Learning Environments and Curriculum:

Pause for Inspiration

Breadcrumb trail:

Find inspiration, joy, and creativity in everyday things.

Do you find that you often consider your needs last, or not at all? Maybe this happens because you don't have time, you're just too tired at the end of a busy day or week, or you haven't really thought about how you might relax? We all need to find ways to energize and renew ourselves in order to stay with the demanding work of early care and education. Only when we truly care for ourselves and stimulate our creativity, can we fully care for and stimulate others. CompSAT offers tools and surprises that will help you on your path to renewal and reinvigoration.

A teacher observes a young boy stacking toy rocks.

Try This!

  • Think of a time when you were inspired by someone taking a big physical risk.
  • How did that help you think differently about what is possible for yourself?
  • What helps you gather courage when a risk is called for?
Two adults tandem skydiving.
Two adults tandem skydiving.
A backpacker jumping between large rocks.
A backpacker jumping between large rocks.
A woman on a zip-line.
A woman on a zip-line.

Reconnect to your inner sources of courage! Create something that comes from your inspiration or that inspires you and include it in your portfolio.

There are no templates for the Pause for Inspiration Key. This is a place to take a moment for yourself.

Deepen Your Understanding

California Early Childhood Educator Competencies

Consider one source of inspiration by reading the Topic: Reflection and interpretation in Performance Area 1 in the CA ECE Competencies. Scroll to page 70.

What other sources of inspiration are meaningful to you when faced with risk-taking?

Download the California ECE Competencies

California Early Childhood Educator Competencies

Extend Your Learning

Read an article about the power of our singing voices, "Singing Ourselves – How We Offer Music to Children", by Kelly Matthews.