Practice

Guideline July 2020

Pedagogical Practice

Registered early childhood educators (RECEs) are knowledgeable about current learning
theories and pedagogical and curriculum approaches that are based on inclusion and
inquiry and play-based learning.
- Standard II: B.2, Code of Ethics and Standards of Practice, 2017

The Early Childhood Educators Act, 2007 You can use this resource to help you
describes an RECE’s practice as the learn about:
planning and delivery of inclusive play-based • your professional role and responsibilities
learning and care programs that promote related to your pedagogical practice
children’s well-being, their sense of belonging
• the relationship between pedagogy and
and overall development. To fulfill these
curriculum
responsibilities, you:
• the significance of inquiry and play-based
• develop caring and responsive learning, collaborative relationships and
relationships with children and families critical reflection
• strategies to guide pedagogical
• communicate collaboratively with the
observation, documentation, planning,
learning community implementation, assessment and
• engage in ongoing professional learning adaptation
to support your pedagogical practice • ways to use professional judgment and
demonstrate leadership in pedagogical
• generate an environment that fosters practice
curiosity and inclusion
It also provides practical examples, scenarios
and reflection questions to help you think about
your practice, discuss ideas, test theories and
In this practice guideline, the learning share learning with others in the community.
community consists of children, families In your daily practice with children, families and
and colleagues.
colleagues — the learning community — you
create pedagogical experiences that foster the joy
of learning.
 About this Publication

Practice guidelines communicate certain

expectations of Registered Early Childhood
Educators (RECEs) as outlined in the Code
of Ethics and Standards of Practice (Code
and Standards). Guidelines also highlight
how those expectations may be applied in
practice. They include recommendations
and provide opportunities for self-reflection
and professional learning. The Code and
Standards, current research and related
legislation should be consulted when
considering practice guidelines. Practice
guidelines support the College’s role to
promote high standards and continuous
professional learning and to govern the
conduct of RECEs.

Visit college-ece.ca/en/Member/Resources to access all the guidelines.

2 July 2020 | Practice Guideline: Pedagogical Practice | College of Early Childhood Educators
 Table of Contents

What is pedagogy? 4
What is curriculum? 5
Elements of pedagogical practice 7
Child-centred, inquiry and play-based learning 8
Responsive relationships 10
Collaborative inquiry and critical reflection 11
Pedagogical processes 13
Observation and listening 14
Documentation and narration 19
Planning and implementation 20
Program assessment and adaptation 22
Using professional judgment in pedagogical processes 23
Demonstrating pedagogical leadership 26
Pedagogical leaders share leadership 26
Moving forward in practice 27
Scenario for reflection 29
It’s a special occasion! 29
Questions for reflection 30
References 32
Additional resources 33

Suggestions for using the practice guideline:

• Take your time to review the material and additional resources.

• Focus on areas that are most relevant to your current practice or sections that
challenge you.
• Examine a particular segment during a staff or team meeting, or share in a
community of practice.
• Actively engage in collaborative discussions to reflect on, challenge and
question the complexities of practice.

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What is pedagogy?
The College adopted the definition of pedagogy from Early Learning for Every Child Today (2007)
and How Does Learning Happen? (2014). Pedagogy is the understanding of how learning takes
place and the philosophy and practice that supports that understanding of learning. Pedagogical
thought is growing in complexity and must consider diverse and changing contexts (Vintimilla,
2019). Across Canada, and internationally, there are growing theoretical and practical discussions
that describe pedagogy as a way of being that sparks conversations about life, the environment,
community and relationships.

Theories of child development are foundational to early childhood education. They are reflected in
legislation and policy, and in your pedagogical practice as you create child-centered and play-based
learning experiences with the learning community. Standard II says that RECEs use their knowledge
of child development, learning theories and pedagogy when observing, documenting, planning,
implementing and assessing inquiry and play-based learning.

As an RECE, you know that childhood is not merely a set of linear, fixed stages; children’s development
is integrated across a variety of contexts and environments (Standard II). As part of your pedagogical
practice, it is important to critically reflect on child development and learning theories to consider what
is missing when children and their families are viewed through linear, fixed stages that may not account
for race, gender, socio-economic status or religion. Think about how these factors might have an
impact on relationships, communities, children, families and colleagues in your learning environment.

When considering your approach to pedagogy, think about other factors that influence your
practice, including, but not limited to:
• your cultural beliefs, values, perceptions and biases about:
◦ children and how they learn
◦ the role of families
◦ your role as an educator
• different child development and learning theories
• the unique social contexts and histories of members in your learning community
• social justice issues: children’s rights, equity, diversity and inclusion
• Indigenous ways of knowing and being
• the role of the natural environment
• the importance of sharing knowledge and gaining new outlooks
• program plan requirements in your practice setting

4 July 2020 | Practice Guideline: Pedagogical Practice | College of Early Childhood Educators
What is curriculum?
Although the terms curriculum and pedagogy are often used together, they are not the same.
Curriculum is the content of learning the sum total of environments, experiences, activities, interactions
and events designed to foster children’s development, learning and well-being.

Pedagogy is the pathway to making curriculum. With a purposeful approach to pedagogy, the
curriculum is meaningful for children.

Educ
ato
rs
es
ili
m
Fa

Cu Environment
rriculum
ren d
hil

Peda ogy
C

Com
munities

Figure 1: Ongoing process of making curriculum

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 Here is an example:

The children look through the window at a bird they have seen daily for the past few days.
A child asks, “Why does that bird sit on the same branch in our tree every day?” More
questions about the bird and its actions are asked and considered.

The RECEs observe the children’s curiosity and engage with them from a pedagogical
approach that stems from the belief that outdoor learning supports children’s understanding
of the world around them. The RECEs infer that the children are developing a growing
interest in this bird. Through collaborative dialogue, the RECEs and the children decide
to go outside to explore. Following the children’s lead, the RECEs choose to go outside,
not just because they have an obligation to spend a certain amount of time outdoors, but
because their decision also has a pedagogical significance. Before going out, the RECEs
and the children discuss what kinds of materials to bring outside. They gather sketching
paper, drawing tools, the centre camera and a pair of binoculars so they can inspect and
record the bird’s actions. As the children are getting ready to go outside, an RECE asks the
children purposeful questions. Together they wonder, “Is the bird looking for food? Is the bird
waiting for friends or deciding where to build a nest? Let’s go find out — but we will need to
take the back door so we don’t scare the bird away!”

