Mindful Turtle

Memories Matter: Shifting the Documentation Mindset

As nature-based early educators rush to compile documentation at the end of the year, this episode invites use to reframe from a task to a meaningful practice that honors the emotional memories of their students. Host Dr. Rachel Larimore suggests that by adopting the role of "holders of memories," that documentation can become something that creates deep emotional connections to enrich young children’s learning.  Reimagining the Role of Teachers in Nature-based Learning: Helping Children be Curious, Confident, and Caring [https://www.samarael.com/shop/p/roles] by Drs. Rachel A. Larimore & Claire H. Warden About Dr. Rachel A. Larimore Dr. Rachel A. Larimore is an educator, consultant, and former nature-based preschool director. Her work focuses on the intentional integration of nature to support young children’s holistic development by learning with nature to expand their worlds and live rich, full lives. She has written multiple books including Establishing a Nature-Based Preschool, [https://www.samarael.com/shop/p/enp] Preschool Beyond Walls: Blending Early Childhood Education and Nature-Based Learning [https://www.samarael.com/shop/p/pbw], Evaluating Natureness: Measuring the Quality of Nature-based Classrooms in Pre-k Through 3rd Grade [https://www.samarael.com/shop/p/evaluating-natureness], and Reimagining the Role of Teachers in Nature-based Learning: Helping Children be Curious, Confident, and Caring [https://www.samarael.com/shop/p/roles]. Rachel is the founder and Chief Visionary of Samara Early Learning. Prior to founding Samara, she spent more than a decade starting and directing one of the first nature-based preschools in the United States. About Samara Early Learning Samara Early Learning helps educators create nature-based schools or add the nature-based approach to existing programs. With our support on the business or teaching side of operations, educators help young children learn with nature to expand their worlds and live rich, full lives. Services include books, in-person and on-demand workshops,The Grove [https://www.samarael.com/grove]professional learning community, and much more. Visit www.SamaraEL.com [http://www.samarael.com/] to learn more! Discover the next steps on your nature-based journey! Take the 90-second quiz [https://www.samarael.com/quiz] & receive your custom Toolkit for implementing nature-based early childhood education.

Emotional Ripples: Recognizing the Impact of Our Daily Encounters

This episode focuses on awareness and gratitude of the interactions we have throughout our days. By acknowledging how others influence us, we can better understand our role nature-based educators in creating a positive learning environment. About Dr. Rachel A. Larimore Dr. Rachel A. Larimore is an educator, consultant, and former nature-based preschool director. Her work focuses on the intentional integration of nature to support young children’s holistic development by learning with nature to expand their worlds and live rich, full lives. She has written multiple books including Establishing a Nature-Based Preschool, [https://www.samarael.com/shop/p/enp] Preschool Beyond Walls: Blending Early Childhood Education and Nature-Based Learning [https://www.samarael.com/shop/p/pbw], Evaluating Natureness: Measuring the Quality of Nature-based Classrooms in Pre-k Through 3rd Grade [https://www.samarael.com/shop/p/evaluating-natureness], and Reimagining the Role of Teachers in Nature-based Learning: Helping Children be Curious, Confident, and Caring [https://www.samarael.com/shop/p/roles]. Rachel is the founder and Chief Visionary of Samara Early Learning. Prior to founding Samara, she spent more than a decade starting and directing one of the first nature-based preschools in the United States. About Samara Early Learning Samara Early Learning helps educators create nature-based schools or add the nature-based approach to existing programs. With our support on the business or teaching side of operations, educators help young children learn with nature to expand their worlds and live rich, full lives. Services include books, in-person and on-demand workshops,The Grove [https://www.samarael.com/grove]professional learning community, and much more. Visit www.SamaraEL.com [http://www.samarael.com/] to learn more! Discover the next steps on your nature-based journey! Take the 90-second quiz [https://www.samarael.com/quiz] & receive your custom Toolkit for implementing nature-based early childhood education.

