tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-73830628340378479622024-02-07T01:25:44.842-05:00a teacher's mindEmily R-Bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04734481253756639330noreply@blogger.comBlogger14125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7383062834037847962.post-50123462924566868142010-02-20T09:20:00.013-05:002010-02-20T12:42:06.048-05:00Rolling on the River<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEyejzxFYXOBfx092VKhmKJCnkaUlaYu87aelCfmvwmlNPYeTx6GFaX_8weRMebjsFNHB0Vcfdb61o_pxBcI_aMxog4HS9EXAITg4yOByCSB1lg07FnxpSXH89UCZqAWiEOAnOMgmpOJg/s1600-h/statue+of+liberty+2.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEyejzxFYXOBfx092VKhmKJCnkaUlaYu87aelCfmvwmlNPYeTx6GFaX_8weRMebjsFNHB0Vcfdb61o_pxBcI_aMxog4HS9EXAITg4yOByCSB1lg07FnxpSXH89UCZqAWiEOAnOMgmpOJg/s400/statue+of+liberty+2.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5440373014476792946" border="0" /></a><br />Last summer I led a themed, 2-week long "session" of my school's summer program that was loosely centered around the Hudson River and the New York Harbor. Pete Seeger's <a href="http://www.clearwater.org/education/">Sloop Clearwater</a> was sailing down river to dock in Brooklyn for a couple of days in the summer, so I took advantage of the opportunity and put together a session entitled "Rolling on the River". My school is in a neighborhood that is directly on the Brooklyn waterfront, so we had easy access to waterfront piers and parks.<br /><br />To pull the unit together I decided to turn our classroom into the New York Harbor, by creating a large harbor mural that would cover an entire wall of the classroom. During the first week of the session, we visited the nearby parks and piers, and talked about what we could see in the harbor. We read stories about rivers and animals that live in rivers and, as a group, we wrote our own story about a whale that gets lost in the New York Harbor (based on true <a href="http://videos.nj.com/star-ledger/2009/04/coast_guard_tracks_whale_in_hu.html">events</a>!) During the second week, we went for a ride on the <a href="http://www.siferry.com/Wall_paper/wp14ws.aspx">Staten Island Ferry</a> and visited the Sloop Clearwater.<br /><br />The kids did a fantastic job painting our mural, deciding what needed to go in our harbor, crafting the parts, and writing the labels (with the teachers help for spelling). We had cranes:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUJdLezpOiRZdiqO74i9Mce4q9CTDWPgPg_Pe8HucrM6PFWzxdBd38BEXL4L3bBOuNjE4TT0mBT4s1cvJPWQZmDaRFH7j9ZNhCyySqvJDN6l3IPBFDzrBqpB0p18Q6ayvn3A-uiiQMwTs/s1600-h/crane.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUJdLezpOiRZdiqO74i9Mce4q9CTDWPgPg_Pe8HucrM6PFWzxdBd38BEXL4L3bBOuNjE4TT0mBT4s1cvJPWQZmDaRFH7j9ZNhCyySqvJDN6l3IPBFDzrBqpB0p18Q6ayvn3A-uiiQMwTs/s400/crane.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5440371976697615314" border="0" /></a><br />boats:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2-XUFMSY06R7i1pUc2b0BXwLLjNsQQm90av2nahFZCeUTJTZialA0qvNk3PiIj7EXP7g0VpQvOXrrnANxi5TQAzov0Ug4ymarPeXlaFrBzCvsbUOtnWHZmmsS2shFj_VM1Yu6OpdFyb4/s1600-h/boat.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2-XUFMSY06R7i1pUc2b0BXwLLjNsQQm90av2nahFZCeUTJTZialA0qvNk3PiIj7EXP7g0VpQvOXrrnANxi5TQAzov0Ug4ymarPeXlaFrBzCvsbUOtnWHZmmsS2shFj_VM1Yu6OpdFyb4/s400/boat.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5440371962728365570" border="0" /></a><br />the Verrazano Bridge:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilzU4WrIBmfyR4-r2swbnTooTWybgHqRId798vrjtpiKkS5E3oa5JQKSDw1rxlV88Q_RkSceMviLQUAVbZXKZpKPpeQCicNXX7Ild9cDmh1Azv47nsJ1xlsr8yCL0u3cL8IyevSZoLuss/s1600-h/verrazano+bridge.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilzU4WrIBmfyR4-r2swbnTooTWybgHqRId798vrjtpiKkS5E3oa5JQKSDw1rxlV88Q_RkSceMviLQUAVbZXKZpKPpeQCicNXX7Ild9cDmh1Azv47nsJ1xlsr8yCL0u3cL8IyevSZoLuss/s400/verrazano+bridge.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5440373022732888066" border="0" /></a><br />the Brooklyn Bridge:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq0IJl5Lamf4YE8_BU5RATtIs0mtwEFsdPVLI_0RAFckqpRC0S9KIQ7qXCf4drVTU7uiN-Cg9qAgUal-JqlxWqDlUcdxliFptLfzOwMggedYqexloXcx6l8uXeVxsCgorFENSC-SS2Fjg/s1600-h/brooklyn+bridge.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq0IJl5Lamf4YE8_BU5RATtIs0mtwEFsdPVLI_0RAFckqpRC0S9KIQ7qXCf4drVTU7uiN-Cg9qAgUal-JqlxWqDlUcdxliFptLfzOwMggedYqexloXcx6l8uXeVxsCgorFENSC-SS2Fjg/s400/brooklyn+bridge.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5440371969321535234" border="0" /></a><br />and, of course, the Statue of Liberty:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMx20_aY23zNFJ-4ak2-lFPOUzwyv00UG2yS9BPvsjouQXy7ynO6bGFBjjGsJ8Hy1lFmwcLCEmc8J8m5eFsXYtFEuOUF4rudNyLdPeDaIOrtz-M4erWKxJamlCcSdVzNo5kTUyMgtqWCI/s1600-h/statue+of+liberty.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMx20_aY23zNFJ-4ak2-lFPOUzwyv00UG2yS9BPvsjouQXy7ynO6bGFBjjGsJ8Hy1lFmwcLCEmc8J8m5eFsXYtFEuOUF4rudNyLdPeDaIOrtz-M4erWKxJamlCcSdVzNo5kTUyMgtqWCI/s400/statue+of+liberty.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5440373029627415074" border="0" /></a><br />We also used streamers, thick ribbons, and fabric to create the East River and the Hudson River, which extended from the harbor wall to other walls in the classroom. The children posted these handy labels as a guide, which delighted <a href="http://ateachersmind.blogspot.com/2010/02/young-cartographer.html">the mapper in me</a>:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY1XNLsy9QNBjdH_6GF-W_1rYLcfWkUix5KIdpxWwwmA7RpFGNN9ta0ljR3VHAJdL2ymOZmJBqtEJF0zW5th4-Ue_S4uuJNv0BdIYNT-AgOOAcGVEuW5ALINv5z4eSy5mLW7Ea1m5RYjM/s1600-h/east+river.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY1XNLsy9QNBjdH_6GF-W_1rYLcfWkUix5KIdpxWwwmA7RpFGNN9ta0ljR3VHAJdL2ymOZmJBqtEJF0zW5th4-Ue_S4uuJNv0BdIYNT-AgOOAcGVEuW5ALINv5z4eSy5mLW7Ea1m5RYjM/s400/east+river.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5440371984281254386" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgicQjvI76rTBcwfQxJE6dLGivpISY2tlf49MmfLnkx_FSYjP25-PHcaFm0Xg-MHcAlaYbvkJp_q8Ke4IBgsruPx3QakUrWjImSZWMco-6nZ0ree8EnM-cilV6WSD6Sdbuzr_nvi7HpRro/s1600-h/hudson+river.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgicQjvI76rTBcwfQxJE6dLGivpISY2tlf49MmfLnkx_FSYjP25-PHcaFm0Xg-MHcAlaYbvkJp_q8Ke4IBgsruPx3QakUrWjImSZWMco-6nZ0ree8EnM-cilV6WSD6Sdbuzr_nvi7HpRro/s400/hudson+river.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5440371991520570434" border="0" /></a><br />In addition to getting to do all of this artwork, the session ended up being a great way to get outside during the summer, to explore our school's neighborhood, and go on some fun field trips!Emily R-Bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04734481253756639330noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7383062834037847962.post-78713842048691633592010-02-16T20:06:00.007-05:002010-02-20T09:19:12.839-05:00the wonder years<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi31SSkQ-kJQj-QgOI1CVz35sCoGFfwOFXm0XtTlMqD0h_nEVkFicHoNoBz5gZNx2i_Z8_mF59sMb0N-nh672iUru-hp_HUV6uEB5mOyM9ToUsht9Zvq511PUhM3UDznSkxxLNXnFDy8hs/s1600-h/jonah+peter+pan.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 264px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi31SSkQ-kJQj-QgOI1CVz35sCoGFfwOFXm0XtTlMqD0h_nEVkFicHoNoBz5gZNx2i_Z8_mF59sMb0N-nh672iUru-hp_HUV6uEB5mOyM9ToUsht9Zvq511PUhM3UDznSkxxLNXnFDy8hs/s400/jonah+peter+pan.