I’m at a point in my life when I look back and reflect on my decisions, I think about all the steps (and missteps) I’ve made that brought me this far. The one thing that stands out for me is how working with my hands has been a major theme throughout my childhood, teenage years, and all the decades of my adult life.
Month: November 2025
Crafting Perseverance in the Wonder Studio
...the Wonder Studio is a place where no one is telling them what to do; they can devise their own projects and get messy. This is very important to them, and I dare say, it is a crucial part of growing and learning. Children need opportunities to try out ideas, fail, try again, and keep going until they succeed, which in this case comes in the form of felt, wood, beads, hot glue, and cardboard.
Working in the Wonder Studio: Stitching Meditation
This fall, the 5th graders had four weeks to explore the Wonder Studio. We showcased things made of duct tape, and I had pictures of different projects on the bulletin board for them to see and get inspired. However, what ended up inspiring them was some orange felt and black socks I had in the sewing space. October was mainly spent teaching a group of girls to sew.
Revisiting a Young Writer’s Practice
As a child, I loved to write. The pencil was an extension of my hand and mind. I found that all the stories in my head could be released onto beautiful blank white paper. This revelation was exciting to me. I couldn’t wait to jot down my stories. It took me some time to realize that not everyone in the world finds writing fun and adventurous. It wasn’t until I became a teacher that I learned that there are children who have trouble getting their stories down on paper.
Word Dancer: Literature, the Arts, & Education 