Their collaborative questions, curiosities and interactions are focused around investigating
the bird in the natural environment. The children’s interests make the curriculum, which
is guided by the RECE’s pedagogical approach. For example, the children make the
curriculum by deciding they need to create binoculars to get a closer look at the bird.
Together, they begin collecting a variety of natural artifacts and combine them with items
they find indoors to make binoculars. In preparation for the following day, the RECE asks
two children to examine whether the bird is gathering any food or other materials. Another
small group of children decide they want to explore if there are other birds in the area and
whether or not the bird has any friends or family.

The next day, children bring materials from their homes that were inspired by family discussions
about the bird. As the children and RECEs peer out the window using their binoculars and
waiting for the bird to arrive, they ask each other questions and talk about their findings. A
child asks, “Where do you think she goes when she is not in our tree?” “Do you think she’ll
ever come back?” “How do you know the bird is a she?” The RECE remarks, “We still have
more questions, don’t we? Maybe the bird can help us with our questions if it comes back later.”

6 July 2020 | Practice Guideline: Pedagogical Practice | College of Early Childhood Educators
Elements of pedagogical practice
This graphic highlights the core elements of pedagogical practice which are:

• child-centred, inquiry and play-based learning

• responsive relationships
• collaborative inquiry and critical reflection

Figure 2: Elements of pedagogical practice

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Child-centred, inquiry and play-based learning

Children’s learning is supported by professionals who, as ongoing learners themselves, understand

current research and theories that explore how children learn. With your knowledge and understanding
of the significance of child-centred, inquiry and play-based learning, you’re able to plan, create, implement,
document, assess and adapt the curriculum based on children’s growing interests and inquiries.

RECEs have ethical and professional obligations to implement play-based learning in certain practice
settings as outlined in the Code and Standards. Ontario’s pedagogy for the early years, How Does
Learning Happen? (2014), states that an educator’s role is not to teach specific outcomes, but to
support children to learn through play and inquiry. Inquiry plays a vital role in children’s learning and
RECEs value children’s curiosity by being curious themselves.

The importance of play and inquiry is also noted in The Kindergarten Program (2016). It indicates that
something is lost when teaching models centre on fixed approaches or pre-determined themes geared
to a specific set of learning outcomes. This approach excludes children and hinders both their creativity
and opportunities to be contributors to their learning. Children need to be truly connected to the content
of the curriculum so that they can engage in their communities as active citizens.

By actively listening to children’s ideas and interpretations, and incorporating their contributions into the
curriculum you show children that:
• they are capable contributors
• their interests and questions are important
• they are researchers and designers of their pathways to learning
• they are valued

Inquiry-based
Themes
learning

Fixed Flexible

Figure 3: Pedagogical approaches: fixed vs. flexible

8 July 2020 | Practice Guideline: Pedagogical Practice | College of Early Childhood Educators
 Pause and Reflect

Think about how your own experiences influence the ways that you facilitate play. With
colleagues in your practice setting or community of practice, discuss your beliefs about and
experiences with play.
• How do your experiences differ?
• How are they alike?

Strengthening your practice is an evolving process that is reinforced through continuous

professional learning. With colleagues, read the College’s Practice Note: Play-Based Learning
(2018) and reflect on how you:
• observe children’s play to determine their interests and make learning visible
• engage with children to extend their thinking and learning opportunities
• create inclusive indoor and outdoor environments with the learning community
• design schedules that allow for uninterrupted and extended periods of play
• communicate the value of play-based learning to families and colleagues
[Communicating the Value of Play-Based Learning, 2018]

As an RECE, you recognize and respect the uniqueness and diversity of families and provide meaningful
opportunities for them to engage in and contribute to the learning environment and their child’s experiences
(Ethic B). Knowing that children are best understood in the context of their families, cultures and
communities, you actively involve families because you understand they are of primary importance to
children’s development and well-being. When children, families and colleagues are valued as capable
contributors of children’s learning, this inclusive approach can be viewed as what Langford (2010) calls
a “democratic pedagogical centre” that invites discussions from everyone in the learning community.

Pause and Reflect

It can be challenging to involve children, particularly infants and toddlers, and families in the
program. With colleagues, consider the following:
• How do children and families in your practice setting currently contribute to the program
and curriculum?
• Do you believe that children of all ages and their families are capable of contributing?
Why or why not?
• With differing commitments and responsibilities, how do you ensure that the ideas of
children and families are valued and considered?
• Do you value and respect the unique ways that families contribute? How?

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Responsive relationships

Collaborative relationships with the learning community positively influence pedagogy because they
enhance children’s sense of belonging, their well-being, learning and development. These relationships
are most effective and meaningful when the individuals are committed to respecting equity, inclusion and
diversity. Developing and maintaining responsive relationships is one of your primary responsibilities.
Get to know members of your community by learning about their interests, beliefs, goals and what
matters to them.

Read the College’s Practice Guideline: Supporting Positive Interactions with Children
(2017). With colleagues, reflect on how you support children through positive interactions and
relationships with the learning community.

Using a range of communication strategies, you engage positively in your interactions with the learning
community. Strong working relationships with colleagues also support children and families. When
staff members work co-operatively together, they model respect while cultivating inclusive learning
environments where all members of the learning community feel a sense of belonging.

Pause and Reflect

Consider the ways you cultivate relationships with diverse communities.

• Describe how your pedagogical practice is inclusive of different values, experiences and
ways of knowing, being and learning.
• Describe how your pedagogical practice is inclusive of differences in culture, family
structure, language, religion, socio-economic status and housing.
• What have you learned from your pedagogical relationships with
◦ children?
◦ families?
◦ colleagues?
Cultivating relationships with the natural world is another important aspect of pedagogical
practice. Standard III says that RECEs promote children’s physical, emotional, mental and
spiritual health and well-being by providing children with daily opportunities to connect with the
natural world, year-round.

