Guru Ed Resources

“Guru – teacher”

Our story as teachers began when we were students navigating life as Asian immigrants in Melbourne, Australia. We found our way as we adapted to different ways of doing and thinking—something quite different from what we were exposed to in our home countries. While we appreciated the values ingrained in us, such as respect and academic discipline, we also embraced the creativity and freedom of exploration that Australia provided.

Experiencing these cultural differences in early childhood education made us reflect on our own experiences, both as children and as teachers. Learning the alphabet and numbers at a very early age was the norm for us, along with calling our teachers “Miss” or “Sir.” Then, after moving here, children casually called us by our names—“Hey Deb!” or “Hey El!”—followed by endless questions and curiosity about the world around them. Suddenly, it felt as though a childhood pattern had been broken, where the formalities of adult-led structures were replaced by the vibrancy of child-led thinking.

It became a fascinating discovery: adults learning alongside children. It was as if we were seeing the world differently and daring to follow the children’s wonderings and inquiries. These moments were joyful and insightful, while also humbling, as we once again experienced what it means to be curious as adults.

Working together as teachers, we continually reflected on our experiences and explored many learning possibilities with the children. These experiences were messy, fun, engaging, and challenging—and we enjoyed them just as much as the children did. Through this, we realised the great importance of playfulness in learning: it is in a relaxed mind and body that learning happens most naturally. Neuroscience has been right all along!

“Be the teacher you wish you had”

Every time we had a fun learning experience with the children, we found ourselves thinking: how amazing would it have been to have this as children? And so, the story of Guru begins…

To simply create a space to teach, share resources, and tell stories that make childhood learning even more joyful and meaningful.