Stokes Valley Kindergarten

24/05/2025

Kia Ora everybody!

I wanted to share with this amazing professional community that I ( Jodi ) have left my position as Head Teacher of Stokesvalley kindergarten.
My journey here for the past 11 years has been nothing but exceptional. It was here I explored, designed and developed a philosophy i truly loved, and one that reflected the teacher and leader I am.

I want to Thankyou all for following the work I did here alongside the teams over the many years. I know the kindergarten will continue their amazing mahi as they work together with a new leader.

My journey with the Hutt City kindy assoication continues but in another role, senior head teacher at another service, and I am beyond excited to create a unique, inspiring and passionate place of learning for a new community. ❤️

07/04/2025

Another wonderful opportunity to connect with our professional colleagues from Aussie, engaging in professional pedagogy, sharing our passion and enthusiasm for learning. Kelly Goodsirr

10/02/2025

Jodi ( Head Teacher ) breaking down how we plan and prepare for project inquiry. Based on the current interest ( oat the goat) and how we build foundations or layers of thinking to keep projects from fizzing out quickly. We hope this is helpful for anyone else on the journey of inquiry based learning.

10/02/2025

Children sharing their own ideas and theories on how to make slime. After talking about slime from the book itself, it prompted ongoing inquiry for further exploration. Using our fabulous messy play station we were able to provide a variety of substances suggested by the children as they explore their own working theories.

10/02/2025

Over the past couple of weeks we have used our raw documentation as a guide to successfully respond to children’s growing curiosity. Provocations carefully planned out throughout the session to prompt inquiry and investigations.

Children have become interested in caves, making slime ( from our previous mat time video shared) planning trips into the community, drawing and engaging in group collaborative pieces that resemble characters from the book!

28/01/2025

A wee video of capturing childrens brilliant ideas, concepts and theories about the wonderful world around them. Transforming “mat times” into inquiry based conversations that spark curiosity where collaboration and group times empower learners to create and design their own curriculum. We can’t wait to take these ideas 💡 and turn them into provocations for active exploration. , investigation and research.

27/01/2025

How do we start a project?
Through natural conversations, play, interactions and resources children spark an interest… it’s our job to listen and always be aware and ready to capture these interests and respond immediately… here’s a little insight to a brand new project we are exploring currently and how quickly we responded… it’s about being prepared but unprepared at the very sametime.

16/01/2025

2025✨ I’m very excited to be engaging in progressional learning with a dear friend and colleague of mine KGlearning. Together we will be engaging in professsional learning as we articulate, share and inspire other educators around the exciting and many possible ways to educate children through inquiry based learning. Online workshops available 👇.

Children deserve a right to quality education and care, surrounded with many opportunities that empower, uplift and provoke ongoing inquiry as they make sense of the world around them. With a passion for upholding children’s rights to inspiring plays paces I am so very passionate and excited to begin this journey of sharing ✨

https://www.kglearning.com.au/event-details/inquiry-projects-catching-sustaining-ideas-with-children-term-1-2025-5-february-2025-2025-02-05-10-30

07/11/2024

Often we are asked how we run a kindergarten session with 2 year olds… “ do they interrupt your session?”
No, they don’t. We adapt our session to include them, rituals and routines that make them feel safe and secure while children continue to play. Sleep time often happens after lunch, or as children show signs they are tired. We prepare the envionrment with quite indoor learning experiences, our way to show respect for learners and sleepers.

06/11/2024

We love bringing our fav stories to life 💚

30/10/2024

17/10/2024

🍄🌱🪻 A perfect warm overcast day to explore in the gardens 🌱