The land, animals and seasons are valuable teachers.

• What have you learned through your connections with nature?
• How do you support children’s learning in natural environments?
• What resources do you need to strengthen your pedagogical practice outdoors?

10 July 2020 | Practice Guideline: Pedagogical Practice | College of Early Childhood Educators
Collaborative inquiry and critical reflection

The Code and Standards states that

collaborative inquiry involves engaging
with the learning community in critical
reflection to question theory and practice,
discuss ideas, test theories and share
learning.

Critical reflection requires you to consider

and challenge the beliefs, assumptions and
understandings that frame how you view
and respond to children. It is the active
process of engaging with difficult concepts,
tensions and uncertainties, and changing
your practice as a result. Figure 4: Educator exploring a plant with children

RECEs are ongoing learners who welcome opportunities to engage in collaborative inquiry, which involves
the process of critical reflection. Collaborative inquiry can occur:
• spontaneously throughout the day
• through planned discussions with colleagues
• by joining a professional community of practice

Critical reflection can happen in collaboration with others and it also involves the process of self-reflection
which, in turn, could lead to deeper collaborative inquiry.

RECEs engage in collaborative inquiry and co-construct knowledge with children and families because
they understand that:
• A child’s learning and development is integrated across multiple domains and within a variety of
contexts that will vary for each child and family.
• Children of all ages are capable, enthusiastic learners with unique personalities, skills and
interests.
• When children are stimulated by ideas and materials that are meaningful to them, they are
empowered to engage and explore.
• Children and families are key contributors to the learning.

Engaging in collaborative inquiry supports your practice because it reveals new and differing perspectives
about pedagogy. It also demonstrates your commitment to ongoing learning (CPL Portfolio Cycle Handbook;
How Does Learning Happen?, 2014; Code of Ethics and Standards of Practice, 2017, Standard IV).

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 Pause and Reflect

How do you engage with the learning community in your practice setting in addition to
a community of practice, mentors, mentees and students to support your pedagogical
practice?
• Are there any additional resources you need to enhance your approach to
pedagogy?
• How can you advocate for resources to support your practice?
• What questions do you have about pedagogy and the process of making
curriculum?
• Where can you find the answers to these questions?
• Are you comfortable with not having all the answers?

If, through collaborative inquiry, you become aware of any of the following points, seek
out resources and research to guide your professional learning and practice:
• You have beliefs about certain children, families, cultures or communities that
might hinder their participation.
• You view children through a single lens of child development, rather than through
diverse contexts in which children learn and develop.
• You identify areas for growth in your knowledge and skills related to:
◦ pedagogical practice
◦ working with a particular age group
◦ working in a specific community
◦ developing relationships with the natural world

12 July 2020 | Practice Guideline: Pedagogical Practice | College of Early Childhood Educators
Pedagogical Processes
This graphic highlights the core pedagogical processes which are:
• observation and listening
• documentation and narration
• planning and implementation
• assessment and adaptation

Figure 5: Pedagogical processes graph

Pedagogical processes are supported by the elements of pedagogical practice:

• child-centred, inquiry and play-based learning
• responsive relationships
• collaborative inquiry and critical reflection

The pedagogical processes are also supported by your pedagogical approach. Use the pedagogical
processes as steps to guide you in bringing children’s ideas to life in the program. The processes are
not necessarily linear; they can change or overlap and, in many ways, be used simultaneously.

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Observation and listening

Observation is a vital component of pedagogical

practice. While it can be viewed as a passive
activity, observation involves much more than
simply watching children and writing down what
they are doing or expressing. Actively observing
children allows you to identify individual and group
needs and interests to inspire the pedagogical
approach (Standard II). Pedagogical observation
is purposeful and informed by your knowledge,
skills and experiences as well as your beliefs,
values and biases.

When you think about observation, it may be

challenging to know where to begin. Pedagogue
Lorenzo Manera (2019) suggests developing a
research question to guide your initial observations.
Figure 6: Children painting outdoors
For example, observe children with questions in
mind, such as:

In what ways will the children use the wagon?

How will the infants use the paint and sponges?

You might observe children using the materials as expected, or you might discover they use and interpret
the materials in unexpected and unique ways. This could lead to more complex research questions
such as:

Is the wagon interesting because it can transport things, because it moves or

because using it gives children a sense of power?

What is it about painting that appeals to them so much?

Are the children interested in the wagon itself or the wheels and other parts that
keep it together and make it move?

Are they interested in the paint, the texture of the paper or the way the water falls
off the brush?

14 July 2020 | Practice Guideline: Pedagogical Practice | College of Early Childhood Educators
Listening to children helps you gain an
awareness of their interests and ideas.
Through an approach that Carlina Rinaldi
calls the “pedagogy of listening”, RECEs
observe children with intent. This approach
invites you to pay attention to the
subtleties and nuances of expressions,
words, silences, movement, stillness,
body language, hesitations, questions and
interpretations. You can use pedagogy
of listening to create physical and
social environments where children’s
curiosities are valued, and where they
feel comfortable, confident, motivated and
respected (Rinaldi, 2005). Figure 7: Educator with a child in a garden

Supporting children through Rinaldi’s pedagogy of listening requires you to be attuned to the many ways
that children communicate with the world around them. With the learning community, look for ways to
integrate children’s ideas into the program to expand their curiosity. Remember, children will also create
research questions and learning materials with or without support from educators or peers. For children
who are non-verbal, actively look at what attracts their attention or what they are reaching for to give
you insights into what interests them.

Pause and Reflect

With colleagues, consider the following reflection questions:

• What does listening mean to you?
• What do you value in a good listener?
• What have you learned by listening to children?
• What are some of the challenges you face with listening?
• What helps you to be a good listener?

Consider how you might respond, or not respond, to the children’s reactions, interests and
questions in the following practice examples. How do you know what the children might be
interested in? How might you document and extend their learning based on the interactions
with their peers and the environment?

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Examples of interactions between children and the natural world

After touching a particularly rugged piece of the tree bark,

Anabelle leaps backwards. Her body tightens and she
wrinkles her face. She then peers down to inspect her finger
while José, another child playing nearby, walks toward her
looking at her hand.

