Practice Makes Purpose:
The Power of Critical Reflection
Keynote Speaker:
Kathleen Kummen
“As early childhood educators, we are more than teachers. Along with children and their families, we are part of a community of learners. Our curiosity causes us to wonder about the children, examine our programs, and evaluate our own work with families and children. We are learners as well as early childhood educators, and we must continually examine, reflect and re-assess our work.” BC Early Learning Framework
How are learning and teaching connected? How do we ensure that our practice supports children in the best possible ways? What does it mean to be intentional and authentic and why does it matter? In response to these questions, we can reflect on what we do, what we say, what we know and what we believe. Join Kathleen Kummen, for a conversation on the ways early childhood educators can articulate what inspires and guides their daily practice.
Kathleen Kummen has worked in the field of early years for over twenty-five years. She has held a variety of positions; including working as an early childhood educator, child life therapist and child care licensing officer. Kathleen is also a Ph.D. Candidate at the School of Child and Youth Care, University of Victoria in British Columbia, Canada. As a graduate student, she is part of Research in Early Childhood Care, University of Victoria in British Columbia, Canada. As a graduate student, she is part of Research in Early Childhood Care, Education and Health (REACH), a consortium of early childhood researchers at the University of Victoria. Kathleen’s research interests focus on in exploring theory and practice in the pre-service training and ongoing professional development of early childhood educators. In her dissertation research she hopes to focus on how to support pre-service teachers in reflecting on their image of children and how that image connects to their understanding of theory and practice. Kathleen Kummen is the co-ordinator of the Early Childhood Care and Education Diploma/Degree program at Capilano University.
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