Category: Art

Working in the Wonder Studio: June Wrap-up

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The last  two weeks of school found the girls busy wrapping up their spring projects in the Wonder Studio.  Even though I warned them not to start anything new, some of them could not resist.  They spent their recess times painting, making, building mazes, sewing pillow, and making oodles of miniatures.

Finding Her Voice: Building a Tiny House

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As a learning support specialist, I appreciate the time and effort it takes to grow.  There is definitely something to Malcolm Gladwell’s “10,000 hours rule,” which states that it takes approximately 10, 000 hours to achieve mastery in a particular activity.  I have watched Coco put intense focus and energy into making small objects: tiny coconut people, small animal habitats, or tiny food replicas.  It seems that there were no plans.  Her objects would just appear, but as I watched her, I realized that she were very significant organizational processes going on silently in her imagination.

Poetry & Pasta: Kindergarten Wordplay

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My love of poetry extended into May this year as I read aloud to our Kindergarten classes.  I had read my poetry and facilitated poetry writing with students in 1st through 5th grades in the month of April.  Finally, I had a little more time to bring the joy of verse into Kindergarten.  I found the perfect picture book to share, Pasta, Pasta Lotsa Pasta by Aimee Lucido.  Since I am of Italian heritage, I found this book to be particularly fun and engaging.  Ms. Lucido’s wordplay is exquisite and invites  young children to join into the rhythm of the story.

Working in the Wonder Studio: Creative Spirit

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I have noticed in the last few years that the 5th grade students love to fabricate small intricate items during their final Wonder Studio sessions. I’m not sure if it’s because they want to be able to quickly complete projects that they can take home as mementoes of their Primary School years, or that they are working on a math PBL unit on Tiny Houses, so their minds just naturally go to the miniature. However, most of the students are making objects other than items for their tiny houses, even though I bought materials that would allow them to construct tiny furniture and other accoutrements.

Stormy Weather: Celebrating Poetry Month

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I loved stringing words together.  I loved the way they formed in my mouth and rushed out into the air.  Poetry was magical, and I felt I had some of that magic in me. Now, as a poet and teacher, I enjoy bringing that love of the spoken word to children.  This month, Deborah, my friend and dear librarian at the school where I teach, invited me to be the guest poet during her library times with 1st through 4th graders.

Sew Easy: A Heartfelt Journey

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Many things that my mother loved, I love - teaching, making art, reading, eating cheese and crackers, putting on bright lipstick, and sewing.  My mother was an amazing seamstress and dress designer well before she had kids and became a teacher.  She would hold a piece of fabric in her hand, fold it, cut it without a pattern, and make something wonderful to wear.  She had a gift, and it was magical.