Resources
National Indigenous History Month: Resources to Share with Children and Families
As we stand with the Indigenous peoples in Canada, reckon with the past, listen and find our path towards reconciliation during National Indigenous History Month, it can be difficult to talk about residential schools. But it's incredibly important to learn about Indigenous history and raise awareness in CNC. Here are two helpful lists of videos and books that might help you introduce Indigenous history to children in an age appropriate way.Webinar Series – Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada: Calls to Action
Reconciliation and Indigenous Pedagogies in Early Learning and Child Care: Part 1 – Walking Together in Reconciliation
Webinar length: 60 minutes
Publish Date: February 2021
CMAS is pleased to present an opportunity for CNC staff to learn about Canada’s Indigenous peoples’ history, knowledge and pedagogies while engaging in reconciliation. For this three-part webinar series, Elder Brenda Mason and Lori Huston, RECE, will join us to share Indigenous knowledge and stories from their perspectives, teachings and lived experiences.
In part 1 of this three-part series, we discuss the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada: Calls to Action, including two recommendations that are specifically related to the early learning sector: new Indigenous Education legislation and culturally appropriate Indigenous programs. This webinar and associated article support a deepening of our understanding of what it means to honour the knowledge and skills Indigenous children and families.
Reconciliation and Indigenous Pedagogies in Early Learning and Child Care: Part 2 – Awakening and Coming to Know Indigenous Pedagogies in Early Learning
Webinar length: 63 minutes
Publish Date: February 2021
Indigenous knowledge is a knowledge system that is different from Eurocentric knowledge – it is closely tied to space. In part two of this webinar series and associated article, Elder Brenda Mason and Lori Huston, RECE we share teaching and learning processes that are holistic and narrative-based.
National Indigenous History Month: Honouring Lives Lost
The CMAS team would like to acknowledge and honour the 215 children whose lives were lost and remains were recently discovered at the site of the Kamloops Indian Residential School. We offer our sincere condolences to the Tk’emlúps te Secwépemc First Nation in BC, as well as the families and communities across Canada who continue to suffer not only the intergenerational trauma inflicted by the residential school system, but ongoing racism and discrimination.
As June marks National Indigenous History Month, it is especially important for the CNC community to stand with the Indigenous peoples in Canada and listen.
It can be difficult to find our path towards reconciliation or the words to share with children and families, but it’s important to reflect on how we can talk to children and families about the events and the trauma that is resurfacing among Canada’s First Nations.
We urge all of our programs to review the teachings of Elder Brenda Mason and Lori Huston, RECE, who joined us in February to discuss the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada: Calls to Action. This 3-part webinar series and associated articles can help support a deepening of our understanding of what it means to honour the knowledge and skills of Indigenous children and families as we reckon with the past and find our way forward.
CMAS WEBINAR: Developing Engaging, Child-Centred Activities for Your CNC Program
How do you plan activities for your CNC program? We all do our best to make our CNC programs child-centred, but sometimes program planning can be a challenge! In our most recent webinar, Jackie Cunningham talks about why engaging, child-centred curriculum is so important, where to start with emergent program planning, how to use developmental domains to build on curriculum and learning, and inspiring project-based activity ideas.
CMAS Tutorial: What is the Difference Between Emergent Curriculum and Child-Centred Programming?
The terms “child-centred programming” and “emergent curriculum” are often used interchangeably. But have you ever found yourself wondering what emergent curriculum means? Or maybe you wonder how a child-centred program is different from an emergent curriculum? Our newest tutorial provides a quick overview of child-centred programming and emergent curriculum, help in understanding your role as a facilitator of children’s learning, and some tips for expanding on children’s interests. At the end of the tutorial, you’ll also find resources, references, a Facilitator Guide and Questions for Personal Reflection/Group Discussion so that you can easily facilitate your own team training.
WEBINAR: Exploring Challenging Behaviours and Implicit Bias
In this edWebinar, Dr. Angela Searcy challenges educators to stop, reflect on their own implicit biases, and grow so they can better understand and serve children exhibiting challenging behaviors within their classroom. Participants will be provided with self-reflective tools and strategies for examining the origins of implicit bias, reflecting on everyday conversations and recognizing potentially biased statements.Valuing Diversity: Developing a Deeper Understanding of All Young Children’s Behaviour
Everything we think, say, and do is processed through our own cultural backgrounds. But because culture is absorbed and passed down from generation to generation rather than explicitly taught, we’re seldom aware of it. Culture shapes not only our values and beliefs, but also our gender roles, family structures, languages, dress, food, etiquette, approaches to disabilities, child-rearing practices, and even our expectations for children’s behavior. In this way, culture creates diversity. For educators, it is important to think about your own culture and how the cultures of children and their families play a role in your CNC program.Encouraging School Readiness Skills in Preschoolers
The early years are a time when we can help children develop the tools they need to succeed before heading to formal K-12 schooling. Developing these school readiness skills help prepare children for optimal learning throughout their educational journey. This article takes a closer look at some of the school readiness skills that children can work on before they head off to kindergarten!200+ activities ideas you can do at home with kids
Many programs across the country are closed in order to slow the spread of COVID-19, and kids are staying home due to the pandemic. Thankfully, learning doesn’t only happen in classrooms. Even while social distancing or self-isolating, children can keep on learning through play, using active games to keep them moving and learning at home. Here is a helpful article and list of over 200 activities ideas you can share with families to help them stay active at home!Fine Motor Activities for Preschoolers and Toddlers
We all know that fine motor skills are important, but are we making sure our curriculum integrates them enough into our early childhood activities? They are not just helpful for writing, but they are essential for everyday activities like feeding, dressing, and other hygiene activities.Here is some fine motor fun you can implement into your curriculum or home to strengthen those muscles that control your child’s hands, fingers, and thumbs.