My life as an early childhood teacher is not easy and it is not predictable, but it is always alive, rich, surprising and creative. When I recognize the richness and variety of my life as a teacher of young children, I recognize that early education and care is an invitation to live a creative life.
– Carol Garboden Murray, Illuminating Care

Committing ourselves to a rich, surprising, creative life is immeasurably aided by doing so in community. Too often, teachers find themselves in isolation – socially, emotionally, and intellectually undernourished.

The Studio for Playful Inquiry is an online gathering space for educators from around the world dedicated to caring for themselves and others. Participants read and explore and create as they share their experiences with each other.

Each month is organized by a through line – a big idea that the hosts think will be relevant to all members, regardless of their context. October’s Through Line is rooted in adrienne maree brown’s emergent strategy that “what you pay attention to grows”- an important idea in care work. That month’s guideline program – a recorded conversation with a luminary to catalyze thinking about the topic – will be with Carol Garboden Murray, the Director of the Wimpfheimer Laboratory Nursery School at Vassar College and author of Illuminating Care: The Pedagogy and Practice of Care in Early Childhood Communities.

Studio for Playful Inquiry Members can join the call live October 2 or watch a recording of it at their convenience at a later date. Past recorded conversations include many Exchange authors, including Donna King, Ann Pelo, and Ron Grady. ExchangeEveryDay readers initiating a new Transform Plan membership can take $100 off their first year in October by entering promo code EXCHANGE.