tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-72264031123724333742024-03-14T00:50:28.519-07:00zella said purplemy treasured life as an early childhood educator & the amazing works and words of young children: reflections, narratives and a bit of educational theory.Jeanne Zuechhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04937382280710368749noreply@blogger.comBlogger124125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7226403112372433374.post-26247959256643393172014-06-02T17:08:00.000-07:002014-06-02T17:08:30.880-07:00"the world is my rope swing"<span style="color: #674ea7;"><i><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">I was tempted to NOT write any post to go with this title as it is oh-so-lovely on its own. However, credit for the quote should be given. So, here is the story.</span></span></i></span><br />
<span style="color: #674ea7;"><i><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">I am a lucky blogger in that I occasionally happen upon friends' stories or photos that capture my attention and I ask if I can share them with Zella readers.</span></span></i></span><br />
<span style="color: #674ea7;"><i><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">This is just such a case.</span></span></i></span><br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vjMEWNdyV_w/U40K2xR-iWI/AAAAAAAACJY/GCAAvYObblU/s1600/tavomegan1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vjMEWNdyV_w/U40K2xR-iWI/AAAAAAAACJY/GCAAvYObblU/s1600/tavomegan1.jpg" height="640" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>"T" on one of his adventures - boots, cape and absolute focus while balancing on a log.</b></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">My dear friend and former colleague Megan has an adventurous 5-year-old boy "T" who loves exploring and inventing.</span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">This is Megan's recap of how the quote from "T" came about:</span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">"It all came about while we were driving to school the other morning. He
enjoys playing with ropes. They become anything from snakes, weapons,
tools and in this case, zip lines. While driving, he had tied a rope to
the passenger head rest in front of him and the other end to the safety
handle. He said he made a zip line and had a little ninja figurine
sliding down it. Then he noticed the slack of the rope and that it made
another zip line, just shorter. He began joking around that I got the
short zip line. I went with the joke and it made him laugh to think he
had a longer zip line than me. He then proceeded to share the longer one
with me and began talking about various lengths of zip lines."</span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">The quote came after his playing with his ninja figurine and creating the zip line:</span></span></span></span><br />
<b><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">'THE WORLD IS MY ROPE SWING.'</span></span></span></span></b><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">As an advocate for children to make their own play choices and to be an active agent in making meaning of their world, I had one of those crinkly smiles on my face when I had first read "T"s quote and Megan's story. THIS is what I would wish for all children: The sense of freedom to create, the continued drive to play and be playful, and the gift to trust in one's relationship to something as an individual.</span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">"T" seems to know at age 5 that he has power and has a place in the world - with or without a rope swing.</span></span></span></span></span><br />
<br />
<i><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: purple;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">[ My special thanks to Megan and "T" for allowing me to share a slice of their family life here on Zella. Cheers to more adventures with ropes and ninjas. ]</span></span></span></span></span></i><br />
<br />
<br />Jeanne Zuechhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04937382280710368749noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7226403112372433374.post-47109527177843534022014-05-16T18:43:00.000-07:002014-05-16T18:44:50.027-07:00" we're in ireland "<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Children are story tellers and live their own stories.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Two girls, ages 3 and 4, went on an extended adventure one afternoon in the school yard.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"></span></span><br />
<div style="text-align: right;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-3fPaHbk08Rw/U3a8l51QKnI/AAAAAAAACIw/VydrdNsqqeI/s1600/ireland2a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-3fPaHbk08Rw/U3a8l51QKnI/AAAAAAAACIw/VydrdNsqqeI/s1600/ireland2a.jpg" height="366" width="400" /></a></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">They brought one clipboard, two pencils, and a huge stack of white and yellow paper.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">As they traveled along, they would giggle and run and giggle more. At one point, they sat down in the sand area and took out their clipboard. A teacher asked if they would like anything written down: "Yes!" </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">This is the story they shared: </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span>
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-SFkaeXxKqaE/U3a9vvE5uwI/AAAAAAAACI4/jUCyM6PFU5o/s1600/irelandnote1a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-SFkaeXxKqaE/U3a9vvE5uwI/AAAAAAAACI4/jUCyM6PFU5o/s1600/irelandnote1a.jpg" height="298" width="320" /></a><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">"We're in Ireland. We are going to skate, eat fortune cookies, see the big ornaments, drink hot cocoa and eat bagels."</span></b></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><b><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">And, off they went.</span></b></span><br />
<br />
<br />
<i><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Where did your children go today?</span></span></i>Jeanne Zuechhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04937382280710368749noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7226403112372433374.post-23794534665460970402014-02-12T20:33:00.002-08:002014-02-27T12:47:34.684-08:00teaching from the empty swing<b><i><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Have you ever NOT been in the classroom during a normal school year? Put a giant PAUSE button on your teaching life?</span></span></i></b><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Z_kHsN_5msk/UvxAx70UuvI/AAAAAAAAB2c/b_lAYEC-UcM/s1600/swingemoty.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Z_kHsN_5msk/UvxAx70UuvI/AAAAAAAAB2c/b_lAYEC-UcM/s1600/swingemoty.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Without children in my days, it is like lacking a food source.</b></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">I am afforded the opportunity for reflection on my blogging life and my teaching life.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">This opportunity comes in the form of some recovery time at home after having wrist surgery last week. I will be out of my classroom position for at least one month, and we'll see from there how I am doing and when I can return.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">The irony in this break from teaching is that I get unbroken time to appreciate the journey of this blog.</span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">I actually started Zella over 3 years ago on a recommendation from the director of my former school who knew I was home recovering from - then - ankle surgery. She offered the idea of a blog, that maybe while I lay at home with my leg elevated, I would maybe give myself something to do with my photographs and learning stories of young children.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Hmm. Interesting idea.</span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">As it turns out, it was an idea that literally changed my professional life.</span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">My blog has connected me with amazing people from around the world, from</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><a href="http://teachertomsblog.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Teacher Tom</a> to</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><a href="http://www.letthechildrenplay.net/" target="_blank">Jenny at Let The Children Play</a> to</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><a href="http://theimaginationtree.com/" target="_blank">Anna at The Imagination Tree</a> to</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><a href="http://tinkerlab.com/" target="_blank">Rachelle at Tinkerlab</a>,</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">and around the world a few more times.</span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">The blog has given me a voice to share the authentic learning of young children as they engage in their own choices of play:</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://zellasaidpurple.blogspot.com/2011/07/following-emily.html" target="_blank">Following Emily</a> </span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">The blog has given me a voice to say <i>Teachers, you are the force of change and for knowing what is the healthiest learning for young children. Teachers, tell your families that choices and time and natural materials are right, absolutely right :</i> </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://zellasaidpurple.blogspot.com/2011/06/what-if.html" target="_blank">Be That Teacher</a></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">The blog has given me connections in real life to uplift and encourage social networking for schools as a real, valuable form of communication. Real. Valuable.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;">This was my most wide spread post on how to be inspired by pedagogy yet how to be grounded enough to commit to the school and culture where you truly teach</span>:</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://zellasaidpurple.blogspot.com/2013/10/my-break-up-letter-with-reggio-approach.html" target="_blank">My Break-up Letter With The Reggio Approach</a> </span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Currently, I am formatting a blog for my school and doing some social networking for them. It is exciting work to be at the beginning of something. To know an amazing school will soon share about their amazing [simple] work of dedicated play with young children. </span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">So, the swing is empty for now yet the stories runneth over. </span></span><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />Jeanne Zuechhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04937382280710368749noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7226403112372433374.post-55156914815399161202014-01-01T23:38:00.000-08:002014-02-27T12:48:32.845-08:00100,000 views for clay, paint and dirt<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Cheers to 2014.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">With it, a landmark milestone was passed for Zella Said Purple: over 100,000 page views over the last three years. </span></span><br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://zellasaidpurple.blogspot.com/2013/10/my-break-up-letter-with-reggio-approach.html" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" target="_blank"><img alt="http://zellasaidpurple.blogspot.com/2013/10/my-break-up-letter-with-reggio-approach.html" border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Rpl237oCX2Q/UsUIAVkxj6I/AAAAAAAAByQ/QpYNmhP7RTA/s1600/P5210188.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: small;"><a href="http://zellasaidpurple.blogspot.com/2013/10/my-break-up-letter-with-reggio-approach.html" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">1.CLAY: </span>My Break-up Letter with the Reggio Approach</b></span></a></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: right;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: right;">
</div>
<br />
<i><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">I must say, while I had a small grin across my face when I discovered this number rolled over my page, I am a blogger with a different intention.</span></span></i><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">I started my blog as a way to have a reflective voice while I was out of the classroom for a year recuperating from ankle surgery. My public narrative of children's learning processes was a joy to write and actually changed my life as an educator.</span></span><br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://zellasaidpurple.blogspot.com/2011/06/what-if.html" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" target="_blank"><img alt="http://zellasaidpurple.blogspot.com/2011/06/what-if.html" border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Z06wDNBPQNU/UsUIP3ZIC1I/AAAAAAAAByU/9A0aIwyFKV8/s1600/easel5.jpg" height="400" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://zellasaidpurple.blogspot.com/2011/06/what-if.html" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue;"><b><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">2. PAINT: Be That Teacher</span></b></span></a></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<b><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">The weaving of these stories are the fabric of my teaching life.</span></span></b><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">I am lucky enough to blog when it strikes me, sometimes quiet for a length of time, sometimes writing in bursts. </span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">With
that said, it is cool to see what posts have been the Big Reads that
resonated with or were shared by the masses. I don't write with that
hope in mind, so it is a surprise when a topic or photo captures the
attention of readers.</span></span><br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://zellasaidpurple.blogspot.com/2012/02/for-love-of-dirt.html" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" target="_blank"><img alt="http://zellasaidpurple.blogspot.com/2012/02/for-love-of-dirt.html" border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-98OHDadGrmc/UsUIdwLpsQI/AAAAAAAAByc/e-SYalZ0JCk/s1600/mariana.jpg" height="400" width="298" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: red;"><b><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><a href="http://zellasaidpurple.blogspot.com/2012/02/for-love-of-dirt.html" target="_blank">3. DIRT: For the Love of Dirt</a></span></b></span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">When
reviewing my most read posts, I had another grin on my face because surely only in early childhood could these three focuses be <b>The Top 3 Posts:</b> <b>Clay, Paint and Dirt. </b>The lead photos for these posts were absolutely highlighting young children's engagement with these elements. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: yellow;"><b>Please click on the photos or captions to go to the full post!</b></span></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: yellow;"><b>gotta love clay paint dirt. </b></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"><span style="background-color: yellow;"></span></span>
<span style="background-color: yellow;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></span>
<span style="background-color: yellow;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></span>
<span style="background-color: yellow;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></span>
<span style="background-color: yellow;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></span>
<br />
<span id="goog_1294762577"></span><a href="https://draft.blogger.com/"></a><span id="goog_1294762578"><span id="goog_1294762587"></span><a href="https://draft.blogger.com/"></a><span id="goog_1294762588"><span id="goog_1294762589"></span><a href="https://draft.blogger.com/"></a><span id="goog_1294762590"><span id="goog_1294762602"></span><a href="https://draft.blogger.com/"></a><span id="goog_1294762603"><span id="goog_1294762604"></span><a href="https://draft.blogger.com/"></a><span id="goog_1294762605"><span id="goog_1294762606"></span><a href="https://draft.blogger.com/"></a><span id="goog_1294762607"><span id="goog_1294762608"></span><a href="https://draft.blogger.com/"></a><span id="goog_1294762609"><span id="goog_1294762616"></span><a href="https://draft.blogger.com/"></a><span id="goog_1294762617"><span id="goog_1294762618"></span><a href="https://draft.blogger.com/"></a><span id="goog_1294762619"><span id="goog_1294762620"></span><a href="https://draft.blogger.com/"></a><span id="goog_1294762621"></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span>Jeanne Zuechhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04937382280710368749noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7226403112372433374.post-43814562205792637102013-12-05T16:44:00.000-08:002014-02-27T12:49:08.172-08:00"the hug came flying at me"<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="userContent" data-ft="{"tn":"K"}">"The