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5440330015953296130" border="0" /></a><br /><br />This photograph captures all that I love about early childhood.Emily R-Bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04734481253756639330noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7383062834037847962.post-30027156535923718362010-02-15T08:02:00.015-05:002010-02-20T15:06:54.869-05:00childhood favorites: blueberries for sal<div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGYXp_RbQRu1igMyviLEMbm_vTb2OSEOfJa1O2FhKUExcdpQGv7sh-b1tsbgEBrefmzoRivq3Y9KS4780l5KiPqAbhy6PNOgGTgQJM00ihIiaRGLeLLdlRjhyphenhyphenyEXDUjMcZRzM2GqrPELU/s1600-h/blueberries+for+sal1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 321px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGYXp_RbQRu1igMyviLEMbm_vTb2OSEOfJa1O2FhKUExcdpQGv7sh-b1tsbgEBrefmzoRivq3Y9KS4780l5KiPqAbhy6PNOgGTgQJM00ihIiaRGLeLLdlRjhyphenhyphenyEXDUjMcZRzM2GqrPELU/s400/blueberries+for+sal1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5438460641939099906" border="0" /></a><br />There are some books from childhood that I will always love, and this is one of them. I love the simplicity of the story - with a dash of magical realism thrown in for good measure - about a little girl and her mother going to pick blueberries before the winter. It's the illustrations, though, that keep me coming back to this book and make me want to share it with the children in my classes. The drawings are rich in detail - you feel like you're in those fields and woods of Maine, lazing about, picking blueberries, meeting animals, and getting lost. <div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238);"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXz4B-YfgHYjAl-S_46t5ehVnGEW0dRYgFtr-5kqKKFVBIWgFXE6de210Sy-YAT5n40IswA_kVqBGt83MHbn36bbA4r7Us4R80oQ6QNo0OIaqpgsgP89AqYQRKWVND4-VZUo_jcJXe1nw/s400/blueberries+for+sal3.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5438462159019763426" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 321px;" border="0" /></span></div><div>The faces of the characters are full of expression which is perhaps what I love the most - the surprise, the fear, and the relief on the characters faces is expressed so fully through the illustrations that the words of the story are almost unnecessary. <div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238);"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj7RcB8P4Rkvy4tLdX6DeWhXKIMBY46wqefIrF40Ykctwc-U-sMAN1_vGURoo11Dnj5HRGROpGOrvkrdI_cscEJy15h3akpRJuXar8LFCEqpzBrJfUi764u-xEubvZdt4q5Sr1Rk5t4Ac/s400/blueberries+for+sal4.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5438462166216945794" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 324px;" border="0" /></span></div><div>The author, Robert McCloskey, once <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2003/07/01/arts/robert-mccloskey-88-of-make-way-for-ducklings-is-dead.html?pagewanted=1">said</a> that he thinks "in pictures," and that he writes words to fill in the spaces between the pictures. For children who are not yet able to read words, this is a perfect book for them to "read" independently. Without words to anchor the story and give it a direction, young children are allowed to let their imaginations do the talking, guided by the pictures. McCloskey creates an experience for children, in which they can be both author and actor, crafting a new tale every time they read his book. What could be better than that?</div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238);"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR2ipfJEwynOLUSX95qYUybQpw_5pDXIRddhnhyphenhyphenPjvSz3SSuiOg8QiqhamNQiT8-gDdxQhJMpxh1KM-kIzD45Us8uchFy7qHiPU5UOhisw9WNisdDYSysPRSxj9aH3PRamrGSQeyBUUD8/s400/blueberries+for+sal2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5438466765371978658" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 323px;" border="0" /></span></div><div><br /></div><div>*images borrowed from "<a href="http://www.powells.com/biblio/17-9780140501698-0">Blueberries for Sal</a>" by Robert McCloskey</div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238);"><br /><br /></span></div></div>Emily R-Bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04734481253756639330noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7383062834037847962.post-25238954895960502102010-02-14T15:10:00.009-05:002010-02-20T15:08:02.889-05:00the young cartographer<div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVJm7nU1jqXbFOGSdd2mFoyd4iioGAF3BqEkRhhYEgO5Zt1LKZOcikvwE-6eJ8HHqf5uqDAj0OGeKpaTrijUAp45OtI8nbiAsNrRg8mI3UYBlhfFXnSneRWebt99Tk_AU0f5wjAPxQpd8/s1600-h/03.jpg"></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTMZzM6XIfsCPyG8WzfVyKOW9InUduxMZVoEOXwI4I1-U95v43YbBt6JMR4TPAoTJHQyUH_6wuY79xgQ2_B4WfHH7eXElAUqeqFfWXZPZz3spVYiIeMgwXjGP9gwU5RtlpTBPw6wUExCk/s1600-h/Jacket.aspx.jpeg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 310px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTMZzM6XIfsCPyG8WzfVyKOW9InUduxMZVoEOXwI4I1-U95v43YbBt6JMR4TPAoTJHQyUH_6wuY79xgQ2_B4WfHH7eXElAUqeqFfWXZPZz3spVYiIeMgwXjGP9gwU5RtlpTBPw6wUExCk/s400/Jacket.aspx.jpeg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5438199515668990898" border="0" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div></div>I love maps, and I love introducing maps and map-making to young children.<div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238);"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOJ26G40Zdpq3tjkyWFyIhlf3S9HYnx85L3NepiauGjJSRLqreqGlFeKj1KXjyIbV38wrt6uVG1dUi7-1TYjRJTncMMYuKSqQwI4qo3Ek3avxYPot8ZOttCHDveb-gqK0B54Z2i35YoKY/s400/02.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5438199507796955618" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 186px;" border="0" /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238);"></span> <div>Several years ago, when I first started teaching, I was fortunate enough to stumble upon Sara Fanelli's "<a href="http://www.amazon.com/My-Map-Book-Sara-Fanelli/dp/0060264551">My Map Book</a>" in a used book store. This book is a perfect tool for introducing the concept of maps and map-making to young children. The pictures are engaging and relatable, and Sara Fanelli shows that there are many types of maps to be made. Children can see a map of "my day," "my neighborhood," "the sea," "my tummy," "my family," and "my dog," among others. The book is both a jumping off point and a continued source of inspiration to children as they set about the task of charting their environment, their experiences, and their fantasies.</div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238);"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVJm7nU1jqXbFOGSdd2mFoyd4iioGAF3BqEkRhhYEgO5Zt1LKZOcikvwE-6eJ8HHqf5uqDAj0OGeKpaTrijUAp45OtI8nbiAsNrRg8mI3UYBlhfFXnSneRWebt99Tk_AU0f5wjAPxQpd8/s400/03.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5438200538387694290" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 180px;" border="0" /></span></div><div><br /></div><div>* images found on Sara Fanelli's <a href="http://www.sarafanelli.com/">website</a> and <a href="http://www.amazon.com/">Amazon</a>.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238);"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238);"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238);"><br /></span></div></div>Emily R-Bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04734481253756639330noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7383062834037847962.post-64526484422580377792010-02-14T14:03:00.011-05:002010-02-14T15:06:25.101-05:00art curriculum: exploring color<div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKL6Lc5bAflUc8B9NSdcQcKgO1dZsALJ923Q-rSXnn5dtmX-TrCyrMBdKA5RiaB2n2ElRFw9Jl3tOQQeghben1TxzImffh6DNi6-nipT4yIJxu6op0ACfujWFtaV1Oj9DF2saElxcm75M/s1600-h/colorwheel-mini01.gif"></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR5PInc-0i4my-cz7OOIuXcoDnMyHmFpydqkf29om4ocBt8jcBcSYMle2z173UeMPSMu9uFIhccY-NRuLT719trB6Uzs08MHGVUv6JDfO6xJs4tYV4R9ZDqoTCPWYdkwQMePuOLr7tXEc/s1600-h/color-wheel-300.gif"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR5PInc-0i4my-cz7OOIuXcoDnMyHmFpydqkf29om4ocBt8jcBcSYMle2z173UeMPSMu9uFIhccY-NRuLT719trB6Uzs08MHGVUv6JDfO6xJs4tYV4R9ZDqoTCPWYdkwQMePuOLr7tXEc/s400/color-wheel-300.gif" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5438191142614069682" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdgOsGWTSOQwEtth3XxYrWhkD2njSrKTSpSCvljA0ifL0meeHrJz8k2IMBP1oSEhZ0NpDH1YHGBeaarizLDpk_gO7MTrEeoEyUKiSjeLToZ7xnjqYneLeFyY7pitUJUwqru8JuDFLEglc/s1600-h/color_wheel.gif"></a><div style="text-align: left;">Our art classes this year have centered around a few simple units that are taught over a period of about 3 weeks to a month each. We explored the properties of clay during our first unit of the year, experimented with collage during our second unit, and have settled into a study of paint and color during our third unit.