Transitions to School

Transition to School and School Readiness pop up as contested topics regularly in on-line early childhood forums. People's opinions are often very polarised about the definitions, the processes and the timing of such things. School readiness is often used as a weapon in political arenas which are played out across the media.

That is NOT what Transitions to School or School Readiness are about.

This blog will be dedicated to supporting educators in understanding play-based education and learning as well as the difference between Transition to School and School Readiness. This blog will contain the quality resources that I have found in my work and travels across the interwebs. I hope that you find this an informative and useful resource in your work as an early childhood educator.

- G @ Teacher's Ink.

(C) 2015 Teacher's Ink. All Rights Reserved

Who Am I?

I believe in authentic, relaxed, natural flowing teaching and learning. I believe in relationships, respect and collaboration. I don't like stencils or products. I don't subscribe to one "popular" philosophy or another. I am defining myself and my practice as I go. I take from this and that and weave it into my own methodology.

I think there is a need for a "School Readiness" blog - so that's what I'm doing :)

Just so you know who I am and what I'm about ... Oh, and I don't use my name at this point in time due to work complexities. I'll eventually come out of the closet ;)

I'm an Australian early childhood teacher with a 4 year Bachelor of Education (ECE) which entitles me to teach children from infancy through to eight years of age in the primary school system. I also hold a 2 year TAFE College Diploma in Child Care & Education. I choose to work in the pre-primary education years because I find it rewarding.

I have been a "qualified" educator since 1998 - and before that I was "unqualified" ;)

I have done a combination of working full time and studying part time, as well as mixed delivery full-time study work load while working 2 part time jobs and a 3rd casual weekend job. I have no idea how I did it. So please don't ask me for advice - I just did it. I survived. And who I am today is the result of it. I've worked and led teams in rooms in all age groups from 6 weeks of age through to going to school.

I've worked as a teacher, educational leader and director/nominated supervisors. I've also done all three roles at once (and yes I know how difficult and challenging and impossible it is!)  I am now working as a curriculum facilitator - almost like a consultant.

I'm also not perfect and I do make mistakes.

I don't tolerate abuse or nastiness. If I feel you're being intentionally nasty and mean, it is one strike and you are gone ... sometimes I will give people the benefit of the doubt. Sometimes. If you want to be a power hungry bitch - go do it elsewhere on someone else's space and time and dollar.

Big School Ready is just one of my many side projects that I am working on ... my teaching blog, and  my personal blog, my garden landscaping, starting up a small educational resource business with two partners, writing an e-book with an amazingly inspiring educator, writing my own e-booklet, volunteer work etc. Yeah I know...

I don't know what this will look like or where it will go exactly ... I don't know how much time I will devote to it over the course. But I will endeavour to link what I do to the Early Years Learning Framework (EYLF) and the National Quality Standards (NQS).

So here's my teaching blog if you're interested:

 http://www.teachers-ink.blogspot.com.au/

(C) Teacher's Ink. 2013