hug came flying at me. All I saw was thin blue and white stripes and a
flash of brown hair. Then, there he was - attached to my side, grappling
to me like he belongs there. This is the daily ritual of one 4 year old
boy named Alex. He loves people like that everyday, not just me. He
loves people with his whole heart and full body. Often, he has some
extra wisdom to share while wrapped to me. Today, I learned about snake
venom and also candles that super-heroes use at night time. I wish I
could live like Alex for one glimmering moment yet I am most grateful to
not only be witness to it but be a recipient of that kind of life power
joy. All bundled in 40+ pounds of happiness."</span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-XfKyXMsrVsE/UqEb8xXfqUI/AAAAAAAABxw/6wVAXpTFpeM/s1600/alexjump.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-XfKyXMsrVsE/UqEb8xXfqUI/AAAAAAAABxw/6wVAXpTFpeM/s1600/alexjump.jpg" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>If this energy could be harnessed, we could change the world in a blink.</b></span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Jeanne Zuechhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04937382280710368749noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7226403112372433374.post-74169637888186665882013-11-14T18:55:00.000-08:002014-02-27T12:50:02.594-08:00sometimes we talk about god<br />
<br />
<b><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: yellow;">Sometimes,</span> we talk about super heroes, angels and princesses.</span></span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></b>
<b><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: yellow;">Sometimes,</span> we talk about rocks, sand and mud.</span></span></b><br />
<br />
<b><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: yellow;">Sometimes,</span> we talk about love, heaven and God. We don't always have the answers or understand it all, but we talk and try to express ourselves.</span></span></b><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="background-color: yellow;"><u><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"><span style="font-size: large;">Sometimes, God and the world are in our art.</span></span></b></u></span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-W22brpdWJJE/UoWKavqD8-I/AAAAAAAABwQ/vlUKNmeiPTM/s1600/wholeworld.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-W22brpdWJJE/UoWKavqD8-I/AAAAAAAABwQ/vlUKNmeiPTM/s640/wholeworld.jpg" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-NuNBCqxzt98/UoWKf5fkMcI/AAAAAAAABwY/T3mdQqzhh6E/s1600/godsunrise.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-NuNBCqxzt98/UoWKf5fkMcI/AAAAAAAABwY/T3mdQqzhh6E/s640/godsunrise.jpg" height="480" width="640" /></a></span></div>
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-IyV_UkFkA0U/UoWKn-8vShI/AAAAAAAABwg/v7JwVlTRIMo/s1600/godmeadows.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-IyV_UkFkA0U/UoWKn-8vShI/AAAAAAAABwg/v7JwVlTRIMo/s640/godmeadows.jpg" height="480" width="640" /></a></span></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-rU8RMB5Ocks/UoWKwvUS_UI/AAAAAAAABwo/tJmyU3ZyJ2E/s1600/godrivers.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-rU8RMB5Ocks/UoWKwvUS_UI/AAAAAAAABwo/tJmyU3ZyJ2E/s640/godrivers.jpg" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-8L2u8ckh_Dw/UoWK2vNeFqI/AAAAAAAABww/z7JQ_9LlrU0/s1600/godmountains.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-8L2u8ckh_Dw/UoWK2vNeFqI/AAAAAAAABww/z7JQ_9LlrU0/s640/godmountains.jpg" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-hkVstZPBraw/UoWK81aUoiI/AAAAAAAABw4/DTbWWxiTXio/s1600/godhawaii.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-hkVstZPBraw/UoWK81aUoiI/AAAAAAAABw4/DTbWWxiTXio/s640/godhawaii.jpg" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-PIRzV4Gx9KA/UoWLGWKTc8I/AAAAAAAABxA/FFhz7HT2ZO8/s1600/godsunset.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-PIRzV4Gx9KA/UoWLGWKTc8I/AAAAAAAABxA/FFhz7HT2ZO8/s640/godsunset.jpg" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-v6PCyZef_6Y/UoWLL6PyljI/AAAAAAAABxI/byH5N3da1gE/s1600/godstars.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-v6PCyZef_6Y/UoWLL6PyljI/AAAAAAAABxI/byH5N3da1gE/s640/godstars.jpg" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-FajUvSaq_4Q/UoWLRJaiurI/AAAAAAAABxQ/EbhkmMlCZrY/s1600/godheaven.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-FajUvSaq_4Q/UoWLRJaiurI/AAAAAAAABxQ/EbhkmMlCZrY/s640/godheaven.jpg" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<b><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></b>
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"><span style="background-color: yellow;">Sometimes,</span> it is good to talk about the world, and rivers, and heaven.</span></b></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="color: blue;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><u><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">And, God.</span></b></u></span></span></span></span><br />
<br />
<br />Jeanne Zuechhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04937382280710368749noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7226403112372433374.post-17896180842526966982013-10-08T19:15:00.000-07:002014-04-26T12:26:04.619-07:00my break-up letter with the Reggio Approach<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2tWHnMiYtQM/UlS3dETy8GI/AAAAAAAABuU/skFDpQ4HqAE/s1600/P5210188.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2tWHnMiYtQM/UlS3dETy8GI/AAAAAAAABuU/skFDpQ4HqAE/s640/P5210188.jpg" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: purple;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"> "do nothing without joy." <span style="color: #444444;">- Loris Malaguzzi, founder of REA</span></span></span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">Dear Reggio Emilia Approach,</span></b></span></blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">I will start by saying: "It's not you, it's me".</span></b></span><span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"></span></b></span> </blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">Yet, that really wouldn't be the truth. It IS you. That is why this letter is so difficult to write.</span></b></span></blockquote>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: blue;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><i>[I really never thought I would write this letter because, like other long term relationships, one never thinks of them ending or changing. This pang to break-up came suddenly to me last week and I have thought deeply about whether or not to write these words. Like any other break-up, I stand strong in what I have to say yet it does not mean that my heart is not breaking.] </i></span></span></span><br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">We have known each other - well, I have tried to know you - for over 20 years. You altered my teaching life in the most dramatic way when I was a brand new teacher. In turn, you have changed my actual life - the Who I Am and What I Consider Beautiful and How I Respect Children. I am a better, more thoughtful and patient educator. I am a better narrator. I am a better photographer. You changed me and I will always be indebted to you for the gift of loving being an early learning educator.</span></b></span></blockquote>
<span style="color: blue;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">[When I was a younger teacher, I thought perhaps I should study the Italian language, I should always use mirrors, I should use black slender ink pens, and - without question - I should have a giant slab of clay just there in the center of the table for children to explore everyday] </span></i></span></span><br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">However, over all these years, the you that I understand has become something else to millions of others from around the world. You are misinterpreted and misrepresented. You are THE Approach to early education that nearly all who get a glimpse of you begin to introduce themselves by saying: "I am a teacher inspired by the values of Reggio Emilia". Who wouldn't be inspired by you? It is inconceivable to not be inspired by you. The Rights of Children, the Environment as Third Teacher, the Teacher as Researcher, the documentation, photography, natural materials, clay, community, food, light, dialogues...it is all so inspirational. And, we cannot forget The City. The city itself is so inspirational.</span></b></span></blockquote>
<span style="color: blue;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><i>[Sigh. I am thinking of the Lions in the Piazza, the Amusement Park for the Birds, the study of Crowds and the phenomenal world-renowned traveling Exhibit.] </i></span></span></span><br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<b><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"><span style="font-size: large;">Of course, nearly all who are inspired by you are not from Your city. Nearly all who are inspired by you only see the the hard work you have already done for over 50 years to offer these beautiful, respectful schools to your families. The people from around the world who say "I am inspired by Reggio Emilia" are often trying to "DO" Reggio. Isn't that sort of funny? And a bit sad? That the highest quality early learning center in the world - you, Reggio Emilia - that prides itself on representing its own community, art, language, and culture is being REPLICATED by schools around the world? What happened here? What is missing in the RE message that most believers in you allow their own Culture, their own Children, their own City to not be represented in their School?</span><span style="font-size: large;"> Isn't it leaning towards crazy
that each educator that is replicating you has completely lost the true
beauty of their own footprint, their own mountains, their own curvy
streets that surely lead to wondrously glorious places?</span></span></b></blockquote>
<span style="color: blue;"><i><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">[I am remembering my first workshop with RE educators in 1992 in Boston. It was their first official lengthy workshop in the US, they spoke entirely in Italian, then their lecture was read aloud again in its entirety in English. One of the most amazing 4 days of my teaching life.]</span></span></i></span><br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<b><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"><span style="font-size: large;">Within the blogging world, when I asked educators what they value about RE, they shared that the open sense of Time, the Respect for children, the Environment as teacher, the 100 Languages, the teacher and child as Co-Constructors were the keys. I believe in these educators. They do see the richest ideals of RE. Yet I also wonder how many other educators are forgetting to examine what is important to THEM. Rarely, if ever, have I seen or read educators flat out adding - stating for fact - their own ideals from their own school culture that they have weaved seamlessly into their mission. I feel like we - including me - are so dazzled by the inspiration of REA that we don't even consider incorporating our own beliefs or values. THAT is why I am breaking up with REA. I cannot teach in the beautiful school that I teach and keep seeing what is missing from the RE value set. </span></span></b></blockquote>
<span style="color: blue;"><i><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">[I am setting down the glasses that I have worn for over 20 years that kept me seeing schools and spaces only from the RE perspective.] </span></span></i></span><br />
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<b><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"><span style="font-size: large;">I want to be committed to where I teach, what our school believes in, and fold in what our own educators choose are the values of our City and Community. This doesn't mean others should do the same, that's the point. Follow what makes sense to you. It's just that, for me, I realize being inspired by you, Reggio, does not let me see anything else. </span></span></b></blockquote>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i><span style="color: blue;">[I am a member of NAREA. I have traveled to Boston, St. Louis, Boulder, Calgary, and many cities in California to learn from Amelia Gambetti, Leila Gandini, George Forman and others. I have traveled to Italy. I have seen the Exhibit perhaps 10 times. I own nearly every quality book published about Reggio. My first edition 100 Languages yellow book, dog-eared and highlighted, is my educator bible.] </span></i></span></span><br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<b><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"><span style="font-size: large;">I hope we can still be friends.</span></span></b></blockquote>
<br />
<br />Jeanne Zuechhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04937382280710368749noreply@blogger.com26tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7226403112372433374.post-30682909721209188732013-09-15T20:37:00.000-07:002014-02-27T12:51:07.400-08:00fearless water color painting by a 3yo artist<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-1Y91ixIzHTk/UjZ0f8Px90I/AAAAAAAABrw/CdcIfDBHqcI/s1600/ilahome1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-1Y91ixIzHTk/UjZ0f8Px90I/AAAAAAAABrw/CdcIfDBHqcI/s200/ilahome1.jpg" height="180" width="200" /></a><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-i0zb7TC3Mnw/UjZ0fjxAxiI/AAAAAAAABrs/c_pYYF0LOlM/s1600/ilahome2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-i0zb7TC3Mnw/UjZ0fjxAxiI/AAAAAAAABrs/c_pYYF0LOlM/s200/ilahome2.jpg" height="180" width="200" /></a><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">This is my 3 year old friend, Ila, as she engages with paint at home. Her mother, Alexa, knows Ila is hands and body IN when involved with paint. Alexa has paint out for Ila whenever she would like it.</span></span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-C5KMeeEUPL0/UjZyChB4g1I/AAAAAAAABrY/8haouBUMa5U/s1600/ilahome3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-C5KMeeEUPL0/UjZyChB4g1I/AAAAAAAABrY/8haouBUMa5U/s640/ilahome3.jpg" height="498" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: blue;">Ila has great freedom at home to explore with all her senses and with all her bright spirit.</span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">At our school, we have the indoor and outdoor areas set up with provocations or explorations for the children. The children may choose wherever they would like to be and engage with whatever materials they choose. The teacher role is well defined to support play, social function and choice.</span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">This particular day, in the classroom we had table easels for water color paintings. Ila came over and started her own work. <span style="color: red;">She began with a red swoop:</span></span></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-TFKV0SdxerI/UjZ0Ntab43I/AAAAAAAABrk/z8OB4AhuXt4/s1600/ilacamA1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-TFKV0SdxerI/UjZ0Ntab43I/AAAAAAAABrk/z8OB4AhuXt4/s640/ilacamA1.jpg" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">After that, Ila began her full painting journey with a lot of <b>BLACK </b>painted here and there, just so, and one more spot <i>right about there.</i></span></span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-LcH84qfZp2c/UjZ1JGfaTpI/AAAAAAAABsA/csrVqbWuA6g/s1600/ilacam1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-LcH84qfZp2c/UjZ1JGfaTpI/AAAAAAAABsA/csrVqbWuA6g/s400/ilacam1.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-QRoRPevSLug/UjZ1JLBZW2I/AAAAAAAABss/qfTLU-rat-c/s1600/ilacam2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-QRoRPevSLug/UjZ1JLBZW2I/AAAAAAAABss/qfTLU-rat-c/s640/ilacam2.jpg" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-8FlcDgKjqrs/UjZ1JOPp1uI/AAAAAAAABr8/1qDpLtimvI0/s1600/ilacam3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-8FlcDgKjqrs/UjZ1JOPp1uI/AAAAAAAABr8/1qDpLtimvI0/s400/ilacam3.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Ila had already added hand prints yet seemed inspired to add more. She was very thoughtful and detailed in her efforts as she painted finger by finger, then full palm back on the paper.</span></span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-UGSGcc7m-DM/UjZ1Jkds1mI/AAAAAAAABsU/aCvvTehZPMc/s1600/ilacam4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-UGSGcc7m-DM/UjZ1Jkds1mI/AAAAAAAABsU/aCvvTehZPMc/s400/ilacam4.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-4NxvTsDENgg/UjZ1J6_becI/AAAAAAAABsY/iFyUk3JDrwg/s1600/ilacam5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-4NxvTsDENgg/UjZ1J6_becI/AAAAAAAABsY/iFyUk3JDrwg/s400/ilacam5.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Ila worked on her painting for about 20 minutes as she went back and forth with color, hands, color, hands.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Sometimes we would chat together about what her hands were doing, how the paint felt when the brush stroked over her finger or how sometimes her hand print was light or dark on the paper.</span></span><br />