</div><div><br /></div><div>We began the unit by learning about the three primary colors and how they can be mixed to create secondary colors. Having just completed a unit on maps, we had the children create their own "color maps" (a la <a href="http://www.sarafanelli.com/">Sara Fanelli</a>'s "My Map Book") to show the three primary colors and the three secondary colors. Each child mixed their colors independently to create their own, unique map. Once they finished their painting, they worked with a teacher to draw arrows around their map to indicate which primary colors were mixed to create each secondary color.</div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKL6Lc5bAflUc8B9NSdcQcKgO1dZsALJ923Q-rSXnn5dtmX-TrCyrMBdKA5RiaB2n2ElRFw9Jl3tOQQeghben1TxzImffh6DNi6-nipT4yIJxu6op0ACfujWFtaV1Oj9DF2saElxcm75M/s400/colorwheel-mini01.gif" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5438191450689471778" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 306px; " /></span></div><div><br /></div><div>The next step of our exploration led us to look for primary and secondary colors in the world around us. We first brainstormed as a group to come up with things that were naturally each color; for example, yellow sunflowers, orange peppers, purple irises, blue blueberries, green artichokes, and red roses. Next, we gathered loads of magazine pages (pre-selected by the teachers) for the kids to search through and cut out pictures of red, yellow, blue, purple, orange, and green objects. The children cut (excellent fine-motor skill work!) and then sorted the pictures (excellent visual discrimination and categorization work!) according to their color. Finally, we created a "color collage" - a circle divided into six pieces - to display our findings. Looking at our final product, the children quickly realized that though we had many pictures of each color, no color was exactly the same. We noted how many shades of green, purple, orange, blue, red, and yellow we found and guessed that there were probably many more shades that we did not find. This led us into a discussion of tertiary colors as well as, of course, a discussion of what it means to have "shades" of a color. </div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAcD8hnwkvgA7jua8oe8TQ3vwf7jB_Zos7dU72U5tJahfsQMMIba2yYRQMAE2_tNBqdGxF_fNV7RR6YSD5Y6ZF2uXQ72KTWm6n52GrJLozik6nMu2S4_-uO5SJuJkiirfWg7JJOr7j2AI/s400/color_colorwheel.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5438192643440265122" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 300px; " /></span></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">The last phase of this unit will be to create our own color wheel. I can't wait! It will be interesting to see what the children take away from this unit and how their understanding of color and painting will change in the coming months.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmS116spnbTWsrcgzLXR904en1V6ISa0ABoukT89tF4ET7TrNgi5GE8W8LLDyyki4IwPYjL6VzVfuZb1J-DCN2jpc3ZIGvfVqJzrdWVmWtx7KR7fDBnOsG90fxxiLOM3puAAdTAZ3Gly4/s400/color_wheel.gif" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5438192648876370978" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 300px; " /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div>Emily R-Bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04734481253756639330noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7383062834037847962.post-64830658403508621392009-09-22T18:47:00.008-04:002009-09-22T19:26:24.688-04:00Happy New Year!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgeTpctcevzhup_xSjsNfcM3LqNSN2rETRUZ3Aho7deP5-My_-GIclBMz6jAjil0ZAAHe1BSNeuhslHgDFUGvOld7G5ZuKgiKN5P6oIDoriW_bgj-aPAocbCCCppgPduB9O4nhCJkVZ_M/s1600-h/IMG_1977.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgeTpctcevzhup_xSjsNfcM3LqNSN2rETRUZ3Aho7deP5-My_-GIclBMz6jAjil0ZAAHe1BSNeuhslHgDFUGvOld7G5ZuKgiKN5P6oIDoriW_bgj-aPAocbCCCppgPduB9O4nhCJkVZ_M/s400/IMG_1977.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5384435778817693810" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Ah, September. I love you.<br /><br />As a teacher, my "new year" begins in September. September is the time for turning over a new leaf, cleaning the slate, and making New Year's resolutions. In September, the year is full of promise - and the excitement of trying new things, meeting new children and families, and greeting returning children and families is at it's height.<br /><br />One of my first resolutions of the new school year is to tackle cubby clutter while simultaneously encouraging children to take responsibility for their own belongings (coats, backpacks, lunches, artwork) and feel a sense of ownership over this personal classroom space. Hopefully these handy labels will help lead the way!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWpMEN4oz1CWuw8dMwFCs7rg5HOI8t95EpIszPIQbXTt7Gzvi2oTOi6No0fJ9jEBLohOJsc7-9nuMCCoWg3iVWoDP7FhuA1MilzRuerwu-fce9Ob2VrvkbUCR7OmnLOAU0gFYY9dweLc4/s1600-h/IMG_1968.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWpMEN4oz1CWuw8dMwFCs7rg5HOI8t95EpIszPIQbXTt7Gzvi2oTOi6No0fJ9jEBLohOJsc7-9nuMCCoWg3iVWoDP7FhuA1MilzRuerwu-fce9Ob2VrvkbUCR7OmnLOAU0gFYY9dweLc4/s400/IMG_1968.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5384432975842161474" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7FAeNMerzl8SBL9zKnRardzOHHgxTYvljG3CPUQPMxKqIYWCnOMavgLz1k8r8jl3nmxEmCtjZXdyxHVIxRN_rcxj7lG-QsA3GVzM3lFmhjWqD36SHGYbEZd-4CX7ZhM0OWuV339g3TJ8/s1600-h/IMG_1969.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7FAeNMerzl8SBL9zKnRardzOHHgxTYvljG3CPUQPMxKqIYWCnOMavgLz1k8r8jl3nmxEmCtjZXdyxHVIxRN_rcxj7lG-QsA3GVzM3lFmhjWqD36SHGYbEZd-4CX7ZhM0OWuV339g3TJ8/s400/IMG_1969.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5384432986627826098" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXHMxYBiBMRd8VHb0nuam3j2KlOZ12dbZ2Yexd7CBUjpDad9Qqv7VPpHsZTvh3WlyEjNY4CSZGU2pF0gedG3iABYoLyDbb19zXBLvXlq3FKbE-_H9c52gppXiJxDj0R-j2z5PMX0idKIY/s1600-h/IMG_1970.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXHMxYBiBMRd8VHb0nuam3j2KlOZ12dbZ2Yexd7CBUjpDad9Qqv7VPpHsZTvh3WlyEjNY4CSZGU2pF0gedG3iABYoLyDbb19zXBLvXlq3FKbE-_H9c52gppXiJxDj0R-j2z5PMX0idKIY/s400/IMG_1970.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5384432993017673666" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhA6PXO4RsYCU6b9SVKyYEWfST07ji3mq2zNmwjTc895ArR3jePUw1UgsWLsO3jNIbX8-uv7wgczs8O-L7YwbxbiNIiSRfoTSwl1k8wUeMTk-_R0gE7Sm6IZYpeuj8ZGmQNBQkF_ncPD1o/s1600-h/IMG_1967.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 284px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhA6PXO4RsYCU6b9SVKyYEWfST07ji3mq2zNmwjTc895ArR3jePUw1UgsWLsO3jNIbX8-uv7wgczs8O-L7YwbxbiNIiSRfoTSwl1k8wUeMTk-_R0gE7Sm6IZYpeuj8ZGmQNBQkF_ncPD1o/s400/IMG_1967.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5384432973498324290" border="0" /></a>Emily R-Bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04734481253756639330noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7383062834037847962.post-76722938232174828312009-07-19T19:23:00.000-04:002009-07-19T21:37:38.440-04:00vacation...