José: “Are you ok? Is there any blood?”

Anabelle: “No, I have no blood but the tree bark pricked me.”
José: “Your finger is red but no blood. I wonder if the tree
would bleed if it got hurt?”
Anabelle: “Me too! I wonder if trees bleed and feel things.”

Kayla moves her face closer and closer to the tree bark
making a loud sniffing noise and wiggling her nose.
She looks at Lily remarking on the “dirty” smell.

Kayla: “Whoa that tree stinks like my brother after he

cuts the grass!”
Lily: “Shhhhhh, be quiet, the tree can hear us and I am
trying to hear what it is saying!”
Kayla: “No! The tree can’t hear or talk!” and she runs
away laughing holding her nose.
Lily: Running after Kayla she shouts, “But they can!
Trees listen by using a special code. Come back and
let me show you!”

16 July 2020 | Practice Guideline: Pedagogical Practice | College of Early Childhood Educators
 Rodney and Melinda lie on a blanket under a tree.
They both raise their heads and appear to watch a
leaf that is falling from the tree to the ground beside
their blanket. They bounce up and down on their
stomachs while Rodney screams and reaches for
the leaf, picking it up and squeezing it with his fist
before bringing it toward his mouth. Melinda looks at
Rodney and then looks up at the RECE and cries.

Abneet and Alexander stand below the

tree taking a sip of water. They tilt their
heads back and Abneet points to one of
the higher, larger branches.
Abneet: “Look Alex, I can see a bird
building a nest! Can you see it?”
The nest is hidden from view, but the
children peer quietly at the moving
branches. Alexander: “No, I can’t see a
bird.”
Abneet: “No, I know neither can I but,
look – I see leaves moving and I know it’s
the bird making a nest for her eggs.”
Lucas, standing nearby: “Who says it’s a
her? Sometimes the dad makes the nest.”

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These examples point to the different ways children express themselves and respond to each other
and the environment depending on their age, interests and the physical setting. They point to the
importance of giving children ample uninterrupted play time and opportunities to develop relationships
with their peers and the land.

Consider these examples and think about how you might use observation and listening to:

• reflect on your beliefs and biases about:

◦ children’s capabilities
◦ healthy risk-taking during play
◦ outdoor learning year-round

• actively engage with children’s interests and questions

• respect the learning processes and theories children generate

• actively involve children of all ages in the development of curriculum

• honour children’s independence and autonomy

In these examples, the children’s interests could inform the curriculum content about many things, including:

• trees and how they grow

• life cycles and how the body works

• emotions, languages and communication

• colours, textures and scents

• gravity, perspective, distance and weight

• ways to respect and care for ourselves, our peers and the natural world

Pause and Reflect

Consider the examples: When would it be important for you to step back, listen to and observe
children rather than respond immediately?

• By stepping back and observing, how might you give children the opportunity to be
independent and work out complex problems on their own?

• What might be lost if educators react immediately? What might be gained?

Asking children open-ended questions or making simple statements may generate more complex
thinking that extends their learning or challenges ideas and beliefs.

• When might be a good time to react and respond to children’s ideas, actions, beliefs and
questions? How do you know?

18 July 2020 | Practice Guideline: Pedagogical Practice | College of Early Childhood Educators
The examples also highlight the significance of sharing and contemplating observations with the learning
community. Be sure to include children in these discussions as they will offer valuable questions,
observations and interpretations. Invite members of the broader community, such as Elders, youth,
volunteers and other professionals, to share their perspectives as well. Depending on their outlook,
experiences and values, some members of the community might be more mindful of the ways children
communicate using words, while others might notice children’s movement, their facial and body language,
or their silence. Some may be more attuned to children’s developing relationships with the land.

Documentation and narration

Pedagogical documentation is an
ongoing, open-ended and expanding
process where you consider the ideas
and questions posed by the learning
community. Documentation makes
learning visible so it’s easier to critically
reflect upon and discuss with others
during the process of making curriculum.
Sharing ideas will enhance the program
and children’s experiences.

Examples:

• Observe and collect notes, journals,

quotes, audio, photos and videos
of what the children are expressing,
doing and paying attention to since Figure 8: Children examining a beetle outdoors
not all children are verbal.

• Use learning stories to document a particular activity or an experience (Dietze & Kashin, 2016).

• Invite the children to collect or take photos of artifacts they’re interested in. Look at and talk about
photos with infants and toddlers.

• Collaborate with the learning community to make learning visible using storyboards, newsletters,
plays, songs, storytelling, blogs or online apps.

• Capture educators’ ideas about the children’s interests and questions.

Presenting children’s learning using different modalities, such as photos, storyboards, videos or artifacts,
supports different learners and members of the community who may be less familiar with the language
spoken at the practice setting.

Pelo and Carter (2018) remind us that documentation is about highlighting ‘real’ stories about childhood
rather than showcasing children’s milestones or achievements. When given the opportunity, children
will tell stories about their experiences and contribute to documentation. Depending on their age, they
may express themselves through their interest level in artifacts, images or videos, or in their response
to a song or story. Children can offer detailed interpretations of images or quotes and explain situations
that you may not have considered. This is the process whereby children contribute to the process of
making the curriculum.

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RECEs engage in dialogue with the learning community to gain new observations, ideas and questions
that will generate the curriculum. Documentation may expand to include more images, quotes and
other artifacts related to the children’s growing interests and ideas. Contributions from the learning
community strengthen relationships as members engage in discussions about the complexities of
thinking, learning and practice. Dahlberg and Moss remind us that pedagogical documentation creates
community (2005).

Pedagogical narration is a term that describes a collaborative investigation process that views
children and educators as capable researchers who work together to create, share and tell
stories that highlight children’s learning. Through narration, the learning community becomes
involved in the collaborative process of thinking about, not only children’s learning, but the
complexities of an educator’s practice. Journeys: Reconceptualising Early Childhood Practices
through Pedagogical Narration (2015).

Pause and Reflect

• How do you document children’s learning in order to generate collaborative dialogue with the
learning community?
• Consider the ways you respond to children’s interests and make learning visible.
◦ How are children involved in pedagogical documentation and making curriculum?
◦ How could they become more involved?

