Connected families, communities and educators

Welcome to C&K V1.0 2015 © This document is the property of C&KPage 1
Connected families, communities
and educators

Learning Objectives
By the end of this training, you will be able to:
• Discuss practices that can be used in their services to
connect with families, children and communities
• Share information about the children’s individual and
shared learning.

Discussion
• Connecting with families
• Connecting with communities
• Connecting with professional community
• Professional responsibilities
• Readings and resources

Sharing and learning together
• Creating meaningful communication between children,
parents, educators and communities
• Bridging the digital divide can be a challenge
• Learning new skills and ways of communicating using
technology
• Model appropriate practices for children, parents and
families

Welcome to C&K V1.0 2015 © This document is the property of C&KPage 6Welcome to C&K V1.015 © This document is the property of C&KPage 6
Connecting with families

Technology as a communication toolbox
• Phone
• Email
• Texting
• Photo and video sharing
• Digital newsletters
• Facebook, Twitter, Instagram
• Video conferencing
The key to successful communication will
• determine when and how you want to communicate .
• understanding organisational policies and procedures for
communicating
You may want to include and master one new communication tool across
a year!

Kutjala- 21st Century~ ‘Song Lines home’
Transition is about knowing, understanding and supporting all our Families from the moment
they come to us and long after they leave us…..
We know and support our families - if chn don't settle then we suggest we “To try tomorrow,
or next week…….we never tear an upset child out of their Families arms, even it they ask
us to….
Supporting transition using technology
Today ‘Teacher Gayle’ took photos of our 3 little ones, when they settled down and
emailed each of their Mums to show Mum the what a good time they were having………
It is also about the children who have come before and who journey on and then
return…..The night before Prep begins we send all our little ones an email letter connecting
them with courage to the new journey and asking them to come back and show us how
proud they are in their Prep Uniform….there is always a place here….they will always be
‘Kutjala bubs’……
We weave them a modern ‘Song line home’………..

Kutjala ‘Bub’s first day

Kutjala…..Family letter to and from Prep
Kerry Halloran with Chelseaa Halloran and 4 others.
27 January ·
a huge shout out to all our kutjala kids that are putting in their first day at prep. we are sure gonna miss you all
down at kindy but we know that you will cruise in and show them how deadly you all are. don't change a thing.....
be yourselves... cos remember you are kutjala kids and we rock. all the aunties at kutjala know you are super stars
and are really really proud to have been part of your amazing journey as you become preppies. Mum and
dad.....no tears now. You should be so proud of your babies - they truly are amazing little people. make sure you
let us know how your first day goes. Luv ya xxxxx <3 <3 <3
5353Kim Johnson, Kandi Kattenberg and 191 others
Kimberley Gormley Hope you all have the best time xxx
Sherrie Barron Aww that's beautiful. I think im more nervous than Blake lol.
Kerry Halloran no tears now sherrie. he will strut in there like he been going for years lol.but we will miss them all
Kristie Grant Brent Scharla's ready and keen
• Emma Riggs Jj is ready to rock nd roll Aunty Kerry :)
Lynn Sheldon Hi Kerry are you down at Kutjarla today ☺
Gayle Maree West Missed all our big kids today, hope they all had a great day at big school
Brent Hando Lachlan high school grade 7 and Robert
Kerry Halloran wow boys. hope you both had a great day at school. sure missed you this way robert xxx omg
Lachlan I remember you when you were the same age as Robert. thanks for the foto xxx

Tully Community Kindergarten
Connecting with FIFO families via email

Boopa Werem - Mobile technology

Sharing family stories

Sharing the learning from kindy

Connecting home and kindergarten

Electronic documentation
Email
• Newsletters or weekly updates ,
• PowerPoints of children’s learning
Online portfolios
• Many options to choose from i.e. web based or apps
• Determine the purpose for what works for your community
• Parents like the immediacy of receiving information and
being kept up to date about their child
• Consider families who may have limited or no access to
devices or internet

Every child and family is unique –
‘one size won’t fit all’.
• Welcome to the world of 2016.
• I’m not sure of process to access.
• It is secure. I don’t like other sites where photos can be tagged.
• All in one spot, on one platform.
• It is an individual preference.
• Not used it really though I have looked at financial statements.
• I work away during some weeks so it keeps me up to date.
• It is quite easy to do.
• I can share with others i.e. grandparents.
• Email notification is a useful link.
• There is a clearly labelled pathway so it easy to access.
• I find it useful as I can share with family overseas.
• I check emails everyday so it is easy.
• I only get to drop off in the morning so I find out more when the educators share
the group journal in the afternoon.
• I think it is relatively easy to use just have to have username and password handy!

Facebook

Considerations when working with
technology
• How can I make my communication purposeful?
• What do parents want to know?
• What technology do most families have access to on a
regular basis?
• How often do I want to communicate with families? Daily?
Weekly? Monthly?
• What are organisation policies on social media,
photographing and sharing digital information with
parents?
• It can be overwhelming as new practices are introduced?
• Once sent can’t be withdrawn!