<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhinrQnS334KaYzRJ_dgECrsLpzZRf_Nhu7nEuAxgGptyBG-Rzle62mZBl5cpHy9BKc9DFYnfdha9Q9sQQ3nQoUbnNd0co2FakhlQH0pJqD3xKO-O4_KegUbdLjwoPrH0J_OlJQ6Xu6zKY/s1600-h/IMG_1902.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhinrQnS334KaYzRJ_dgECrsLpzZRf_Nhu7nEuAxgGptyBG-Rzle62mZBl5cpHy9BKc9DFYnfdha9Q9sQQ3nQoUbnNd0co2FakhlQH0pJqD3xKO-O4_KegUbdLjwoPrH0J_OlJQ6Xu6zKY/s400/IMG_1902.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5360335975553733794" border="0" /></a><br /><br />as much as i love my work, i also love my vacation. thus far as a teacher, i've worked for six school years and three summers. i spent last summer finishing up graduate school which, though enjoyable, was not a vacation. this will be my second summer almost completely off (i'm working a mere two weeks) and it's been wonderful.<br /><br />i'm three weeks into my time off, which has been enough time to adjust to a day-to-day life in which i have 0-3 things on my mind as opposed to 25 - infinity. i have time to take leisurely bike rides and trips to the beach:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgr-_21iDq5LRDymEuv2FuVt275hDasrbohh7Xj3HINY0zhsV3BE-dTGYXj5Uj5fBO21VsQ_t7iogYGD6eneAwyWXLbEYFQjQcmdfoYV5PWcVY7IdNYiDidvEbP74jqwW2GP-aE2EH7tc/s1600-h/IMG_1895.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgr-_21iDq5LRDymEuv2FuVt275hDasrbohh7Xj3HINY0zhsV3BE-dTGYXj5Uj5fBO21VsQ_t7iogYGD6eneAwyWXLbEYFQjQcmdfoYV5PWcVY7IdNYiDidvEbP74jqwW2GP-aE2EH7tc/s400/IMG_1895.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5360335972167322386" border="0" /></a><br />time to climb on the rocks, and scamper over kelp and wet sand when the tide is out:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy0GhP8hwBc9lpQ1cWcWyMabwehNWGuI1Rm4CZCffvR6nXEh-0cedMeqZO3Cnwjury0utde3i70GQk_aXmdRJf5H4ZESTpJHB8kKEY7XbIp3OzUQPW_wxtL5up3I0GqbxGXdyvgdNzjyU/s1600-h/IMG_1836.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy0GhP8hwBc9lpQ1cWcWyMabwehNWGuI1Rm4CZCffvR6nXEh-0cedMeqZO3Cnwjury0utde3i70GQk_aXmdRJf5H4ZESTpJHB8kKEY7XbIp3OzUQPW_wxtL5up3I0GqbxGXdyvgdNzjyU/s400/IMG_1836.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5360335978547260866" border="0" /></a><br />and time to run my toes through the warm sand when the sun is out:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp8G_O5_7cs7DCiR46t6balZG-4t7ql8GDhh_10s8z_IRzFITfKsfQEBItFOa7TWl1B7KGGRoVGu3UoDRH4yDdUPrZR3ZHJhX6W98m-NLhgNta4WGhWvpg_ZRo1XAWQgORAuc_tl8VJoA/s1600-h/IMG_1890.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp8G_O5_7cs7DCiR46t6balZG-4t7ql8GDhh_10s8z_IRzFITfKsfQEBItFOa7TWl1B7KGGRoVGu3UoDRH4yDdUPrZR3ZHJhX6W98m-NLhgNta4WGhWvpg_ZRo1XAWQgORAuc_tl8VJoA/s400/IMG_1890.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5360335963584641842" border="0" /></a><br />ahhh..... vacation!Emily R-Bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04734481253756639330noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7383062834037847962.post-19124770866210644642009-06-11T20:07:00.012-04:002009-06-11T21:15:38.029-04:00change is good: new play spacesin between <a href="http://ateachersmind.blogspot.com/2009/04/change-is-good-first-steps.html">rediscovering the charms and wonders of our school's neighborhood</a> and <a href="http://ateachersmind.blogspot.com/2009/04/change-is-good-rearrangements.html">rearranging our classroom</a>, we found an exciting alternative to our local playground.<br /><br />(our local playground):<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG6p1s4ZVAqnoBt71UxgVYm4kwz945Z37G3ubE0DuErOm0dlJggFqtBziEUxHey2i622Ds8TzuFJ2bYmIgFO6GhW-qwvBUWErf6oqx5goDWUT0klhE9MeOVYwAATIylWIC9r42a2zwlX0/s1600-h/IMG_1715.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG6p1s4ZVAqnoBt71UxgVYm4kwz945Z37G3ubE0DuErOm0dlJggFqtBziEUxHey2i622Ds8TzuFJ2bYmIgFO6GhW-qwvBUWErf6oqx5goDWUT0klhE9MeOVYwAATIylWIC9r42a2zwlX0/s400/IMG_1715.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5346229255426581458" border="0" /></a><br /><br />within easy walking distance of our school we discovered structures and sites in which the children could climb, run, hide, and engage in dramatic play as far as their imaginations could stretch.<br /><br />behold, the log ramps at the IKEA river walk:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDWbFvzNvaFZdxEPRgL5fICJ2E4pWWTSdrD4u5dXwFHzKfT1Cr55rP7ljQTewkY9Eh5UV1PPTW2clBzr7jQdrJkVqPK0Yz0EjttMO5X0jqADEX6eOgSTT8qaPn_y5TlGxqp8NuDSYqH5M/s1600-h/ramp+play+area.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDWbFvzNvaFZdxEPRgL5fICJ2E4pWWTSdrD4u5dXwFHzKfT1Cr55rP7ljQTewkY9Eh5UV1PPTW2clBzr7jQdrJkVqPK0Yz0EjttMO5X0jqADEX6eOgSTT8qaPn_y5TlGxqp8NuDSYqH5M/s400/ramp+play+area.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5346228203315180274" border="0" /></a>the children love to run, climb, and jump across these log covered ramps. it's great exercise, but even greater fodder for the imagination.<br /><br />adjacent to the ramps is this highly intriguing structure:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim98ix6XsGMOgE6GDba0-uT8kIWu33gi2e-lC01Wie2_2SbYKW_TRymMQvrNGiqBbEneiROeiOiBxFRVh5ZM_pKFq4PbpNyutzdgMjKRMSJDiW-iXK0QstzUCMKWPNHd6UsZD8f-Ps8Y8/s1600-h/engine.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim98ix6XsGMOgE6GDba0-uT8kIWu33gi2e-lC01Wie2_2SbYKW_TRymMQvrNGiqBbEneiROeiOiBxFRVh5ZM_pKFq4PbpNyutzdgMjKRMSJDiW-iXK0QstzUCMKWPNHd6UsZD8f-Ps8Y8/s400/engine.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5346231036785562674" border="0" /></a>a ship's engine? a cannon? a battleship? though this particular structure isn't for climbing it serves as excellent inspiration for dramatic play.<br /><br />this old pier, while also not suitable for climbing, running or even walking on, is nonetheless an intriguing backdrop to any game, as is the surrounding harbor:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJ4CFxsbOE5Nvp95RDbMi5xHIAIDq8apenIXl4uM-1esxWTH1k1NVuNAOet6cxXFTdzEptTo5TgTNd4vurmSXO1LcznMgU4IBKzm6TTAonvBdCWbIZIy_TyiAut6HJTNwKTLTMMHrtJlE/s1600-h/old+pier.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJ4CFxsbOE5Nvp95RDbMi5xHIAIDq8apenIXl4uM-1esxWTH1k1NVuNAOet6cxXFTdzEptTo5TgTNd4vurmSXO1LcznMgU4IBKzm6TTAonvBdCWbIZIy_TyiAut6HJTNwKTLTMMHrtJlE/s400/old+pier.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5346232570187766290" border="0" /></a><br />adding to the charm of this play space are these abandoned warehouses, water taxis, and the not-too-distant statue of liberty:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoN5Qk3iQptxjRmDomaItE6g7jPkFbC7v3pPq99jg7ZnLBlE8HBdKMbtKuFqws5f55bsji90ysc-uBw5QCnaEM7ndYZNxa_WyBiOoQ6f0JSfhR1erqGayppPGjtQnvPa08ARjEg2jo-r8/s1600-h/statue+of+liberty.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoN5Qk3iQptxjRmDomaItE6g7jPkFbC7v3pPq99jg7ZnLBlE8HBdKMbtKuFqws5f55bsji90ysc-uBw5QCnaEM7ndYZNxa_WyBiOoQ6f0JSfhR1erqGayppPGjtQnvPa08ARjEg2jo-r8/s400/statue+of+liberty.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5346233602087182034" border="0" /></a><br />finally, just across the river walk path we have an expansive field of grass upon which the children can run, hide, tumble, wrestle, roll, jump and, well.... play!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtBddUYSw1PPbrs02laVVYl7pDbbCQrvgSCRw7rOVJT8Hv-fNn8GQSyL2-hTeJUc6QoNrP4a3MD03yyvnyk_qJ0d4bOXf69apC0SmERypto8CPwN_2mLUIqg8pGjrl4XMErzJsP4-2fmI/s1600-h/grass.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtBddUYSw1PPbrs02laVVYl7pDbbCQrvgSCRw7rOVJT8Hv-fNn8GQSyL2-hTeJUc6QoNrP4a3MD03yyvnyk_qJ0d4bOXf69apC0SmERypto8CPwN_2mLUIqg8pGjrl4XMErzJsP4-2fmI/s400/grass.