Planning and implementation

Once you learn more about the children’s interests, you can begin the collaborative, open-ended process
of planning and implementing the children’s ideas into the program — the process of making the
curriculum. One way to do this is to use a variety of materials to intentionally create or adapt indoor
and outdoor environments that support children’s exploration and learning (Standard II: C. 3). With the
learning community, you’re able to choose, build, make or find appropriate materials and arrange them
to reflect the children’s vision. Engage with children’s expanding ideas and questions, and continue to
document children’s evolving thoughts, statements and stories. When the curriculum content stems
from the children’s vision, they are bound to be inspired.

As children engage in learning, the environment and materials they use may also change and evolve.
For instance, children might find pieces of tree bark and bring them inside to closely examine the
texture using magnifying glasses and goggles. As they explore the bark, the children might discuss
flowers, bugs, a science lab or a campsite. Children might decide to stack the bark to create a log cabin
or a campfire. This, in turn, could spark conversations about friction, fire, balance, height and weight or
different cooking processes, as well as conversations about teamwork — the possibilities are endless.

20 July 2020 | Practice Guideline: Pedagogical Practice | College of Early Childhood Educators
To enhance their vision, children may gather new resources and materials in the following ways:
• from other areas in the learning environment
• creating them on their own, with educators or peers
• using their imagination
• through research
• collecting or creating artifacts
• bringing materials from home that were collected or created with their family

As this is happening, you can guide children’s thought processes and learning by thoughtfully and
intentionally adding materials to the environment and asking children relevant questions. Pedagogical
practice is an exciting process: it’s a pathway to making meaning and building community.

RECEs know that children are best understood in the context of their families, cultures and communities
(Standard I: B.3). Consider the diverse contexts and experiences of the learning community when
collaborating to make the curriculum. Think about where members of the learning community live and
the experiences they’ve had. Learn about the languages they speak, the cultural groups they belong to
and what they value.

Planning and implementation require time to engage in ongoing collaborative inquiry and critical reflection
with others. This time is needed to design and implement quality, inclusive pedagogical practices. RECEs
may find it useful to keep and reflect on the original and the evolving observations or program plans as
required during the learning process.

Pause and Reflect

• How do you choose or

create the materials for the
environment?

• Do children, including
infants and toddlers, have
opportunities to create, adapt
and build materials?

• How do families contribute?

Figure 9: Parent, child and educator having a conversation

College of Early Childhood Educators | Practice Guideline: Pedagogical Practice | July 2020
21
Program assessment and adaptation

One aspect of an RECE’s scope of practice is “the assessment of the programs and of the progress
of children in the programs” (ECE Act, 2007). Similar to the other pedagogical processes, program
assessment and adaptation requires you to assess your approach to pedagogy and make adaptations to the
curriculum that stem from children’s growing interests. You consider social justice issues such as inclusion,
diversity and equity when critically reflecting on and adapting the learning environment and materials.

Adaptations to the environment or the curriculum can either be made on the spot, or you may choose to
reflect on, review and consider the whole program to determine future adaptations. If you identify children
or groups of children who require an adaptation to support them and their learning, work with the learning
community to embed early intervention strategies into the program and environment (Standard III).

A more formal assessment of the overall program might expose the fact that children require more time
in the outdoors. Through critical reflection, RECEs may also notice that they need more resources to
guide them in implementing programs that incorporate the natural world and, together, they find ways to
achieve this.

Refer back to the practice examples on pages 16 & 17 and consider the following:

• When Melinda cries it suggests she needs support from the educator who decides to pick
Melinda up and move her toward something she seems to be reaching for. Upon reflection with
colleagues, the RECE considers whether Melinda might have benefited from interacting with
Rodney and the environment prior to being picked up. After engaging in collaborative critical
reflection, the RECE researches new ways to support infants and adapts her pedagogical
practice as a result.

• Alexander and Abneet plan to climb the tree to test out the strength of the branches. In
the moment, the RECE assesses the situation and intervenes by saying “NO! Be careful!”
Afterwards, the RECE engages in self-assessment to critically reflect on her decision to stop
the children. She determines she was fearful the children would be injured based on her own
past experience. After assessing the situation with colleagues, she determines the children’s
interactions with the environment and each other were safe and that her role was to encourage
exploration and respond in a way that supported them to take healthy risks. After reflecting on
her beliefs about children’s capabilities and her own fears, the RECE found resources to learn
more about the importance of reasonable risk-taking and adapted her practice.

Pause and Reflect

Think of a time when you made a pedagogical decision that you later reflected upon:

• Did collaborative critical reflection support your thinking about this decision?
• After sharing your experience with others, were you introduced to new ideas and
approaches?
• If so, how did you adapt your practice as a result?

22 July 2020 | Practice Guideline: Pedagogical Practice | College of Early Childhood Educators
Using professional judgment during pedagogical
processes
Professional judgment is informed by the Code and Standards, knowledge, experience and reflective
practice. In your daily practice, you use professional judgment when making decisions and responding
to spontaneous and unpredictable situations. Either in the moment or at the end of the day, reflect on
your decisions with colleagues to help you improve your practice. Self-reflection and collaborative
discussions with colleagues can inform your use of professional judgment and influence your
pedagogical beliefs and approach.

Take a moment to read the College’s Practice Note on Professional Judgment (2018) for
additional information and guidance on this topic.

Many factors can influence your professional judgment, and, in turn, your pedagogical practice.
Factors may include:

Internal Factors External Factors

Your: The:
• understanding of different learning • situation, context and people involved
theories • children’s age and capabilities
• interpersonal skills, knowledge and • interests of each child and the group
experiences
• environment and natural resources
• beliefs and biases
• relationships among the children and
• comfort level with difficult conversations educators, and the environment
and situations
• support from supervisors or administration
• capacity to support children to take
healthy risks • workplace culture and leadership

• knowledge and experience working with

different age groups
• ability to recognize when and how to
intervene
• leadership styles

College of Early Childhood Educators | Practice Guideline: Pedagogical Practice | July 2020
23
 Pause and Reflect

Critically reflect on your beliefs and biases about children, families and colleagues or specific
cultural groups. Think about what, who, why, where and how you make pedagogical decisions
related to specific children or groups of children.