<br />
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-BPhS-pIXfEo/UjZ1KYQASOI/AAAAAAAABso/rGJ7N3owatg/s1600/ilacam6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-BPhS-pIXfEo/UjZ1KYQASOI/AAAAAAAABso/rGJ7N3owatg/s640/ilacam6.jpg" height="640" width="480" /></a><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></span><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">When Ila completed her work, I asked her if she would like to tell anything about it, that maybe something was happening inside her painting. Ila dictated her story to bring her painting to life for everyone.</span></span><br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">"THERE IS A MERMAID SWIMMING IN THE WATER AND A SHARK BIT HER ON THE LEG BUT SHE SURVIVED."</span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-t7VG_XSEbjU/UjZ1KxGTvAI/AAAAAAAABsk/BMagcN-W09g/s1600/ilacam7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-t7VG_XSEbjU/UjZ1KxGTvAI/AAAAAAAABsk/BMagcN-W09g/s640/ilacam7.jpg" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">I am not sure I can say anything else.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Ila's work - her spirit of work - says it all. </span></span><br />
<br />
<i><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">I am inspired to live just one day just like her.</span></span> [smile]</i><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">*Alexa and Ila's family are no longer at our school. Alexa gave me permission to use her and Ila's first names and to allow Ila's face in the photos.</span></span><br />
<br />
<br />Jeanne Zuechhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04937382280710368749noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7226403112372433374.post-61687136629496669892013-08-15T15:54:00.000-07:002014-02-27T12:51:59.762-08:00called to teach, called to play<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">I was thinking about <a href="http://teachertomsblog.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Teacher Tom</a> and <a href="http://www.letthechildrenplay.net/" target="_blank">Jenny at Let the Children Play</a>. I was thinking about how teachers we know in the blogosphere are teachers We Know, I mean Really Know. We know what they believe in (children's right to play), we know their mission (uplifting children's play) and we know they each have been called to their work (being educators who Play alongside children). Tom and Jenny certainly Chose their work, but they really were called to it. Thankfully. Their voices in the blogosphere have changed educators and parents perspectives on Play as THE WAY for children to truly, authentically learn.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">I was thinking about how each of us have a calling, really, even in the tiniest of moments. For me, when I think of children, I am pulled toward the word Choice. I realize I have written about Choice before, such as <a href="http://zellasaidpurple.blogspot.com/2011/03/choices-turn-into-i-need-to-do-this.html" target="_blank">I NEED to Do This</a> and <a href="http://zellasaidpurple.blogspot.com/2011/07/following-emily.html" target="_blank">Following Emily</a> . I value it maybe more than most other elements of early childhood education because without it the other elements would likely fail.</span></span><br />
<i><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></i>
<i><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Here are a few photo examples of Choices being made in children's Play. Each fascinate me in their own way as it seems these children were Called to this specific Play, at this specific moment, and remained engaged in their Choice for lengthy periods of time.</span></span></i><br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-H6bmGz02FTQ/Ug1S9QT2xsI/AAAAAAAABkg/SxsKf2AKAFA/s1600/P1300367.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-H6bmGz02FTQ/Ug1S9QT2xsI/AAAAAAAABkg/SxsKf2AKAFA/s640/P1300367.jpg" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: blue;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">This 4yo girl starting swinging these four swings. She began at one end, gave the first one a push, then moved to the next, next, next. She then circled her way back to the first one to keep them all in motion. She worked here for nearly 15 minutes, alone, keeping all swings swinging.</span></span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<i><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-NYjWH0sLP7M/Ug1S8-5DrPI/AAAAAAAABj4/XnQZwYSiYF4/s1600/called1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-NYjWH0sLP7M/Ug1S8-5DrPI/AAAAAAAABj4/XnQZwYSiYF4/s640/called1.jpg" height="532" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: blue;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Two 3yo girls collecting bark and sticks, sitting on tree seats, holding pine cones<i>, </i>magnifiers and - of course - one saw.</span></span></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-byh6P0KoEs8/Ug1S9CwonqI/AAAAAAAABj8/sLmroYczJB8/s1600/called2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-byh6P0KoEs8/Ug1S9CwonqI/AAAAAAAABj8/sLmroYczJB8/s640/called2.jpg" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: blue;">3 children with 3 ladders looking in - perhaps - 3 different directions at our neighbor classroom yard.</span></span><i><br /></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-AvpnrO6s5lI/Ug1S-BiyHgI/AAAAAAAABkQ/qLWhMaRAwcQ/s1600/called4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-AvpnrO6s5lI/Ug1S-BiyHgI/AAAAAAAABkQ/qLWhMaRAwcQ/s640/called4.jpg" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: blue;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">I observed one 3 yo girl working with a crate full of dinosaurs. First, she arranged them this way, with tails touching in a circle. Then, she aligned them in two rows. Then, partnered them up. Very intentional work.</span></span><i><br /></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-gwywOmBpRE8/Ug1S-6om8uI/AAAAAAAABkw/mMe7msodxiU/s1600/called6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-gwywOmBpRE8/Ug1S-6om8uI/AAAAAAAABkw/mMe7msodxiU/s640/called6.jpg" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: blue;">This 3 yo boy worked for over 20 minutes in the sand area. He dug a deep hole first. Then, he spotted the tires amid the sand and - one by one -rolled and hauled them to layer over his sand hole. After 3 tires high, he peered in, asked me to look in, also, then ran off. </span></span> <i><br /></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Z0emml7QuMU/Ug1S-1TtS9I/AAAAAAAABks/3TMYRz2cJ4k/s1600/called7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Z0emml7QuMU/Ug1S-1TtS9I/AAAAAAAABks/3TMYRz2cJ4k/s640/called7.jpg" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: blue;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">This 4 year old girl worked for over an hour in the sand and water area, most of the time by herself. She became engrossed in testing out the floating properties of the pine cones. Did you know that some float and some sink? (It's true!). She also tested trying to attach a sinking pine cone to one that did float to see if they would float together. (Any guesses?)</span></span><i><br /></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span></span></i><br />
<br />
<i><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: yellow;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">What have you been Called to do?</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: yellow;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Did you have a Choice?</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: yellow;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Do you get to Play alongside Children?</span></span></span></span></i><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></span> Jeanne Zuechhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04937382280710368749noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7226403112372433374.post-68027847533998843482013-05-22T21:58:00.001-07:002014-02-27T12:52:51.703-08:00a child's plan in a play-based school<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-A5vKXojxiTY/UZ2gDBpiueI/AAAAAAAABgE/_KewCXvKPUw/s1600/patiocam.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-A5vKXojxiTY/UZ2gDBpiueI/AAAAAAAABgE/_KewCXvKPUw/s400/patiocam.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Children's ideas are supported inside the classroom and outside.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">I was speaking with a colleague, Maria, yesterday after school. Maria had been extending an interest of the children by offering musical instruments and music books on our outside patio. Our school had had a community event over the weekend where the university band came and played. The children had been mesmerized and inspired during the party.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"></span></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Maria shared about Lance <span style="font-size: large;">deciding to </span>make his own Drum on Monday using cardboard and paper. Maria then shared the most special part: <span style="font-size: large;">The next day, o</span>n Tuesday morning, Lance <i><u>had made a plan at home before school</u></i> with his mother. He had told his mom that today when he went to school that he would create a trombone and that she should come to the end of class when Storytime (meeting time, circle time) normally happened because he would play his trombone then.<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-2Rntw6u2pzU/UcPbgCvHZuI/AAAAAAAABjU/tEMvKZCGQEc/s1600/P5230034.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-2Rntw6u2pzU/UcPbgCvHZuI/AAAAAAAABjU/tEMvKZCGQEc/s400/P5230034.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lance's first trombone. He made 4 others in following days.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-vdc5xGZY53I/UcPbgB5BIlI/AAAAAAAABjQ/PXeVjtATD30/s1600/P5230036.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Lance DID make a<span style="font-size: large;"> trombone at school out of huge recyclable tubes and milk caps for the buttons and lots of tape. </span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;">Lance DID perform the un<span style="font-size: large;">iversity song during <span style="font-size: large;">Storytime <span style="font-size: large;">- with 8 other children who also invented instruments that day.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;">Lance's mother DID make sure to arrive for Storytime (parents are always welcome <span style="font-size: large;">to join)</span> <span style="font-size: large;">to see and hear the trombone.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: blue;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;">THIS is the beauty of a Play<span style="font-size: large;"> Based<span style="font-size: large;"> <span style="font-size: large;">School. </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="color: blue;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;">Lance knew that his ideas and plans would be supported and encouraged at school. </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="color: blue;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;">Lance knew that <span style="font-size: large;">school was where he made his own choices about where he played, <span style="font-size: large;">w<span style="font-size: large;">ith whom to play, and what materials <span style="font-size: large;">with w<span style="font-size: large;">hich t<span style="font-size: large;">o engage.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: blue;">A<span style="font-size: large;">t our school, </span>if Maria had not had music items or recyclables set out the</span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: blue;"> next day, </span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: blue;">the teachers would ensure <span style="font-size: large;">Lance</span> could <span style="font-size: large;">access</span> w</span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: blue;">hatever </span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: blue;">he needed</span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: blue;"> to complete <span style="font-size: large;">any plan he made.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></i></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></i></span></span></span></span> <br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Lance's<span style="font-size: large;"> dedication to his lengthy project, the pride he <span style="font-size: large;">felt to complete it just how he wanted<span style="font-size: large;">,<span style="font-size: large;"> and commitment to work along side 8 other f<span style="font-size: large;">riends who were designing flut<span style="font-size: large;">es and tubas and drums - priceles<span style="font-size: large;">s. This exact play and plan could <span style="font-size: large;">only happen where</span> <span style="font-size: large;">the teacher role is facilitator<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;">. W</span>e are there to uplift the work, ideas and world of the children.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="background-color: yellow;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;">Can you hear the trombone? </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<br />Jeanne Zuechhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04937382280710368749noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7226403112372433374.post-36768464549766160412013-04-15T20:26:00.001-07:002014-02-27T12:53:15.615-08:00choosing joy looks like this<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">I hope you have a day like this today,</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">or maybe tomorrow,</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">or maybe everyday if you are lucky.</span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Un2vBNpqrfk/UWzDb6eLnbI/AAAAAAAABTQ/PH8WPegRMAA/s1600/hulashadow.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Un2vBNpqrfk/UWzDb6eLnbI/AAAAAAAABTQ/PH8WPegRMAA/s640/hulashadow.jpg" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"><span style="background-color: yellow;">Do you have a caption idea for this photo?</span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"><span style="background-color: yellow;">What do you know about this 4 year old girl?</span></span></span></div>
