This fall, Wonder Studio is operating full stream. Small is certainly beautiful. I have invited small groups of children each week to work on small projects. I keep small and tidy supplies on hand. Tidy has been a challenge, but I keep working at it.
Category: Project Based Learning
The Work Around
I think of it and call it “The Work Around.” And I teach this to children. No matter what problem you face, what obstacle you encounter, there is ALWAYS a work around. There is always some way you can solve a problem and improve your situation. You just have to keep curious and be willing to play with your stumbling block. Toss it around a bit, roll it down the hill, bounce it into the bushes. Don’t be afraid. Create something new.
Time to Play
For the last three weeks, the girls have been thoroughly engaged in the process of creating. They set goals, planned, organized materials, worked collaboratively, monitored their own progress and adjusted their plans to complete their projects. I saw their independence and self-confidence blossom. They were play engineers. They were in charge of their learning.
The Silver Lining
I could have focused on all the things that went wrong with this lesson, all the content I did not get to share, all the things I should have done. Instead, I reframed those thirty minutes as the room I made to show loving kindness and compassion. Something that is in increasing short supply in our world.
Kitchen Literacy: Comfort & Joy & Gingerbread
Kitchen Literacy: Comfort & Joy & Gingerbread - With the holidays approaching, I encourage you to slow down and be mindful of the traditions you are creating whether at home or in the classroom. Relish the preparation and process. Taste the success. Kitchen memories are sweet and last a lifetime.
Listen to Their Songs
As we drift into August, I am beginning to get weary of learning. I desperately need a respite before the tsunami of teaching in a pandemic begins to swell again. This latest webinar feature A.J. Juliani as the keynote. I have heard this dynamic speaker before, and I was eager to hear what he had to say. What I didn’t expect was his final words of encouragement to teachers in the form of a video from Clint Pulver, a motivational speaker. Clint is an author, musician, and employment retention expert. He helps companies and organizations retain, engage, and inspire their workers. Clint believes that a single moment is transformative, and he demonstrates this in a video about his school experience about his interactions with his teacher Mr. Jensen.
Most Likely to Create
Humans are social animals and as such we seek community. We yearn for communication and understanding. We want to be seen and most definitely heard. There are all kinds of communities to which I have belonged. I have been part of a community of quilters, dancers, painters, teachers, cooks, readers, martial artists, and writers. As part of those communities, I was able to build strong bonds with others who shared similar interests and passions.