After years of working with loose parts, I've come to realize that almost anything can be considered one. We've all seen the ubiquitous bits and pieces: string, glass beads, basket filler, wood scraps, tiles, etc. Like me, some teachers take a more natural approach by incorporating objects like pinecones, tree cookies, seed pods, flower petals,... Continue Reading →
Most preschool classrooms have "centers," and ours is no exception. In our inside space, we have an area for pretend play, an area for art, an area for reading and literacy exploration, an area for science, and an area for engineering, physics, and construction. We do our best to make sure that each of these... Continue Reading →
I'll come clean: as a kid, I didn't get math. I was generally able to follow instructions and produce the answers my teachers were looking for, but on the whole it seemed totally arbitrary to me. I was never quite sure how it impacted me and what it had to do with my day-to-day life... Continue Reading →
As an educator working in a Reggio-inspired school, loose parts come up in conversation at least once per day. I have attended training sessions on loose parts and their importance to the Reggio Way on at least five different occasions. As a semi-compulsive teacher working in a student guided, play-based learning environment, I feel from... Continue Reading →
Without Windows 