Teacher Appreciation Week: A Heartfelt Thank You

A special thank you message for Teacher Appreciation Week. About Dr. Rachel A. Larimore Dr. Rachel A. Larimore is an educator, consultant, and former nature-based preschool director. Her work focuses on the intentional integration of nature to support young children’s holistic development by learning with nature to expand their worlds and live rich, full lives. She has written multiple books including Establishing a Nature-Based Preschool, [https://www.samarael.com/shop/p/enp] Preschool Beyond Walls: Blending Early Childhood Education and Nature-Based Learning [https://www.samarael.com/shop/p/pbw], Evaluating Natureness: Measuring the Quality of Nature-based Classrooms in Pre-k Through 3rd Grade [https://www.samarael.com/shop/p/evaluating-natureness], and Reimagining the Role of Teachers in Nature-based Learning: Helping Children be Curious, Confident, and Caring [https://www.samarael.com/shop/p/roles]. Rachel is the founder and Chief Visionary of Samara Early Learning. Prior to founding Samara, she spent more than a decade starting and directing one of the first nature-based preschools in the United States. About Samara Early Learning Samara Early Learning helps educators create nature-based schools or add the nature-based approach to existing programs. With our support on the business or teaching side of operations, educators help young children learn with nature to expand their worlds and live rich, full lives. Services include books, in-person and on-demand workshops,The Grove [https://www.samarael.com/grove]professional learning community, and much more. Visit www.SamaraEL.com [http://www.samarael.com/] to learn more! Discover the next steps on your nature-based journey! Take the 90-second quiz [https://www.samarael.com/quiz] & receive your custom Toolkit for implementing nature-based early childhood education.

Power of a First Bump: The Role of Relationships in Nature-based Education

This week, we dive into the significance of building relationships in the realm of nature-based early childhood education. How intentional are we about fostering connections within our educational environments? Are we building relationships with small, consistent actions?  Show Notes The Gottman Institute's "Turning Towards Instead of Away" [https://www.gottman.com/blog/turn-toward-instead-of-away/] About Dr. Rachel A. Larimore Dr. Rachel A. Larimore is an educator, consultant, and former nature-based preschool director. Her work focuses on the intentional integration of nature to support young children’s holistic development by learning with nature to expand their worlds and live rich, full lives. She has written multiple books including Establishing a Nature-Based Preschool, [https://www.samarael.com/shop/p/enp] Preschool Beyond Walls: Blending Early Childhood Education and Nature-Based Learning [https://www.samarael.com/shop/p/pbw], Evaluating Natureness: Measuring the Quality of Nature-based Classrooms in Pre-k Through 3rd Grade [https://www.samarael.com/shop/p/evaluating-natureness], and Reimagining the Role of Teachers in Nature-based Learning: Helping Children be Curious, Confident, and Caring [https://www.samarael.com/shop/p/roles]. Rachel is the founder and Chief Visionary of Samara Early Learning. Prior to founding Samara, she spent more than a decade starting and directing one of the first nature-based preschools in the United States. About Samara Early Learning Samara Early Learning helps educators create nature-based schools or add the nature-based approach to existing programs. With our support on the business or teaching side of operations, educators help young children learn with nature to expand their worlds and live rich, full lives. Services include books, in-person and on-demand workshops,The Grove [https://www.samarael.com/grove]professional learning community, and much more. Visit www.SamaraEL.com [http://www.samarael.com/] to learn more! Discover the next steps on your nature-based journey! Take the 90-second quiz [https://www.samarael.com/quiz] & receive your custom Toolkit for implementing nature-based early childhood education.

Earth Day Reflections: Our Personal Connections to Nature

In this Earth Day episode, the focus is on recognizing our own personal connections to the natural world and that influences our role as nature-based educators. About Dr. Rachel A. Larimore Dr. Rachel A. Larimore is an educator, consultant, and former nature-based preschool director. Her work focuses on the intentional integration of nature to support young children’s holistic development by learning with nature to expand their worlds and live rich, full lives. She has written multiple books including Establishing a Nature-Based Preschool, [https://www.samarael.com/shop/p/enp] Preschool Beyond Walls: Blending Early Childhood Education and Nature-Based Learning [https://www.samarael.com/shop/p/pbw], Evaluating Natureness: Measuring the Quality of Nature-based Classrooms in Pre-k Through 3rd Grade [https://www.samarael.com/shop/p/evaluating-natureness], and Reimagining the Role of Teachers in Nature-based Learning: Helping Children be Curious, Confident, and Caring [https://www.samarael.com/shop/p/roles]. Rachel is the founder and Chief Visionary of Samara Early Learning. Prior to founding Samara, she spent more than a decade starting and directing one of the first nature-based preschools in the United States. About Samara Early Learning Samara Early Learning helps educators create nature-based schools or add the nature-based approach to existing programs. With our support on the business or teaching side of operations, educators help young children learn with nature to expand their worlds and live rich, full lives. Services include books, in-person and on-demand workshops,The Grove [https://www.samarael.com/grove]professional learning community, and much more. Visit www.SamaraEL.com [http://www.samarael.com/] to learn more! Discover the next steps on your nature-based journey! Take the 90-second quiz [https://www.samarael.com/quiz] & receive your custom Toolkit for implementing nature-based early childhood education.