Measurement is a concept that is very important in any curriculum. From baking to building, from sewing to super jets - everything must be measured. How much, how far, how heavy, how wide, how tall - and the list goes on. In class, we have been measuring distance, mass, and volume. We’ve been drawing to scale and reconfiguring objects to evaluate surface area. We’ve reviewed metric versus standard units of measurement. The pure love of learning has sent us down the exciting rabbit hole of discovering the many ways measurement plays a role in our lives. In all of this, it is important to reflect on how measurement plays a role in the development of each and every child. In our societal obsession and necessity for measurement, we have a long standing concept in academia of measuring each other. Is this an “A” student or a “C” student? Interestingly these are the same “grades” given to ... Read More about Measuring Up

When I was a new mom, I desperately wanted to know what made for a good mom. Love your kids… ok, that seems pretty natural, but like all worthwhile tasks in life there had to be a certain level of objective excellence that could be achieved. I found my answers from 2 places. Asking parents that had kids I admired, what they felt they had done well, andA book called “Revolutionary Parenting,” by George Barna Both of these sources of wisdom said something very interesting: to be a really good parent, one has to be willing to do things outside of the norm. One has to be willing to choose different parenting styles based on the individual child they have, and one has to be willing to choose different parenting styles from their peer group! In other words, parents who want to excel at parenting need to be very intentional about the choices they make and be unafraid of those ... Read More about Taking The Road Less Traveled

“Our care of the child should be governed, not by the desire to make him learn things, but by the endeavor always to keep burning within him that light which is called intelligence.” Maria Montessori One of the most rewarding lights to see as a parent is the light in our children's eyes. Children get lights in their eyes for some really wonderful reasons and as parents there is such profound satisfaction when we see it. Our littlest ones are magically capable of this light with the simplest discoveries: when we reappear from behind a blanket during peek- a-boo, or the delight at the effects of gravity while dropping an object to the floor over and over. (Usually at the dinner table) As our children grow, helping them to keep that light aglow is one of our most sacred jobs. The light glows brightest when the child has an "Ah Ha" moment. The desire to discover is ingrained in ... Read More about Look for the Light

2020 has been very interesting to say the least. During this year many of us have gotten off the hamster wheel. Some of us felt pushed off, but none the less we are off and although stunned and dazed we are looking around - really looking around and taking a moment, not just any moment, this moment - to reassess. Our current situation, like all trials, has given us a gift. The gift of observation; the gift of knowing only that which is present and close and the desire to understand it even more - namely our children. We are watching our children and wondering how they are interpreting the world of mixed messages and complete upheaval of normative behaviors they have known. We are standing in awe as our children navigate the ins and outs of their new life. Mesmerized as they calmly look for the bright side in the remote birthday party, interpreting the world through a computer ... Read More about The Gift of 2020

If possession is 9/10ths of the law, then perception is 9/10th of reality. That is why in order to achieve excellence- we must diligently seek the other 1/10th of reality by looking at things from a different perspective. It amazes me how there are times I analyze a situation, take in the information and draw a conclusion that seems perfectly reasonable and then…. a new piece of information, another person's observations, a key fact left out is shared and…. a whole different conclusion comes to light. It happens all the time working with children. We see something, hear info and come to a conclusion. But when we stop and ask questions and seek understanding of each person. When we take the time to observe and explore all perspectives, often we find nuances to reality and sometimes seismic shifts in what we understood to be true. In a world that has more and more mastered the art ... Read More about Seek First to Understand

We've been reflecting on the last few weeks of school and we keep coming back to the same thought: There's just such a sweet spirit here! So much so that this old hymn keeps coming to my mind. For those of you not familiar with it, here are some of the lyrics and a link to listen to one version of it. It's truly a gift when you feel peace in every classroom with all the students and teachers. There is something very special about a sweet spirit and something to cherish. In a world full of turmoil, we have found a safe haven: a place where we value one another, where we are thankful for our many blessings, and where we put our trust in the creator. 2020 may be a tough year, but we are in it together. There's something about going through adversity together that changes your perspective and strengthens those bonds. Our love of community and of learning has sustained us. From ... Read More about Making School A Safe Haven