Inside the Wonder Studio: Life in Miniature

March 14, 2023 ~ wordancerblog ~ 8 Comments

A brave and brilliant 5th grade Wonder Studio crafter wearing kaleidoscope glasses.

When I was in the 5^th grade, I loved making miniature replicas of things that I was learning about in school: prairie houses, covered wagons, log cabins, and so much more. When I read about ancient history, I would make models of castles, pyramids, and I even made a sugar cube Roman Colosseum. I loved designing and building in miniature. I loved the challenge of finding materials that could be used in my creations. My good friend, Roxane, was an expert at sewing tiny families of mice clothed in wonderful Victorian costumes. I didn’t know how she crafted them so meticulously. My creations definitely looked child-made. I was so proud of them. Taking the time to create them deepened my understanding not only of the crafting process, but also of the time period I was endeavoring to replicate.

This month in the Wonder Studio, the 5^th graders have been working on a small scale. No one mandated that they do so. They all just started making tiny projects. It might be due to the fact that they are starting a unit in math in which they are required to make tiny houses for clients. The clients are comprised of willing teachers and school staff. No matter what the reason, this focus on small is age appropriate and well-suited to their developmental level. Their fingers are now skillful enough to manufacture tiny things, and they are intellectually curious about how various things work. By making miniature models, they are able to gain a fuller understanding of how the real things work.

This is the 5^th graders’ second round in Wonder Studio this year. They no longer need an introduction to where materials are stored or how to operate simple machines the hot glue gun, saddle stapler, saw, drill, cardboard scissors, iron, etc.) As soon as we enter the studio, they rush to work. They all have ideas and are ready to put them into action.

A group of three students, then four, now six are constructing a model of their classroom to present to their teachers on Teacher Appreciate Day in April. Four students are creating the classroom with foam core, cardboard, and wood scraps. Two others have labeled themselves “the carpenters,” and are making a series of tiny wooden desks and chairs for the classroom. I sit back and marvel at their ingenuity. I jump in when I’m asked for materials or crating assistance. But the ideas? The ideas are all theirs. In these short set of weeks, I’ve seen their confidence and ideas grow. They are more willing to take risks. They problem-solve, collaborate, and call on each other’s best skills. When I witness this natural buzz of creative process, I become so excited because to me this is the essence of learning. They are in the zone. They are in what Csikzentmihalyi called the state of flow.

Students make miniature bulletin boards for their tiny classroom model.

Another pair of students have decided to create bakery products. They are concocting donuts, coffee cakes, and cupcakes with found objects from the Wonder Studio. One student found a way to make roasted marshmallows. They find things that I didn’t even know we had! They cut, paint, glue with happy abandon.

Donuts, coffee cake, pie, cake pops, cupcakes and roasted marshmallows!

Anna has brought a small plastic bag with her to the Wonder Studio. She takes out a miniature pinball machine that she started at home. It is incredibly tiny, and she is determined to make it work. I am in awe of her precision. I keep wondering how we can transfer this kind of agency and enthusiasm to regular classroom experiences. The students always tell me that Wonder Studio should be a “real subject” like math and English. They want that challenge of coming up with an idea, their own idea, and seeing it grow into a reality. They need time to do this.

Ida, who is unafraid to try something new, excels in Wonder Studio. I call her “our engineer.” She loves making tiny replicas of machines that really work (a humane trap, a windmill, a rolling cart – to name a few). This week, she saw a “That was Easy” button I had on a counter and decided to make one out of cardboard soup container lids. Ida’s button says, “OOF!” on the top, and when you press it, it makes a soft whooshing sound. I am amazed and ask her how she constructed it. Ida looks at me like I have just asked the dumbest question on the face of the planet, shrugs her shoulders, and says confidently, “Compressed air.” I am constantly surprised by Ida’s ingenious designs.

