Blooming Curious

Blooming Curious

by Edwina Cottino

How To Parenting

The Simple Secret to Raising Naturally Curious Kids at Home (Without Buying Anything!)

In this episode, Edwina explores the importance of harnessing children's natural curiosity through everyday moments. She offers practical advice for homeschooling parents and anyone wanting to create a curiosity-rich learning environment at home. Key strategies include becoming a professional question-asker, modelling curiosity by wondering out loud, and following children's natural fascinations instead of a rigid agenda. 🔗 Links mentioned: 🆓 Download the FREE e-guide How to Nurture Natural Curiosity HERE ✍️ To sign up to Get Curious, the newsletter that gives you a dose of weekly inspiration, and the strategies and resources to help you, help children to thrive in their learning, go HERE 💌 Connect with Edwina: Email: contact@bloomingcurious.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/blooming_curious/ Website: https://www.bloomingcurious.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bloomingcurious YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@edsbloomingcurious ☕️ If you appreciate my work and want to encourage me to keep going, you can do so by buying me a coffee! Any contribution will be gratefully received and will certainly give me the support I need to keep going.☕️ 00:00 Introduction: The Endless 'Why' Questions 00:18 The Importance of Curiosity in Learning 00:26 Welcome and Episode Overview 00:36 Curiosity in Everyday Moments 01:11 Three Practical Ways to Foster Curiosity 02:43 Addressing Common Concerns 02:57 Introducing the Curiosity Bundle 03:06 How the Curiosity Bundle Works 04:58 Conclusion: Embrace Curiosity 05:30 Final Thoughts and Farewell

How to Model Curiosity for Children: Five Practical Strategies

In this episode of Blooming Curious, Edwina discusses how adults can model curiosity to help children become curious learners. She highlights that children's curiosity mirrors that of the adults around them and provides five practical strategies to foster a curious mindset. 🔗 For links mentioned: Get the Curiosity Toolkit 🆓 Download the FREE e-guide How to Nurture Natural Curiosity HERE ✍️ To sign up to Get Curious, the newsletter that gives you a dose of weekly inspiration, and the strategies and resources to help you, help children to thrive in their learning, go HERE. 💌 Connect with Edwina: Email: contact@bloomingcurious.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/blooming_curious/ Website: https://www.bloomingcurious.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bloomingcurious YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@edsbloomingcurious ☕️ If you appreciate my work and want to encourage me to keep going, you can do so by buying me a coffee! Any contribution will be gratefully received and will certainly give me the support I need to keep going.☕️ 00:00 Introduction: The Importance of Modelling Curiosity 00:07 The Problem with Adult Curiosity 01:01 Five Practical Ways to Model Curiosity 02:13 Curiosity in Action: Real-Life Examples 03:35 The Role of Educators in Fostering Curiosity 04:11 Conclusion and Resources

How to Spark Lifelong Curiosity in Early Learners: The Secret to Raising Inquisitive, Joyful Kids

Discover the missing ingredient in early learning environments that can transform how children learn. Edwina reveals a teaching experience that changed everything, and how this experience ignited a passion for learning in her students. Learn how to integrate curiosity into teaching with a downloadable toolkit designed to shift from compliance-based teaching to connection-based learning. Tune in to explore how to spark lifelong curiosity in early learners - the secret to raising inquisitive, joyful kids. 🔗 Links: The Curiosity Toolkit 🆓 Download the FREE e-guide How to Nurture Natural Curiosity HERE ✍️ To sign up to Get Curious, the newsletter that gives you a dose of weekly inspiration, and the strategies and resources to help you, help children to thrive in their learning, go HERE 💌 Connect with Edwina:Email: contact@bloomingcurious.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/blooming_curious/ Website: https://www.bloomingcurious.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bloomingcurious YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@edsbloomingcurious ☕️ If you appreciate my work and want to encourage me to keep going, you can do so by buying me a coffee! Any contribution will be gratefully received and will certainly give me the support I need to keep going.☕️ 00:00 Introduction: The Secret to Lifelong Learning 00:51 A Transformative Teaching Moment 02:28 The Power of Curiosity in Learning 03:15 Curiosity Toolkit for Educators 04:02 Conclusion and Next Steps

