The DEY Podcast with Kisha Reid

A discussion-styled podcast led by Kisha Reid and featuring educators, advocates and other changemakers about their grassroots projects, innovations in education and reimagining early childhood environments. Our goal is to amplify these voices so we can all learn and work toward a more equitable and playful environment for children.

EP025: Slowing Down with Kisha Reid 02/22/2024

EP025: Slowing Down with Kisha Reid In this episode, Kisha Reid talks with Denisha Jones about her new nature-based discovery child care program, her visions for inspiring more teachers to choose the power of play, and her plans to slow down. /episode/index/show/thedeypodcast/id/30063248

EP 024: The Children Will Always Show Us What to Do 10/19/2023

EP 024: The Children Will Always Show Us What to Do In this episode, Jesse Coffino and Krystina Tapia shed light on the evolution of true play in Anji County. True play is not just about providing children with open-ended materials but also about creating a culture of love, risk, joy, engagement, and reflection. /episode/index/show/thedeypodcast/id/28365272

EP023: Learning from Children and the Natural World 09/21/2023

EP023: Learning from Children and the Natural World In this episode, Rukia shares her evolution to a nature-centered early childhood program that fosters young children's kinship with the earth and harmony with the land. /episode/index/show/thedeypodcast/id/28094150

EP22: Community of Care 07/26/2023

EP22: Community of Care In this episode, Alya Stoffer Koloszyc shares how she builds community through her farm school program in New York. /episode/index/show/thedeypodcast/id/27574266

EP21: Melinda Marshall - Growing Kids, not Grass 06/14/2023

EP21: Melinda Marshall - Growing Kids, not Grass Melinda Marshall shares the wonders of her unique family program. /episode/index/show/thedeypodcast/id/27146058

EP020: Growing Up Co-op 05/10/2023

EP020: Growing Up Co-op Kisha Reid Talks with Jocelyn Robertson about her journey from Co-op kid to Co-op Director. Her Journey shines a light on the unique style of family engaged early childhood education. /episode/index/show/thedeypodcast/id/26798568

EP019: Teacher Tom-It's Broken, Let's Fix it 03/28/2023

EP019: Teacher Tom-It's Broken, Let's Fix it /episode/index/show/thedeypodcast/id/26361330

EP018: The Wonderful Journey to Play 02/22/2023

EP018: The Wonderful Journey to Play In this episode, Kisha and Kisa talk about the wonderful journey to play. Through her story, Kisa shares how she has shifted her mindset and program as well as the minds and hearts of her parents and her community about what young children need to be doing with their time. /episode/index/show/thedeypodcast/id/26016126

E017: Sylvan Taylor- BIG KIDS NEED PLAY TOO! 01/24/2023

E017: Sylvan Taylor- BIG KIDS NEED PLAY TOO! In this episode, Kisha talks with Sylvan Taylor about her unique role as the Enrichment Teacher in a public school. Sylvan shares her unique perspective on how to leave space, time, permission, and materials for true play in public school with school-age children. /episode/index/show/thedeypodcast/id/25716711

EP016: Spark a Revolution- Rae Pica 12/20/2022

EP016: Spark a Revolution- Rae Pica In this episode Kisha speaks with Rae Pica, asking WHAT IF? "What if Everybody Understood Child Development" and "What if We Taught The Way Children Learn." Rae Introduces her new book "Spark A Revolution In Early Childhood Education: Speaking up for Ourselves and the Children" /episode/index/show/thedeypodcast/id/25382529

EP015: Jacky Howell- Rituals and Traditions 11/15/2022

EP015: Jacky Howell- Rituals and Traditions In this episode, Kisha and Jacky reminisce about how they met many many years ago when Kisha was a young student and Jacky was her teacher. They go on to discuss Rituals and Traditions in Preschool classrooms and Jacky tells stories of how to create a sense of community within programs and classrooms. /episode/index/show/thedeypodcast/id/25011657

Ep014: Denisha Jones and The Future of DEY 10/12/2022

Ep014: Denisha Jones and The Future of DEY DEY's Executive Director, Denisha Jones, joins Kisha Reid to discuss hew new role and plans for the future. /episode/index/show/thedeypodcast/id/24633957

EP013: Really Seeing Children- Deb Curtis 08/24/2022

EP013: Really Seeing Children- Deb Curtis This month, Kisha Reid interviews Deb Curtis, the co-author of many resourceful early childhood books, including "The Visionary Director", "Art of Awareness", and "Children's Lively Minds". Her forty years of experience working with young children informs her work with adult early educators and directors. Together we discuss The Art of really seeing children and the practice of helping them see each other. #reallyseeingchildren, #observation, #DebCurtis, #docuementation, #teacherrole #socialsupport #seeingeachother, #intentional, #SEL /episode/index/show/thedeypodcast/id/24152082

EP012: Jane Elgin- Taking Play Public 08/17/2022

EP012: Jane Elgin- Taking Play Public Jane Elgin joins Kisha Reid as they discuss play in public schools. Jane tells stories and gives practical advice about infusing play into your practice, even in a public elementary school. /episode/index/show/thedeypodcast/id/24081606

EP011: Carol Garboden Murray- Illuminating Care 08/03/2022

EP011: Carol Garboden Murray- Illuminating Care In this episode, Kisha is joined by Carol Garboden-Murray, a long-time early educator and the author of Illuminating Care: The Pedagogy and Practice of Care in Early Childhood. They share a lively discussion about the importance of keeping the CARE in child CARE. /episode/index/show/thedeypodcast/id/23942634