These small creations, this work in miniature, garner big results. The students now own the Wonder Studio. It is their space. They know how to use it. They are no longer hesitant but dive head-long into projects – trying ideas, sometimes abandoning them, but mostly following through and sharing their creations proudly.

Object Connections: Janet Wong’s Poetry

March 6, 2023March 5, 2023 ~ wordancerblog ~ 5 Comments

Last week, I had an opportunity to attend a poetry workshop presented by Janet Wong and sponsored by Rutgers University Center for Literacy Development, which is directed by Dr. Lesley Morrow. Janet won the NCTE excellence in children’s Poetry Award in 2021. It is a lifetime achievement award, and one of the highest honors a children’s poet can receive. Before becoming a poet, Janet was a lawyer. Currently, she serves on the Yale Law School executive committee. However, decades ago she decided to change the direction of her life to become a children’s book author. She has published over forty books for children and teens on diverse subjects. This workshop was special to me because, as a member of the advisory board of RUCLD, I had been asked to help Janet throughout the day. I have always admired Janet, and now I got to spend the day with her.

Janet brought two large suitcase of props: flip-flops, popcorn, marshmallows, nori seaweed snacks, gummy worms, a rubber duck, a bunch of bananas, a bag of just-ripe avocados, a can of peas, an apple, an orange, an onion, a clove of garlic, and much more. As she read poems and told the stories behind the poems, Janet would give away objects as gifts to the audience members. This is where my job began. I put on my best “Vanna White” imitation – holding objects up in the air, smiling, and then racing around the conference space delivering the precious objects to participants.

One poem that Janet acted out for us and had participants act out in turn was “Noodle Soup.” It is a short, happy rhyming poem. From the repetition, alliteration, and whimsical rhyme, one would think it was just a funny kid poem. However, Janet told us the story behind this poem. When she was a child, she invited her best friend over for breakfast. Her mother made a steaming pot of wonton soup, Janet’s favorite. When her friend arrived late, she looked at the soup and said, “Don’t you eat ‘normal’ food for breakfast?” This hurt Janet immensely, but she never told her friend.

Another of Janet’s poems, “Waiting at the Railroad Café,” recounts a tense scene when Janet and her family were on vacation and went to restaurant to eat. When the family entered, it was like they were invisible. They weren’t greeted or taken to a seat. They weren’t given menus. They were completely ignored because they were Asian. That experience made a profound impact on Janet.

These two poems come from Good Luck Gold, which was the first book Janet published in 1994. Good Luck Gold & More was published in 2021 and took Janet’s original forty-two poem collection and added fifty more pages of prose explaining the backstory of each poem. I loved that Janet took everyday objects and connected them to times in her life. Out of that connection a poem was born. Many times we read poems but do not know the backstory. The backstory creates context and gives us a deeper understanding of the poem.

After her large group presentation, participants were able to attend a small group session with Janet. That session was designed to give participants a chance to write. Janet and I stacked copies of her various poems and spread a majority of the contents of her two large suitcases onto four long tables. As a warm-up, Janet asked us to match her poems with the objects that were displayed around the room. Then, Janet asked us to choose an object and write a poem about it. As we shared our poems, Janet gave away more objects to the poet-participants. It was clear that Janet has a generous spirit: she gave her time and knowledge freely. She enjoyed gifting people with the objects she had lugged from Seattle, Washington to Piscataway, New Jersey.

Below is the poem I wrote for my object – a small yellow rubber duck. The poem came to me as I remembered my friend, Arman, telling me how his son, Caram, did not like water and bath time at all. He would cry and cry. So I re-imagined how Caram could become in love with bath time.

As we packed up what was left of her belongings into now one suitcase, Janet encouraged me to keep writing and to join her summer initiative, Think Poetry, which will provide opportunities for teachers and librarians to publish their poems. As we departed, Janet stacked cookies, popcorn, and Nori seaweed snacks in my arms.

“Put them in your faculty room,” she said with a smile. “I couldn’t have had a more helpful partner today. We are a good team.”