Rest, Reflect, and Reignite: How Educators Can Use the Summer to Recharge and Grow

Summer break, is not just as a time for recovery, but also an opportunity for a mindset reset towards intentional growth. The episode offers practical tips for true rest, reflective journaling prompts, and book recommendations to reignite and recharge for a human-centred return to teaching. Tune in to learn how to embrace rest, reflection, and inspiration this summer. 🔗 Links mentioned: Get the Curiosity Toolkit Read: How to stay curious as an educator Top Inspirational Resources for Early Childhood Educators 🆓 Download the FREE e-guide How to Nurture Natural Curiosity HERE .✍️ To sign up to Get Curious, the newsletter that gives you a dose of weekly inspiration, and the strategies and resources to help you, help children to thrive in their learning, go HERE 💌 Connect with Edwina: Email: contact@bloomingcurious.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/blooming_curious/ Website: https://www.bloomingcurious.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bloomingcurious YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@edsbloomingcurious ☕️ If you appreciate my work and want to encourage me to keep going, you can do so by buying me a coffee! Any contribution will be gratefully received and will certainly give me the support I need to keep going.☕️ 00:00 Welcome to Blooming Curious 00:47 The Importance of Summer Break 01:32 Ways to Recharge and Reflect 03:35 Book Recommendations for Educators 05:08 Preparing for a Human-Centered Future 06:53 Curiosity Toolkit and Community 07:46 Final Thoughts and Encouragement

The Ultimate Engagement Strategy: A Toolkit for Every Educator

Introducing the ultimate engagement strategy... The Curiosity Toolkit: A simple way to engage children and foster curiosity. In this episode, Edwina shares the experience that changed everything for her. She introduces the Curiosity Toolkit, a resource designed for home and classroom educators to easily incorporate curiosity into their teaching practice. This toolkit doesn't require a complete overhaul of current strategies but offers a mindset shift with practical tweaks. It includes clear strategies, guiding questions, curiosity prompts, and ready-to-use examples that can be applied in any learning environment. 🔗 For links mentioned: Get the Curiosity Toolkit Read: Preparing Children for Future Ready Learning with the Curiosity Toolkit 🆓 Download the FREE e-guide How to Nurture Natural Curiosity HERE ✍️ To sign up to Get Curious, the newsletter that gives you a dose of weekly inspiration, and the strategies and resources to help you, help children to thrive in their learning, go HERE 💌 Connect with Edwina:Email: contact@bloomingcurious.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/blooming_curious/ Website: https://www.bloomingcurious.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bloomingcurious YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@edsbloomingcurious ☕️ If you appreciate my work and want to encourage me to keep going, you can do so by buying me a coffee! Any contribution will be gratefully received and will certainly give me the support I need to keep going.☕️ 00:00 Introduction to the Curiosity Toolkit 05:23 What is the Curiosity Toolkit? 05:46 How the Curiosity Toolkit Works