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5346235340741869138" border="0" /></a>Emily R-Bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04734481253756639330noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7383062834037847962.post-91156244652215068692009-05-17T16:47:00.000-04:002009-05-17T16:48:24.652-04:00change is good: rearrangementsmany times during a school year, i get the urge to make a series of changes to my classroom. these changes can take many forms. they can be simple changes, such as a slight change in schedule, a rearrangement of a couple of areas in the classroom, or the addition of some new work to the shelves. they could be mid-level changes, such as changing the morning routine, adding a new shelf to the classroom, or introducing a new rule, such as "<a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0674965906/ref=s9_k2a_gw_i1?pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_s=center-2&pf_rd_r=0PJQAMDDMGDDVWNM34HE&pf_rd_t=101&pf_rd_p=470938631&pf_rd_i=507846">you can't say you can't play</a>". or they could be more major changes, like altering the daily schedule, rearranging the classroom, or introducing a new area of the curriculum.<br /><br />children are sensitive to change, and disrupting the daily routines they have so carefully cultivated at school can throw off the equilibrium of the classroom. it's important to make sure that any change to the classroom environment, curriculum, or daily routine suit the childrens' needs at the time.<br /><br />our <a href="http://ateachersmind.blogspot.com/2009/04/change-is-good-first-steps.html">neighborhood walk</a> provided the boost of energy and inspiration i needed to get started on the classroom rearrangements i had in mind. i'd been so pleased with the initial arrangement of my classroom that, for the first time in several years, i hadn't felt the need to make any changes since september. by late april, however, it was clear that the children had grown too accustomed to the arrangement of shelves, tables, and chairs. instead of steadily climbing and changing, their work seemed a bit stuck in place. it was time to shake things up.<br /><br />i'll refer to the first routine i wanted to change as the "art clump". the children had taken to gathering around the art shelf at the beginning of morning work time, positioning themselves at the largest table in the classroom (also at the center of the classroom) , and camping out for an entire work period. what was once a site of fresh and imaginative work had now grown into more of a social gathering area. as art work and social interaction are both very important elements of the preschool curriculum, my goal was not to put an end to this part of the children's day but to alter it so as to challenge and extend these experiences.<br /><br />the other goal of the rearrangement was to encourage more language work. this had been an all too often overlooked area of the classroom, perhaps in part due to the language shelf's location on the outskirts of the room. thus, the necessary rearrangement was apparent - switch the language shelf with the art shelf. putting art on the outskirts wouldn't be a problem, because children would flock to it anywhere. placing the language shelf squarely in the center of the room made it more visible, more cozily situated, and more social. voila!<br /><br />the new art space:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjRx1RHMK16fMnlD-MBXPeBUY9g53n8ULQOfBGBDXfSjxaFVMAa97O2FpMKNbQUkIw8dMwRQ7rb6ufrDI8VOYkAXEi8Ht9YwtDTpUxb3LBSbyEUxA5iA1V5sYYnAxZrjEU8BLazjhyphenhyphenMXw/s1600-h/art+4.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjRx1RHMK16fMnlD-MBXPeBUY9g53n8ULQOfBGBDXfSjxaFVMAa97O2FpMKNbQUkIw8dMwRQ7rb6ufrDI8VOYkAXEi8Ht9YwtDTpUxb3LBSbyEUxA5iA1V5sYYnAxZrjEU8BLazjhyphenhyphenMXw/s400/art+4.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5336890610529892978" border="0" /></a><br />the new language space:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw4paOBLd2HJiPa5LhF9P_JR2h03H0MaePe7HzsOv2YxL51ObNpxfntP3hiSgXSY2PAiKyMIWIX7dC62rfrMJK9QC8eAC4qauo8VSpe1ELKLvo9vDEwg1NXJijbgbjHZP-U1O_WFpe3BE/s1600-h/half+class.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw4paOBLd2HJiPa5LhF9P_JR2h03H0MaePe7HzsOv2YxL51ObNpxfntP3hiSgXSY2PAiKyMIWIX7dC62rfrMJK9QC8eAC4qauo8VSpe1ELKLvo9vDEwg1NXJijbgbjHZP-U1O_WFpe3BE/s400/half+class.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5336889534696947554" border="0" /></a><br />not only did the changes work - the children's art flourished and changed, and language work began in earnest - but the classroom felt larger and more open.<br /><br />a breath of fresh air:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidgTuRnFQQN8-zySInsGbAX9fBz1SQHgEV5dEYxhaKHwWoLlvqv1WgXkMWED8ZsDpIIM8lxCk9ltIJp5P6B7gNu3I2uTQgFk5oIRPS_OJu9kedDcNkUnQhyphenhyphenBjWbQWOhkL_G_P6wJLKV3I/s1600-h/whole+class+1.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidgTuRnFQQN8-zySInsGbAX9fBz1SQHgEV5dEYxhaKHwWoLlvqv1WgXkMWED8ZsDpIIM8lxCk9ltIJp5P6B7gNu3I2uTQgFk5oIRPS_OJu9kedDcNkUnQhyphenhyphenBjWbQWOhkL_G_P6wJLKV3I/s400/whole+class+1.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5336889540870768914" border="0" /></a>Emily R-Bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04734481253756639330noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7383062834037847962.post-33285459458478837972009-04-26T20:05:00.073-04:002009-04-29T21:21:27.660-04:00change is good: first steps<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPD7_MBVlql5lUeaEJdb6K8r8ggUI_fQHy2xkeE-0MAsGAsh1Ji8-MQc7TiqXdv0mxRReSDJVeOMF_UqNNY32fl6_PjEtI0VOyGZuNpYhI6bSjeLut_5V-CTx6U47FxdW-fsqDX4kc1jA/s1600-h/IMG_1662.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPD7_MBVlql5lUeaEJdb6K8r8ggUI_fQHy2xkeE-0MAsGAsh1Ji8-MQc7TiqXdv0mxRReSDJVeOMF_UqNNY32fl6_PjEtI0VOyGZuNpYhI6bSjeLut_5V-CTx6U47FxdW-fsqDX4kc1jA/s400/IMG_1662.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5330283133502724754" border="0" /></a><br />with the arrival of spring, i felt it was time to make some big changes to our classroom. after a long winter i found that the children, as well as myself, had become a bit stuck in our routines. i had a lot of changes in mind but was somewhat daunted by my growing list of ideas. what would be the first step?<br /><br />it turns out the answer was simple, and presented itself organically. on a gray, rainy-ish, april morning we decided to take the kids out for a walk around the neighborhood. our first stop was our community farm, where we may soon be able to plant some seedlings in a shared "ed bed" for schools in the neighborhood:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXEj61tEvz847U3Ie_BabbryH5G-S6-QGdzLO8QA3pP6p4mcp98odadk7k1y7xdi1iW7Df4-Tov7FC0W0FiNPVamd7MuVt5CzLBbM0cOoYRlVd8-NABPSG96_e8PUMG7JC-9_bTAv7h20/s1600-h/farm+locked.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXEj61tEvz847U3Ie_BabbryH5G-S6-QGdzLO8QA3pP6p4mcp98odadk7k1y7xdi1iW7Df4-Tov7FC0W0FiNPVamd7MuVt5CzLBbM0cOoYRlVd8-NABPSG96_e8PUMG7JC-9_bTAv7h20/s400/farm+locked.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5330284046782249058" border="0" /></a>it was locked! but we still got to take a peek inside. we also noticed the plants and flowers that were growing just outside of the farm's gates...<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIGPmyFpydj0AlKHikyHj-skOX1ISx4ETyq2FRVyelhllhQGnH6fZiNkG3oAmkKDqGfbJZulXJtscjtty47nhKlRp5U7s4hYUwC9yCHec_1cbzQwPqVb_-Qhtaihsj5GnUDbNBlGmPxag/s1600-h/farm+gate.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIGPmyFpydj0AlKHikyHj-skOX1ISx4ETyq2FRVyelhllhQGnH6fZiNkG3oAmkKDqGfbJZulXJtscjtty47nhKlRp5U7s4hYUwC9yCHec_1cbzQwPqVb_-Qhtaihsj5GnUDbNBlGmPxag/s400/farm+gate.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5330284040607792354" border="0" /></a><br />next stop, the IKEA park:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPUVU4t8TSOx4aNpgdvubHe2p5mNnE005qXYMrdwV8LITI8iu_ozO_zywlkTnw5Ukiq47boJVWTKqVS7bEAf3UEcskGDlChgbpwXxZ1vHhKGY3rdl2kF5yY5m2SoaZVSJmbBLGm4lsR0s/s1600-h/track+crane.