I smiled, thanked her, and walked to my car juggling my teacher treats. Janet not only connected people to objects and experiences, she connected people to each other, and that is the true power of poetry.

Some Books by Janet Wong

Picture Books

Poetry Books

Anthologies Created with Sylvia Vardell

Rainbow Writing with Kindergarteners

February 20, 2023 ~ wordancerblog ~ 9 Comments

I count myself fortunate. My busy job includes spending time with kindergarten writers and there is no greater joy than that. Since September, these novice writers have grown steadily. First, they drew their stories and told them to each other. Eventually, they began to write their stories instead of saying them aloud. They valiantly sounded out each letter until they formed the approximate word. Most times they could read back what they had written. When they couldn’t read it back, they looked at their picture and found other words. Writing in Kindergarten takes a great amount of perseverance and faith. Their stick-to-itiveness is remarkable. They are a determined lot.

That’s why I was not surprised when I came to my weekly writing workshop on a Monday afternoon in mid-February to see all the kindergarten writers busy working on various steps in the writing process: brainstorming, planning, drafting, conferring with a teacher, and finally creating a cover for publication. When I stepped inside the doorway, several of them immediately called to me.

“Sit here!”

“Sit with us!”

“Come write with us,” one girl called and patted the chair next to her.

It is good to have five-year-old friends who are writers. They are welcoming and affirming. I sat down and asked what they were working on. They readily shared their drawings and stories. One of them commanded, “Write a story.”

I smiled. I have been joining them for writing workshop for six months now, and almost every time I make sure that they see me writing. I have explained to our teachers that writing with your students is as important (and I dare say – more important) that conferring with them. When children see you write, they better understand the process and can learn how you go about planning, composing, and revising. This type of showing is so much better than telling.

Though I know writing with children is important, I wasn’t sure that the children had noticed. However, this past week proved that the children do indeed take notice and that they want adults to join them in the writing process rather than always being the facilitator or editor. Writing alongside them actually wields more power – makes a greater impact.

So, I steady myself on the kindergarten-sized chair and I ask, “What should I write about?”

“Rainbows,” Charlotte explains.

I chuckle, and think to myself, “Of course, kindergarten girls – rainbows indeed.”

One of them runs off to get me three sheets of paper. They are learning to write a story in three parts: beginning, middle, and end. I take the paper and bend my head towards the table. I do not look up but instead concentrate carefully on what I want to write. I start with a picture. I draw two giant clouds and then I get an idea. I start to draw small cats dropping out of one cloud and small dogs dropping out of the other.

“What is she doing?” whispers one of them.

“Look!” whispers another.

I do not raise my head or say anything. I keep concentrating.

They begin to giggle. “Dogs and cats are falling,” one of them declares.

One of them hops up excitedly, “It’s raining cats and dogs!” she screams.“I know what that means. I know what that means!” Julie shouts.

She bends down next to me and tucks her face two inches from mine. I can’t help but stop and look at her.

“It means it is raining very hard,” Julie explains.

I smile and nod my head. I flip the page and start drawing a giant puddle.

“What’s that?” one of them asks.

“It’s a puddle!’’ another answers.

“I know. I know. The dogs and cats are going to drop into the puddle!” Julie predicts.

I have never had so much fun writing a story. These young writers are thoroughly engaged and engaging. They continue with their work, and we write together quietly. Sometimes one of them will offer me an orange pencil so I can color in one of the cats.

A shy student who was sitting at another table comes over to me, encouraged by her teacher. She hands her book to me.

“Oh, you finished your story, Olivia!” I say. She nods her head.

“I’d like to hear it. Will you read it to me?” I ask gently.

Olivia nods her head again.

She is very shy and tentative. She speaks softly, and we have spent the year encouraging her and giving her opportunities to speak. From her drawings and writing, it is clear Olivia has a lot to say. She has sophisticated thoughts that we might have missed if we didn’t give her and her classmates this time to imagine and create.

