23-06-2023

By Kirsty Piendl Over the years I have dabbled with self-regulation, through Dan Segal (2012) and Stuart Shanker’s (2017) work and have considered how we (adults and children) process stress. While learning more about self-regulation, I realised that the teaching team and I did not have clear practices to support ..

23-11-2022

Rituals have been a big thinking point in the Ngurra this year. We have added many to our day with the intention of making important routine moments opportunities for control and agency. Mealtimes and sleep times have changed drastically from how we did them last year or even the first half of 2022, and as a team we have continually noticed how rituals have helped to make our space calmer and more connected.

04-11-2022

Advocacy and activism are related but not quite the same. Advocacy is speaking out against social issues and injustice, while activism is taking action against social issues and injustice. When we teach critical thinking, we are also asking ourselves to critically examine ourselves and the structures we working within.

22-07-2022

A Teacher Reflection, December 2021 The Flag Project began as a question, ‘Why do we have four flag poles, but only three flags?” and led to a flag raising ceremony almost nine months later. To think back on this project, I feel immense pride seeing the ‘for ..

25-05-2022

The making of the Ngurra Mural by Madeleine Gill 2022 The Ngurra Mural, 2022 The Ngurra children at Explore & Develop Annandale undertook a mural project with Madeleine Gill, Early Childhood Teacher late last year and early this year. This article by Madeleine reflects on the process and details ..

19-01-2022

An interest in immersing ourselves in an imaginary magical world was sparked early last year as the children were exploring sounds and listening to instrumental compositions. One particular soundscape that featured twinkling chimes and suspenseful highs and lows became the ‘fairy music’ and was a prompt to drive imaginary dramatic play.

26-10-2021

Sustainability is a key facet of our curriculum. Embedding sustainable practices, communicating environmental responsibility, and observing environmental stewardship and activism in our children are regular, deep, and underlying parts of what we do.

20-08-2021

Through trust we built connection.

01-04-2021

The excitement was electric as educators helped the Wombat and Possum children into Splash Suits, raincoats, and gumboots for their adventure in the rain. The chatter was constant, children wondered what it would be like to go to our favourite places in the rain! For real life! Would there be puddles? Would there be mud?