Early Childhood Journeys

Episode 57 features returning guest, Tina Wiggins Sykes and podcast guest debut of Gloria McGinty. Tina Sykes and Gloria McGinty are Arizona based Early Childhood Professionals, ECE Coaches, Trainers, College Instructors, Equity Specialists amongst their past or current roles. They are also long-time friends and colleagues of host, Marissa Calderón. All are involved in equity work both personally and professionally and lend some powerful insights to this subject matter. In this episode, host Marissa discusses the frustration in shifting white dominant curriculum practices that can come off as racists and culturally offensive, especially around the holidays. How do we begin to have these tough conversations in early childhood in public when we know they are being had in private? Addressing these uncomfortable topics can feel intimidating. A very insightful and relatable topic for many early childhood practitioners and eye-opening for early childhood program administrators. Notice: Podcast subject matter is not representative of podcast guest/host employers or specific agencies. Opinions are their own. Connect with host, Marissa and the award-winning Early Childhood Journeys podcast at: earlychildhoodjourneys.com or email at marissa@earlychildhoodjourneys.comLEAVE US A REVIEW!Music track is called Lemon Tea from GYVUS, provided by Chillhop Music, a platform dedicated to finding and sharing the best chilled hiphop, jazzhop and triphop music and connecting people.Used with permission and creative commons.More by Chillhop: http://chillhop.com/listen Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In Episode 55, Carla Rivera-Cruz is back on the podcast to talk about current events involving the oppressive policies and systems in the classroom and at the school board level. The conversation includes the reference of the video, The Four I's of Oppression and how it connects to her work in Education. Carla is a former classroom teacher and school board member as well as the co-host of #LatinasInED with host Marissa. Carla does not hold back discussing the oppressive Arizona education policies and laws that hold back teachers and most of all, Black and Brown students. Get ready for a passionate conversation!Connect with Carla for anti-racism, equity, diversity or other professional development at the teacher and/or admin level through her EDpiphany agency. You can also learn about her future "teachers lounge" set to open in January 2022 in the Phoenix Metro-Area by connecting with her on social media.To follow her on...FacebookTwitterInstagram Connect with host, Marissa and the award-winning Early Childhood Journeys podcast at: earlychildhoodjourneys.comLEAVE US A REVIEW!Music track is called Lemon Tea from GYVUS, provided by Chillhop Music, a platform dedicated to finding and sharing the best chilled hiphop, jazzhop and triphop music and connecting people.Used with permission and creative commons.More by Chillhop: http://chillhop.com/listen Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Episode 53 is with guest and Arizona early childhood education colleague, Tina Sykes. Tina Sykes is a social justice advocate, a poet a wife and parent to three children. Our conversations about the recent murder of #GeorgeFloyd online sparked an opportunity to have a candid conversation on the podcast about racism, white centric views in early childhood and the connection of social emotional development in social justice work. This topic was HEAVY.A call for deep reflection along with some websites to add to your teacher toolkit were also discussed. A big thank you to all of the amazing black women, and IBPOC in my personal and professional circles leading the change in this work!Check out Tina Wiggins Sykes on Facebook or connect with her on Linkedin.Some notable resources:Dr. Kira Banks from Raising EquityWoke KindergartenIndigo Cultural CenterIjuma JordanWill Start Small Connect with host, Marissa and the award-winning Early Childhood Journeys podcast at: earlychildhoodjourneys.comMusic track is called Lemon Tea from GYVUS, provided by Chillhop Music, a platform dedicated to finding and sharing the best chilled hiphop, jazzhop and triphop music and connecting people.Used with permission and creative commons.More by Chillhop: http://chillhop.com/listen Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Episode 51 of the podcast with host Marissa Calderón and guest, Diana Brown Certified Instructor from Conscious Discipline. Diana shares a bit of her background as a classroom teacher and how she began to train for Dr. Becky Baileys, Conscious Discipline philosophy. Conscious Discipline is a "Transformational Social-Emotional Learning and Classroom Management" system. Many tips and strategies are also shared that easily supplement any current boxed behavioral management curriculum used by school districts or education programs. Connect with Diana Brown at: diana@mindfuldiscipline.comLearn more about Conscious Discipline here. Connect with host, Marissa and the Early Childhood Journeys podcast at: earlychildhoodjourneys.comMusic track is called Lemon