Jeanne Zuechhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04937382280710368749noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7226403112372433374.post-2106902755942322232013-04-08T17:55:00.000-07:002014-02-27T12:54:11.322-08:00can you hear me now? "la la la la la!"<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">At the heart of my commitment to early childhood is my commitment to documentation and photography to capture learning as it unfolds. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">It is a special experience when I discover a photo from a friend that sparks something in me to <span style="font-size: small;">write a blog post</span> <span style="font-size: small;">that connects <span style="font-size: small;">w<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;">ith child dev<span style="font-size: small;">elopment </span></span></span></span></span></span></span>in <span style="font-size: small;">a specific</span> way.<br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">My high school friend Laura posted a photo of her husband and daughter on a social networking site. The photo caught my attention because - to me - it was clear that the child was making a statement<span style="font-size: small;">, her own <span style="font-size: small;">V</span>ery <span style="font-size: small;">D</span>eliberate statement.</span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>It made me think about <span style="font-size: small;">how some children <span style="font-size: small;">ins<span style="font-size: small;">tinctively <u>Want To B</u><span style="font-size: small;"><u>e Heard</u><span style="font-size: small;"> and <u>Have Something To Say</u><span style="font-size: small;"> from a very early age.</span></span></span></span></span></span></b></span></span></span> <br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-NmpInGI343A/UWNXQkPVOcI/AAAAAAAABPU/0vyNxPMWua0/s1600/lauraella.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-NmpInGI343A/UWNXQkPVOcI/AAAAAAAABPU/0vyNxPMWua0/s640/lauraella.jpg" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Can you hear Ella? "la la la la la!"</span></span></b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Mom </span>Laura shared with me that Ella<span style="font-size: small;">, 22 months<span style="font-size: small;">, had been attending her <span style="font-size: small;">big sister's <span style="font-size: small;">school play. <span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;">Ella was a bit too disruptive during rehearsal <span style="font-size: small;">and</span></span> was 'asked to leave'<span style="font-size: small;"> ti<span style="font-size: small;">l the show star<span style="font-size: small;">ted. As she left rehe<span style="font-size: small;">arsal, Ella </span></span>shar<span style="font-size: small;">ed her disappoin<span style="font-size: small;">tment</span></span></span> "Oh, man!" for all to hear.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">After the show, Ella ran right up to the stage and <b><span style="font-size: large;">straight</span> to the microphone to sing "la la la la la...!"</b> Dad Isaac was right there with Ella to enjoy her vocals and likely to swoop her away when her solo was completed.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;">Laura shared that Ella loves to sing and dance and has an ext<span style="font-size: small;">en<span style="font-size: small;">sive vocabulary in English,<span style="font-size: small;"> Spanish and Hebrew. It seems "la la la la" is universal for toddler singing in all<span style="font-size: small;"> languages.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span> <br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><b>From the educator lens: </b></span></span><br />
<i><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">1. Children develop<span style="font-size: small;"> <span style="font-size: small;">their own sense of se<span style="font-size: small;">lf, their own<span style="font-size: small;"> sense of wanting to share information or not, their<span style="font-size: small;"> own comfort level in <span style="font-size: small;">having attenti<span style="font-size: small;">on or not.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;">2. Children have thei<span style="font-size: small;">r own motivation <span style="font-size: small;">to "go <span style="font-size: small;">str<span style="font-size: small;">aight to t<span style="font-size: small;">he microphone" and yet also it can be something that has been supported by family or school where children have had oppor<span style="font-size: small;">tunities <span style="font-size: small;">to talk and/or share in a trusted group.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></i><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;">3. Children might learn to embrace that role of Sharer or T<span style="font-size: small;">eller of Information. Some children might not like it still and prefer to have a quieter role.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></i></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;">4. Ens<span style="font-size: small;">u<span style="font-size: small;">ring the children have opportunities to share their <span style="font-size: small;">opinions, be an exper<span style="font-size: small;">t (<span style="font-size: small;">draw<span style="font-size: small;">ing circles, singing La La La, standing on one foot)</span></span>, lea<span style="font-size: small;">d a nature walk, explain their art<span style="font-size: small;">work, tell a<span style="font-size: small;">bout a favorite book - all these afford aut<span style="font-size: small;">hentic conte<span style="font-size: small;">xts for children to spea<span style="font-size: small;">k, lea<span style="font-size: small;">d or explain something.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></i></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><i> </i><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;">5. The "<span style="font-size: small;">Having <span style="font-size: small;">Of <span style="font-size: small;">A Voice" won't always be <span style="font-size: small;">natural l<span style="font-size: small;">ike for Ella</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></i></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><i> yet allowing chances for celebrating what children DO have to say is a<span style="font-size: small;">n absolute gift.</span></i><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></i></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Here are a few ways that children have a Voice in our classroom:</span></b></span><br />
<br />
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-hH3wAePNJLU/UWNgFJNl1pI/AAAAAAAABPc/qxnIVVy5ouU/s1600/artpopcorn.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-hH3wAePNJLU/UWNgFJNl1pI/AAAAAAAABPc/qxnIVVy5ouU/s400/artpopcorn.jpg" height="400" width="300" /></a><span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"></span></b></span><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">My 3 year old friend Z created this easel painting and dictated this exciting story.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><b>"This is a rainbow crocodile name Popcorn. She likes to snap and eat people!" </b></span></span><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-YH2pF2r52gI/UWNhiog-YLI/AAAAAAAABPk/7hvk1Z6Dhhk/s1600/woodpuppet.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-YH2pF2r52gI/UWNhiog-YLI/AAAAAAAABPk/7hvk1Z6Dhhk/s400/woodpuppet.jpg" height="400" width="300" /></a><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"> </span></span><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">My 5 year old friend K created this wood puppet who is holding a <span style="font-size: large;">paper bouquet of flowers. Her<span style="font-size: large;">e is her story:</span></span></span></span><br />
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ADmw50xRTxQ/UWNi_xeiZdI/AAAAAAAABPw/j1tapyH4d3c/s1600/laddertree.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ADmw50xRTxQ/UWNi_xeiZdI/AAAAAAAABPw/j1tapyH4d3c/s400/laddertree.jpg" height="400" width="300" /></a><b><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;">"Onc<span style="font-size: large;">e upon a time, the puppet went to <span style="font-size: large;">the for<span style="font-size: large;">est to get some wood from<span style="font-size: large;"> a<span style="font-size: large;"> tree. It was scary and she saw a ghost but it was really her f<span style="font-size: large;">riend Be<span style="font-size: large;">ar. Then she saw her friend Rabbit.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></b><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;">The<span style="font-size: large;"> End."</span> </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></b></span></span></span></span> <br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span></span>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">This 4 year old friend climbed one of the ladders in our grove area, spotted something important and made her announcement: <b>"Look! I see my friends way over there!"</b></span></span></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-y99-LlHSvzU/UWNj5WC3RBI/AAAAAAAABP8/gjdX260giQ0/s1600/fourswings.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-y99-LlHSvzU/UWNj5WC3RBI/AAAAAAAABP8/gjdX260giQ0/s400/fourswings.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">This 4 year old friend had private time with all the swings. She kept going from swing to swing to keep them each in motion, round and round, over and over.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">She never said a word. </span></span><br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-6FnJtsMYF6s/UWNkpkIbb5I/AAAAAAAABQE/p5UGX1xxJJw/s1600/oliviaredtube.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-6FnJtsMYF6s/UWNkpkIbb5I/AAAAAAAABQE/p5UGX1xxJJw/s640/oliviaredtube.jpg" height="546" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Sometimes, there is nothing to say</b>.</span> Finding an alone space and being with yourself is a beautiful message. Of course, this 5 year old just might be singing or talking to herself in this red tube, we can only imagine.</span></span><br />
<br />
<br />
<i><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Thank you to Laura, Isaac and especially Ella for the inspiration for this post on the many many Voices of Children...</span></span></i><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">La la la la la la la!</span></span><i><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></i><br />
<br />Jeanne Zuechhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04937382280710368749noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7226403112372433374.post-78467767651645747762013-04-03T17:19:00.000-07:002014-08-15T08:43:49.398-07:00telescope to mars in loose parts play<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-IfOzrI93THM/UVy83Sw0lFI/AAAAAAAABOs/tbFX-dOOM2k/s1600/telescope.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-IfOzrI93THM/UVy83Sw0lFI/AAAAAAAABOs/tbFX-dOOM2k/s640/telescope.jpg" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: small;">"I can really see the big trees but I am pretending to see Mars.</span><span style="font-size: small;">"</span></b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Loose parts play. </span></b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Isn't it wondrous? Rocks, boards, pvc pipe, gutters, cones, and more.</span></b></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Children working with loose parts out in the sand area have the opportunity to invent and reinvent during their play. Everyday can be different or perhaps a follow up on previous play scenes - such as pirate islands or brewing up muddy water poison - and using boards for bridges or gutters for water delivery or boulders for islands.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><u>This particular day in the sand area was interesting for me as I observed two distinct inventive uses of one particular loose part</u> - a large pvc pipe that is basically a connector type pipe with three large holes that could be used for attaching straight tubing or end capes. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">In our sand area, we have a wood play house structure with a small deck in front of it. Along the outside fence post, the pvc pipe was propped up on the corner post.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-9IjBs_L7IL8/UVy90RKkqbI/AAAAAAAABO0/rS9ARgVKTZA/s1600/coffeemachine.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-9IjBs_L7IL8/UVy90RKkqbI/AAAAAAAABO0/rS9ARgVKTZA/s640/coffeemachine.jpg" height="400" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Making coffee with O's coffee machine.</span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"> <span style="font-size: large;">My friend O came over, positioned the pvc pipe to suit her needs, then went off to get her two pitchers of muddy water. O came back, poured water through the top positioned hole with one large pitcher and caught what she could below in one of the two lowers openings with the second pitcher.</span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Me: O, I see you doing some pouring with your pitchers.</span></b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">O: Yes, I am making some coffee. This is my coffee machine. Would you like some coffee?</span></b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Me: Yes, thank you!</span></b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><i><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">O continued her coffee making for quite some time, making different brews with different amounts of water and mud. </span></i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: large;">When O was finished and had moved on from her coffee machine, two other girls went inside the wood house to do some cooking. One girl L came out onto the deck, turned the pvc pipe in a new direction, then peered out.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Me: L, I see you are using the white pipe.</span></b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">L: Yes, I am looking out my telescope. I can really see the big trees but I am pretending to see Mars.</span></b></span><br />
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-WCd2i3yKOHU/UVzDJ8gnJFI/AAAAAAAABPE/qu_DImfJpZc/s1600/telescope2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-WCd2i3yKOHU/UVzDJ8gnJFI/AAAAAAAABPE/qu_DImfJpZc/s400/telescope2.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a><span style="font-size: large;"><i><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Other children then came over and also wanted to see Mars. L shared her telescope and the friends began inventing other things they could see from the telescope "the moon" "my house" "Disneyland".</span></i></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: large;">The use of loose parts allows for FREEDOM for children to be completely in their own play, to see the world in the way they see the world at that very moment - a telescope or a coffee machine -</span><span style="font-size: large;"><i><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"> </span></i><b><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">and to engage in their world of play honestly and completely as themselves.</span></b></span><br />
<br />Jeanne Zuechhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04937382280710368749noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7226403112372433374.post-12045467473475102492013-03-25T11:42:00.000-07:002014-02-27T12:55:16.555-08:00"Look in my hands!"<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Most days at school I am the observer of discovery. Children play and invent and reinvent, and I document and photograph my interpretation of what is happening.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">I love my days using my educator lens and valuing the children's work in the very moments it is all unfolding.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">There are moments, as well, however, when discovery is delivered to me - literally - by the hands of children. This week, on one particular day, within a short time frame,</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">2 children came right up to me to show me their most beautiful findings.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">My camera was ready.</span></span><br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-aSyAovRNRTQ/UVCW30yqK6I/AAAAAAAABOU/j7YT3vyJ700/s1600/hearthands.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-aSyAovRNRTQ/UVCW30yqK6I/AAAAAAAABOU/j7YT3vyJ700/s640/hearthands.jpg" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">"Look! I made a heart out of sand!"</span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-iqOA4ph8yq0/UVCXiv6ja7I/AAAAAAAABOc/tTVDOQjUzoY/s1600/rockshands.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-iqOA4ph8yq0/UVCXiv6ja7I/AAAAAAAABOc/tTVDOQjUzoY/s640/rockshands.jpg" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">"Look! I have a big metal rock and a small black rock!"</span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<b><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">I love working in the world of children. </span></span></b><i><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span></span></i><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">To be allowed to witness the discovery of Amazing and Beautiful things that exist in the world in the spontaneous time frame that children find them - well - that is the reason I continue to teach. </span></span><i><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span></span></i><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">As adults we don't "discover" sand heart or rocks: I know I would not see these things anymore if it weren't for the children.</span></b></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: yellow;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span></span></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: yellow;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">What have your children discovered lately that was amazing and beautiful?</span></span></span><br />
