New England Network of Nature-based Early Childhood Educators
Present: Jess Arrow, Ellen Doris, Robin Fairfield, Emma Hallowell, Nancy Hardy, Liza Lowe, Eliza Murphy, Roz Pelletier, Amy Randall, Sarah Wilson
Suggested group discussion items:
What do you hope to get out of this network? What resources are you hoping to have available?
What are our goals?
How wide of a net do we throw and still be able to stay true to our goals?
How many meetings should we have per year? What will that structure look like? Where will they take place?
What topics would you liked covered at meetings?
4 meetings at Antioch, 4 times a year… field trip days.. open house days! Would register for these/this.
In Bloom - could link to a meeting (workshop time!!!!), attend In Bloom… or after the conference as a bigger workshop… SITE VISITS (different schools… during site visits can problem-solve during this time… share routines and layout (especially for teachers … and the who the set
Field trips - dedicated to really learn research the spot (PD… days and times… observations)
sharing our experiences of the journey…
Jess did a presentation to Westmoreland… maybe do this in Oct. for other teachers as well! Eliza Minnuci… Facebook groups (ask questions
Ellen - what kinds of offerings from Antioch would be useful to teachers. Structure around credit bearing courses… other events… one day workshops… weekend workshops… who do we want to reach. At ANTIOCH we’ve already helped support a Network but haven’t created a place for it to exist… get to it through the Antioch website or is its own website. Grant funds to help its development… takes time and resources. Priority to make a virtual home and a physical home.
→ PD around communications with parents and families
Walpole is using the Pyramid Model… responsive classroom…
Hosting a speaker each meeting!!!!
licensing in a nature-based preschool
songs and games!!!!
stories and
RESOURCES (on-line home where things folks have found useful…
family engagement piece
grant writing (a litst of grants that could be useful)
blog?? Newsletter (Yes! Similar to how the MPA group is doing their newleter) - anyone who is interested could be linked to the
4 times a year meeting… at Antioch… optional site visits/field trips… newletter happens after meetings… Facebook is there… website (casts a BIG net! Can share with others without knowing them personally.)
Common for people to not be aware… I’d love to see a program in the area… they could come to this website to find out.
What is the mission:
Roz: the program at Antioch thriving? NbE is thriving!!!!! Changing teacher licensing program to make it more accessible to folks… Forest Days film (Peterborough… Hancock… ConVal)
Jess… I’m here because I caught wind of it… really grass roots… planting seeds… those of us who are doing the PLC have been inspired (superintendent is responsive to NBlearning and play based learning). Feeling that this is a time to experiment… this summer curriculum work (4 days UBD - start with assessment and work backward - format)
Robin is on the PD committee… talk to Dottie about the nature-based work… maybe we could pitch it for the Oct. conference…
Emma - Kindergarten teacher is bringing her class out once a week with the preschoolers…