Connecting with community

Bringing the community into the
curriculum
• Researching with children about what is in the community
• Sharing interests across in real time
• Video conferencing with experts

Mareeba - using
technology to
create meaning
and represent
experiences

Not always high tech … low tech learning
Consider and reflect on your community context

Low tech … an aerial photo
Connecting to country- dreaming, imagining, designing
Connecting to Country

C&K Jellybeans - Visiting the community
Shop Excursion
In term 3, the children showed their interest in shop play. We developed their interest and created a shop at
the centre. It was the Kindy Shop and became a much loved play experience for all. During this project, we
developed signs, money and introduced real products into our shop.
As term 4 started, it was clear that the children were all still very interested in shops. We had a talk about
what we could do to learn more about shops. It was decided that we would all love to take an excursion to
visit some of the shops in our local community.

Skyping Sparkles the chook
Connecting Bayview and Edmonton

ELLA – Learning Cantonese in Innisfail

Chinese New Year in Innisfail a FNQ Community Event ……..
only one of 2 Worshipping Temples left in Australia

Balaclava: Learning Japanese

Kin Kora – Sharing the message

Children sharing -
becoming part of a
global community Bee
story

Kin Kora – Sharing the message

Connecting with professional
communities

Connecting and
communicating
can be
challenging
…technology
removes some
barriers

Connecting educators
• Online PNM via Skype
• Support plans

Digital pen pals
• Highfields District Kindy and
C&K Glenmorgan Kindy
• Highfields District Kindy and
Maclagan Windermere Kindy
Highfields were not sure to
begin with but came up with
some ideas during a staff
meeting.
 What is the educational intent of this project?
 What could this look like for children? Educators? Families?
 What educational networking and relationships could develop for
educators? Children? Families? Communities?

Sister Kindy Project
Communities of learners
• Children
• Educators
• Families
Connecting, sharing and building
upon what we know in order to
develop new understandings.

Considering possibilities to connect
• Share information about what the groups are doing via Facetime or
Skype, i.e favourite stories and songs, Kindy pets.
• Offer support and/or sharing of ideas regarding experiences children
are currently engaging in within our services.
• Share ideas on kindy environment i.e. interest areas, wish list of
equipment etc.
• Professional dialogue between all staff - teachers, coeducators and
administration.
• Share professional knowledge and expertise through Director role and
educational leader role
• Pool and share excess resources – e.g. cardboard
• Open invitation for families to bring children and stay for a play at
Kindy when visiting town

Online PD

Early Years Connect

Sandi’s Educational Blog
• CSM Sandi Lascelles was awarded the 2015 Nancy Fairfax
Churchill fellowship.
• Sandi’s research is around the barriers for participation for
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families in Early Childhood
Programs.
• Sandi created a blog to document her overseas research journey
 Share visits to services
 Share photo evidence
 Document educational theory
 Highlight philosophy of how
first nations culture is
embedded in services

Professional practice

shareyourtechstories#ourchildren16

Sharing questions and reflections online

Professional support

Sites you may like to visit
• ECA Join a forum
http://thespoke.earlychildhoodaustralia.org.au/
• Facebook – search for ec sites
• Linked In Profile
• Kidsmatter Early childhood
• SNAICC
• Twitter

Early Childhood Australia
Digital Business Kit

Intellectual Property
Respect others work by
• Citing the source of images and information
• Giving credit when credit is due
• Asking permission before using resources
• Linking to websites rather than downloading and reposting
• Sharing your own materials
Churches, A, Crockett, L, Jukes, I (2010) : The Digital Diet . Today’s digital tools
in small bytes . 21st Century Fluency Project Inc

Professional responsibilities
Some reflective questions to discuss with your team…
• Do our professional standards reach the virtual world?
• Is the professional/personal line crossed by friending
families online?
• How do you account for child safety considerations? How
do we protect the privacy rights of children and their
families?

C&K Educational Technologies Team
• ett@candk.asn.au
• Representative from each region
• Meet monthly
• Projects
– Electronic documentation
– STEM
– Supporting children with additional needs using technology
– Building educator’s capacity and knowledge in using technology
– Providing current information and research as it is available
• Please contact us with your ideas, concerns and
feedback.

Technology creates
opportunities to
connect that may
not exist otherwise.

Sharing your experiences

#ourchildren16

Research and readings
• AEDC www.aedc.gov.au
• Cascades Volume 1 2012 C&K’s quarterly magazine
• Churches, A, Crockett, L, Jukes, I 2010 : The Digital Diet . Today’s digital
tools in small bytes . 21st Century Fluency Project Inc
• Donohue, C (Ed) 2015. Technology and Digital Media in the Early Years
Tools for Teaching and Learning. NAEYC Routledge, New York
• Early Childhood Australia Digital Business Kit
http://www.earlychildhoodaustralia.org.au/our-work/digital-business-kit/eca-
digital-business-kit/
• ELLA report 29 February 2016.
https://docs.education.gov.au/system/files/doc/other/dae_ella_trial_evaluatio
n_final_report_13_apr_2016_2.pdf is a link to the report was

Connected families, communities and educators

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