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPUVU4t8TSOx4aNpgdvubHe2p5mNnE005qXYMrdwV8LITI8iu_ozO_zywlkTnw5Ukiq47boJVWTKqVS7bEAf3UEcskGDlChgbpwXxZ1vHhKGY3rdl2kF5yY5m2SoaZVSJmbBLGm4lsR0s/s400/track+crane.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5330286383804338050" border="0" /></a>we passed by this crane, which provided excellent fodder for the imaginative minds of my three, four, and five year olds. what could it be? if only they could climb it...<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6_CsXvEnw7BQ-CG1EfLdYTPZc6EKQyore64k7XIua7nY9_MNsC0Ftg601UfEl-RIZ-byaifuZnSxSeryYej0pKbmGPN9QI9vpKfvmlvRyeeiegbImZhnohlAJXH218oWN7LvogaEigEY/s1600-h/track.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6_CsXvEnw7BQ-CG1EfLdYTPZc6EKQyore64k7XIua7nY9_MNsC0Ftg601UfEl-RIZ-byaifuZnSxSeryYej0pKbmGPN9QI9vpKfvmlvRyeeiegbImZhnohlAJXH218oWN7LvogaEigEY/s400/track.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5330286389523841794" border="0" /></a>the tracks were particularly intriguing...<br /><br />on our way back to school we took some time to admire the spring colors in the neighborhood:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUYSsyOpzJFXLDTP2tPT4234LayArklQmJ7GhM-EEST1HK7ZIhvRu94se2ToBkZ_Uu4Y8Vn0RyLHjTfRVXEnXlDzJLujAlDDfCtvGG64jufsLHAzfTRtGn0X1MGrmryHur8GRyjAQeHr0/s1600-h/IMG_1698.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUYSsyOpzJFXLDTP2tPT4234LayArklQmJ7GhM-EEST1HK7ZIhvRu94se2ToBkZ_Uu4Y8Vn0RyLHjTfRVXEnXlDzJLujAlDDfCtvGG64jufsLHAzfTRtGn0X1MGrmryHur8GRyjAQeHr0/s400/IMG_1698.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5330287590844409970" border="0" /></a>this tree is a block from our school. we admired it's white blossoms and bright green leaves.<br /><br />we were also enchanted by the way the bus stop sign was shrouded by the branches, blossoms, and leaves of the tree:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFUHBEptDTPThMbfCd7Y6gFIwzJHNdAjSQsXdrIJ4mpgA9OhusBxGiKO-hJtUj4jnlS4aBfFvZ8RJlslWDAqiWd_JnQuHri0gMsGk6kQ9SfRbqN_tSiFVxvqVEy4m_4stDTmAabikMhgo/s1600-h/IMG_1701.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFUHBEptDTPThMbfCd7Y6gFIwzJHNdAjSQsXdrIJ4mpgA9OhusBxGiKO-hJtUj4jnlS4aBfFvZ8RJlslWDAqiWd_JnQuHri0gMsGk6kQ9SfRbqN_tSiFVxvqVEy4m_4stDTmAabikMhgo/s400/IMG_1701.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5330287596849191122" border="0" /></a><br />and we loved the way the green and white blossoms mixed with the purple and pink blossoms on these trees. just a few blocks down from this corner is the waterfront. i can't imagine a more well-situated school, to be located within close walking distance of a community farm, a waterfront, and urban green spaces:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqNNdQppJP-dcBoU-PJZaiWbCWpj0wOwtHjejLuDQ2CWO338ikGB_tEjwCVjdBNz8iPL-FZ88uNHNcgLo19A291U4cEAdGGFQOO-v6RS3fCXNXe7Bao5yg4-IUGUrIwwSmjAImDSGvnUA/s1600-h/IMG_1708.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqNNdQppJP-dcBoU-PJZaiWbCWpj0wOwtHjejLuDQ2CWO338ikGB_tEjwCVjdBNz8iPL-FZ88uNHNcgLo19A291U4cEAdGGFQOO-v6RS3fCXNXe7Bao5yg4-IUGUrIwwSmjAImDSGvnUA/s400/IMG_1708.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5330287604065443922" border="0" /></a><br /><br />our walk gave me the burst of energy and inspiration i needed to embark on my series of spring changes. it was wonderful to take a fresh look at the neighborhood i've come to know so well, and be reminded of all it has to offer.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQKVcx43B9tyR5IJPQszM-VJnmaK0ioWSOHbD083A5FSdiseNUk7vV999N47GndCa-yFka2LPJ2jnEkQ9069vYFA59xcPJnfACydsZseKzmJ9OkuGdgN8GTtOzQoZC5P302VI-aIkZ8-g/s1600-h/fishport.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQKVcx43B9tyR5IJPQszM-VJnmaK0ioWSOHbD083A5FSdiseNUk7vV999N47GndCa-yFka2LPJ2jnEkQ9069vYFA59xcPJnfACydsZseKzmJ9OkuGdgN8GTtOzQoZC5P302VI-aIkZ8-g/s400/fishport.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5330288294679201698" border="0" /></a>Emily R-Bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04734481253756639330noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7383062834037847962.post-43588058986680599182009-04-11T11:22:00.016-04:002009-05-23T12:51:14.503-04:00classroom design: shared roomsmy little one-room schoolhouse that could will, eventually, be growing into a two-room schoolhouse. in thinking about how to design this new space, i have been very excited (and overwhelmed) by all the creative possibilities. i am also acutely aware of the constraints of time, budget, and space. viewed in one light, these constraints could be seen as burdensome and limiting. viewed in a more optimistic light, however, these constraints can be seen as lending some structure and boundary (two things i am quite fond of as a preschool teacher!) to an otherwise <a href="http://www.imagineschooldesign.org/index.html">limitless set of possibilities</a>.<br /><br />the expansion of my school will involve moving from having one mixed-age classroom to having two classrooms. the classrooms might be two equally mixed-age classrooms, or may be divided by age. though these two classrooms will be separated...<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgltlApw_cMaz4cB-byAdVqqGCy7S5Y7l7IXo4vmB2ZHN8kjAxhpJGD3n5OkurzHTdcHWeOnFML1MY4Uu6k3v7OvXPD2gf61ZINfuE83PoqKMq6oG_QKceWNd0gv6lMC-dw6u3MrNMucKo/s1600-h/1608576041_b76947540d_b.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 376px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgltlApw_cMaz4cB-byAdVqqGCy7S5Y7l7IXo4vmB2ZHN8kjAxhpJGD3n5OkurzHTdcHWeOnFML1MY4Uu6k3v7OvXPD2gf61ZINfuE83PoqKMq6oG_QKceWNd0gv6lMC-dw6u3MrNMucKo/s400/1608576041_b76947540d_b.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5323469328944493362" border="0" /></a> (perhaps like this)<br /><br />... i am really interested in the idea of creating common spaces for children from both classes to work together. i especially like the idea of common work spaces where children at different ages can come together to exchange ideas. the common work space suits my educational philosophy and approach and, i expect, will fit nicely within my school's space and budget constraints.<br /><br />here are the common work spaces i have in mind:<br /><br />an art area, inspired by the <a href="http://zerosei.comune.re.it/inter/nidiescuole.htm">reggio atelier</a>:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgv44HGkkIN9X5LlGpMxQjyU1m9XWTSNAf4dUliABKkPio2R8b1AVhMAF4ELGuTbOhVs8ktaX6OPPG-A-f-D3ITelVAIam9X6onkDJRj6vKsqaVoWc3XTCxPB617P0tWdeheUf3rqKfD5c/s1600-h/inside+art+area.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgv44HGkkIN9X5LlGpMxQjyU1m9XWTSNAf4dUliABKkPio2R8b1AVhMAF4ELGuTbOhVs8ktaX6OPPG-A-f-D3ITelVAIam9X6onkDJRj6vKsqaVoWc3XTCxPB617P0tWdeheUf3rqKfD5c/s400/inside+art+area.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5323464170851299330" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1siVsQs0cWmbzrxTJSTT59ZFkkuTSgr6CgvZEYxkE5Yh_dbLiAG-fVeyjmVZnHD2_Qd0tZt7MeuRG-cLSY2_wCY3DdAVO87yshvBuHH9ZgSK7A6cbFqrBa0Z1X0KR5vpspwtickKvJnA/s1600-h/art+studio.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1siVsQs0cWmbzrxTJSTT59ZFkkuTSgr6CgvZEYxkE5Yh_dbLiAG-fVeyjmVZnHD2_Qd0tZt7MeuRG-cLSY2_wCY3DdAVO87yshvBuHH9ZgSK7A6cbFqrBa0Z1X0KR5vpspwtickKvJnA/s400/art+studio.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5323464175187260258" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAwY5G0tXk9y4gZvpd2lPwzt_eDrJJtao232tiX-IMNzD3a2rVThT4YCiIHpmTYHsnhh21i5Mb3t48TgM88KCXyHBVl1Xuil4a4jzHa3tPKzIqo9WZGNSoAWnXmU4MkukDuFGlUmbOMfY/s1600-h/outside+art+area.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAwY5G0tXk9y4gZvpd2lPwzt_eDrJJtao232tiX-IMNzD3a2rVThT4YCiIHpmTYHsnhh21i5Mb3t48TgM88KCXyHBVl1Xuil4a4jzHa3tPKzIqo9WZGNSoAWnXmU4MkukDuFGlUmbOMfY/s400/outside+art+area.