Consider whether you:

• Monitor some children but engage in collaborative learning with others.
• Find some children’s behaviour, vocabulary or appearance more interesting, acceptable or
more valuable to observe and document.

How do you address your bias and beliefs in your pedagogical practice?

You’re responsible for creating an environment of trust and a feeling of safety, while using professional
judgment to support decisions that positively affect children and families. One way you can use your
professional judgment is by considering when and how to intervene in children’s interactions.

Use your professional judgment to determine when to let children work out complex ideas individually
or with peers, and when to participate in their inquiries with comments or questions that can extend and
challenge their thinking. The goal is to provide children with nurturing and supportive environments
where they have opportunities to solve problems on their own, but not at the expense of safety.

RECEs also use their professional judgment when making adaptations to the environment or curriculum.
If, during the collaborative process of program assessment and adaptation, the children adapt the learning
environment by moving or stacking materials in a way that impedes how children can move in and out of
the space, RECEs discuss this with the children so they can learn and make decisions together about how
to implement their vision while generating an inclusive space that is safe and accessible for everyone.

24 July 2020 | Practice Guideline: Pedagogical Practice | College of Early Childhood Educators
 Pause and Reflect

As you pay close attention to what children are doing and saying, you may witness dialogue that
makes you uncomfortable, either among children or between children and other adults. If you
hear something that you feel needs a response, consider why you think that and how you can
address statements that might be hurtful to someone in the learning community. Do you feel
comfortable intervening when something hurtful is expressed?

For example, a child says to another: “No, you can’t play because...
… you are stupid.” …you are too young.”

Think about what you might say or how you would engage in dialogue with the children to
understand the situation and what they are thinking.

• If you choose not to respond, what message are you sending?

• If you make the choice to respond, what message are you sending?

• Who else do you involve in this conversation? Colleagues? Families?

• What steps does your employer or governing body require you to take?

You also use your professional judgment when making decisions about communicating relevant
information with colleagues, families and students. For example, upon reflection, you might see
the need to address a situation:

• using face-to-face communication

• electronically by app, email, videoconference or phone

• with everyone involved right away

• with a child individually

• with a child and their family

• at another time following collaborative reflection with colleagues, families and children

College of Early Childhood Educators | Practice Guideline: Pedagogical Practice | July 2020
25
Demonstrating pedagogical leadership

The most important work a leader in this profession can do is to support and promote quality
early learning environments for children through pedagogical leadership (Coughlin & Baird, 2013).

Pedagogical leadership is the ongoing practice of engaging with children, families, colleagues and
community partners to draw on diverse experiences and collective knowledge to design inquiry and
play-based learning experiences for children.

Pedagogical leaders share leadership

Pedagogical leadership is not the sole responsibility of a supervisor; Standard IV says that all RECEs,
regardless of position or title, are leaders. While RECEs work in different practice settings and
employment roles, you’re all engaging in leadership activities as you practice the pedagogical ideas
emphasised in this resource.

Pedagogical leaders value and consider children’s and educators’ ideas and theories. Engage in
ongoing collaborative dialogue with the learning community, and ask questions that generate deeper
questions and seek answers and solutions with others. RECEs empower children to be the chief
researchers in their own exploration and learning.

Australian research (2009) says that pedagogical leaders need to have the following characteristics:

Related College resources to support

Characteristics of pedagogical leaders
your practice

The ability to shape and frame the

Practice Guideline: Professionalism (2018)
professionalism of early learning environments.

Support inclusion and communicate the

Practice Guideline: Inclusion of Children with
importance of high-quality early learning
Disabilities (2019)
experiences for all children.

Contribute to a better understanding of Practice Note: Play-based learning

the complexity of learning by engaging in
discussions about play-based learning with Connexions article: Communicating the
families and colleagues. Value of Play-based Learning

#StandardMatter series Standard I: Caring

Advocate for early childhood pedagogies that and Responsive Relationships
value collaboration, relationships, listening,
inquiry and play. #StandardsMatter series Standard II:
Curriculum and Pedagogy

26 July 2020 | Practice Guideline: Pedagogical Practice | College of Early Childhood Educators
There are many ways to design inclusive experiences for children and families. Some RECEs work
directly with the learning communities using the pedagogical elements and processes. Others may
hold formal leadership roles, such as supervisors, administrators and policy makers, and support the
learning community by overseeing pedagogical practices, curriculum and programs.

Formal leaders need to think broadly about how their work and roles in the sector meet the
expectations in the Code and Standards. RECEs in administrative roles can do this by reflecting on
how their education and pedagogical training influences their decision-making and how their specific
role supports the practice of others while promoting high-quality early childhood education (Code
and Standards, 2017).

RECEs in formal leadership roles can support pedagogical practice by:

• Supporting the development of inclusive programs, philosophies, policies and protocols.
• Engaging in ongoing learning with others, asking questions and being open to new ideas.
• Staying informed about new research and practice trends.
• Enhancing staff engagement and understanding of pedagogy, policy and legislation.
• Conducting formal assessments and seeking appropriate practice resources with staff.
• Matching staff with unique knowledge and skills so they can learn from one another.
• Developing learning experiences for staff that parallel what we want them to offer children
(Think, Feel, Act, 2013).

Moving forward in practice

An important aspect of pedagogical

leadership is Continuous Professional
Learning (CPL) which encourages
educators to be thinkers (Pelo & Carter,
2018). As leaders, RECEs understand
that learning supports their professional
growth, which in turn, improves the quality
of the early childhood education programs
and services for children, families and
communities (Standard IV). In other words,
engaging in CPL allows you to expand on
or acquire new knowledge, skills, resources
and ideas to improve your pedagogical
practice. This demonstrates to the public
that RECEs are committed to children,
families and communities as well as their
own learning, leadership development and
to the profession itself.
Figure 10: Colleagues collaborating

College of Early Childhood Educators | Practice Guideline: Pedagogical Practice | July 2020
27
RECEs collaborate with others to ensure high-quality early childhood education (Standard IV).
Pedagogical leaders are part of a community of practice that engages in critical thinking and
reflection. Communities of practice can be large or small, in person or online, informal or formal and
allow those with different pedagogical leadership skills and experiences to learn from each other.

