This month, the 4th graders have taken over the studio. Some of them are painting on small canvases, some are making spring wreaths, some are learning to sew pillows, and a few of them are exploring how to turn boxes and tubes into working machines.Â
Category: Celebrations
Celebration: Women’s History Tea 2.0
I love March and April because they signal the beginning of spring. All around us are signs of rebirth: budding trees, unfurling blossoms, birds gathering in song on still bare branches. Every spring, I celebrated the accomplishments of women with our 3rd, 4th, and 5th grade students. I gave them a packets of ten women … Continue reading Celebration: Women’s History Tea 2.0
Tea & Empathy
I wanted to shine a light on those students who loved to read, write, and research. I wanted the girls to have an opportunity to learn about all kinds of women from all kinds of backgrounds doing amazing things.
Song of Vivian
Since this week also marks what would have been her 102nd  birthday, I wrote a poem to celebrate my mother, Vivian Victoria – a talented and creative seamstress, and later an inspiring elementary school teacher.Â
What the World Needs Now…
This week, I’m thinking a lot about love. First, because it’s February, and Valentine’s Day leads us all to think a little more deeply about love, but also because February has a special meaning to me.Â
Writing Alongside Children
This week, I began working with two fifth grade girls on writing. I created digital notebooks so they could more easily type their thoughts and ideas. I also wrote alongside them. We talked, we shared our writing, and we laughed. My intention was to build a small community of writers...
Writing Full Circle
I have always thought of writing as connection: the writer’s connection to the readers, and readers connections to the writer’s ideas. Those ideas connect a myriad of other readers and writers, and the circle continues to expand exponentially
Cozy Comfort on Blustery Days
Weekend winter days allow me to have time to paint, read, write, cook, and nap. All the things I enjoy and need to nourish my spirit. This weekend I spent most of my time reading, writing, and napping. I was slow to rise and allowed myself a late start. When I emerged from the layers of comforters, I went right to the stove to put on a kettle for tea and a pot of water for making oatmeal.Â
First Snow
How can we hold on to the wonderment snow brings? How can we see snow with the eyes of child again?
The Light Still Shines
When December comes, the light in the sky dwindles; days are shorter and night is longer. We walk in the dark now with the cold settling deep in our bones. It is dark by 4 o’clock, and we still feel like we have the whole day ahead of us, but the light is gone and with it our energy.
Word Dancer: Literature, the Arts, & Education 