I know to get good at anything, you must put time into it. “Practice makes permanent,” as the saying goes. Recently, I read David Sibley refer to his development in drawings birds as "putting in pencil miles.,” which is a term used by nature journalist to describe the practice that goes into honing their craft.
Category: Play
Leaf Peepers
As soon as I saw the mountains, my shoulders dropped and my spirits soared. The beauty I saw was healing and restorative. I was reminded just how wondrous our little planet is, and that no matter how busy we are, our little blue and green Earth keeps on spinning. The rotating seasons and give us a splendid art show.
Look up! A Supermoon!
This week the moon is on the rise. It is a full harvest moon and a lunar eclipse. It is magical and wonderful to take a moment and gaze up into the night sky as the moon ascends. I told a group of kindergarten students to be on the watch for it, and they came back the next day to tell me what they saw.
Let’s Play!: “You be the Granny!”
Play will help us think outside the box, work collaboratively with others, and spark new ways of doing ordinary things. I was given these gentle reminders several sweet and assertive Kindergarten girls during recess time one afternoon.
Sandcastle Summer
I would build sandcastles in my home state of New Jersey, but would also build them on our family vacations in California, Massachusetts, and Florida. The sand quality of each state was very different, ranging from sugar white to pebble-dense smoky gray. It didn’t matter the quality or color of the sand, I just loved to imagine and build.
What is Writing? – The Work of Lynda Barry
Knowledge is power, and reading is the main way to gain knowledge. This is something that was instilled in me from a young age. And though throughout my childhood, reading took hard work, I became an avid reader. I loved that reading took me away from my suburban life and transported me to so many different places and experiences. Reading made me a writer.
Working in the Wonder Studio: Sewing up Some New Friends
The girls learn about sewing, making mistakes, and perseverance. I learn about how these students approach a task: how they plan, how they organize, and how they problem solve. I also learn how to help them when they are stuck and what motivates them. I have come to understand how important this half-hour is for them as students and for me as a teacher.
Seaworthy Summer
These few days by the sea are important part of my school life. I need these days, I long for these days, I use these days to ready myself for a summer filled with travel, reading, art, and self-reflection.
Walking Towards Summer
The third week of May is approaching. For school that means spring testing is done, spring conferences are coming, children are restless, and teachers are restless. We see the end, but it isn’t quite here. It’s not that we don’t enjoy learning and teaching. It’s purely that we are tired. We need a rest. We need to rest our bodies and our minds. We need that warm summer sunshine, not this rainy spring.
January Watercolor
of spring, I love the crisp, clean colors of winter. The cold air seems to freeze every form in place: the red berries on the evergreens, the sleek black of the crows, and the silver icicles hanging from rooftops. I want to capture these images in watercolor, but I haven’t painted in a long time.
Word Dancer: Literature, the Arts, & Education 