Tea from GYVUS provided by Chillhop Music, a platform dedicated to finding and sharing the best chilled hiphop, jazzhop and triphop music and connecting people.Used with permission and creative commons.More by Chillhop:http://chillhop.com/listenGYVUS - Weekend:http://soundcloud.com/gyvusListen on Spotify:http://bit.ly/ChillhopSpotify Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Episode 49 is with the newly elected Superintendent of Arizona's Department of Education, Kathy Hoffman. With her historic electoral win, Marissa and Kathy discuss some of the past campaign rhetoric and the current legislative progress for education she's helped with. We get some additional information on the current education policy focus and what we may expect in the coming year. Superintendent Hoffman's personal background is also inspiring. Did you know Kathy's first job out of college was working for a preschool program? Get ready to learn more about this trilingual Speech Pathologist turned policy pusher and advocate for Arizona's children in this episode. Parents and teachers can begin to breathe a sigh of relief hearing how much her leadership is pushing for more evidenced-based progressive policies for Arizona's classrooms.To stay connected to the AZ Superintendent and her initiatives, please follow her on her official Facebook and Twitter accounts.Learn more about the Arizona Department of ED here. Connect with host, Marissa and the Early Childhood Journeys podcast at: earlychildhoodjourneys.comMusic track is called Lemon Tea from GYVUS provided by Chillhop Music, a platform dedicated to finding and sharing the best chilled hiphop, jazzhop and triphop music and connecting people.Used with permission and creative commons.More by Chillhop:http://chillhop.com/listenGYVUS - Weekend:http://soundcloud.com/gyvusListen on Spotify:http://bit.ly/ChillhopSpotify Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Episode 47 is the first of a series of Kindergarten Readiness Tips and Insight episodes! Joined by Sierra Vista Unified School District in Arizona, Kindergarten Teacher, Julie Decuir. Podcast host, Marissa and Julie chat about the true skills future kindergartners need vs what some parents may think their child needs to master for school. Julie has been a Kindergarten teacher for 17 years and she shares her tips and insights for parents during this busy time of year of kindergarten registration. Connect with host, Marissa and the Early Childhood Journeys podcast at: earlychildhoodjourneys.comMusic track is called Lemon Tea from GYVUS provided by Chillhop Music, a platform dedicated to finding and sharing the best chilled hiphop, jazzhop and triphop music and connecting people.Used with permission and creative commons. More by Chillhop:http://chillhop.com/listenGYVUS - Weekend:http://soundcloud.com/gyvusListen on Spotify:http://bit.ly/ChillhopSpotify Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Episode 45 is with Kristen L. Orton! Kristen is a Kindergarten teacher at Vernon Elementary School in Vernon Arizona. Vernon is a very rural community in Apache County, in the White Mountains area of Northern Arizona. She was recently hired last year to teach Kindergarten and if she wasn't busy enough finishing her Masters, she had the vision that the K-8 school she was just hired at, also needed a preschool classroom. After a in-depth proposal, several school board meetings and community buy in, her vision to have a preschool classroom came true. Listen to the conversation as we break down how it went down with host Marissa Calderón.Resources Mentioned:Perry Preschool ProjectTeaching Strategies GOLDVernon Elementary School DistrictConnect and follow Kristen's Preschool programs journey through her Blog at EdublogsEmail Kristen.Connect with host, Marissa and the Early Childhood Journeys podcast at: earlychildhoodjourneys.comMusic track is called Lemon Tea from GYVUS provided by Chillhop Music, a platform dedicated to finding and sharing the best chilled hiphop, jazzhop and triphop music and connecting people.Used with permission and creative commons.More by Chillhop:http://chillhop.com/listenGYVUS - Weekend:http://soundcloud.com/gyvusListen on Spotify:http://bit.ly/ChillhopSpotify Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Episode 43 with Tina Martin from Southwest Human Development, Services for Children with Disabilities. Tina has been with Southwest Human Development since 1997 and is now the Assistant Director for this department. She provides us with her story on how she came across the Early Intervention field as well as a tour of the Birth to Five ADAPT Shop. This shop focuses on changing lives — identifying, modifying and building customized equipment that give children with disabilities hope and opportunity. The shop really takes conscious custom innovation for children to the next level!Learn more about the ADAPT Shop here and how you can support them this holiday season!Connect with host, Marissa and the Early Childhood Journeys podcast at: earlychildhoodjourneys.comMusic track is called Lemon Tea from GYVUS provided by Chillhop Music, a platform dedicated to