...the Wonder Studio is a place where no one is telling them what to do; they can devise their own projects and get messy. This is very important to them, and I dare say, it is a crucial part of growing and learning. Children need opportunities to try out ideas, fail, try again, and keep going until they succeed, which in this case comes in the form of felt, wood, beads, hot glue, and cardboard.
Tag: Perseverance
Igniting Curiosity: How Skateboarding Sparks Learning
All this skateboarding got me to thinking about how children learn. Increasingly, learning seems to have become more and more passive. Teachers and technology dole out information and kids are expected to take the information and hold on to it, but I’m not sure the kids understand the importance of the information and how to take it farther. And there is so much information, it’s hard to determine what to hold on to, what is true, and what is not important. I’m wondering in my work with children this year, how I can spark that skatepark enthusiasm.
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.
Word Dancer: Literature, the Arts, & Education 