"Baird and Coughlin disrupt coaching and supervising approaches that disempower educators and invite us to consider pedagogical leadership that creates the conditions for relationships and learning to flourish. They share stories drawing on decades of experience transforming their own work, offer pages for reflection, and challenge us deeply." --Margie Carter, early childhood consultant and co-author of
The Visionary Director "Wow! I loved every minute of this book. If you only pick one book for your professional unfolding this year, make it this one. The depth of thinking, reflection, and real-life stories set you on a path of deep learning and growth. Essential reading for all who are about the lived experience of young children and their educators. This should be required reading in all ECE programs." --Dr. Jean Clinton, MD, FRCP (C), Clinical Professor Child Psychiatry McMaster University
"Brilliant! I want to read it over and over, slowly, and deliberately, savoring every word. Baird and Coughlin demonstrate how, with deliberate intention, we can build a program worthy of our children, our families, our teams, and ourselves. Through story sharing and clear achievable steps, they invite us to think about how we can create space for reflection, and build our environments through respect, trust, and collaboration. A must-read for all leadership positions within child care organizations and for those aspiring to lead. This is how I want to live and work." --Sheila Olan-Maclean, CEO, Compass Early Learning & Care
"An inspiring and insightful resource. Finally, a book that will become my pedagogical companion!
Creating a Culture of Reflective Practice will be referred to time and time again by educators and pedagogical leaders that would like to reflect and grow their practice." --Paola Hohenadel, RECE, MEd, Affiliated Services for Children and Youth (ASCY), Hamilton, Ontario
"Throughout their book, Lorrie and Anne Marie offer a variety of thought-provoking reflective questions that help shift practice. As a Pedagogical Leader, offering opened questions along with 'reflection', inspires educators to align their values, beliefs, and learning, while developing a critical understanding of their own practice. This provokes educators to consider their own knowledge, skills, and dispositions to achieve the best outcomes for children." --Lisa Bellardini, RECE, Director of Learning and Pedagogy & Carrie Horn, RECE, Executive Director Hamilton-Wentworth Catholic Child Care Centres
"When early childhood educators and program leaders choose to step away from pre-planned curricula, we may initially find ourselves without much to hold on to. Simply directing educators to pursue a reflective teaching approach--without providing any supportive guidance or practical tools--is just mean! Intentional pedagogical leadership fills that gap, enabling a reflective and responsive experience for educators, children, and families. From a place of deep experience and empathy, Lorrie and Anne Marie offer us relevant and usable strategies for pedagogical leadership, and a robust framework for upholding reflective practice in our classrooms and schools." --Sarah Felstiner, operations manager, Epiphany Early Learning Preschool