<br />Jeanne Zuechhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04937382280710368749noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7226403112372433374.post-21905217886782388392013-01-07T19:34:00.001-08:002014-02-27T12:55:39.559-08:00mud muffins from the outdoor kitchen<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Oh, to bake in a muddy sandy outdoor kitchen.</b></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Oh, to collect the sand,</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">bucket up the water,</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">sprinkle it all into a muffin pan,</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">smash it and stir it with a long blue spoon, and - don't forget - add a dash more water with a metal teapot...</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Oh, to bake in a muddy sandy outdoor kitchen.</b></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Come on in, order up a muffin and have a chat with this 4<span style="font-size: large;">-</span>year<span style="font-size: large;">-</span>old baker..<span style="font-size: large;">there will likely be some magical<span style="font-size: large;"> ingredients in this clever recipe.</span></span></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="background-color: yellow;"><u>What are some of YOUR favorite tools to have available in your sand/mud area?</u></span> </span></span> </span></span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Y1KhydhBjZg/UOuQF2c4pUI/AAAAAAAABKs/R_lK0s5NJsQ/s1600/mudmuffins.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Y1KhydhBjZg/UOuQF2c4pUI/AAAAAAAABKs/R_lK0s5NJsQ/s640/mudmuffins.jpg" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />Jeanne Zuechhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04937382280710368749noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7226403112372433374.post-40845973007097630002013-01-04T10:01:00.000-08:002014-02-27T12:56:08.258-08:00three words: Uncover Their Story<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;">I was inspired by Scott at <a href="http://scottsbricks.blogspot.com/2013/01/one-word-for-2013.html" target="_blank">Brick by Brick</a> and his 'One Word: Listen' post this week.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"></span></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;">I reflected back on my own post from last year with MY <a href="http://zellasaidpurple.blogspot.com/2012/01/one-word-brilliant.html" target="_blank">One Word: Brilliant post</a> and do feel like I lived fairly brilliantly for 2012.</span></span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-M6eIXLXMTXE/UOcWIG2MYOI/AAAAAAAABKI/0dupvemz1DU/s1600/missjeanne2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-M6eIXLXMTXE/UOcWIG2MYOI/AAAAAAAABKI/0dupvemz1DU/s400/missjeanne2.jpg" height="316" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Uncovering Jack's story of his straw and stick flying aircraft.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;">My new word for 2013 is not <span style="font-size: large;">one word but three<span style="font-size: large;">..</span></span>.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;">My focus is to <u><b>Uncover Their Story</b></u> when working with children. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;">To do this, it requires</span></span><br />
<b><i><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;">Stillness</span></span></i></b><br />
<b><i><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;">Listening</span></span></i></b><br />
<b><i><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;">Questioning</span></span></i></b><br />
<b><i><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;">Respecting</span></span></i></b><br />
<b><i><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;">Reflecting</span></span></i></b><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><u>I am fascinated by</u> Process - and the Diversity of Process - by which individual children embrace their play.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><u>I am fascinated by</u> Use of Materials and how attaching, connecting, layering and technique come together to create some sort of collage or aircraft or kite.</span></span><br />
<br />
<b><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;">I am fascinated by the life of children.</span></span></b><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;">I am eager to Uncover Their Story and share those stories with you.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;">Do YOU have a word for 2013?</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;">cheers! </span></span>Jeanne Zuechhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04937382280710368749noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7226403112372433374.post-63751458867829786022013-01-02T10:34:00.000-08:002014-02-27T12:56:42.649-08:00complex materials prompt inventive design<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">I am thrilled to write my first 2013 post for Zella. Bring on the New Year and new stories about children and their learning processes.</span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">I have been thinking about the complexity of play and the importance of offering diverse materials for construction. Block play combined with pieces that roll or tilt or stack increase children's ways of thinking about balance, symmetry or design. </span></span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-WfHG70WuBYE/UOR6h7jCLDI/AAAAAAAABJs/le_eJqRDDnw/s1600/newyear2013.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-WfHG70WuBYE/UOR6h7jCLDI/AAAAAAAABJs/le_eJqRDDnw/s640/newyear2013.jpg" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Wow. Using brick blocks, window blocks, kapla block, and carefully placed blue rolling balls on upper tiers. Wow.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;">Observing the choices of these two children <span style="font-size: large;">as they built this rais<span style="font-size: large;">ed tower<span style="font-size: large;"> was fascinating.</span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;">Notice the <u>exact symmetry</u> of placed <span style="font-size: large;">colored brick blocks<span style="font-size: large;">, </span>the <u>equally symmetrical</u> placement of window blocks in<span style="font-size: large;"> </span>recta<span style="font-size: large;">ngular <span style="font-size: large;">and tri<span style="font-size: large;">angle shapes, and the <span style="font-size: large;"><u>criss-cross</u> kapla <span style="font-size: large;">blocks p<span style="font-size: large;">laced on t<span style="font-size: large;">op. A<span style="font-size: large;">mazing. </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;">Then, add careful<span style="font-size: large;">ly balanced blue <span style="font-size: large;">and red rolling balls to the tower. <span style="font-size: large;">Eac<span style="font-size: large;">h ball was set slowly, made sure it didn't roll, then the ha<span style="font-size: large;">nd let go and went to get another ball. </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;">Amazing.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;">This kind of work is no accident.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><i><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;">What kind of materials do you offer to prompt <span style="font-size: large;">inventive construction and a un<span style="font-size: large;">ique kind of small motor work?</span></span> </span></span></span></span></span></i></b></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span> <br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"> Happy New Year and Happy Building with Comple<span style="font-size: large;">x <span style="font-size: large;">Materials.</span></span></span></span><br />
<br />
<br />Jeanne Zuechhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04937382280710368749noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7226403112372433374.post-41435756192698942272012-11-12T16:21:00.000-08:002014-02-27T13:00:13.545-08:00grab an iPad, hit Pause, then Draw: a 4-year-old IN ACTION<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><i><span style="font-size: large;">I am always in search for the Next Story for my blog. As in, the Next Story that tweaks my interest when I see or hear something about young children's innovative methods for learning.</span></i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">I had the good fortune last week to be speaking with a parent in the 3-5s class in which I teach. The dad, Vlada, and I were talking about his 4-year-old daughter Zoe and - voila! - my Next Story. How amazing that this creative technology story came right to my lap when Vlada told me about how Zoe had been exploring with her iPad at home.</span></span><br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-NcyYEpX8IbQ/UJsJsMUBBuI/AAAAAAAABD4/g3O9XF0jBHk/s1600/zoeipad.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-NcyYEpX8IbQ/UJsJsMUBBuI/AAAAAAAABD4/g3O9XF0jBHk/s640/zoeipad.jpg" height="640" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Zoe working at home with her iPad - pausing a scene so she can use her sketch paper to draw a favorite character.</span></span></b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<a href="http://zellasaidpurple.blogspot.com/2012/07/authentic-ways-to-embrace-technology.html" target="_blank"></a><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Vlada shared with me how Zoe uses her iPad to watch short children's shows and also do other games on the iPad. <b>A couple weeks ago, Vlada said Zoe started using her iPad - <span style="font-size: large;">along with</span> <span style="font-size: large;">paper <span style="font-size: large;">&</span> pencil<span style="font-size: large;">s - </span></span>in<span style="font-size: large;"> <span style="font-size: large;">an un<span style="font-size: large;">ique w<span style="font-size: large;">ay</span></span></span></span></b></span></span><b><span style="font-size: large;">:</span></b><br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Zoe would <span style="font-size: large;">be <u>watc</u><span style="font-size: large;"><u>hing</u> a</span> favorite </span>show <span style="font-size: large;">on her iPad</span>, then <u><i>Pause</i></u> it at a certain point, then turn to <u>use blank paper and pencils</u> to <span style="font-size: large;">dr<span style="font-size: large;">aw</span></span> details of her favorite characters from the show. <span style="color: blue;">Zoe would view her iPad, hit <span style="font-size: large;">P</span>ause, draw, <span style="font-size: large;">hi<span style="font-size: large;">t R</span></span>ewind for a different detailed freeze frame, <span style="font-size: large;">P</span>ause, and draw further.</span> <span style="font-size: large;">Zoe would engage this way for long periods of <span style="font-size: large;">time and has returned to this <span style="font-size: large;">invented activity many times<span style="font-size: large;"> since<span style="font-size: large;"> <span style="font-size: large;">Vlada first witnessed Zoe's <span style="font-size: large;">iPad + Paper <span style="font-size: large;">art experience. <span style="font-size: small;">[genius!]</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></blockquote>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><b><i>As an educator</i></b>, I was particularly struck by Zoe's seamless integration of technology, small motor, choice-making, representational efforts with drawing tools, self-direction, and being an agent of one's own learning. </span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: blue;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Of
course, it is no surprise that children are the best teachers to show
us HOW things can be used, turned, pushed, pulled in ways that we as
adults would never dream up.</span></span></span><br />
<b><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: blue;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><u>Of course this tech idea came from the best
source - a 4-year-old in action.</u></span></span></span></b><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span></span>
<b><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"><i>* Technology use by early learners has been a hot topic for a number of years. Earlier this year, NAEYC put out its statement
on Tech + Media. Here is a link to a previously written blog about
technology and young children which includes links to the NAEYC
Statement: <a href="http://zellasaidpurple.blogspot.com/2012/07/authentic-ways-to-embrace-technology.html" target="_blank">Authentic Ways to Use Technology.</a></i></span></span></b><br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Special thanks to Vlada and Zoe for allowing me</b></span></i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><span style="font-size: large;"><b>to share their story and photo. </b></span></i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="background-color: yellow;">What do YOU think of Zoe's inventive way</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="background-color: yellow;">to incorporate technology with her interest in art?</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: yellow;"><span style="font-size: large;">Do you have other</span> children's examples of playing with</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: yellow;">or incorporating technology<span style="font-size: large;">?</span></span></span></div>
<br />Jeanne Zuechhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04937382280710368749noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7226403112372433374.post-35251707609194982592012-09-08T10:58:00.001-07:002014-02-27T12:57:55.702-08:00children + movement from the ground up<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">The work of children to learn movement, to coordinate their arms and legs to move themselves forward, to gain muscle control, to keep their head up while in motion, to establish a sense of balance and .... well, there is so much learning going on in every moment for very young children.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><i><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Quite impressive, really.</span></i></span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-JUVQuOAMm1U/UEuHkHbo6aI/AAAAAAAABCQ/rb4NncXLxoY/s1600/rowan1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-JUVQuOAMm1U/UEuHkHbo6aI/AAAAAAAABCQ/rb4NncXLxoY/s640/rowan1.jpg" height="440" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rowan on her own adventure in the park with dad John and pug Stella up ahead.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">My college friend Jennie posted this photo </span></span><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">on a social media site </span></span><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">of 14 month old daughter Rowan. Jennie shared that Rowan, dad John and pug Stella were at a local park. When John went ahead to catch up with Stella, Rowan took the initiative to catch up with them. Jennie took this wonderful shot of Rowan's adventure forward.</span></span><br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-76MC9CLSYX0/UEuPO4gsLII/AAAAAAAABCs/9TGlawjqE48/s1600/rowan2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-76MC9CLSYX0/UEuPO4gsLII/AAAAAAAABCs/9TGlawjqE48/s400/rowan2.jpg" height="276" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Appreciate the WORK that Rowan initiated for herself to cross this field.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<b><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">The photo struck me from an early childhood educator lens in 2 ways.</span></span></b><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>First</b>, I was in awe of Jennie's perspective taking to give Rowan the focus, her left arm in grand reach motion, her back right leg seemingly just slightly in motion as well. Dad John and pug Stella are blurred in the background yet clearly the goal for Rowan as she tackles crawling one arm/leg combo at a time. <i>How far does Dad and Stella look to Rowan - a football field away?</i></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"></span></span><br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Yd1ZFC-pB5c/UEuQOww1gpI/AAAAAAAABC0/CFYE7NuoS1o/s1600/rowan3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Yd1ZFC-pB5c/UEuQOww1gpI/AAAAAAAABC0/CFYE7NuoS1o/s400/rowan3.jpg" height="311" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Arm, leg, head up, hat on, and In Motion.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Second,</b> I was struck simply by Rowan. The photo really allows me to appreciate - to almost feel - the effort required by a 14 month old to move across the grass field. Think about what Rowan might be thinking: I want to be with my dad and dog. Think about what Rowan might be feeling: With every movement, her knees and shoes and hands FEEL the cool grass, the tiny flowers, the clumpy dirt, and any other obstacles that anyone who is not crawling would not feel. The smell of the grass deepens with every movement. Think about if your own head was merely a foot above the ground, straining to look up and forward, to keep that neck muscle working to keep the body in position to move forward.<i> Wow. I am a little exhausted just thinking about attempting this in my 40+ year old body!</i></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><b>This photo made me think about how each young child is really on their own "independent study" as though in graduate level course work at a university:</b></span></span><br />
