Learn to set intentions in a Reggio-inspired way. Uncover the values that lay underneath each intention you plan. Develop curricular ideas through intention setting. Walk away with at least one intention you plan to implement into your classroom/school.

As leaders, how do we set intentions in our work with young children and their families? What values lay underneath the surface of our intentions and what does declaring intentions look like as we move into big ideas as inspiration for curriculum? Spend time learning about and coming up with classroom and/or school-wide intentions as we explore and examine the past experiences in my school--the PSU Helen Gordon Center--and of their educators' attempt at making intentions and big ideas visible and valued.

Dr. Will Parnell

Will Parnell, EdD, is a professor in education, Department Chair of Curriculum and Instruction, and pedagogical liaison to the Helen Gordon Child Development Center at Portland State University.

He is also principal investigator of the federal CCAMPIS grant. His specialty areas are environments and designs for learning and teaching, equity and culture in early education, documenting young children's learning, and facilitating narratives.

Dr. Parnell currently serves on the National Association of Early Childhood Teacher Education's board as Vice President, is the Chair of the Critical Perspectives SIG of AERA, is a board member for A Renaissance school of Arts and Sciences, is on the Reconceptualizing Early Childhood Education program committee and he is president of the Inventing Remida Portland Project.