Soon, writing workshop time comes to an end, and they gather together in the authors’ circle. I leave my rainbow story for them to read at another time as Olivia raises her hand to share.

Show Some Love

February 12, 2023 ~ wordancerblog ~ 4 Comments

This January to March time is always a rush of non-stop activity at school. The Northeast, dreary winter weather does nothing to help soothe the onslaught of stress. I get so wrapped up in the doing that I don’t even realize I’m hunching my shoulders and holding my breath most of the day. And I love what I do! I love helping children. The helping part is the easy, rewarding part for me. It’s the never-ending to-do list of faculty meetings, parent meetings, assessments, evaluations – check lists upon check lists. I am a very organized person, but the enormous amount of never-ending work has the potential to drown and discourage me. But I won’t let it!

Thank goodness for mid-February. Mid-February is a reminder to breathe, slow down, and show myself some self-love. My wedding anniversary is February 10^th. Since our first anniversary 38 years ago, my husband and I have used the 10^th to herald in four days of celebration. For us, it is a time to reflect of what we are grateful for; a time to remember that we are each other’s best thing. The 10th also stands as a reminder for me to pause, take a step back and undo some of the knot of work projects. The work is important, but if I don’t take time for myself and show myself some love, the work will ultimately suffer.

Here are 14 ways I’m intentionally showing myself some love this February:

Smile – I notice that when I smile, I feel better. My mood lifts, and it’s contagious! People smile back and I feel connected. When I look in the mirror, I am learning to appreciate my lines, wrinkles, and spots. “This is me; this is my face. Hello! You are loved,” I say to myself and grin.

Laugh – I am a laugher. I cannot help it. I laugh all the time. I didn’t notice that I laugh a lot until friends brought it up. I find joy in many things. I think it is my laughter that keeps me sane, keeps everything in perspective when times are rough. When I’m having a hard time, I often seek out a funny movie to put me back on track. Laughter, as they say, is the best medicine.

Read and Rest – I love to read, but often choose working over reading. I have intentionally eked out some space in my day to read and rest, to read a bit and then ponder what the author is showing me. Words, images, ideas come flowing in, and I take a deep breath. I am connected now to my internal world and it makes me more curious and hopeful.

Peaceful Pen – I cannot seem to find the time during the week to write, so the weekends serve as my time to escape with my pen (or keyboard as the case may be). I wake up early each morning, look out the window past the meadow and woods, think about what is on my mind, and sit down to write for a few hours. I find that this time is essential for me. Without this writing time, I feel incomplete and unhappy. Writing is breathing to me.

Joy in Nature – Nature brings out the best in me. I am fortunate that I live in a place with nature all around: woods, farms, parks, and gardens. I regularly visit these places. When I’m in nature, beauty sinks into my skin, and I am reminded that I am a small part of this big, beautiful planet.

Beautiful Bouquet – I love flowers, all flowers. Okay, I admit tulips are my favorite. Yellow ones. I’m glad for that because roses are very expensive. Roses are beautiful too, but I like something more subtle, like wildflowers in the summer. In February, I stop off before work and buy myself a simple bouquet of tulips for my desk. They last over a week and every time I look at them, the remind me to pause and rest for a moment.

Café Life – I’ve been finding time before and after work stop by local cafes. I choose a different one throughout the week. It is like going on a little adventure. Most times, I have to take out and run, but when there is more time, I sit down and savor my favorite drink, cupping it in my hands and breathing in the aroma.

Sweet Indulgence – Chocolate. I love chocolate. I eat way too much chocolate. Instead of consuming lots of chocolate throughout the day (someone put a bowl of candy in the faculty room)! I’ve decided to show a little self-control and choose one sweet indulgence each week. This is not your run of the mill candy bar. This is a sumptuous, decadent dessert. It something planned, something to look forward to.