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5323464176090258786" border="0" /></a><br />a dramatic play area:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixM4hIMd-LXRIuNDyZCxCVJ3gtLBppzCfcYGNGzfdCBu4PpsQRsgQ76kRoBkG1ax70iGu13-eh0qIaP9HS2_lpq_ENE6B6R_zoAY_1CyrC17FBVC1hephSOpOy5rpE3tbYztWWOrZsWg0/s1600-h/dramatic+play+area.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixM4hIMd-LXRIuNDyZCxCVJ3gtLBppzCfcYGNGzfdCBu4PpsQRsgQ76kRoBkG1ax70iGu13-eh0qIaP9HS2_lpq_ENE6B6R_zoAY_1CyrC17FBVC1hephSOpOy5rpE3tbYztWWOrZsWg0/s400/dramatic+play+area.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5323464558449806242" border="0" /></a><br />and a block area (picture a much bigger space, filled with many such buildings!):<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc_LXC5bzcIU1MoL-X0IEjbl8dCsn6ZLp34pDt8JnhtDaoEx_EwekvkMYeGFoy82NQGYjCA6b_GyRA-LCGa-hhF2MuRcujOOOzzoSYU1nxjPhXDPtBMknGa4USI99CAoahQhmYHJggixA/s1600-h/Block+Building.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc_LXC5bzcIU1MoL-X0IEjbl8dCsn6ZLp34pDt8JnhtDaoEx_EwekvkMYeGFoy82NQGYjCA6b_GyRA-LCGa-hhF2MuRcujOOOzzoSYU1nxjPhXDPtBMknGa4USI99CAoahQhmYHJggixA/s400/Block+Building.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5323480506503085922" border="0" /></a>Emily R-Bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04734481253756639330noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7383062834037847962.post-43297665242762280482009-04-08T10:41:00.031-04:002010-02-16T21:12:44.868-05:00classroom design: secrets, small spaces, and special places<a href="http://www.globalmama.com/2009/04/06/a-secret-garden-gate/">this post</a> over at <a href="http://www.globalmama.com/">Global Mama</a> got me thinking about how little nooks and crannies are often what make the biggest impression on those who inhabit a space. i've always loved small spaces - i feel cozy in them, i feel safe in them, and i feel like i know every inch of the space. there's something about a small space to me and, i've observed, to children, that feels extra special and almost wondrous. i know a child who has spent many hours creating beautiful drawings and mixed-media collages, only to then fold them into one tiny piece, shroud them in layers of paper and tape, and give them away as presents. she calls these presents "a secret." and that's just how a small space feels to me. like a secret. something that i can call my own, and only i know all the ins and outs of it, the special nooks and crannies, the beauty that lies in the corners and the shadows.<br /><br />for children, i think part of the magic of a nook, a cranny, a small, enclosed space is that it provides a stage for their dramatic play, a place where their imagination can unfold, and their ideas can develop. in thinking about designing a new classroom, i find myself wanting to create these little spaces for children - spaces that will fit the children's desire to act our their fantasies and will also inspire them and arouse their senses.<br /><br />whenever i visit new places, i find myself taking photographs of windows, doors, gates, and paths. these are the things that pop out to me in a new place: the special spaces, the nooks and crannies. they inspire me, they activate my imagination, and they provide a backdrop for my fantasies. i love a good window, both how it looks and what it looks upon:<br /><br />windows in homes:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCoAY0AwYK1ti-yth2d4At2_XH-67F5jyKre4Nwoev1pQwZjw74xGTjdguhqqJsYeVuGM46M65G1dB0rqxsz3QAOUt4LVZi5DrZ8V7hyphenhyphenddj8tnNbfzA3eZyrsfiJUe1e45CkEVzDiC3QU/s1600-h/hotel+at+aix.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCoAY0AwYK1ti-yth2d4At2_XH-67F5jyKre4Nwoev1pQwZjw74xGTjdguhqqJsYeVuGM46M65G1dB0rqxsz3QAOUt4LVZi5DrZ8V7hyphenhyphenddj8tnNbfzA3eZyrsfiJUe1e45CkEVzDiC3QU/s400/hotel+at+aix.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5322343536337943426" border="0" /></a> <br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgldDcxP8EDAUTvG0ckpwH0HS6bDoY_QR9TMt5oOaHSOjcKBAG7lmPdExp7ep7hGMMQjfUXyzUrW0MUrMQLp8EP3kKUwNcxn95dfoLZBWTmG1A4GSn9WO8HGJEfh4sul6ru1uk9J19INkY/s1600-h/roussillon+window.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgldDcxP8EDAUTvG0ckpwH0HS6bDoY_QR9TMt5oOaHSOjcKBAG7lmPdExp7ep7hGMMQjfUXyzUrW0MUrMQLp8EP3kKUwNcxn95dfoLZBWTmG1A4GSn9WO8HGJEfh4sul6ru1uk9J19INkY/s400/roussillon+window.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5322351567737940450" border="0" /></a> <br />old church windows:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-3nOBL8lNUJkpJjRl4CXPYYAqNh86CxXMP4g80y1ExUB9tukwfPXET-R6J8JnSAz4IiNN9GvW2ZNfVOlM7LfWaXTaKbdGXTCUqVCyoAPSGw5c_4ci5nKrw4pqW8TtxkiHsBin3GKekgE/s1600-h/prague+397.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-3nOBL8lNUJkpJjRl4CXPYYAqNh86CxXMP4g80y1ExUB9tukwfPXET-R6J8JnSAz4IiNN9GvW2ZNfVOlM7LfWaXTaKbdGXTCUqVCyoAPSGw5c_4ci5nKrw4pqW8TtxkiHsBin3GKekgE/s400/prague+397.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5322352861516897650" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgG2MzPKcIAfIgW79fmmpPVmHiOLMbwQzTyDiAc9uEzDPMIKoC7nhaD6yOyiAYRSpchkisDnXGoHgzyNJKcUXQXkw8wZ9rjkNTgNLSJJF-aUipSx08leVN7s3q51DW4iyC1zW2DU9rlrsg/s1600-h/old+church+window+3.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgG2MzPKcIAfIgW79fmmpPVmHiOLMbwQzTyDiAc9uEzDPMIKoC7nhaD6yOyiAYRSpchkisDnXGoHgzyNJKcUXQXkw8wZ9rjkNTgNLSJJF-aUipSx08leVN7s3q51DW4iyC1zW2DU9rlrsg/s400/old+church+window+3.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5322354198918393154" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyYWq4anaEClFWIjJ-L7olMYifBZe-5cAI4A-PiFRETP5K33S1w4lh4jnWC4DAFT3Fm8JvwecDcNxdOgZ12385mWS-T7sqeGXcht0S4J4EpYEeKvq5niVHLsivZbACyxrK4KUoDy-L_d4/s1600-h/old+church+window+2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyYWq4anaEClFWIjJ-L7olMYifBZe-5cAI4A-PiFRETP5K33S1w4lh4jnWC4DAFT3Fm8JvwecDcNxdOgZ12385mWS-T7sqeGXcht0S4J4EpYEeKvq5niVHLsivZbACyxrK4KUoDy-L_d4/s400/old+church+window+2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5322354192364286994" border="0" /></a><br /><br />and nature's windows:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg02Xt4YNGsK7KJEjbp7PFQeHDB53sKPFgmfTw_H9iojAivbFy8-PKqZkcOszsMoz5pDAL5OEyPzq-BoLIZz9T_xoFJvH0Zkmw8xC2SAsLS5K7Opu8Nz2id7_22ZyyjTD1UFlLlVVpB-mI/s1600-h/scottish+isle+window+2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg02Xt4YNGsK7KJEjbp7PFQeHDB53sKPFgmfTw_H9iojAivbFy8-PKqZkcOszsMoz5pDAL5OEyPzq-BoLIZz9T_xoFJvH0Zkmw8xC2SAsLS5K7Opu8Nz2id7_22ZyyjTD1UFlLlVVpB-mI/s400/scottish+isle+window+2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5322354742830086610" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI0cOQvBeML45VTAUlhZ8Bno2H6UJvHptp5Tn4KoT_VC5Zn8fistn1_yAz6ugsPGks7kxbLUSg40x1lhfzDTVEwSwkJ0DzEkPTzeHX4HSgHbkuxw8XDEpNupP5kPQDq-nn1pdNtUXQ9-I/s1600-h/scottish+isle+window.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI0cOQvBeML45VTAUlhZ8Bno2H6UJvHptp5Tn4KoT_VC5Zn8fistn1_yAz6ugsPGks7kxbLUSg40x1lhfzDTVEwSwkJ0DzEkPTzeHX4HSgHbkuxw8XDEpNupP5kPQDq-nn1pdNtUXQ9-I/s400/scottish+isle+window.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5322354742689102514" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEize8OlAKQJ5y8_cPdxhJexLmy2mSotbQ9wElOcfRqqPPsRdVh_7eL0hoVsKjrGA5Y5YNsiGbtA7H2XnTUWtk_nAe_uvyjFUyMRyyQdkgwnMC1wSMLHZqPmBOhn4YmyY395bfP1vqXBzmY/s1600-h/natural+window.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEize8OlAKQJ5y8_cPdxhJexLmy2mSotbQ9wElOcfRqqPPsRdVh_7eL0hoVsKjrGA5Y5YNsiGbtA7H2XnTUWtk_nAe_uvyjFUyMRyyQdkgwnMC1wSMLHZqPmBOhn4YmyY395bfP1vqXBzmY/s400/natural+window.