<ul>
<li><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Each child is on their own to feel motivated, to be allowed freedom to move, to test out their body's abilities, to engage in their family life in the way that they can at their age and developmental level.</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">No one can "teach" Rowan to crawl across this grass field nor motivate her to do so.</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">No one can teach Rowan to coordinate left arm with right leg, then the opposite.</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">I love that Rowan has her freedom to GO in order that she can do her own needed work from the ground up. </span></span></li>
</ul>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i>Quite impressive, really.</i></span></span><br />
<b><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></b>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">As Rowan moves forward in her abilities, she'll be able to establish more complicated ways of engaging with the ground. Here are "future" possibilities for Rowan as development and peers and tools are incorporated:</span></b></span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-aFmxpUYNK8M/UEuRw76egvI/AAAAAAAABC8/qF7HLMSEeCo/s1600/watersharing.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-aFmxpUYNK8M/UEuRw76egvI/AAAAAAAABC8/qF7HLMSEeCo/s320/watersharing.jpg" height="229" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>1. Maybe Rowan will want to stand and play with water and share with a friend.</b></span></span><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-G028dnqVAOE/UEuSHxw7tTI/AAAAAAAABDE/EHH8qTzPsWM/s1600/waltparachute.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-G028dnqVAOE/UEuSHxw7tTI/AAAAAAAABDE/EHH8qTzPsWM/s320/waltparachute.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>2. Maybe Rowan will want to crawl under and across a parachute</b>!</span></span><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-dR9ZqFK3fKE/UEuSl1-HV7I/AAAAAAAABDM/c4mNDH3fF6Y/s1600/groupparachute.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-dR9ZqFK3fKE/UEuSl1-HV7I/AAAAAAAABDM/c4mNDH3fF6Y/s320/groupparachute.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<b><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">3. Maybe Rowan will run and capture a parachute in motion with friends</span></span>!</b><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-V_0dYJAj4Vg/UEuTPAbqqtI/AAAAAAAABDU/Gd3lU2qDF3I/s1600/doublehoops.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-V_0dYJAj4Vg/UEuTPAbqqtI/AAAAAAAABDU/Gd3lU2qDF3I/s640/doublehoops.jpg" height="640" width="480" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>4. Maybe Rowan will run with a hula hoop in motion and try to capture the hoop or even dive through it on the field!</b></span></span><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-FNUioWYzcKI/UEuTjFxchlI/AAAAAAAABDc/zglYiF2R2Js/s1600/camhoops.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><b><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-FNUioWYzcKI/UEuTjFxchlI/AAAAAAAABDc/zglYiF2R2Js/s640/camhoops.jpg" height="640" width="480" /></b></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>5. Maybe Rowan will try on 2 hula hoops, put her hands in the air and put her whole body in motion to get both hoops in motion! [wow!]</b></span></span><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">BEING IN MOTION is amazing, complicated and healthy.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">However, <u><b>LEARNING</b></u> TO BE IN MOTION is quite an incredible journey from a very young age</span></span> and requires time and time and time to give it a GO.<br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">MANY THANKS to Jennie, John and Stella the pug for being part of this blog post today. My special thanks to Rowan for inspiring me to appreciate the joy of learning to be in motion from the ground up. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><i><span style="font-size: large;">Quite impressive, really.</span></i></span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
Jeanne Zuechhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04937382280710368749noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7226403112372433374.post-60631653314060067272012-08-23T14:21:00.000-07:002014-02-27T12:58:39.326-08:00what if the beach was your classroom?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="color: blue;">
<i><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: large;">My husband and I just returned from vacation to Kauai, Hawaii. While of course we did our own adult exploring, dining, surfing, boating and such, my eye was never too far to observe children at play. I find it fascinating to see how parents 'allow' play (or don't) when in a vacation setting. </span></i></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Sk6a-iF2CKU/UDaWYPA0PVI/AAAAAAAABBk/21DjDeKYgIU/s1600/kauaikids1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Sk6a-iF2CKU/UDaWYPA0PVI/AAAAAAAABBk/21DjDeKYgIU/s640/kauaikids1.jpg" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Free Play? What if the beach - the idea of the beach - was the mentality of how you ran your classroom and determined your role along with the children's roles?</span></span></b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: large;">When we were walking along the beaches of Poipu on the south shore, I observed these children playing on the rocks, holding various nets. There was a male adult standing just off the water's edge and as the children would run up the beach, the adult would casually follow to be nearby yet never interfered or directed where the children 'should be.' </span><br />
<i><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: small;">[I
must admit, I took some photos trying to look like I was taking a photo
of the shoreline - not wanting to appear oddly stalker-ish - yet I was
trying desperately to get some shots of the children (no faces) as they
embraced their rich play at the water's edge.]</span></i><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-tHCBQTmh_Pw/UDaWY_nLQ7I/AAAAAAAABBs/qByU8LiIbx8/s1600/kauaikids2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-tHCBQTmh_Pw/UDaWY_nLQ7I/AAAAAAAABBs/qByU8LiIbx8/s640/kauaikids2.jpg" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: small;">The children would do their own independent searching for treasure of one kind or another then return to their huddle to share their findings.</span></b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-5BYT660YeEk/UDaWZr59j3I/AAAAAAAABB0/iFHxX4-dNfU/s1600/kauaikids3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-5BYT660YeEk/UDaWZr59j3I/AAAAAAAABB0/iFHxX4-dNfU/s640/kauaikids3.jpg" height="640" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">The adult supported the very youngest child to join the four explorers.</span></b></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: large;"><i style="color: blue;"> So, what IF</i> you set the tone of your classroom in the spirit of beach exploration and the adult who was nearby yet not involved directly in the children's play?<i><span style="font-size: large;"></span></i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: large;"><i><span style="color: blue;">So, what IF</span></i> you set your environment with the basic needs for exploration - blocks, paint, sand, peers - and then you yourself faded into the background ever so sleekly?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: large;"><i style="color: blue;">So, what IF?</i></span><br />
<i style="color: blue;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: large;">So, why not?</span></i><br />
<b><i><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: small;">You can YOU CAN allow the environment - the beach, the mountains, the desert, the city - to be your inspiration for exploring in the classroom. Give the children their space and time and - Zella's motto - the children will show you the rest.</span></i></b><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
Jeanne Zuechhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04937382280710368749noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7226403112372433374.post-5298802125927215072012-07-31T17:55:00.000-07:002014-02-27T12:59:43.863-08:00authentic ways to embrace technology<div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;">There has been a great deal of talk about what is appropriate tech use for young children in the classroom. Hot topics around who has access (economic), how to address fairness (gender, timing, ability) and what is quality technology (software, resources, support). NAEYC addressed technology content and issues around classroom use in their 2012 Statement this year. Check out NAEYC's presentation via <a href="http://oldweb.naeyc.org/profdev/webcast/tech_young_children/player.html" target="_blank">Erikson Institute's Webcast of Tech + Media as Tools</a> <i> </i></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><i>The Statement is a rich tool to use at your own school to discuss and debate what and how you can address technology and media usage for your own students.</i></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-T2S4a7gltBI/UBhjmZp1wuI/AAAAAAAAA-0/o1gDtjVcQm4/s1600/tech01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-T2S4a7gltBI/UBhjmZp1wuI/AAAAAAAAA-0/o1gDtjVcQm4/s640/tech01.jpg" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Simple machines such as a pencil sharpener have the "how does this work" concept just like technology</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Over the years, I have been lucky to be able to incorporate technology in diverse ways. I have never felt pressure to 'teach' technology. None of the constructivist values that I believe in have been compromised by the integration of technology. The blending in of another exploration area (technology) in developmentally appropriate ways is an educator responsibility I take seriously to ensure children are always active agents of their learning. </span></div>
<div style="color: #351c75; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
<span style="font-size: large;">3 important realizations regarding technology: </span></div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;">ONE - I have been able to OFFER it as a CHOICE</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;">TWO - I have been able to INCORPORATE it as a TOOL</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;">THREE - I have been able to USE it for REFLECTION and COMMUNICATION.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="color: #351c75; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
<b><span style="font-size: large;">Here are some examples of how technology might BE in the classroom:</span></b></div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
<br /></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-JdHjHvI3aWE/UBhmDHlZnyI/AAAAAAAAA-8/IUTtriux5V8/s1600/tech02.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-JdHjHvI3aWE/UBhmDHlZnyI/AAAAAAAAA-8/IUTtriux5V8/s400/tech02.jpg" height="270" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">One child describes with his hands how something just Flipped in an art program.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><b>1. Computers can be used as a social tool. </b>Software that is open-ended and creative allows for children to work together and test out ideas.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-WppDXqTLPKI/UBhqdEUrGII/AAAAAAAAA_U/fc4N_PuN3SE/s1600/tech12.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-WppDXqTLPKI/UBhqdEUrGII/AAAAAAAAA_U/fc4N_PuN3SE/s320/tech12.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">holding a camera, looking thru the viewfineder and Clicking!</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><b>2. Children have Hands-On use</b> of cameras or other tech items such as keyboards. You can have "play versions" as well, yet allowing children to authentically use cameras gives them a relationship with technology that is much more intentional and authentic.</span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-cb4-iOciZmk/UBhskHvNPNI/AAAAAAAAA_c/mSm2268H7Qs/s1600/tech13.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-cb4-iOciZmk/UBhskHvNPNI/AAAAAAAAA_c/mSm2268H7Qs/s200/tech13.jpg" height="150" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Leaning atop of a keyboard, this child copies letters!</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
</div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: small;"><b>3. Children use photos as reflection tools or memories from a field experience.</b>
This child had come back from a visit to an independent theatre where
we got to see how the projectors made the movie get to the screen. The
child represented the complexity of the machine in her pen drawing and
described the action, as well. (read in photo). (This was a long-term project on Movie Theatres - many children made photo-reflections from our field experience which we made into a book).</span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-IZ3zUSie0z4/UBhtngPlZjI/AAAAAAAAA_k/P9ZNZ72k-k4/s1600/tech03.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-IZ3zUSie0z4/UBhtngPlZjI/AAAAAAAAA_k/P9ZNZ72k-k4/s640/tech03.jpg" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Pen drawing of a film projector with a photo being the memory from the field experience to the local theatre.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-waM0-4OqBgs/UBhvwHgRI5I/AAAAAAAAA_s/6MNW5ekGzQc/s1600/tech04.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-waM0-4OqBgs/UBhvwHgRI5I/AAAAAAAAA_s/6MNW5ekGzQc/s400/tech04.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Light table materials have endless possibilities.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><b>4. Light is technology. </b> Examine how the relationship and usage of these materials change when the child uses them on the light table. Tech and media let children think in ways that are unique for materials and in turn allow children to think differently about color, shape, layering and space.</span></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-SKxq0K2nDsE/UBhw8xEa2bI/AAAAAAAAA_0/YIRNWbfxRiw/s1600/tech05.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-SKxq0K2nDsE/UBhw8xEa2bI/AAAAAAAAA_0/YIRNWbfxRiw/s400/tech05.jpg" height="325" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">This boy decides on an area of his canvas that he wants us to photograph.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-UMBr5q72Eto/UBhw9uEoNQI/AAAAAAAAA_4/10Qm5XqjMrs/s1600/tech06.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-UMBr5q72Eto/UBhw9uEoNQI/AAAAAAAAA_4/10Qm5XqjMrs/s400/tech06.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Visitors marvel in our Art Gallery of canvas masterpieces and I SPY frames.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><b>5. Technology can allow something that is small to become The Focus.</b> </span></div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Children were involved in a long-term art project with a professional artist/parent in our class.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;">When each child completed their large canvas (see below), they use their smaller "frame" as an I SPY within their own art project.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;">We took photos of their special interest areas, printed them out, and then the children described these smaller art pieces below their original large piece.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;">The Art Gallery of their work allowed visitors to see the process, art, and photo close ups of the children's favorite parts of their work.</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: small;">Doing this kind of "layering" to understand children's thinking about their work is perfect for technology to be used. The photos allowed breadth and depth for children to truly own and give voice to their work.</span><br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-pHU21wthxFI/UBh0W_XQwiI/AAAAAAAABAU/IUCaoVgJsWA/s1600/tech09.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-pHU21wthxFI/UBh0W_XQwiI/AAAAAAAABAU/IUCaoVgJsWA/s320/tech09.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Painting was the children's choice - computers are right behind them!