For example:
• A supervisor in a licensed child care centre or a school principal could draw on the skills and
knowledge of an RECE with pedagogical experience to support staff, educators and the overall
program development.
• A home-based child care provider, connected to a community of practice, could draw on current
research and literature to discuss sector trends and practices to support their pedagogical
leadership skills.
• An RECE teaching post-secondary students could attend a conference to learn how to help
students understand the complexities of pedagogy, teaching and learning.
• An RECE in a family support program could learn more about what families in their community
value and they share their discoveries with others.

Regardless of how you support pedagogy, as an RECE you are a professional and a leader with
unique skills and knowledge. Leaders develop relationships and strengthen connections with educators,
community members, Elders, children and families, ensuring that all stakeholders are meaningfully
involved in the practice setting. Leaders also empower other RECEs — they encourage colleagues
and peers to view themselves as professionals, critical thinkers and researchers. Pedagogical
leaders bring everyone in their learning community together to provide high-quality experiences for
children and their families.

Figure 11: Colleagues having a conversation

28 July 2020 | Practice Guideline: Pedagogical Practice | College of Early Childhood Educators
Scenario for reflection
It’s a special occasion!

Grace works with preschool children in a licensed child care centre. Every year, she develops
an idea for a Mother’s Day gift that the children create. The families have become accustomed
to taking something home on this special day so she doesn’t want to disappoint them. Grace
thought this year’s group of children would be interested in making cookies for Mother’s Day.

Grace puts the ingredients on the tablecloth, along with measuring cups and spoons so the children
can add ingredients and mix the batter. She feels this activity will support children’s learning by way
of helping them to understand measurement, quantity, taking turns and the science of pouring
and mixing different materials. Grace plans to incorporate counting and selecting colours into
the activity since several parents have asked her to make sure the children can count to ten and
identify their colours in preparation for kindergarten.

The children are invited to join the cooking table in small groups. Grace calls out the names of the
children she feels are ready to join. She always choses children who are playing nicely at the time
of the activity because she feels it demonstrates that good behaviour is rewarded. The children
sit quietly waiting for their turn to stir in an ingredient. During their turn, they’re allowed to stir the
mixture for ten stirs. During this turn, the children at the table are asked to count aloud in unison.

While waiting for his turn to mix in some raisins, Tyson glanced over at his friends playing with
the building activity that he was called away from and said to Grace: “Why are we doing this
anyway? We were building a structure to make sure our farm doesn’t get destroyed by the rain.”
Grace replied: “You can go back to that and your friends soon, Tyson. Right now we are making
something to show your mom that you love her. Everyone has to do it, ok?”

Linda, an RECE and new supervisor of the centre, came into the room to see what all of the buzz
was about. Linda asked the children what they were doing and one of them said: “Grace is making
cookies for us to decorate for our moms.” Just then another child chimed in saying, “Yeah, we
have to make heart cookies and we’re counting and taking turns.”

Later that day, Linda asks Grace to share her thought process in the creation of the cookie activity.
Grace says that children always like baking and so she bought ingredients for the activity. Grace
pauses and says the idea also stemmed from the families, who had been asking her to make sure
that the children knew how to count to ten and identify their colours.

Linda said that it sounded like a great idea and she thinks the mothers would appreciate the
sentiment. She then challenges Grace to look carefully at how the children might have contributed
differently in this activity or to something else entirely. To explain, Linda points out the building
centre and the children’s mounting interest and engagement in what they were doing with it.
Linda feels Grace had missed the mark and suggests ways to involve the children and families
in the children’s learning.

College of Early Childhood Educators | Practice Guideline: Pedagogical Practice | July 2020
29
 Linda suggests: “If you do something like this, it would be important to begin the organization
process a little earlier in the event the activity needs to be adapted based on feedback from
families and colleagues. I’d also like you to consider your ideas about what Mother’s Day
means and how it should look. I invite you to be open to other ways of celebrating and involving
families.” Grace looks puzzled. Linda clarifies: “Grace, please think carefully about how you are
going to include Dani and Marika in this activity: Dani recently lost her mother to cancer and
Marika has two fathers.”

Questions for reflection

Critically reflect on this scenario with colleagues and think about your pedagogical relationships in your
unique practice setting.

Did Grace value the children’s play, interests and inquiries?

• If yes, how did she show respect for the children’s ideas, their voices and inquiries?
• If not, what was missing in her approach? What might you have done differently?

Some children were building a structure at the time of Grace’s activity.

• How would you have valued children as active contributors of their learning?
• How might you have responded to their dialogue about the structure they were building?
• In what ways could you have extended the children’s learning?

Grace mentioned that some families were anxious about their children being able to count to
ten and memorize their colours.
• How would you respond to these concerns from families?
• Do you feel prepared to discuss the value of play-based learning with families and colleagues?
• How do you balance your responsibilities to provide inclusive pedagogical experiences that stem
from children’s interests, while also respecting families’ interests and different beliefs about what
and how children should learn?

Involving children and families in the content of their learning can be a challenge.
• How do you respond to children’s inquiries and consider them when designing learning
experiences?
• In what ways can families become more involved in their children’s learning?
• How do you work with colleagues to ensure that children and families are involved?
• What additional supports do you need?

30 July 2020 | Practice Guideline: Pedagogical Practice | College of Early Childhood Educators
Consider the use of language “outcome-based learning” and “adult or thematic content” (i.e.
celebrations such as Valentine’s Day, Christmas and Halloween). How could themes or activities
that are outcome-based, like baking for Mother’s Day, take into consideration the following:
• children’s ideas and interests
• families’ ideas and interests
• diverse family structures
• different religions and beliefs
• social justice issues, such as inclusion and diversity
• a range of worldviews and celebrations

Consider your professional practice and pedagogical relationships with your learning community.
• How do you know what is important to children and families?
• What opportunities do children have to engage with ideas and materials that are important to them?
• What limits are placed on how children engage with materials, each other and the environment?
Who decides the limits and why are they in place?
• How can you create more opportunities for engagement and exploration?
• What would you need to support your practice?
• How do materials in the setting invite investigation, problem-solving and curiosity?