Why Curiosity, Not Curriculum, Is the Key to Future-Ready Learning

In this episode, we look at the challenges faced by educators today, from disengaged students to a stifling curriculum. We discuss the results of a recent survey highlighting these issues and propose a pivotal change: focusing on curiosity, creativity, and adaptability to prepare students for a future integrated with AI. If we are to prepare students for a unknown future, then we must face the reality that rote learning and the curriculum are really not that important in the overall scheme of things. Is curiosity the differentiator between success and failure in the future? 🔗 Links mentioned: 🆓 Download the FREE e-guide How to Nurture Natural Curiosity HERE 🆓 Download the Free Lesson plan HERE ✍️ To sign up to Get Curious, the newsletter that gives you a dose of weekly inspiration, and the strategies and resources to help you, help children to thrive in their learning, go HERE 💌 Connect with Edwina: Email: contact@bloomingcurious.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/blooming_curious/ Website: https://www.bloomingcurious.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bloomingcurious YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@edsbloomingcurious ☕️ If you appreciate my work and want to encourage me to keep going, you can do so by buying me a coffee! Any contribution will be gratefully received and will certainly give me the support I need to keep going.☕️ 00:00 The Struggles of Modern Teaching 00:19 Survey Results: Teachers' Frustrations 01:23 The Turning Point in Education 02:00 The Importance of Curiosity in the Age of AI 03:35 Introducing the Curiosity Bundle 04:23 Final Thoughts and Call to Action

Transforming Wonder Walls into Learning Tools

In this episode, Edwina looks at how to turn a 'Wonder Wall' from a static classroom decoration into a dynamic part of the learning process. By using students' questions for guided inquiry, educators can make Wonder Walls meaningful and interactive. This episode provides practical steps for incorporating inquiry-based learning into the curriculum through Wonder Walls. 🔗 Links: Listen to this interview with the Queen of Learning walls, Jessica Vance 🆓 Download the FREE e-guide How to Nurture Natural Curiosity HERE ✍️ To sign up to Get Curious, the newsletter that gives you a dose of weekly inspiration, and the strategies and resources to help you, help children to thrive in their learning, go HERE 💌 Connect with Edwina:Email: contact@bloomingcurious.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/blooming_curious/ Website: https://www.bloomingcurious.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bloomingcurious YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@edsbloomingcurious ☕️ If you appreciate my work and want to encourage me to keep going, you can do so by buying me a coffee! Any contribution will be gratefully received and will certainly give me the support I need to keep going.☕️ 00:00 Introduction: The Missed Opportunity of Wonder Walls 01:45 Understanding Wonder Walls and Learning Walls 02:24 Activating the Wonder Wall for Inquiry-Based Learning 03:52 Practical Tips for Dynamic Wonder Walls 04:53 Incorporating Wonder Walls into Your Teaching Routine 05:26 Conclusion and Weekly Inspiration

Integrated lesson planning with The Tiger Who Came to Tea

Transform Your Teaching: Integrated Learning with The Tiger Who Came to Tea. This episode addresses the common frustrations that educators face with lesson planning, and offers a solution through integrated learning using picture books. I share my personal experiences and insights from my teaching career, highlighting the effectiveness of using picture books to create comprehensive, hands-on lesson plans that cover multiple curriculum areas. In this episode I introduce you to a ready-made lesson plan designed to save you time and engage students with creative and interactive learning experiences. 🔗 Links: Teaching K-2 with Picture Books Picture book lesson plans 🆓 Download the FREE e-guide How to Nurture Natural Curiosity HERE ✍️ To sign up to Get Curious, the newsletter that gives you a dose of weekly inspiration, and the strategies and resources to help you, help children to thrive in their learning, go HERE 💌 Connect with Edwina: Email: contact@bloomingcurious.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/blooming_curious/ Website: https://www.bloomingcurious.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bloomingcurious YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@edsbloomingcurious ☕️ If you appreciate my work and want to encourage me to keep going, you can do so by buying me a coffee! Any contribution will be gratefully received and will certainly give me the support I need to keep going.☕️ 00:00 The Struggles of Lesson Planning 01:56 Integrating Play into Learning 02:57 Using Picture Books as Learning Catalysts 04:16 A Real-Life Example: Learning About Movement 07:16 Comprehensive Lesson Plan: The Tiger Who Came to Tea 09:57 Join the Blooming Community 10:35 Final Thoughts and Encouragement

