This weekend the studio got some attention. I organized our paper file cabinet and placed the most used types of paper in an organizer. Both my kids and the students I work with like having access to the paper and to the personal dry erase boards. When the paper was stored in the white flatContinue reading An Organized Studio
The Guided Learning Studio
Happy 2019! I am excited to start the new year with ideas about the kinds of learning and teaching happening in my home. I started this blog just about a year ago as a way to share the ways I encourage my kids’ interests. At the time, I was also supporting the learning needs ofContinue reading The Guided Learning Studio
Guided Learning
This week I have been reflecting on the learning and teaching process and thinking about what it means to support children as they learn. This post is about what guided learning means to me. I will also describe the influence educators and learning philosophies have on my beliefs about learning and teaching. GuidedContinue reading Guided Learning
Back-to-School
After a wonderful summer of travel, we are back home finding ourselves adjusting to the back-to-school routine. When I last wrote an entry the kids and I were spending time learning about art. We took time to learn about Renaissance artists form Florence, Impressionist, Post-Impressionists and Modern art in preparation for our tripContinue reading Back-to-School
Multi-Sensory Learning at Home
When I think about the ways kids learn and the way an environment can support learning, I am reminded about the importance of providing kids with materials that can help them visualize a concept or an idea they are working on. Many of us are visual learners and creating a visual to represent a conceptContinue reading Multi-Sensory Learning at Home
A Learning Play Date
This week in Arizona many schools are closed due to the teacher walkout. There is a great necessity to adequately fund schools in the state. I support the teachers, administrators and support staff who have stood their ground to put pressure on the state legislature and leaders to come up with a solution. Since theContinue reading A Learning Play Date
Finding a Focus
About a month ago I wrote a post about finding inspiration and identifying my passions. I decided to dedicate time to research areas of interest and to reach out to other educators whose work interests me. I found inspiration in the work of by a former primary teacher in Canada who designsContinue reading Finding a Focus
Middle School Learners
When my kids were young, I would direct their attention toward nature, building blocks, art supplies, etc to keep little hands busy. We also took trips to the zoo, the park, science museum and gardens. At home, I would place materials out for them to play with and and use. It was a very naturalContinue reading Middle School Learners
Finding Inspiration
Lately, I’ve been feeling unsettled and unsure of my goals. I have been asking myself, “What do I want to do professionally?” Now that my children are older, I feel more and more compelled to return to work at least part-time. This past weekend I had a nagging feeling to do more than what IContinue reading Finding Inspiration
Exploring Shapes and Making Connections
This summer we will be spending almost three weeks in Europe. We are starting our trip in the Swiss Alps then spending time in Florence, Paris and finally Ireland. (Where we get to visit friends we miss greatly.) I hope to prepare the kids for the art and architecture they will encounter on the trip.Continue reading Exploring Shapes and Making Connections