The Intentional ECE

A childhood streetcar ride, decades later, brings back more than a sound - it brings back a feeling. This episode explores how memory lives in the body, how that shapes the children in our care long before they have words for what they're carrying, and how our own perception, as educators, is just as shaped by our own histories. Drawing on Immordino-Yang's Emotions, Learning, and the Brain...

Even when we know where we're heading, the systems we work within, and our own history, have a way of calling us back. In this episode, I share a moment from my own practice where I caught myself mid-pull, and what it taught me about noticing, place, and the colleagues who help us see what we can't see alone.

When we see children as capable, rights-bearing individuals, everything changes - how we design our spaces, how we tend to relationships, and how we understand our own role. Rosalba Bortolotti returns to the podcast to explore children's rights as something living and actionable, and to remind us that relationships are the foundation of it all - including the rights of the educators who hold t...

What does it look like when we move away from the image of the teacher as knowledge holder - towards something more human, relational, more present? In this episode, I explore the question of when to teach - weaving together ideas from Suzanne Axelsson, Gai Lindsay's Art, Play and Inquiry , and Parker Palmer's The Courage to Teach alongside two stories from my own practice. This is an epis...

What becomes possible when children are invited to explore mathematics through curiosity, inquiry, and meaningful problem-solving? In this conversation with William Polan, we explore how inquiry-based mathematics can support confidence, conceptual understanding, and more equitable learning experiences - helping children develop a stronger sense of ownership over their mathematical thinking. To lea...

Have you ever rested and still felt depleted? In this episode, Cathy explores what it actually means to restore yourself, weaving together Deb Dana's concept of glimmers, Dr. Pooja Lakshmin's work on values-aligned self-care, and a question worth sitting with: are your choices reflecting what you actually value? A gentle, reflective episode for educators who give a great deal - and deserve...

What becomes possible when children are invited to think like designers? In this conversation with Maïa Tarassoff, we explore how architecture and design experiences nurture creativity, confidence, and problem-solving—while empowering children to see themselves as capable contributors to their environments and communities. Learn more about Maia’s work: Petit Architect IG:  @petitarchitect

In this episode, Crystal Lucha invites us to think about beauty as an essential part of children’s learning experiences. Together, we explore how the atelier, loose parts, and process-focused art experiences create opportunities for children to express ideas, make meaning, and engage deeply with the world around them - while considering small, intentional ways educators can begin bringing more bea...

Play invites courage - from children and educators alike. In this episode, Suzanne Axelsson shares how play, learning, and teaching are deeply connected, and why creating brave spaces is essential to honouring children’s rights and voices. To learn more about Suzanne and her work: The Original Learning Approach IG:  Interaction Imagination Substack:  Original Learning Playarista Training

Do your materials have enough possibilities to keep play alive? In this episode, we explore playability - the idea that open-ended materials are active agents, whose affordances meet children's curiosity and imagination to invite, sustain, and deepen play. This episode is an invitation to look at your own environment through the lens of possibility, openness, and connection. Summer Coaching

When we slow down, there’s space for children to show us who they are. In this episode, Heather Jackson shares her Reggio-inspired journey, exploring how inquiry, collaboration, and reflective dialogue support both children’s thinking and educators’ growth - while creating spaces where everyone feels seen, heard, and valued. To learn more/connect with Heather: The Sunflower School IG:  The Sunflow...

What becomes possible when we slow down and truly see before and after school care as meaningful learning spaces? Jamie Wagler shares how relationships, choice, and curiosity can shape rich experiences for children - and why stronger communication between educators can support a more connected, wholistic view of each child. Learn more about/connect with Jamie: https://www.missjamieconsulting.com/...

Care, relationship, and responsiveness are at the heart of infant and toddler education - but they’re not always recognized as pedagogy. In this episode, Paige Wernick invites us to see these everyday moments with more clarity, and to consider how naming our “why” can strengthen both practice and identity. Learn more/connect with Paige: Instagram

What does it mean to be fully yourself while in relationship with others? In this episode, we explore collective autonomy and how play becomes a space where children learn to balance agency, connection, and belonging. Through reflection and real classroom experiences, I consider how we can support children in being autonomous - together. References: The Original Learning Approach by Suzanne Axelss...

In this episode, Paola Lopez shares the story of building her schools from a place of curiosity, imagination, and deep respect for children and educators. What emerged is a culture of inquiry, joy, and possibility - where both children and adults are given time and space to follow their curiosity and grow in confidence and competency. A hopeful conversation that demonstrates the lasting impact of...

In this episode, we explore the play cycle and how understanding the cues and responses between children can help educators see play more deeply. Through a lived observation, Cathy reflects on how play unfolds, how educators can honour and protect the flow of play, and how observing through both ludic and pedagogical lenses can support responsive teaching. References & Resources What is the Pl...

What counts as play - and how do we recognize it? In this episode, Cathy reflects on several definitions of play and uses them as a starting point to explore the many ways children engage with the world through play. From energetic social play to quiet moments of exploration, noticing these experiences more closely helps us understand what children are curious about and how they are making sense o...

In this episode, Cathy speaks with Shane Woodrow about his “Gap Year” travelling and visiting innovative schools around the world. Together, they explore what becomes possible when education is grounded in shared values, curiosity, and agency - and when schools function more like villages that inspire hope, joy, and belonging. A thoughtful conversation about reimagining the purpose of schooling, k...

Educators are often told to “facilitate”, or “teach” - but rarely are we invited to consider the art of knowing when to do each. In this episode, we explore responsiveness as relational attunement in action. Using the metaphor of jazz, we reflect on moving between three stances - honouring play, supporting flow, and extending knowledge. This episode offers both conceptual clarity and reflective qu...

In this episode, Samuel Broaden and Cathy reflect on what it means to care for ourselves and one another within education systems often shaped by efficiency and compliance. Together, they explore how tending to educator wellbeing — through courage, collaboration, and connection — allows us to show up more fully for children and for each other. A hopeful conversation about creating early learning s...

In this episode of The Intentional ECE , Cathy is joined by early childhood educator and literacy specialist Laura Shea to explore how literacy grows through children’s curiosity, storytelling, and play. Moving beyond “learning to read,” Laura shares how emerging reading and writing is woven into children’s everyday life - from play, to art, to conversation and relationship. Together, they reflect...

In this episode of The Intentional ECE , I’m joined by Em Clark for a thoughtful conversation about children’s rights, participation, and what becomes possible when we move beyond systems rooted in control and compliance. Together, we explore how traditional educational structures shape and constrain both children and educators, narrowing what we believe is possible in our work. Em invites us to c...

Why does theory matter in our day-to-day work with children? This episode explores how educational theories shape our beliefs, values, and practices, and how becoming aware of these influences can support deeper reflection, shared language, and more intentional teaching. Resources: Theory & Practice Reflective Tool Reading List Newsletter

In this episode, Ron Grady reflects on what it means to witness children’s lives with care and intention. The conversation explores the idea that children’s lives are not separate from schooling, and that educators - through their close, everyday proximity - are deeply embedded in the learning environment. Together, the episode examines observation and documentation as practices of curiosity rathe...

In this episode, Lisa Goddard invites a slowing down - a shift in how we look, listen, and make meaning with children. Together, the conversation explores how dominant narratives in early childhood education can limit our thinking, and how decentring humans opens new ways of understanding our place within the natural world and the implications for our work with children. Through attention to small...