FRIENDSHIP IS MAGIC This story demonstrates facets of social and emotional learning. These skills are not easily measured and therefore, sometimes less valued; yet, they are foundational for future academic learning. I hesitated to write about this event. This was a deeply personal time for our youngest group, but the understanding and the expression that […]
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Art, science, snow and ice
Study the science of art. Study the art of science. Develop your senses. Learn how to see. Realize that everything connects to everything else. Leonardo DaVinci As the temperatures fell, we notice all the changes around us. We adapted to being outside in very cold weather, and as we did we noticed the birdsong change. […]
E-, Two Sticks, and His Friends
This is the story of E-, two sticks and his friends. One morning, just at the beginning of our day, some friends were seated at the picnic table. Despite the chill, they were writing letters and discussing initial letter sounds. I was supporting their interest when E- came running up with two sticks in his […]
Gathering
True wisdom lies in gathering the precious things out of each day as it goes by. E.S. Bouton Schema are repetitive patterns of play that children use to explore the world around them, make sense of that world, and grow cognitively. Some common schemas we see at RVNS are transporting, trajectory, enclosing, construction, destruction, rotating, […]
Inch by Inch
Don’t eat me. I am an inchworm. I am useful. I measure things. from Inch by Inch by Leo Lionni On a Wednesday at the Farm, our youngest friends were captivated by an unexpected guest that joined us for morning gathering. “An inchworm!” I blurted out. Oh, how I wish I would have waited to […]
A Dandy Lion
Dandelion adapted from a poem by Nicolette Lennert Dandelion fluff Floats on a breeze Tickles my nose And makes me sneeze Some see a wish Some see a weed Some see food Bees love and need Dandelions provided much inspiration in the spring. Their bright, cheery color and ubiquitous nature made dandelions a perfect subject […]
Nature school in the time of covid
We’ve reached the end of the school year, and we’ve been silent for quite a while. In the middle of March, we went to remote learning like most everyone else in the country. We started off unsure what we felt good about offering, especially given the age of our students (3-9). We realized that collectively […]
Winter! (?)
…I have found no exact duplicate. In this inexhaustible storehouse of crystal treasures, what a delight is in store for all future lovers of snowflakes and of the beautiful in nature. W. A. Bentley – “Snowflake” Bentley “It’s too early. I never eat December snowflakes. I always wait until January.” – Lucy Van Pelt “They […]
Wondering
“If a child is to keep alive his inborn sense of wonder, he needs the companionship of at least one adult who can share it, rediscovering with him the joy, excitement, and mystery of the world we live in.” Rachel Carson, The Sense of Wonder It’s a little past one in the afternoon. I call […]
Weaving, Webs
This post follows a thread (pun intended) that upon reflection, had its beginning in the fall when one morning, we added the card game Into the Forest to the classroom offerings. It’s a simple card game. Each card has an illustration of a plant or animal. If the card represents an animal, it has a […]