode is a part of a series of podcast episodes had with the presenters from our December 2023 Embracing The Early Years Professional Learning Day. In this episode, ASCY’s Shari Bell and Camila Casas chat with Natalie Royer about the messages Natalie shared on using belonging as tool, what belonging means in the early years, and what does belonging really look like in our early childhood classrooms.Natalie Royer is a belonging consultant, speaker, and coach at Saroy Group Inc. She has an M.A. in Early Childhood Studies from Toronto Metropolitan University and has taught in higher education for over 10 years. Also, Natalie holds a certificate in Psychological Health and Safety in the Workplace (PHSW) from York University and a certificate in coaching and mentoring teams from the Schulich School of Business. Her background in both education and corporate culture help her to support companies and non-profit organizations in cultivating spaces of belonging while leading with love and compassion.Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/belonging_guru/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/saroygroup Website: https://saroygroup.com/natalie/