Collective Effervescence

Across early childhood settings, something beautiful is unfolding. Teaching teams are rediscovering the joy of learning together—the spark that comes when shared purpose and collaboration take centre stage. Beyond the paperwork of internal evaluation and PGC inquiry, there’s a growing sense of connection—a feeling of energy, creativity, and genuine excitement for what’s possible. This phenomenon, known as collective effervescence, captures the magic that happens when kaiako come together with open hearts and minds. It’s a reminder that when leadership creates space for authentic collaboration, passion multiplies, and the ripple effects are felt by every mokopuna in our care.

The Spark of Transformation

Over the past few months, I have noticed an inspiring trend in early childhood education, one that is generating what I can only describe as collective effervescence among teaching teams.

Leadership across centres is showing a powerful intent: to ensure that processes such as internal evaluation and PGC inquiry are truly inclusive of all kaiako. That might sound rather ordinary,but it is anything but.

Let me share an example.

I was sitting with a teaching team as they tried to make sense of their internal evaluation. They had done a great deal of mahi, but their ideas were scattered threads of thought that didn’t quite weave together. The meeting’s original purpose was to “kick-start” the internal evaluation, which had been on a very slow simmer. The energy in the room was heavy, filled with uncertainty about the process and how all their efforts might connect.

At first glance, it seemed like a difficult space to be in. But what happened next was remarkable.

After circling around their ideas for some time, the team agreed to wind that particular evaluation up and move forward collectively with something new, something that everyone was curious about, a question that everyone could own.

As the kaiako began sharing ideas for a new internal evaluation focus, I felt a shift. The energy in the room lifted. Then it bubbled, and soon it overflowed. Ideas, laughter, and possibility filled the air. That moment, the rising energy, the shared excitement, the joy of finding purpose together was the beginning of collective effervescence.

The Magic of Letting Go

This transformation, from a ho-hum view of internal evaluation to a bubbling over of inspiration happens when wise leaders step back. They resist the urge to rush ahead or rescue. Instead, they create the space for collaboration to work its magic.

I am witnessing more and more leaders with this confidence, the courage to trust the process, to hold space for kaiako to think, question, and connect. Sitting amid these conversations in kaiako hui, you can feel the difference. There’s lightness, laughter, curiosity. It’s changing how kaiako view internal evaluation and that is exciting, because internal evaluation is the very process that drives quality improvement for mokopuna.

In the example above, as kaiako found curiosity and shared focus for their internal evaluation, they also began shaping their own PGC inquiries to align with it. Their professional growth became part of a shared journey. I am eager to see where this waka will take them next.

The Science of Shared Energy

The French sociologist Émile Durkheim coined the term collective effervescence to describe the feeling of energy and harmony that arises when people unite around a shared purpose. This phenomenon captures perfectly what happens in teaching teams when collaboration, inspiration, and shared intent align.

Passion inspires passion. When kaiako feel connected to a common purpose, when they know their work matters for mokopuna and whānau their energy expands. They feel uplifted, motivated, and resilient. In fact, research on resilience within teaching teams highlights a shared sense of purpose as a vital element in building and sustaining team wellbeing.

Fostering Collective Effervescence

Cultivating collective effervescence doesn’t happen by accident. It grows through intentional leadership practices.. Where there is space and consideration given to each of these steps:

Learn and Grow Together:
Encourage shared learning, that’s what internal evaluation truly is. As a teaching team, dive deeper into pedagogy, reflecting and learning alongside one another.

Celebrate the Journey:
Acknowledge progress, no matter how small. When everyone feels valued, collaboration thrives. At Educating Hearts and Minds, we view internal evaluation and PGC as part of one collaborative journey rather than two separate processes. We see internal evaluation as the waka that carries everyone forward, while the PGC inquiries are the crossbeams that give the waka strength. When kaiako are aware of each other’s inquiries, feedback flows naturally, and growth becomes visible across the team.

Establish Rituals:
Create regular, meaningful opportunities that reinforce a sense of belonging. Revisit internal evaluation as a living, evolving process. Coming together to acknowledge professional growth in thinking and practice helps kaiako track their collective journey. One practical ritual might be for each kaiako to take turns sharing their PGC inquiry during hui, fostering connection, understanding, and shared learning. These practices breathe life into the team, transforming each hui into a moment of professional rejuvenation.

Together, Unbreakable

The story of this teaching team is just one example of what’s happening across our sector, a groundswell of collaborative energy and purpose. It’s a privilege to stand alongside these teams as their ideas unfold and their passion deepens for the learning lives of mokopuna.

When kaiako come together with shared intent, something extraordinary unfolds. The everyday work of reflection, inquiry, and evaluation transforms into a living expression of unity and growth. This collective effervescence doesn’t just lift teams, it enriches the learning journeys of mokopuna and strengthens the whanaungatanga that holds our communities together.

When leaders and kaiako nurture spaces where curiosity and collaboration thrive, we breathe life into the heart of early childhood education. Together, we are shaping environments where everyone - mokopuna, whānau, and kaiako can flourish.

Ki te kotahi te kākaho, ka whati; ki te kāpuia, e kore e whati.
When we stand alone, we are vulnerable, but together we are unbreakable.