Consider how Linda demonstrated pedagogical leadership.

• How would you support Grace, considering where she is in her professional practice?
• In what ways do you mentor others?

College of Early Childhood Educators | Practice Guideline: Pedagogical Practice | July 2020
31
References
Australian Government Department of Education and Training. (2009). Belonging, Being and Becoming:
The Early Years Learning Framework for Australia. https://www.acecqa.gov.au/sites/default/
files/2018-02/belonging_being_and_becoming_the_early_years_learning_framework_for_australia.pdf

Best Start Expert Panel on Early Learning. (2007). Early Learning for Every Child Today (ELECT): A
framework for Ontario early learning settings. Ministry of Children and Youth Services.

Coughlin, A., & Baird, L. (2013). Pedagogical Leadership. In Ontario Ministry of Education (Ed.), Think,
Feel, Act: Lessons from Research about Young Children (pp. 16-21). http://www.edu.gov.on.ca/
childcare/ResearchBriefs.pdf

Dalberg, G., & Moss, P. (2005). Ethics and Politics in Early Childhood Education. RoutledgeFalmer.

Dietze, B., & Kashin, D. (2016). Empowering Pedagogy for Early Childhood Educators. Pearson Canada.

Langford, R. (2010). Critiquing Child-Centred Pedagogy to Bring Children and Early Childhood
Educators into the Centre of a Democratic Pedagogy. Contemporary Issues in Early Childhood, 11(1),
113-127. https://doi.org/10.2304/ciec.2010.11.1.113

Manera, L. (2019). Early Childhood’s Aesthetic Experience in the Digital Age: Perspectives and
Connections [Webinar]. Provincial Centre of Excellence for Early Years and Child Care. https://www.
earlychildhoodcollaboratory.net/early-childhoods-aesthetic-experience*

Ontario Ministry of Education. (2014). How Does Learning Happen? Ontario’s Pedagogy for the Early
Years. http://www.edu.gov.on.ca/childcare/howlearninghappens.pdf

Ontario Ministry of Education. (2016). The Kindergarten Program. https://files.ontario.ca/books/edu_

the_kindergarten_program_english_aoda_web_oct7.pdf

Pelo, A., & Carter, M. (2018). From Teaching to Thinking: A Pedagogy for Reimagining Our Work.
Exchange Press.

Rinaldi, C. (2005). Documentation and Assessment: What Is the Relationship? In A. Clark, A. T. Kjørholt
& P. Moss (Eds.), Beyond Listening: Children’s Perspectives on Early Childhood Services (pp. 29-49).
Policy Press.

Vintimilla, C. (2019). What Is Pedagogy? Provincial Centre of Excellence for Early Years and Child
Care. https://www.earlychildhoodcollaboratory.net/what-is-pedagogy*

32 July 2020 | Practice Guideline: Pedagogical Practice | College of Early Childhood Educators
Additional Resources
Callaghan, K., Hale, F., Leonhardi, M. T., & Lavallee, M. (2018). Decolonizing and Co-constructing
Contexts that Welcome Indigenous Practices and Knowledges in Early Childhood Education.
eceLINK, (2)1, 17-26. https://d3n8a8pro7vhmx.cloudfront.net/aeceo/pages/2394/attachments/
original/1527085193/eceLINK_Spring2018_FINAL_webready.pdf?1527085193

Carter, M., & Curtis, D. (2017). Learning Together with Young Children. Redleaf Press.

Couturier, M. (2019). Qu’est-ce qu’une image de l’enfant? Francophone Centre of Excellence for Early
Years and Child Care.*

Government of Canada. (2018). Indigenous Early Learning and Child Care Framework. https://www.
canada.ca/en/employment-social-development/programs/indigenous-early-learning/2018-framework.html

Huston, L. (2018). The Leadership Journey in the Spirit of Indigenous Early Childhood Educators in
Remote Northern First Nations Communities. eceLINK, 2(1), 45-56. https://d3n8a8pro7vhmx.cloudfront.
net/aeceo/pages/2394/attachments/original/1527085193/eceLINK_Spring2018_FINAL_webready.
pdf?1527085193

Kashin, D., & Green, C. (2019, March 23). Where Have All of the Projects Gone? Musings about
Inquiry in Early Childhood Education. Technology Rich Inquiry Based Research. https://tecribresearch.
wordpress.com/2019/03/

Lamoureux, L. (2019). L’image du professionnel de la petite enfance. Francophone Centre of

Excellence for Early Years and Child Care.*

Ministry of Education, British Columbia. (2019). Early Learning Framework. https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/

content/education-training/early-learning/teach/early-learning-framework

Ontario Ministry of Education. (2014). An Introduction to How Does Learning Happen? Ontario’s
Pedagogy for the Early Years: For Leaders. http://www.edu.gov.on.ca/childcare/leadersen.pdf

Peterson, S. S., Gardner, T., Ings, E., & Vecchio, K. (2018). Dramatic Play in Northern Aboriginal
Head Start Classrooms: Supporting Indigenous Children’s Learning of their Culture and Language.
eceLINK, 2(1), 35-44. https://d3n8a8pro7vhmx.cloudfront.net/aeceo/pages/2394/attachments/
original/1527085193/eceLINK_Spring2018_FINAL_webready.pdf?1527085193

Williams, A. (2019). Fostering Indigenous Identity through Connection to Land. Indigenous Centre of
Excellence for Early Years and Child Care. OAHSA.ca*

*The Centres of Excellence for Early Years and Child Care were established in June 2017 to support
professional learning across the early years sector. This initiative came to an end in March 2020.
Resources created are archived with the Early Childhood Pedagogies Collaboratory, the Ontario
Aboriginal Head Start Association Ontario and the Association francophone à l’éducation des services
à l’enfance de l’Ontario. AFÉSEO shared two articles with the College: Qu’est-ce qu’une image de
l’enfant? and L’image du professionnel de la petite enfance.

College of Early Childhood Educators | Practice Guideline: Pedagogical Practice | July 2020
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