The Path in the Forest

"The path in the forest is filled with trees. In the springtime the colors come out because in the winter when it's cold the trees sleep. The ground is green and covered with moss. Underneath the worms and slugs are crawling.  The sky is blue and the sun is warm. It is spring!" ~Madison

Malleable Materials

I'm certain that you have all worked with clay, play dough and many other molding materials. Each one provides its own challenges and does not always turn out the way we intend. This can be frustrating for both teachers and students who invest a great deal of time in working with these products.  We recently introduced a wonderful malleable product in our classrooms. Of course, as with all new materials, the children required instruction. Here is a look at what  happened with fondant and gum paste when it was used for making flowers as well as decorating cupcakes.
We continue to experiment with it.



How Sturdy is this Bridge?

The bridge is one of the children's favorite places to visit. They are constantly finding new ways to explore and interesting theories to construct. The children know that the bridge allows them to get from one side of the stream to the other but just how does it support their weight?

They had some thinking to do and some bridges to make.

The first bridge was made using Popsicle sticks and dowels. It was able to support a bucket of rocks and small bricks as well as the weight of one child

How did it happen?

International Bullying Day

“Remember to be gentle with yourself and others. We are all children of chance and none can say why some fields will blossom while others lay brown beneath the August sun. Care for those around you. Look past your differences. Their dreams are no less than yours, their choices no more easily made. And give, give in any way you can, of whatever you posses. To give is to love. To withhold is to wither. Care less for your harvest than for how it is shared and your life will have meaning and your heart will have peace.” Kent Nerburn

If someone asked me what would be the one gift I would bestow on the thousands of children who have passed through the door of our schools. I would say, "The gift of humanity!"

Teach your children to care for others. To accept that no two human beings are the same and that we are not defined by the color of our skin, the length of our hair, the clothes we wear or the riches that we possess.

Everyone of us is a gift. Born to leave a ripple in the waters of life. Will our deeds resonate thought the centuries like those of the greatest minds or the most gifted artist Maybe. But most likely  our contributions will be small yet still profoundly felt by the people who share our lives.

So instill in your children the ability to accept others, to value all human beings weather they are cool or nerdy, short, tall , overweight, rich, poor, black, white, yellow or even green!

The seed or disdain begins early in life. Find a way to sow the seed of acceptance.

The Shadow Screen

The shadow screen is a wonderful addition to a classroom. The children have opportunity to build and see objects grow and shrink. The possibilities are endless and when you add translucent objects, colors explode.

So Much More than A Train!

The Complexity of A Child's Thinking

Quinn began by placing the tubes linearly onto the projector; grouping them according to color and creating three sets of eight.

"I made a train!"

He then looked at the shadows his work had cast on the screen. They did not reflect the tall tubular design he was expecting. Instead, he saw circles which were the tops of the tubes only.
Disappointed he commented,  “It’s not a train.”

To assist him with his intention the teacher placed a table in front of the screen and invited him to make his train again to see if he could cast a shadow that would be long, "tubular." This time he lined the tubes in an alternating pattern. When he was finished making one row, he looked at the screen but did not see any shadows. The shadows of his tubes remained on the table surface.

“It’s on the table now,” he said.

“How can we make the shadows go onto the screen?” asked his teacher.

Quinn looked at the shadows on the table and then had a remarkable idea. He added a second set of (alternating) tubes, placing them at the point where the shadows of the first set ended: thereby extending the shadow length to reach the screen.

“Look, the shadow is on the screen now!”

As an alternate construction, Quinn used cups to attain a similar outcome. This time Quinn discovered that he would need three rows of cups to reach the screen. In this experience he also grouped the cups by color. Although the starting point for both experiences was the same, at the end of the first shadow, Quinn realized that he needed three rows of cups to reach the screen because of their shorter length in comparison to the longer tubes.

Good Morning

Dear Colleagues I apologize for the delay in posting these past few months. It has been a hectic time at Reggio Kids.

Please stay tuned for new and exciting work!

The Toronto Zoo Welcomes a New Baby Polar Bear

You can imagine how excited the children were to have a rare opportunity to see a baby polar bear at the Toronto Zoo.

Although he is safe and well cared for in his new home, the children did take note that the Zoo is not the real home of these magnificent creatures; The Arctic is where he belongs. How much longer can these creatures survive the challenges of global warming?

An Intimate Moment

 

It is in this intimate exchange between an infant and his teacher that we see the importance of slowing down, valuing relationships and giving attention to the child. Even in silence, a teacher who values a child, can have a powerful moment of exchange.

Carlo explores the Jello and then in an offering, without words, extends his hand and invites his teacher to do the same.

This exchange serves as a reminder for us to see the world through the child's eyes as he explores and builds knowledge. When a teacher is attentive, she will find innumerable opportunities such as this one. Often we are pressed to find that moment when a child makes a monumental discovery but the heart of our work lies in moments such as these!

Sometimes the most important thing in a whole day is the rest we take between two deep breaths.  ~Etty Hillesum

The Complexity of Design

This city erected by Henry and several other classmates was a engineering feat as they encounterd some challenges presented by the very nature of the materials chosen.

"Divine Nature gave the fields, human art built the cities." ~Marcus Terentius Varro, De Re Rustica

The Story of a Pig and His Friend Charlotte

Charlotte's web is a story of friendship and courage. By its very nature this tale offers many learning opportunities as teachers reflect on the importance of accepting differences (Should Wilbur die because he is the rut of the litter?  Should people be excluded because they are not the same?) When Charlotte dies the children learn about the cycle of life (sadly to everything there is a season). Characters,setting and plot are studied. New words are discovered and reading becomes joyful.

The Power of Documentation Lies In The Picture

A good picture lends power to documentation. Even before I look at the document that accompanies an experience, I turn to the picture to tell me the story, to identify the learning, to make the connection, to show the child's emotions, interests and expressed theories.

Capturing those perfect moments and the complexity of learning, requires an attentive teacher. One who is actively engaged in the process of constructing knowledge.

While documenting bear in mind that the pictures are just as important as the accompanying discourse and comments. For the parents of the children, the pictures may be more meaningful because most often they observe the pictures rather than read lengthy explanations. Thus, good pictures are crucial to effective documentation.

It is the thinking that you are seeking, that powerful moment when the child makes a connection. Effective pictures tell what the child is learning, thinking or intending to do not just only what he/she is actually doing. Especially with younger children, when language is limited, your pictures are the most powerful documentation tool. Ensure good visibility to the child’s face.Facial expressions will tell their story.

Digital cameras allow you to take many photos so snap away. When you have a quiet moment you can select the ones that demonstrate the process best.

 

 Group pictures are equally as important in the constructing and deconstructing of theories. This is especially true with older children where much happens in group discourse and work.