At Natural Pod, we’re passionate about creating beautiful and accessible learning environments where children thrive. Over the years, we’ve had the privilege of doing this work in collaboration with remarkable educators and have witnessed the transformation of their learning spaces firsthand.
To celebrate our collective love of learning, here are some key qualities that we see in the educators and the spaces we love—the ones that truly make a difference.
Visionary educators: Driven by creativity, passion, and values
Think back to your own learning journey. No doubt there was an educator who inspired you, who you still remember today.
In my mind’s eye, I can see my 7th-grade classroom in Mumbai, India and our Geography teacher, Mrs. Kapoor, teaching us about eclipses, rotations, and revolutions of the planets in our solar system. She would urge us to take on the mantle of a celestial body. Together we would become the earth, the moon, the sun and she would engage the entire classroom in a lively discussion of an eclipse, or other cosmic phenomenon—by instructing us to move as if we were the celestial bodies. It was a creative and synchronous way of connecting us to the heart of her passion and we could feel her love for teaching.
The educators who inspire us most are those driven by that love of learning and share a deep passion for making a difference. They’re leaders, advocates, and change-makers who are committed to creating a more positive and equitable world through education.
Educators like Jerzell Pierre-Louis of Sprout and Bloom Early Education Centers exemplify this. Her work is fueled by her desire to nurture, support, and create a community where children and educators alike can thrive.
As Jerzell says, “It’s about helping others, being their support; the passion is knowing I make a difference. I treat each child that comes through the door as if they’re my own.”
What do these visionary educators prioritize?
- Leading with integrity, inspiring a culture of support and respect that extends to both their team and the children they serve.
- Creating spaces where everyone feels welcome and included, celebrating diversity and a sense of belonging. They often extend this focus to the broader community.
- Continuously learning, adapting, and seeking new ways to enhance the learning experience, whether it’s through professional development or collaborating with others in the field.
- Nurturing a deep, intrinsic motivation to make a difference in children’s lives. They see education as more than just a job; it’s a calling.
- Operating with a strong moral compass, prioritizing values like integrity, care, and community-building in their approach to education.
- Creating environments where children feel loved, supported, and understood. They recognize that children need to feel safe and secure before they can learn and thrive.
- Seeing beyond the present and envisioning a better future for education. They’re willing to take risks and try new approaches to achieve their goals.
They’re educators like Carrie McLellan-Haqq, Director of Children’s Services at Aspire Richmond, whose eyes light up when she speaks about her work in inclusive education.
“I’ve been working in this field for a long time and when a child who is now all grown-up is living a fulfilled happy life, it truly makes me happy.”
How learning spaces support a love for learning
In our view, learning spaces complement an educator’s work seamlessly. We’re drawn to environments that prioritize flexibility, natural elements, and engagement. They’re designed with learner’s needs in mind and encourage exploration, collaboration, and a love of learning. Spaces like those at Aspire Richmond and Thrive Elementary demonstrate these qualities beautifully.
Key features of inspiring learning spaces:
- Furniture can be easily rearranged to suit different activities and learning styles, encouraging children to shape their environment.
- Natural wood and other sustainable materials create a calming, inviting atmosphere that connects children to the outdoors.
- They encourage movement, exploration, and active participation in learning, recognizing that children learn best when they are engaged and can use their bodies.
- They facilitate interaction and communication among children and educators, nurturing a sense of community and shared learning.
Donna Rankin, principal of Thrive Elementary thoughtfully considered the benefit of each furniture element so that the environment could be inclusive, versatile, and primed to evolve with learners.
“It was so much more than just buying furniture from catalogs. It was about creating a space where children feel valued, welcomed, and inspired.”
We invite you to join us in celebrating these remarkable educators and the spaces they create in the hopes that you might find inspiration for yours.
Learning spaces featured in this article:
- Sprout and Bloom Early Education Centers: Located in Columbus, Ohio, United States, the centers provide care for 6 weeks to 5-year-old children and feature a dedicated area stocked with Montessori-inspired natural materials. This provides young learners with age-appropriate, sensory toys rooted in real-world contexts, promoting hands-on exploration and learning.
- Aspire Richmond: Located in Richmond, British Columbia, Canada, Aspire focuses on flexibility and adaptability in their learning spaces. They utilize Natural Pod furniture that can be easily rearranged, allowing children to dictate how the space is used and enabling movement of pieces between programs. This ensures all children have access to safe, fun, and durable equipment.
- Thrive Elementary: Located in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, a standout feature at Thrive Elementary is the use of benches instead of traditional chairs. These benches offer greater flexibility and versatility, allowing students to move, explore, and collaborate in various ways, transforming into stages, ramps, boats, or forts. This encourages a dynamic and imaginative learning environment.
Each of these schools prioritizes creating learning spaces that are flexible, engaging, and tailored to the needs of the children, fostering a love of learning and exploration.
We wish we had the space to celebrate all the amazing educators we have had the privilege of working with over the years. Our passionate marketing team is working hard to do so. Please do reach out to us if you’d like to be featured in an upcoming story—so we can share your impact and love for learning.