</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><b>6. Technology is seamlessly embedded in the design of the classroom. </b></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Children, at right, paint at the large easels while the computer area is available right next to them behind the doors that area always ajar and the computers are always ON for them to choose to use.</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: small;">Printed examples of children's work is displayed on the folding doors.</span><br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-3qds5bfQQI4/UBh0Xk2cLOI/AAAAAAAABAc/bcIA7nR8uM0/s1600/tech10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-3qds5bfQQI4/UBh0Xk2cLOI/AAAAAAAABAc/bcIA7nR8uM0/s320/tech10.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Communication at the entry for slide shows and field experience video.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><b>7. Classroom communication at the entry.</b></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: small;">Here, children were working on a spring project while the monitor and media equipment are seen behind them. The monitor was used for parent communication of photo slide shows, educational evenings, video review for children when we returned from a field experience, and photo reviews or studies. Right below the monitor are the children's "mailboxes" for communication, art and mail in hard copy. There is also a large wipe board easel that was used for written communication for parents, easily living next to the technology option.</span><br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-wBhs8ci8riM/UBh3cTGg79I/AAAAAAAABA0/FcuiCqvxRBc/s1600/tech11.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-wBhs8ci8riM/UBh3cTGg79I/AAAAAAAABA0/FcuiCqvxRBc/s320/tech11.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">What word would YOU choose for your artsy message?</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-A9HqPvEBf38/UBh3ebNhfAI/AAAAAAAABA8/1zUE_NyV1Fo/s1600/tech14.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-A9HqPvEBf38/UBh3ebNhfAI/AAAAAAAABA8/1zUE_NyV1Fo/s320/tech14.jpg" height="229" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Do you know the musical, hilarious story Big Pumpkin? </span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: small;"><b>8. Technology as a literacy tool.</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: small;">In the left photo, we use the nuts/bolts drawers from a hardware store to hold words or names that have value to the children. We have this Word Bank in our Writing Area and children love to find their name or favorite words in the different drawers then tape or glue the papers onto art or messages. </span><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: small;"><b><i>In the Book Area, we have a NO HEADPHONES listening center</i></b> so that children can have a social, dynamic reading/listening experience with whomever joins into hearing the story. The tape recorder - and the books and cassettes - have symbols so the children can 'read' Start, Stop, Pause, Rewind. Children have full use of the listening center and require virtually no help from educators.</span><br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-FRs4hUfysx0/UBh5pF9uvJI/AAAAAAAABBE/Kcoi1xRMDWU/s1600/tech08.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-FRs4hUfysx0/UBh5pF9uvJI/AAAAAAAABBE/Kcoi1xRMDWU/s640/tech08.jpg" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Documentation is a rich integration of technology and observation by educators during a project.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><b>9. Technology as a teaching tool makes learning visible.</b> Teachers using documentation as an archival tool to display children's discoveries on a topic is a rich communication tool for visitors, parents, and the children themselves. Teachers use documentation as a significant reflective tool for understanding learning and respecting children's ideas.</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: small;">This was a Birthday Project where we studied children from birth to age 5 to understand how we - as Young Fives students - had grown since being babies, then ages one through four. It was one of the most fascinating projects I ever did with a group of students.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: small;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: large;">There are so many ways to USE technology or to CHOOSE technology without having it take over or be overwhelming. </span></span><br />
<i><span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: large;">How do YOU embrace technology? What are your challenges?</span></i><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
Jeanne Zuechhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04937382280710368749noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7226403112372433374.post-49121491955633283052012-07-14T17:32:00.000-07:002014-02-27T13:01:06.056-08:00four stories<div style="text-align: right;">
</div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-JQHLBZzz6jo/UAIKWrIHnHI/AAAAAAAAA-Y/CWiqIHh6_E0/s1600/faceA3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-JQHLBZzz6jo/UAIKWrIHnHI/AAAAAAAAA-Y/CWiqIHh6_E0/s320/faceA3.jpg" height="320" width="272" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Seeing children as meaning makers of their world.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Bonjour!</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Comment ca va?</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Today is July 14. Bastille Day. The best day to celebrate French culture.</b></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">
<span style="font-size: small;">In honor of Bastille Day, I will share</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>4 posts</b></span> <span style="font-size: large;"><u>that offer a<i style="background-color: #cfe2f3;"> lens to see children as powerful thinkers and meaning makers of the world </i></u></span></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-HlsPiCyaDg8/UAILUB4LR1I/AAAAAAAAA-o/o14TM6LyAAE/s1600/nametaylor.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-HlsPiCyaDg8/UAILUB4LR1I/AAAAAAAAA-o/o14TM6LyAAE/s400/nametaylor.jpg" height="335" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Because it is your name.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
<span style="font-size: large;">1. <a href="http://zellasaidpurple.blogspot.com/2011/06/this-is-me.html" target="_blank">"This Is Me: Self-Portraits"</a></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;">(pencil, mirror, and one's own face) </span></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
<span style="font-size: large;">2. <a href="http://zellasaidpurple.blogspot.com/2011/07/following-emily.html" target="_blank">"Following Emily"</a></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">(a very special post that I hope you have the time to read - <u><i>following emily</i></u> might just be the "Aha!" that you have been needing without realizing it! )</span></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-WmyBsOSABb0/UAILF17t63I/AAAAAAAAA-g/cCz4yvf5xZE/s1600/trapeze3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-WmyBsOSABb0/UAILF17t63I/AAAAAAAAA-g/cCz4yvf5xZE/s400/trapeze3.jpg" height="400" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Way too fancy for preschoo</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">3. <a href="http://zellasaidpurple.blogspot.com/2011/07/name-it.html" target="_blank">"Because It Is Your Name"</a></span></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">(very significant from birth. how names are used by children)</span></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><a href="http://zellasaidpurple.blogspot.com/2011/08/way-too-fancy-for-preschool.html" target="_blank">4. "Way Too Fancy For Preschool"</a></span></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">(is there such a thing? children and their sense of style from an early age)</span></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
<span style="background-color: #cfe2f3; font-size: large;"><i><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">Children as active agents in their own learning. Amazing. </span></i></span></div>
<b><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: small;"></span></b>Jeanne Zuechhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04937382280710368749noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7226403112372433374.post-88721187774383016752012-06-28T17:18:00.001-07:002014-02-27T13:01:37.495-08:00respecting children's learning<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ldZqsYbJanE/T-zgojUgbdI/AAAAAAAAA7U/adjwZbwuh5E/s1600/pamstretch17.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ldZqsYbJanE/T-zgojUgbdI/AAAAAAAAA7U/adjwZbwuh5E/s400/pamstretch17.jpg" height="400" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">ZEBRA by PAPER MACHE AND RECYCLABLES.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
<i><span style="font-size: small;">Most of you know I am a dedicated constructivist educator. I believe in ensuring that children have the time and materials to investigate, explore, problem solve and invent. I truly believe it is a child's right to have - not to be given, but to have - the time and materials to make meaning of their world.</span></i></div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
<div style="color: purple;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: small;"><b>I had the privilege of visiting</b> my colleague Pam's school in Marin, California. <i>Stretch the Imagination</i></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;"> offers a "Reggio inspired" program for 3-5s that is filled with discussion, exploration, natural materials, and field experiences to local [incredible] venues for research by the children</span>. <a href="http://stretchtheimagination.com/" target="_blank">Click here to read more about Stretch and founder Michelle Lawton.</a></span></div>
</div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;">I attended an evening event held by the school where teachers were presenting to parents their interpretations regarding their class's discoveries and growth for the year. The presentations were not recounting the calendar experiences of the children. The presentations were an <b>overarching, deeper and wider perspective</b> on the children as a class group from more of a teacher-researcher lens. </span></div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><i><u>[huge side note:</u> I strongly believe that these are the teachers that should become leaders in our field because <b>Respecting Children's Learning</b> should be modeled, modeled, modeled, exactly as they have done.]</i></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><b>I bring a few photos to afford you a peek into the classroom's documentation and the stunning work by the children</b>. In the classroom, all the children are represented, yet not all the children are represented in every project. This concept allows for a room to breathe, and it allows for educators to be intentional in what they choose to document or display to uplift the overall learning that occurred.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
<div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
<i><span style="font-size: large;">Cheers to the teachers' efforts. Bravo to the children's words and works.</span></i></div>
<span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; font-size: large;">The following images travel from</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; font-size: large;"><i style="color: red;">Self to Artist</i>,</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; font-size: large;">from <i><span style="color: red;">Words to Photo Memory to Sculpture</span></i>,</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; font-size: large;">from <i style="color: red;">Sensory to Still Life</i>.</span><br />
<i><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;"></span></span></i><i><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></i></div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-MhxL2Ijw0H8/T-zi82NQoSI/AAAAAAAAA7c/6OoxYVmJ5lA/s1600/pamstretch01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-MhxL2Ijw0H8/T-zi82NQoSI/AAAAAAAAA7c/6OoxYVmJ5lA/s400/pamstretch01.jpg" height="222" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">SELF PORTRAIT</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-rEwyGc-csvE/T-zi9nYRgcI/AAAAAAAAA7k/koW36w3v2n8/s1600/pamstretch02.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-rEwyGc-csvE/T-zi9nYRgcI/AAAAAAAAA7k/koW36w3v2n8/s640/pamstretch02.jpg" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">THIS IS ME.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-L3IQfd2Dyhs/T-zjAsiO_FI/AAAAAAAAA8E/1g40Jpb0RXk/s1600/pamstretch06.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-L3IQfd2Dyhs/T-zjAsiO_FI/AAAAAAAAA8E/1g40Jpb0RXk/s400/pamstretch06.jpg" height="194" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">THE WORK OF FRIDA KAHLO.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-AkHUFRAlLcw/T-zjBQDqV6I/AAAAAAAAA8M/QQnXuAvI1v0/s1600/pamstretch07.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-AkHUFRAlLcw/T-zjBQDqV6I/AAAAAAAAA8M/QQnXuAvI1v0/s640/pamstretch07.jpg" height="592" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">BLACK & WHITE.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-1KtiLwkCrcM/T-zjCTkwoFI/AAAAAAAAA8U/u4JBW6kxO5A/s1600/pamstretch08.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-1KtiLwkCrcM/T-zjCTkwoFI/AAAAAAAAA8U/u4JBW6kxO5A/s640/pamstretch08.jpg" height="640" width="555" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">HAVE YOU EVER DONE A SELF-PORTRAIT? What colors would YOU use?</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-pf-2bNb7AjA/T-zi-c3G0eI/AAAAAAAAA7s/xQMuMLnuRG8/s1600/pamstretch03.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-pf-2bNb7AjA/T-zi-c3G0eI/AAAAAAAAA7s/xQMuMLnuRG8/s400/pamstretch03.jpg" height="230" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">COLLAGE WORK with WORDS.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0SQ-z5eeWH4/T-zi_baVv0I/AAAAAAAAA70/VWKaaQEHKAY/s1600/pamstretch04.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0SQ-z5eeWH4/T-zi_baVv0I/AAAAAAAAA70/VWKaaQEHKAY/s640/pamstretch04.jpg" height="640" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">HAPPINESS.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-COBjWelaEdA/T-zjABEcCWI/AAAAAAAAA78/_Ncp37NQz7k/s1600/pamstretch05.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-COBjWelaEdA/T-zjABEcCWI/AAAAAAAAA78/_Ncp37NQz7k/s640/pamstretch05.jpg" height="640" width="470" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">MOON.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KBOaPcWTAeE/T-zjDPbDDSI/AAAAAAAAA8c/xVBRCQcd7mM/s1600/pamstretch09.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KBOaPcWTAeE/T-zjDPbDDSI/AAAAAAAAA8c/xVBRCQcd7mM/s400/pamstretch09.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">ART GALLERY PHOTO MEMORIES.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-8ZT6b0SfQ7I/T-zjEyg1TvI/AAAAAAAAA8w/7_hmiM7NvFc/s1600/pamstretch12.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-8ZT6b0SfQ7I/T-zjEyg1TvI/AAAAAAAAA8w/7_hmiM7NvFc/s1600/pamstretch12.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">BOBCAT from PHOTO to BLACK PEN to WATERCOLORS.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-au5u_AuPXC4/T-zjEdkoyoI/AAAAAAAAA8o/0JuxUcpFT_Y/s1600/pamstretch11.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-au5u_AuPXC4/T-zjEdkoyoI/AAAAAAAAA8o/0JuxUcpFT_Y/s640/pamstretch11.jpg" height="640" width="454" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">PAINTING MOVEMENT OF A WAVE. STUNNING GORGEOUS.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ruePyPMnPyI/T-znSYcSuOI/AAAAAAAAA9A/RnJlNr5ktlU/s1600/pamstretch13.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ruePyPMnPyI/T-znSYcSuOI/AAAAAAAAA9A/RnJlNr5ktlU/s640/pamstretch13.jpg" height="640" width="500" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">DETAILS OF A TREE OWL. FASCINATING.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><b><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"></span></b></span><br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Q5dA3IsnY-A/T-znTZH4rjI/AAAAAAAAA9I/rmP_Gte7Gek/s1600/pamstretch14.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Q5dA3IsnY-A/T-znTZH4rjI/AAAAAAAAA9I/rmP_Gte7Gek/s640/pamstretch14.jpg" height="640" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">BIRD HOUSE.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-QCkrjwOvZiM/T-znUodX55I/AAAAAAAAA9Y/LlaySMsOgxc/s1600/pamstretch16.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-QCkrjwOvZiM/T-znUodX55I/AAAAAAAAA9Y/LlaySMsOgxc/s640/pamstretch16.jpg" height="640" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">ELEPHANT by PAPER MACHE AND RECYCLABLES</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-qaNmkE8yZ4w/T-znT8BaKOI/AAAAAAAAA9Q/k9bbh-SJfKI/s1600/pamstretch15.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-qaNmkE8yZ4w/T-znT8BaKOI/AAAAAAAAA9Q/k9bbh-SJfKI/s640/pamstretch15.jpg" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">SHARK by PAPER MACHE AND RECYCLABLES</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<b><span style="font-size: large;">Sculpture</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-size: large;">Work.</span></b><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; font-size: small;"><i>"Sculpture has been a large part of our artistic endeavor, both at the Audubon Center with natural materials and in the classroom with found objects."</i></span><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">