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5322354730265135410" border="0" /></a><br />i also love doors, gates, fences, and archways. they can be inviting, welcoming, charming, partly hidden, and well-situated:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQSSc8ssjxeiVqhJD7I4dYkwMKpEApqwF0NibSs-iiWoqjUbf8LD_kWIn6B4UIwMemy8w8sSe8LXq0q_gP2tU_kmRCvC89IGWKbzPvwgEmedvfxoD0wMLY_P1_M9ojCl0rG7ZfC0NMqt4/s1600-h/prague+door.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQSSc8ssjxeiVqhJD7I4dYkwMKpEApqwF0NibSs-iiWoqjUbf8LD_kWIn6B4UIwMemy8w8sSe8LXq0q_gP2tU_kmRCvC89IGWKbzPvwgEmedvfxoD0wMLY_P1_M9ojCl0rG7ZfC0NMqt4/s400/prague+door.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5322359358120353506" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW7lSZ2kZ9_Nkl6IlANk7e3aiWhDGm1jxTlCWSTUOjPs7vYy_Y1ewU7fqiuhZGxb7Y6nl37I4nqRXQWulnpHy2pQIVeNULR7omTwXLvPgrvGJTL5es15u41Yhj_tdXIau-oy8GWnmGWyg/s1600-h/peillon+house.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW7lSZ2kZ9_Nkl6IlANk7e3aiWhDGm1jxTlCWSTUOjPs7vYy_Y1ewU7fqiuhZGxb7Y6nl37I4nqRXQWulnpHy2pQIVeNULR7omTwXLvPgrvGJTL5es15u41Yhj_tdXIau-oy8GWnmGWyg/s400/peillon+house.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5322359357632741410" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqMR70didToa8oFwtHL7H44oyBWXTQ6GpgYDf5sHtBo9gNiY5GBFo1Rp910YemM9k3g7KZMkdMdWbYKmcydOVGbIHdwBxL_89rr5GONK7v4lUC4vHrxBJbU1GyY-0JWcaoMdUkmlsUUh0/s1600-h/roussillon+house.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqMR70didToa8oFwtHL7H44oyBWXTQ6GpgYDf5sHtBo9gNiY5GBFo1Rp910YemM9k3g7KZMkdMdWbYKmcydOVGbIHdwBxL_89rr5GONK7v4lUC4vHrxBJbU1GyY-0JWcaoMdUkmlsUUh0/s400/roussillon+house.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5322359362676141074" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh774ecNLND3ILT7qDrNsKssLJcTCl5sX_KdG9BT3MNoX34vbrtepE_OlbP5-5Nfl_KnIGT8wzpsDa1cysoBVNip0nJ1_DY662kNU_pBgjqFHEt6QYNH1OKdUmrlGSglf5u6TLNFp_IpXY/s1600-h/roussillon.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh774ecNLND3ILT7qDrNsKssLJcTCl5sX_KdG9BT3MNoX34vbrtepE_OlbP5-5Nfl_KnIGT8wzpsDa1cysoBVNip0nJ1_DY662kNU_pBgjqFHEt6QYNH1OKdUmrlGSglf5u6TLNFp_IpXY/s400/roussillon.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5322359369943643330" border="0" /></a><br />they can stand alone:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiEZg1_aSFLn2n8I2B8iB0fBVp34YknNSqob24CjiF0LKpXmM-aqJm95mRgBvILLcdFC2DmmybAELhVJKs143nJdUl07WJGX2JBumdVaCPfGf6MMMLCI0uY17TLAvO5sQmZevma7SJNVA/s1600-h/standalone+gate.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiEZg1_aSFLn2n8I2B8iB0fBVp34YknNSqob24CjiF0LKpXmM-aqJm95mRgBvILLcdFC2DmmybAELhVJKs143nJdUl07WJGX2JBumdVaCPfGf6MMMLCI0uY17TLAvO5sQmZevma7SJNVA/s400/standalone+gate.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5322360193338178450" border="0" /></a><br />they can tell a story:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdOGhzO8HbOqatXnFN8hEiBUCeekqC8lbB-W79BrOl0X7LTEzvHeZRPpg8hd2kwtCF_VFF6v9NExe0M9rUve05mWc_K89xkCUVpASfTRWKr2Uk79IJ9T5guX2WNnHpv5nFGwiBon8MeaI/s1600-h/knight+door.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdOGhzO8HbOqatXnFN8hEiBUCeekqC8lbB-W79BrOl0X7LTEzvHeZRPpg8hd2kwtCF_VFF6v9NExe0M9rUve05mWc_K89xkCUVpASfTRWKr2Uk79IJ9T5guX2WNnHpv5nFGwiBon8MeaI/s400/knight+door.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5322361083342336866" border="0" /></a><br />and they can lead you down a path:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXvEqdfZaHjCpsbTlxx1VJpW9i4K5XuwV68ip0Z-1q4IjmvbZhTdcR6swnS_bhavkUpAVTc8F0Eb8EDEYErlItP6PE0j93d2r3l2XPjxvETi-4iJsMitLQ1KyHAxkeo2VJl3-4SrMCYj0/s1600-h/archway+path.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXvEqdfZaHjCpsbTlxx1VJpW9i4K5XuwV68ip0Z-1q4IjmvbZhTdcR6swnS_bhavkUpAVTc8F0Eb8EDEYErlItP6PE0j93d2r3l2XPjxvETi-4iJsMitLQ1KyHAxkeo2VJl3-4SrMCYj0/s400/archway+path.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5322361423334586114" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvsEcweSvzYrIyX_ZtsfSQXc4W-EQNY7d2Wggy-wb4J6Qh6dUUDSAUHLCx1vM_tRxNhjreFim1Xp0vm3LQAdxObdOQ_Dgiw7j1Np9siaCJgRkUVqFwYuBY_jOhWM8Aa-vzsPl7P2g231w/s1600-h/wooded+path.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvsEcweSvzYrIyX_ZtsfSQXc4W-EQNY7d2Wggy-wb4J6Qh6dUUDSAUHLCx1vM_tRxNhjreFim1Xp0vm3LQAdxObdOQ_Dgiw7j1Np9siaCJgRkUVqFwYuBY_jOhWM8Aa-vzsPl7P2g231w/s400/wooded+path.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5322361425384272450" border="0" /></a>Emily R-Bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04734481253756639330noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7383062834037847962.post-65538356213315940512009-04-06T17:24:00.005-04:002009-04-11T13:11:47.282-04:00Classroom Design: What's on Your Mind?<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5UJzH-geyYSliMmt9npea5d9xVZIu2nTmh0huUeEEHkyrdJ3ik1X1yzNmJ3XJP-7skjsA-L-yoVStokkdcJdGx1wZauYghyc0TuMlp1Vgq3A2JxR6Fst5sWVWJgjq9dhYxIEMhtM7yMI/s1600-h/520525967_3ca98d87b2_b.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5UJzH-geyYSliMmt9npea5d9xVZIu2nTmh0huUeEEHkyrdJ3ik1X1yzNmJ3XJP-7skjsA-L-yoVStokkdcJdGx1wZauYghyc0TuMlp1Vgq3A2JxR6Fst5sWVWJgjq9dhYxIEMhtM7yMI/s400/520525967_3ca98d87b2_b.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5321941066209926850" border="0" /></a><br />As a teacher or parent, what is important to you about the design of your classroom? Does it need to be a particular size? Is natural light important? Do you prefer one big open space, or a space that is divided into areas?<br /><br />How do you imagine the children, or your child in particular, moving throughout the space? Do you want them to be able to run around the classroom? Do you want their movement to be constricted in any way, by the arrangement of furniture in the room? Do you want their movement to be directed by the structural design of the space, such as the location of walls, built-in nooks, doors?<br /><br />How would you like the space to feel? Cozy? Clinical? Warm? Homey? Modern? Minimalist? Cluttered?<br /><br />What kind of space do you imagine your child, or the children in your class, liking? Is what you imagine a child to like the same as what you like? Is it different?<br /><br />If you could start from scratch, what would you do?Emily R-Bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04734481253756639330noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7383062834037847962.post-78376510730721113002009-04-06T15:38:00.006-04:002009-04-11T15:48:58.891-04:00Meeting of the Minds<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYIFgggmr1pSOW1oDcp4-ZDNiabzcj_4613WNCAEVtx2F6N4falzsnO35G0C-mrDVBvmmeRjjrfZEzkUUQvtrR1UbeCSOcoMRXklfqwLh1NX8yrVvq2_e7Rmu3ivS0N31TuwgNg8cG4l0/s1600-h/IMG_0372.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 291px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYIFgggmr1pSOW1oDcp4-ZDNiabzcj_4613WNCAEVtx2F6N4falzsnO35G0C-mrDVBvmmeRjjrfZEzkUUQvtrR1UbeCSOcoMRXklfqwLh1NX8yrVvq2_e7Rmu3ivS0N31TuwgNg8cG4l0/s400/IMG_0372.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5323521964781648370" border="0" /></a><br />I think there's a need for more forums for teachers and parents to come together to communicate openly, honestly, and respectfully about their thoughts on education. I'd like this blog to serve as such a forum. I'll share my ideas and I encourage other teachers, parents, and any interested parties to do the same. I generally try to avoid using cliches, but in this case I think the cliche is true: teachers and parents need to be partners in their children's education. In order to find success as partners, and ultimately succeed in providing quality education for children, teachers and parents must find ways to communicate openly, honestly, and respectfully. Similarly, teachers need to come together with each other to share ideas and collaborate. I invite you to tell me what's on your mind!Emily R-Bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04734481253756639330noreply@blogger.com0