The human animal is, in my opinion, one of the most intricate and complex machines ever to exist. Every time I step back and consider the manner in which the brain rewards certain behaviors and discourages others, and how it regulates and coordinates the behavior of simultaneously functioning systems to accomplish tasks, it boggles my... Continue Reading →
Reggio educators often talk about defining learning in terms of a journey instead of assessing it based on the achievement of a predetermined goal. And while it sounds like a noble pursuit, process-focused teaching methods can sometimes cause tremendous discomfort for teachers (myself included). Determining the efficacy of our teaching methods without a determinant start... Continue Reading →
There is a wealth of powerful scientific data that points to the fact that children learn better in environments that are not highly decorated. Particularly for Reggio educators, there has been a large push-back against the brightly colored, plastic furniture and learning materials that were so common when I was a child. In general, I... Continue Reading →
A few weeks ago, I was sitting on a big pile of mulch with one of my students just watching the clouds go by. Without any prompting, she turned to me and said, "I'm a dirty robot." Admittedly, I had a little trouble imagining what a "dirty robot" might be. But as I sat on... Continue Reading →
I'll come clean. I love honeysuckle. When I was a little boy, my grandparents used it as a landscaping plant to spruce up the wooden fence dividing their property from their neighbors'. I have a distinct memory of my aunt showing me how to pluck the flowers and pinch off the base so that I... Continue Reading →
Without Windows 