finding and sharing the best chilled hiphop, jazzhop and triphop music and connecting people.Used with permission and creative commons.More by Chillhop:http://chillhop.com/listenGYVUS - Weekend:http://soundcloud.com/gyvusListen on Spotify:http://bit.ly/ChillhopSpotify Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Episode 41 with host Marissa Calderón reflecting on an upcoming blog post, soon to be released on the Mexican art of Alebrijes. She provides some guides on how to connect students interest authentically while incorporating 21st Century Skills in the classroom. For the full blog post on lesson guides for Alebrijes & 21st Century Skills in the Early Childhood classroom and to learn more, visit the website at, earlychildhoodjourneys.com .Intro and Outro Music track is called Lemon Tea from GYVUS and in podcast track is called, Canals by Joakim Karud provided by Chillhop Music, a platform dedicated to finding and sharing the best chilled hiphop, jazzhop and triphop music and connecting people.Used with permission and creative commons. More by Chillhop:http://chillhop.com/listenGYVUS - Weekend:http://soundcloud.com/gyvusListen on Spotify:http://bit.ly/ChillhopSpotify Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ep. 39 is with Marissa Flores from the Fort McDowell Yavapai Nation Community, Education Division's Early Childhood department. Marissa is a parent educator and Home Visiting Specialist, serving families on the FMYN. Host, Marissa Calderón chats with Marissa Flores about her role on the nation, living with her 8 siblings, being raised by her mom and starting the position of supporting parents with children birth to 3 years old.Learn more about the Fort McDowell Yavapai Nation and community services provided here. Contact Marissa Flores at her email here. Connect with host, Marissa and the Early Childhood Journeys podcast at: earlychildhoodjourneys.comMusic track is called Lemon Tea from GYVUS provided by Chillhop Music, a platform dedicated to finding and sharing the best chilled hiphop, jazzhop and triphop music and connecting people.Used with permission and creative commons. More by Chillhop:http://chillhop.com/listenGYVUS - Weekend:http://soundcloud.com/gyvusListen on Spotify:http://bit.ly/ChillhopSpotify Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Episode 37 is in celebration of a fellow Latina Educator for Hispanic & Latin American Heritage Month, Erika Argueta. Erika is a Bilingual Arizona Department of Education Early Childhood Unit's Program Specialist for Yuma, La Paz and Mohave County, and a bit of Maricopa County too! Erika talks about the work that the Early Childhood Unit does, her role in Arizona as well as her early childhood journey as a migrant farm worker before she started in the early childhood field. Arizona has a growing Latino population and that includes many migrant families that pick our food whose children are enrolled in various early childhood programs and AZ school districts.#HispanicHeritageMonthLearn more about the Arizona's Early Childhood Unit here. Connect with Erika via email at: erika.argueta@azed.gov Resources on Hispanic Heritage Month via the #LatinasInED page here. Resource from Colorin Colorado to help migrant students succeed here.Support the podcast by visiting our Patreon Page here. Connect with host, Marissa and the Early Childhood Journeys podcast at: earlychildhoodjourneys.comMusic track iscalled Lemon Tea from GYVUS provided by Chillhop Music, a platform dedicated tofinding and sharing the best chilled hiphop, jazzhop and triphop music andconnecting people.Used with permission and creative commons. More by Chillhop:http://chillhop.com/listenGYVUS - Weekend:http://soundcloud.com/gyvusListen on Spotify:http://bit.ly/ChillhopSpotify Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Episode 35 pre-recorded LIVE from the AZ First Things First Early Childhood Summit at the Phoenix Convention Center with participants Elsa Bonilla and daughter Stefany Paredes. Host Marissa Calderón chats with them after the conference for their summit reflections including how they will use the content in their practice.Connect with Elsa Bonilla, a ECE COP Coordinator and FTF Regional Partner Council Member from the the Tohono O'odham Community College at: www.ece4tocc.org and email at ebonilla@tocc.edu.Connect with Stefany Paredes, North Pima Regional Partnership Council Member and Infant Lead Teacher at: stefparedes97@gmail.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Bonus Episode with host Marissa Calderón and Carla Rivera-Cruz from the EDphiphany Podcast. Carla and Marissa chat about the #LatinasInED upcoming twitter chat, being Latina Educators and lack of representation of classroom teachers in the K-12 space over some bomb-ass Tequila in the beautiful Studio 85 Podcast Studios in Peoria, AZ. Warning: curse words are said in this episode! To book a FREE podcast session at the Studio 85 studios, connect with Joe Anderson here. To learn more about Carla Rivera-Cruz check out her website here. To follow the #LatinasInED twitter chat go here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.