<span style="font-size: large;">SENSORY EXPLORATIONS represented in PAINT.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mC5UmdKhlEc/T-znXFwp4DI/AAAAAAAAA9w/a66zIKniSXI/s1600/pamstretch19.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mC5UmdKhlEc/T-znXFwp4DI/AAAAAAAAA9w/a66zIKniSXI/s640/pamstretch19.jpg" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-CFQfkdn6K1Y/T-znX9nY-zI/AAAAAAAAA94/U_sLMzxM5D8/s1600/pamstretch20.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-CFQfkdn6K1Y/T-znX9nY-zI/AAAAAAAAA94/U_sLMzxM5D8/s640/pamstretch20.jpg" height="440" width="640" /></a><br />
<span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; font-size: large;">STILL LIFE with an EYE FOR COLOR.</span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-9L1sdgf8wUg/T-znWL7CYRI/AAAAAAAAA9o/bNjM7q2PU8s/s1600/pamstretch18.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-9L1sdgf8wUg/T-znWL7CYRI/AAAAAAAAA9o/bNjM7q2PU8s/s640/pamstretch18.jpg" height="442" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">BEGINNING ART APPRECIATION WITH YOUNG CHILDREN. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-OVLF8ns9KHw/T-zxebc9pxI/AAAAAAAAA-E/F5iR23bCryo/s1600/pamstretch21.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-OVLF8ns9KHw/T-zxebc9pxI/AAAAAAAAA-E/F5iR23bCryo/s400/pamstretch21.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Take yourself to another school.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Bring a fresh teacher lens to really SEE the learning that teachers make visible.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Look UP, look low, yet especially, look INTENTIONALLY for the children to be the most vital part of the school. </span></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: small;"><i>Thanks to Pam and Michelle for inviting me for such a rich visit to a true school for children.</i></span>Jeanne Zuechhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04937382280710368749noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7226403112372433374.post-39755475021684178582012-06-12T17:51:00.000-07:002014-02-27T13:02:35.013-08:00window on learning: teacher field trip!<div style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">
<span style="font-size: small;">One of the best best best ways to invigorate my own teaching is by visiting other preschool classrooms. I had the privilege of observing a full morning at my colleague Laura's site [the site name and location remains confidential as per the director's request] which is in the San Francisco Bay Area in the beautiful state of California.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
<span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; font-size: large;">Peek through my 'window on learning':</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6dLnVCgcqYk/T9fVVsR13HI/AAAAAAAAA4w/eeTTvdWUPQA/s1600/lauratk01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6dLnVCgcqYk/T9fVVsR13HI/AAAAAAAAA4w/eeTTvdWUPQA/s640/lauratk01.jpg" height="476" width="640" /></a></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: small;">One student glues the bones of her invented dinosaur to her paper - maybe a long neck? a t-rex? Students had "discovered" bones the day before in their sensory table and this day each child formed their own dinosaur with their findings!</span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
<br /></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-y-C91V8OV9U/T9fVWTDf7kI/AAAAAAAAA44/Jg9BPu7k0q0/s1600/lauratk02.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-y-C91V8OV9U/T9fVWTDf7kI/AAAAAAAAA44/Jg9BPu7k0q0/s640/lauratk02.jpg" height="468" width="640" /></a></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Laura works with one dinosaur designer to name and explain his prehistoric discovery.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
<br /></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-57es_M15aS8/T9fVXP_WGWI/AAAAAAAAA5A/gnEDM6CX8mU/s1600/lauratk03.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-57es_M15aS8/T9fVXP_WGWI/AAAAAAAAA5A/gnEDM6CX8mU/s640/lauratk03.jpg" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: small;">Collaboration at its best when many many hands are in on the formation of this flat block design.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-WGCUi0YN3gY/T9fVXu1llBI/AAAAAAAAA5I/QHTp0MhIOaU/s1600/lauratk04.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-WGCUi0YN3gY/T9fVXu1llBI/AAAAAAAAA5I/QHTp0MhIOaU/s640/lauratk04.jpg" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: small;">Color, shapes, order, sequence, tall, low, and oh-so-organized.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-AmtEEqMV0ng/T9fVYlO28II/AAAAAAAAA5Q/uAQZbpUKU5w/s1600/lauratk05.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-AmtEEqMV0ng/T9fVYlO28II/AAAAAAAAA5Q/uAQZbpUKU5w/s640/lauratk05.jpg" height="640" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">This kind of math exploration is complex and intentional. Do YOU think these children have done this before?</span></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-XKa1j6TIkZ8/T9fZuNxr_PI/AAAAAAAAA5c/UiWJIHcVQc0/s1600/lauratk06.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-XKa1j6TIkZ8/T9fZuNxr_PI/AAAAAAAAA5c/UiWJIHcVQc0/s640/lauratk06.jpg" height="640" width="464" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: small;">This kind of work is no accident. Dedicated focus to stack stack stack turn turn turn.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-WrCjGYQe-vk/T9fZvDwAJHI/AAAAAAAAA5k/H-GOP7cPOiQ/s1600/lauratk07.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-WrCjGYQe-vk/T9fZvDwAJHI/AAAAAAAAA5k/H-GOP7cPOiQ/s640/lauratk07.jpg" height="640" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: small;">Outside writing space under tree, slanted roof, fence-posted mirror and trays of accessible marking tools.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-FkjGEE5c6uE/T9fZvwX2bOI/AAAAAAAAA5s/Da8Kxwv0-KI/s1600/lauratk08.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-FkjGEE5c6uE/T9fZvwX2bOI/AAAAAAAAA5s/Da8Kxwv0-KI/s640/lauratk08.jpg" height="640" width="516" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: small;">This is an over-sized garden planter box that is a dirt-filled construction site today!</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-v9kl_iUrhgI/T9fZxJJNZMI/AAAAAAAAA50/OiGdkKqr9SA/s1600/lauratk09.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-v9kl_iUrhgI/T9fZxJJNZMI/AAAAAAAAA50/OiGdkKqr9SA/s640/lauratk09.jpg" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: small;">Nature and more nature, crevices for play, large spaces for play, over, under, far and near. Makes you want to Go Play!</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-X22TJMWVLK0/T9fZx2f53lI/AAAAAAAAA58/Sb5D0VQEN38/s1600/lauratk10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-X22TJMWVLK0/T9fZx2f53lI/AAAAAAAAA58/Sb5D0VQEN38/s640/lauratk10.jpg" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: small;">The teachers took apart a 'plastic play house' and attached the walls to the fence for dramatic play in the sand box - the red door swings open and the oven on the left pulls forward for all your baking needs! I've never seen this idea before!</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-0GUc6FGZs_E/T9fc70WgcSI/AAAAAAAAA6I/kGHOC30zFhQ/s1600/lauratk11.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-0GUc6FGZs_E/T9fc70WgcSI/AAAAAAAAA6I/kGHOC30zFhQ/s640/lauratk11.jpg" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: small;">Planters, huge trees, and of course children working with dirt and more dirt!</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-8GSNYtbZ8Sg/T9fc8bjwhnI/AAAAAAAAA6Q/KukHxcLgFcg/s1600/lauratk12.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-8GSNYtbZ8Sg/T9fc8bjwhnI/AAAAAAAAA6Q/KukHxcLgFcg/s640/lauratk12.jpg" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: small;">This huge tree is a favorite for climbing, I was told, and check out the swing attached to the pole through the tree! Love it!</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-avBmvFQOuJY/T9fc8-GkjXI/AAAAAAAAA6Y/5K1F-ZpCL7Y/s1600/lauratk13.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-avBmvFQOuJY/T9fc8-GkjXI/AAAAAAAAA6Y/5K1F-ZpCL7Y/s640/lauratk13.jpg" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: small;">Laura has a little meeting with a group in the tire building area - maybe planning a party? solving a debate? talking about their dinosaur inventions?</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-PePlnY_kAzs/T9fc9Zun5UI/AAAAAAAAA6g/ASAh5GNh1bo/s1600/lauratk14.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-PePlnY_kAzs/T9fc9Zun5UI/AAAAAAAAA6g/ASAh5GNh1bo/s640/lauratk14.jpg" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: small;">This girl was fascinated with these small gem of fruit from the tree above her. Laura and the girl figured out they were small "white" plums! </span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-9zjczwcZ7rc/T9fc9zWXJNI/AAAAAAAAA6o/teO0j-Iw9S0/s1600/lauratk15.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-9zjczwcZ7rc/T9fc9zWXJNI/AAAAAAAAA6o/teO0j-Iw9S0/s640/lauratk15.jpg" height="640" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: small;">Approaching these tubes is quite a challenge to balance just right, to lean this way, and have your arms that way - then Let Go! Impressive!</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-volNW3CxumI/T9fe5U9iYYI/AAAAAAAAA6w/PqIZuPBx_Yw/s1600/lauratk16.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-volNW3CxumI/T9fe5U9iYYI/AAAAAAAAA6w/PqIZuPBx_Yw/s640/lauratk16.jpg" height="640" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: small;">This Peg Board worker explained to me how the orange was "going around and around and around" the red stick.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-YaYcCieLvMs/T9fe54EvbyI/AAAAAAAAA64/IOrHEnXKozs/s1600/lauratk17.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-YaYcCieLvMs/T9fe54EvbyI/AAAAAAAAA64/IOrHEnXKozs/s640/lauratk17.jpg" height="452" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: small;">When I came back to the Peg Board worker, she had started another "around and around" with blue pegs - and this time with a friend helping!</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-myb1efLOpVc/T9fe6fXm9pI/AAAAAAAAA7A/YKzQfjbXnX8/s1600/lauratk18.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-myb1efLOpVc/T9fe6fXm9pI/AAAAAAAAA7A/YKzQfjbXnX8/s640/lauratk18.jpg" height="556" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">When is the last time YOU laid on your stomach on the carpet, grabbed a sunflower pen and started writing Right There with three pages ready for marking?!!</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="color: blue; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">
<span style="font-size: large;">It is wondrous to visit another school and live the daily routine as the children navigate their way through what they know is School. Seeing my colleague Laura in action with her students was a gift for myself as she is such a talented, kind and patient educator.</span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><i><span style="color: red;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Have YOU visited another school lately? It is such a rich professional development - and professional support - experience that allows you a window on learning that would be impossible via blog, article, or video.</span></span></i></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="color: red;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">BEING THERE amid the life of a school day is priceless.</span></span></b></span><br />
<br />
<br />Jeanne Zuechhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04937382280710368749noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7226403112372433374.post-23585468933520416822012-06-01T14:43:00.001-07:002014-02-27T13:03:00.353-08:00the quiet classroom<div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;">End of the school year always brings such mixed feelings for me.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;">The last two years I have been an instructor at a state university in California and even closing the grades with college age students stills brings the same feelings for me.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;">The investment, relationships, personalities, understandings, discussions, 'aha' moments, struggles, joys...they are all bundled into the final days at a school and the days afterward when the classroom is so quiet. So very quiet. </span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-0zVZhZ3oVW4/T8kzjJlBZEI/AAAAAAAAA4k/MSeeY1EhXSM/s1600/grpdressup.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-0zVZhZ3oVW4/T8kzjJlBZEI/AAAAAAAAA4k/MSeeY1EhXSM/s640/grpdressup.jpg" height="424" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">how could you NOT miss these faces, these personalities, these people? </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;">For now, though, it is the bittersweet tug-of-war of emotions of being glad for a summer break and also being sad that the group I just finished working with will never form together the same again. I tell people that I can compare it to a business model of work - it is like every year my entire "department" of colleagues leaves, it just happens that my colleagues are five-years-old. Sigh.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Here is the my favorite, all time favorite, poem that I use when I work with young children and their families. This poem is usually the end paper in the children's individual portfolio books. The poem is the most lovely, quirky, exact compilation of how I feel, what I wish, how I have joy, how I have sorrow.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Here is the incomparable wordsmith talents of Jack Prelutsky:</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><i><b>Today I'm going yesterday</b></i> <span style="color: blue;">as quickly as I can,</span></span></div>
<div style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;">I'm confident I'll do it, I've devised a clever plan,</span></div>
<div style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;">it involves my running backward at a constant rate of speed,</span></div>
<div style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;">if I'm mindful of my timing I'll undoubtedly succeed.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><b><i>Today I'm going yesterday</i></b> <span style="color: blue;">I'm moving very fast,</span></span></div>
<div style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;">as I'm putting off the future for the rather recent past,</span></div>
<div style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;">I can feel the pressure fading as I hastily depart,</span></div>
<div style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;">and look forward to arriving on the day before I start.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><b><i>Today I'm going yesterday</i></b> <span style="color: blue;">I'm slipping out of sight,</span></span></div>
<div style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;">and anticipate I'll vanish just a bit before tonight,</span></div>
<div style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;">when I reach my destination, I'll compose a note to say,</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: red; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><b>that I'll see you all tomorrow, which of course will be today.</b></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">So, maybe your classroom is Oh So Very Quiet.</span></span> <i><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Yet, you can keep 'going yesterday' and </span></i><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">you will hear the joyful noise coming from the walls. </span></span></span></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
Jeanne Zuechhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04937382280710368749noreply@blogger.com0