Snapshots from our work together this week… ‘Till the next post, Emily

The rain was really on and really off this week! Some moments the sun warmed us up with its rays so that our layers were peeled off and other times we zipped right up as much as we could to shelter ourselves from its pelting drops. Working with the weather, not against it, is what we…Continue reading →

We bumped up against each other this week; sometimes in very playful ways and sometimes in more challenging ways because that is what you do when you live together. One of our favourite quotes by Loris Mallaguzzi, a widely respected and revered educator who was pivotal in the development of the Reggio philosophy of education, says “Sometimes we…Continue reading →

I am in awe of these children! Weather wise, it was our toughest week. The rain pelted down upon us as walked, ran, skipped, jumped (through and IN the puddles), played games, ate snack, learned about the animals on the land and pretended all sorts of imaginary scenarios. And yet, these children barely complained or commented…Continue reading →

I am overwhelmed with how much these children are learning each and every day; here at Nature School, at home and in their community. They come to school ready to learn and ready to share their knowledge with others. The sharing part is what really is interesting, our need to connect with others. I recently…Continue reading →

I have lots of ideas in my head from this past week! Ideas about making space, play, friendships, independence, power, and communication. In fact, the ideas are all swirling in my head, in a somewhat disorganized fashion. This happens to me, and other educators and I am sure to you too! It is sometimes a…Continue reading →

Happy New Year to all and welcome to 2016! A dear friend of mine gave me a special gift; a small jar with strips of paper with one word written on each piece. Each day, for the month of January, I pull one word out for that day. So far I have pulled out “enthusiasm,…Continue reading →

The last blog post of 2015! I could get extremely sentimental ( it is easy to go there at this time of year) but instead, on behalf of our whole team, I will wish you all a merry and festive holiday season, filled with the laughter and energy of your fabulous children! Enjoy the shared…Continue reading →

The rain pelted down at times, the wind howled strongly but honestly that did not stop these resilient and tough Nature School children from having fun outside. The weather tested us and we passed! These children are amazing, playing without complaint and saying good morning to the rain, clouds and wind each day. Perhaps they…Continue reading →

Slowing down; we try to do just that each day. The background work of course is not slow- how can it be when there are many children and families to think about, program planning to be done, housekeeping in the Cottage to upkeep, documentation to be organized and written, ideas to be shared and implemented…Continue reading →

The sun was absolutely wonderful this week, filling everyone with an energy and excitement that only comes from its rays! We spent almost all our time outside this week, shedding layers of our clothing and frolicking on the land. Enjoy the snapshots of our week together. Both the Eagle and the Owls learn about sit…Continue reading →

Maybe it was the sunshine, maybe it was the settled feeling I had this week, maybe it was just me looking around attentively, but there were so many moments this week when I was literally overcome with appreciation– for this land, these children, our team, the Cottage and our partners. We are so very blessed…Continue reading →

We do a lot of “looking” at Nature School. Each day we hear children loudly exclaim “Look!” Whether it is outside or inside, children invite you to look with them; either at something that interests them or something they have created and want to proudly show you. The instinct to share and delight in looking…Continue reading →

I saw a lot of smiles and heard a lot of laughter this week. I heard old school jokes being shared, funny stories being told, amusing noises coming from the depth of their bodies and gibberish that evoked crazy laughter. I am learning each day from these smart and engaging young children but one of…Continue reading →

The rain fell from the sky. A lot. The photos below do not reflect these days because my camera and rain are not on speaking terms but we did indeed face many downpours. It was delightful–honestly. Children loved splashing in the puddles, used the water to make soup and other potions and learned how to…Continue reading →