Upcoming Events

SETTING UP SYSTEMS FOR A YEAR OF DOCUMENTATION

Tuesday, September 15th 5:00-6:00pm

Documentation is a dynamic process of listening, observing, analyzing to make learning visible. It is an ongoing journey that is developed over time with practice and thoughtful systems. Andrew Hauner will share how everyday systems for observation, note-taking, and data collection lead to a reflective and research-based approach. If you are new to documenting or are working on finding ways to build it into your practice this is a great opportunity to integrate systems that can carry you throughout the year. 

Andrew Hauner, M.F.A., is an early childhood educator and artist–researcher. He is a head teacher at the Reggio-inspired Beginnings Nursery School. He has worked with children and families across educational contexts in NYC, including Brooklyn Public Library, Brooklyn Children’s Museum, Imani House, Blue School, and P.S. 10K. His arts-based research into creativity and education has been exhibited internationally. He has presented on artist biofiction in children’s picture books at College Art Association and early intercorporeality at New York City’s Art of Play and Wonderment Conference. Hauner’s recent articles are “Artistic Research as Citational Practice” (Acta Academiae Artium Vilnensis) & “Creative Documentation: Making My Research Lens Visible” (Innovations in Early Education: The International Reggio Emilia Exchange). His forthcoming work is a chapter entitled “There is No Arts-Based Research Without Arts-Based Learning” to be featured in a volume addressing the interplay between creative practice and pedagogical practice (Vernon Press, 2026). He is interested in the Reggio Emilia approach as a way of seeing, challenging, and leveraging his teacher subjectivity and cultural lens.

BEGINNING EMERGENT CURRICULUM 

October 6th 3:00-4:00pm

Are you interested in beginning the process of using an Emergent Curriculum? In this session Yeshnaya Dougherty will share the what and how of starting an emergent approach. She will be joined by Lola Stafford who is in her first year of implementing emergent curriculum. If you are interested in exploring Emergent Curriculum, come and learn from Lola about her process of moving from a more traditional approach to developing her first study with her students.

Yeshnaya Dougherty is the Senior Educational Director for Teaching Beyond the Square. She is an Early Childhood Educator and certified coach who is passionate in developing meaningful relationships with educators and leaders as they explore and grow their practice. Passionate and inspired by the curious minds of young children, Yeshnaya's practice and philosophy are largely shaped by her work with the Reggio Emilia approach. She received her M.A. in Early Childhood Education from Lesley University and her B.A. in Environmental Studies from the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology in Australia. 

Lola Stafford is the owner, director and lead teacher at Sunshine Daydream child school. An in-home program with values centered on intimate learning at an exploratory level. She embraces curiosity in each child in everyday moments of learning.