EP010: Nicolette Sowder- Wilder Child 07/20/2022

EP010: Nicolette Sowder- Wilder Child Kisha Reid is in conversation with Nicolette Sowder about the wonderful story behind her journey to creating "Wilder Child" and "Wild Schooling". They discuss how her observations of her child's needs for movement and connection along with her need to reconnect with the land inspired her to create these nature-based communities she so passionately calls Village-led. /episode/index/show/thedeypodcast/id/23762627

EP009: Alissa Mwenelupembwe- Advocating from Within Part 2 06/08/2022

EP009: Alissa Mwenelupembwe- Advocating from Within Part 2 Alissa Mwenelupembe has worked in early childhood education for the past twenty years. She began her career as a classroom educator working with toddlers and over time transitioned into center leadership roles. Alissa holds a master’s degree in Early Childhood Education and is currently working on her doctorate. Her dissertation focuses on the experiences of Black women navigating the career ladder in the early childhood profession. /episode/index/show/thedeypodcast/id/23357399

EP008: Alissa Mwenelupembwe- Advocating from Within Part 1 05/18/2022

EP008: Alissa Mwenelupembwe- Advocating from Within Part 1 Alissa Mwenelupembe has worked in early childhood education for the past twenty years. She began her career as a classroom educator working with toddlers and over time transitioned into center leadership roles. Alissa holds a master’s degree in Early Childhood Education and is currently working on her doctorate. Her dissertation focuses on the experiences of Black women navigating the career ladder in the early childhood profession. /episode/index/show/thedeypodcast/id/23143253

EP007: Leigh Ann Yuen: Creating Community With and For Children 05/04/2022

EP007: Leigh Ann Yuen: Creating Community With and For Children Leigh Ann Yuen is the Co-founder, director, and lead teacher at Garden Gate Child Development Center on Martha’s Vineyard, providing children with opportunities to be seen and heard through creative exploration and expression for more than 25 years. She has been teaching and advocating for children during this time. She and Kisha are going talk about her experiences in workshops and retreats for educators wishing to deepen their practice. /episode/index/show/thedeypodcast/id/22984313

EP006: Becky Gamache- Equitable Access to Play and Nature 04/20/2022

EP006: Becky Gamache- Equitable Access to Play and Nature Kisha Reid is joined by Becky Gamache, an education coordinator for Duluth Public Schools. Becky has been an early childhood educator for the past 25-years and is a fierce advocate for play-based learning and play equity. She and her team have recently been focused on implementing play-based practices and increased outdoor experiences for Head Start and the universal preschool programs in her school district. She is an advocate for developmentally appropriate experiences for young children and believes that children learn best through hands on experiences and are motivated through their own interests and ideas. She and Kisha are going to discuss Becky's participation in an initiative to make natural playscapes accessible to economically disadvantaged children. /episode/index/show/thedeypodcast/id/22845395

EP005: Renee Dinnerstein- Investigating Choice Time 04/06/2022

EP005: Renee Dinnerstein- Investigating Choice Time Renee is known for her work as an early childhood educator. She has over 50 years of experience, having taught both in Italy and the United States. She and Kisha talk about her work around "Choice Time" and supporting NYC public school teachers as they design play conducive classrooms for school-aged children. /episode/index/show/thedeypodcast/id/22677716

EP004: Mr. Chazz - Healing Generational Trauma 03/16/2022

EP004: Mr. Chazz - Healing Generational Trauma His mission is to help adults truly See, Guide and Trust children. He is pushing the needle a little closer toward world peace. He goes by, “Mr.Chazz” and he even has a song to prove it. He has been a teacher of teachers and parents for a decade. He has worked with many schools, thousands of teachers and thousands of children as an Educational Specialist. He earned his Master’s in Executive Leadership at American University. His specialty is self-regulation, and he has found inspiring ways to teach his techniques to teachers and parents. Join us to learn more. /episode/index/show/thedeypodcast/id/22407833

EP003: Peter Gray- Defining Play 03/02/2022

EP003: Peter Gray- Defining Play In this episode Kisha Reid is in conversation with Dr. Peter Gray as he breaks down the definition of the word Play. Through the five characteristics Peter Gray clarifies the meaning and scope of true play and it's importance for young children's healthy development. /episode/index/show/thedeypodcast/id/22261172

EP002: Atiya Wells- Backyard Basecamp/BLISS Meadows 02/01/2022

EP002: Atiya Wells- Backyard Basecamp/BLISS Meadows Kisha is in conversation with Atiya Wells, a nurse and a mother of two, who developed a community resource with the mission of reconnecting Black, Indigenous, and People of color to land and nature. Atiya shares her story and offers concrete tips and advice for others who are interested in creating a sense of community around nature. /episode/index/show/thedeypodcast/id/21879053

EP001: Suzanne Axelsson- Interaction Imagination. Original Learning Approach 12/27/2021

EP001: Suzanne Axelsson- Interaction Imagination. Original Learning Approach Defending the Early Years' first podcast episode. Kisha Reid, our host, chats with Suzanne Axelsson. Suzanne is a pedagogical consultant working on the EY Program at the Department of Child and Youth Studies, Stockholm University. She and Kisha will discuss the ways she uses listening and philosophy with children as tools to improve democratic learning and play spaces in early childhood education. /episode/index/show/thedeypodcast/id/21608981

The DEY Podcast with Kisha Reid

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