Re-invisioning professional development together

Often when we think of professional development we think of classes that are taught by informed others, disseminating knowledge to a receptive audience.  

I want to challenge that assumption.  

All of us... children, parents, families, teachers, administrators, community members... contribute to the evolution of our understandings about education, nature, childhood and so much more.  

When we extend a hand in welcome toward one another, regardless of our training, age or specialization, we expand the possibilities for our own understanding. Freire (1998) wrote, "To teach is not to transfer knowledge but to create the possibilities for the production or construction of knowledge.” (p. 30) Together we can construct a deeper understanding of education, nature and childhood.

A colleague recently shared these questions after reviewing some of my current writings on nature and children:

What is the culture (or cultures) of nature in our society, and how does it impact the children with whom we work?  

Further, How do we as teachers tap into the children’s perspectives around nature, not only valuing them, but inviting them to impact our own perspectives as educators and as stewards of the natural world?

Please feel free to add your own thoughts here or jot them down to share at our upcoming all school dialog:

September 11, 2014 5:30-7:00 at Children's Garden Montessori School 444 Detroit St. Denver, CO, 80206.

Freire, P. (1998). Pedagogy of the Freedom: Ethics, Democracy, and Civic Courage. Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, Lanham: MD.