STEAM Ideas for Home
May 26, 2020

STEAM Ideas for Home

[et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ admin_label=”section” _builder_version=”3.22″][et_pb_row admin_label=”row” _builder_version=”3.25″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” make_fullwidth=”off” use_custom_width=”off” width_unit=”on”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”3.25″ custom_padding=”|||” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.4.7″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” use_border_color=”off”] Sometimes as adults, we read these blogs and articles, or in my case, recipe books and try to follow each set of directions to a tee. We face enough stress in life without the need of putting more on […]

Institute Blog 0 8 min read
Talking to Toddlers During a Time of Crisis
May 18, 2020

Talking to Toddlers During a Time of Crisis

[et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”3.22″][et_pb_row _builder_version=”3.25″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”3.25″ custom_padding=”|||” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.4.2″] Covid-19 descended upon Seattle, seeping in like a fog first in small ways, then eventually in signals we couldn’t ignore. Stores were empty, hours at our center were limited. A constant state of interruption became the norm. Children were being told constantly to get up and wash their hands, cover […]

Institute Blog 0 7 min read
Supporting Self-Directed Play
April 27, 2020

Supporting Self-Directed Play

[et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”3.22″][et_pb_row _builder_version=”3.25″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”3.25″ custom_padding=”|||” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.4.2″] The suggestions below were written for families in one of Hilltop’s classrooms for two- and three-year-olds. We hope this may be useful to family members and parents who unexpectedly find themselves spending lots more time at home with young children. As many of us are suddenly growing our […]

Institute Blog 0 7 min read
New Year, New Classroom
August 15, 2019

New Year, New Classroom

With summer in full swing, educators in the Rainbow Classroom at Hilltop are gearing up for our biggest transition of the year, when we send our group of now-3-year-olds into their new classrooms. They are ready for this move and it is becoming more apparent with each passing day that they are outgrowing Rainbow room.

Institute Blog 0 9 min read
Inspirations from Italy – Reggio Emilia
July 2, 2019

Inspirations from Italy – Reggio Emilia

[et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”3.25.3″][et_pb_row _builder_version=”3.25.3″][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”3.25.3″][et_pb_text _builder_version=”3.25.3″] This spring I had the opportunity to travel, with a group of colleagues from my graduate  program at Portland State University, to Reggio Emilia, Italy to tour the schools. While I have many thoughts to share about my trip, I want to focus on teacher preparation in a community that features emergent curriculum, […]

Institute Blog 0 7 min read
Threshold of Imagination
May 30, 2019

Threshold of Imagination

[et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ admin_label=”section” _builder_version=”3.22.3″][et_pb_row admin_label=”row” _builder_version=”3.22.3″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”3.0.47″][et_pb_text _builder_version=”3.23.3″] One of my cherished childhood memories was working on my all-time favorite activity: building forts. I dove into a process of adding several layers of bedsheets combined with a set of mix-and-match chairs, creating an impervious stronghold. There was something really special about the way my lopsided constructions […]

Institute Blog 0 5 min read
SES and Class Identity Resources
January 21, 2019

SES and Class Identity Resources

[et_pb_section bb_built=”1″ admin_label=”section” _builder_version=”3.0.101″ next_background_color=”#000000″][et_pb_row admin_label=”row” parallax_method_1=”off” parallax_method_2=”off” parallax_method_3=”off” _builder_version=”3.0.101″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″][et_pb_text _builder_version=”3.19.5″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” use_border_color=”off”] PREFACE: This space has been created for educators, administrators, parents, youth advocates and attendees of “Can We Talk About Socioeconomic Status and Class?” as a forum for sharing experiences and reflections as they work through these resources. On this page, we […]

Educator Discussion Series Dialogue 0 6 min read
Communicating with Communities: Family Partnership
December 17, 2018

Communicating with Communities: Family Partnership

Family engagement is about going beyond a movie night, or hosting a festival or carnival. At Hilltop we believe it’s equally about creating an environment that is inclusive and representative of the families we serve, but also is one where we all embrace communication and commit ourselves to sharing values, information, and expectations for each other in support of the […]

Institute Blog 0 3 min read