Home » ExchangeEveryDay » Keeping the Fire in the Belly



ExchangeEveryDay Past Issues


<< Previous Issue | View Past Issues | | Next Issue >> ExchangeEveryDay
Keeping the Fire in the Belly
March 13, 2019
The important thing is not so much that every child should be taught, as that every child should be given the wish to learn.
-Sir John Lubbock

"When I became a kindergarten teacher," explains Margie Carter in the book, From Teaching to Thinking (that she co-authored with Ann Pelo), "I was eager to know who each child was, to share a heart connection with each child, to find a window into how each child put together ideas and made meaning out of their early encounters with the physical world of ideas. In 1964 I didn’t have the fierce pressures for instruction toward assessment and school readiness...but neither did I have thinking partners or mentors to move me into deeper considerations for my work...

As a new teacher, mostly left to my own floundering devices, I fell into looking for effective techniques to 'manage' my classroom. I lost track of my earlier philosophical considerations for daily teaching...Before long I became discouraged, my longings and vision for my work dislodged...

What would have helped me find my footing, kept a fire in my belly, and not narrowed my thinking to a search for strategies?...I needed an environment with colleagues and leadership that shared questions and stories…All teachers need an organizational culture where there is space to find your intentions, your questions, and agency."





From Teaching to Thinking

Pre-order today and get FREE SHIPPING on this title.

Join us for an interview with two influential authors and master practitioners in early education! Margie Carter and Ann Pelo will participate in a live interview about their new book, From Teaching to Thinking. The interview will cover the book and provide insights about how to build a culture of inquiry in your early childhood program.

Use code FREESHIP when prompted.

Offer valid through March 14, 2019 at 11:59 pm Pacific Time.
All pre-orders are expected to ship mid-March.
May not be combined with any other offer.
Offer applies to budget shipping to USA on this book only.

ExchangeEveryDay

Delivered five days a week containing news, success stories, solutions, trend reports, and much more.

What is ExchangeEveryDay?

ExchangeEveryDay is the official electronic newsletter for Exchange Press. It is delivered five days a week containing news stories, success stories, solutions, trend reports, and much more.

Kaplan - Outdoor Learning.
EKU - Earn Your Early Childhood Director Certificate While You Complete Your Bachelor's Degree.
School Outfitters - Get Comfortable in Our Soft Seating.


Comments (1)

Displaying 1 Comment
Heather Jackson · March 13, 2019
The Sunflower School
Orangeville , Ontario, Canada


This book, for me was filled with so many interesting stories, I have been in this field for 35 years and have respected the work of Margie Carter and Ann Pelo and have seen both of them speak. This article and Margie’s story makes me think of my early days as a Director and how could I mentor my teachers in emergent curriculum and the work being done in Reggio Emilia. I was a fish out of water and had to find my own way but books like the visionary director and designs for learning helped guide me and my teachers. I like the writing style of the book - Ann would write the first part and margie would reflect on it. I gained so much insight and it made me think about my own work with educators and children. Thank you once again for a great read.



Post a Comment

Have an account? to submit your comment.


required

Your e-mail address will not be visible to other website visitors.
required
required
required

Check the box below, to help verify that you are not a bot. Doing so helps prevent automated programs from abusing this form.



Disclaimer: Exchange reserves the right to remove any comments at its discretion or reprint posted comments in other Exchange materials.