Taking a Stand for Children's Curiosity

Curiosity as the foundation of learning. Edwina reflects on the insights shared by various experienced educators like Sally Haughey, Claire Warden, Jessica Vance, Tonya Gilchrist, and April Zajko, about the decline of curiosity in children. Edwina critiques the prevalent easy-route teaching methods such as scripted lessons and reliance on worksheets and urge educators to deeply reflect on their teaching practices, stand up for their belief in nurturing curiosity, and embrace inquiry-based learning to truly enrich children’s learning experiences. 🔗 Links mentioned: Interview with April Zajko Interview with Claire Warden Interview with Jessica Vance Interview with Tonya Gilchrist Interview with Sally Haughey Read: The Most Effective Teaching Strategies for Student Learning 🆓 Download the FREE e-guide How to Nurture Natural Curiosity HERE ✍️ To sign up to Get Curious, the newsletter that gives you a dose of weekly inspiration, and the strategies and resources to help you, help children to thrive in their learning, go HERE 💌 Connect with Edwina: Email: contact@bloomingcurious.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/blooming_curious/ Website: https://www.bloomingcurious.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bloomingcurious YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@edsbloomingcurious ☕️ If you appreciate my work and want to encourage me to keep going, you can do so by buying me a coffee! Any contribution will be gratefully received and will certainly give me the support I need to keep going.☕️ 00:00 Welcome to Blooming Curious 00:01 Highlighting Esteemed Educators 00:26 The Decline of Curiosity in Children 01:11 Challenges of Inquiry-Based Learning 02:04 Reflecting on Educational Values 02:54 Call to Action for Educators 03:36 Closing Thoughts and Gratitude

Unlocking the Transformative Power of Play with Sally Haughey

In this episode of Blooming Curious, I welcome Sally Haughey, (pronounced Hoy) the founder and CEO of Wunderled, formerly known as Fairy Dust Teaching. Sally shares her journey from beginning her teaching career in 1996 to building a global community of over 240,000 educators across 120 countries. Sally Emphasises a play-based philosophy inspired by Waldorf and Reggio Emilia approaches, she discusses the profound impact of play on children's development and imagination. She reveals the inspiration behind the creation and evolution of Wunderled and highlights the core philosophy that champions curiosity-driven and wonder-based teaching. Sally also addresses the current challenges educators face, such as classroom management and emotional wellbeing, and provides strategies for incorporating play and building relationships with students. Tune in to learn more about Sally's upcoming projects, her vision for the future of education, and practical ways for educators to foster an engaging, play-centered learning environment. 🔗 Links mentioned: Sally's website; Wunderled 🆓 Download the FREE e-guide How to Nurture Natural Curiosity HERE ✍️ To sign up to Get Curious, the newsletter that gives you a dose of weekly inspiration, and the strategies and resources to help you, help children to thrive in their learning, go HERE 💌 Connect with Edwina: Email: contact@bloomingcurious.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/blooming_curious/ Website: https://www.bloomingcurious.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bloomingcurious YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@edsbloomingcurious ☕️ If you appreciate my work and want to encourage me to keep going, you can do so by buying me a coffee! Any contribution will be gratefully received and will certainly give me the support I need to keep going.☕️ 00:00 Introduction to Sally Haughey and Wunderled 01:23 The Birth of Fairy Dust Teaching 03:23 The Evolution to Wunderled 05:38 Core Philosophy of Wunderled 07:06 Challenges in Traditional Education 09:14 Play-Based Learning in Practice 13:46 Balancing Curriculum and Play 14:30 The Importance of Relationships in Education 17:30 Empowering Educators and Students 30:14 The Future of Education 31:43 Introduction to Hummingbird Cottage 32:59 The Importance of Meeting Children's Needs 35:29 The Role of Play in Child Development 38:00 Delaying Formal Education 41:18 Parental Pressure and Educational Milestones 44:32 The Movement Towards Homeschooling 47:08 Challenges in Modern Education 51:42 Empowering Educators with Play-Based Learning 55:56 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

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