Meditate to Rejuvenate – I am learning to slow my monkey mind and meditate. It is not comfortable for me. I’ve been teaching a 4^th grader how to meditate to help calm her monkey mind. It wasn’t until meditating with her that I realized how important it is to take a few minutes out of the day to center oneself. After meditating for 5 minutes, my body felt suddenly relaxed, and my mind was refreshed. I didn’t feel overwhelmingly tired with the need for my afternoon coffee.

Step it up! I rush around all day and sit all night. I’ve decided to change my couch potato habit and get up and move. I may stretch, do tai chi, dance in my socks, or practice martial arts with my husband. But my daily activity is walking. I love to walk in the woods, but when I can’t do that, I walk in town to window shop and people gaze.

Artistic Spark – Drawing, painting, weaving, sewing, creating collages is something that has brought me joy since I was young. I don’t need to be the best artist. I just let the materials take me where they want me to go, and I find that as I move my hand, my whole body and mind relaxes. I get into the artistic flow and everything else disappears.

Soak Away Stress – You know those luxurious bathrooms with the deep marble tubs or the beautiful jacuzzi looking over the sea? No – I don’t have either one. But I have a deep need to soak away stress, so I bought myself a little footbath and some fragrant bath salts for my tired feet. At least once a week, I fill up the footbath with warm water, sprinkle in the bath salts, and breathe in lavender and sage.In a few minutes, my feet feel loved.

Make Time for Music – Even though I have not one ounce of musical talent, I love music. I listen, I sing along, I hum throughout the day. The world needs more music. I remember going to a Broadway musical with my mother and refusing to leave when the show was over because I wanted life to be a musical. I was twenty-three at the time! I just don’t understand why we can’t just break out into song. And so – music accompanies me everywhere I go. It helps me think, and it allows me to relax.

Random Act of Kindness – The best way I know to feel joy and love is to spread it to others. Each day, I conscientiously make sure I perform an act of Kindness for someone else. It doesn’t have to be a grand, bold gesture. It can be as simple as a smile!

Celebration in the Wonder Studio: Lunar New Year

January 29, 2023 ~ wordancerblog ~ 4 Comments

A dozen girls gather at recess time to work in the Wonder Studio. They are in the midst of painting, decorating, and constructing projects of their choice. This week, I added a box in the shape of a dragon’s head to celebrate Lunar New year. I quickly cut the box to look like a dragon with a wide pointed-tooth grin. The girls collected some found objects to make the dragon’s eyes, nostrils, and teeth. Then we all took turns collaging bright colored tissue paper all over the head in layers upon layers. Once completed, the dragon would be hung right outside their classrooms to celebrate Lunar New Year.

I have done this dragon project with countless students over several decades. I love this tradition because it always sparks children’s imaginations and makes the classroom atmosphere festive. I think the best way for young children to learn about other cultures is through celebrations (food, storytelling, and art). These are powerful ways in which to hold memories. When I was a classroom teacher, this art project would be the anchor for deep research into the holiday and the Asian culture. We read widely and began to understand these cultures and traditions more organically.

These days, I’ve noticed that with more and more emphasis on curricular initiatives there seems to be less and less time to celebrate, less and less time for conversations, and less time for connection. The classrooms are a rush of activity, one lesson after the next – go, go, go. Don’t stop. Don’t think. Don’t feel the struggle and joy in learning.

I’m glad I can eke out some time for kids to converse and create; some time to experiment and play; some time to celebrate the small things. They need to know the joy of taking a risk – of taking a cardboard box and transforming into something whimsical. There is magic held within that simple box, and I want children to experience that creative power.

As they worked, they began asking questions about Lunar New Year. They began talking to each other naturally. Some of them knew quite a bit about the holiday and supplied lots of information with facts and personal experiences. Questions grew and so did the students’ understanding. They wanted to know more. They wanted to become part of the celebration.

Books About Lunar New Year

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