I can never get enough of the storytelling. Every child brings something new to the process, and tells a story I never could have imagined.

Holistic Education

I've spent some time today on the Summa Institute website.  The idea of "Natural Learning Relationships" is new to me (like Place-Based Education), but both make me think about the core values that I have as a teacher.  Label or no label, we have to be able to articulate our ideas about children and education, and the more we learn, the more our practice can benefit.

There are some conferences coming up this summer that I'm hoping to attend - to hear people speak about new ideas.  The founders of the Summa Institute are speaking at the Northwest Holistic Education Conference on Orcas Island. 

What do you think of "holistic education"?  Is it new to you?  Is there a reason to label it?

 

visual news

Place-Based Education

This is a new term for me - place-based education.  I was reading an article on edutopia about place-based education in rural schools in New Mexico, and although I am familiar with the idea, I did not know it had a name.

Some early childhood "curricula", like the project approach, place an emphasis on children interacting with the community and the world in a meaningful way.  So, rather than always going to the zoo every October, outings are planned to link to the curriculum and the children's interests and needs.  Place-based education is about the community and the educational goals are linked with the goals of the local community.  It is an interesting concept to think about in terms of both urban and rural schools like they mention on edutopia; but it really could be done anywhere.

 

image from relationalearning

I am enjoying reading about the initiatives in New Mexico - how a community can rally around education and both systems can benefit.  The Center for RelationaLearning is working with groups around the world using this concept - how many of them include young children?  How can young children interact meaningfully with their community?  What does a community need from its educational institutions?

Art Basics For Children Visit : Part One

 One of my favorite things, as an educator, is visiting educational spaces.  It's not about copying ideas, it's not about trying to force something in my own space that may only work somewhere else - its about seeing the passion that people have for making fantastic spaces for young children.  And at Art Basics for Children, the aesthetic inspires adults and children alike to participate.

 For example, the first room we visited on Saturday had a large platform.  The materials were presented in an organized way, and the room had not only smiling, engaged children; it also had smiling, engaged adults.  Not an iPhone checking adult in sight.

 

The room also contains a stage that must be used for something, and behind the stage there were prompts to promote thinking about performance and viewing.

 

 

Flip books, shadow play, different ways of being a performer and an audience member.  A prompt I had never seen before.

The way that the books are displayed at ABC is interesting to me.  I feel like the typical classroom often has a "book area" whereas libraries categorize and organize books by their genre or their subject matter or the intended audience.  At ABC there are books all over - they are a major source of visual information for the visitors.  And in many of the chairs sat adults, browsing the extensive book collection that is chosen and organized to promote the materials surrounding it.  

 

 

 

 

 The kitchen had a display of books about food and cooking for a variety of ages.  There were also individually laminated A3 illustrations from rare books all over the space, some individually and some in collections, that related to the ideas in different areas.  The bulletin board in the kitchen was a collection of photos and recipes.

Another interesting area was upstairs, on the same floor as the kitchen, and it was focused on letters and fonts.  As a preschool teacher, I understand the importance of literacy development and its hard to find a medium between casual exposure and meaningful learning.  Here the children explore hundreds of books on letters and shapes, some pop-up; they can explore different fonts; and the displays of Bembo's Zoo are definitely one way that letters, fonts, and visual expression merge.

ABC has public funding that makes all of this work.  When I walk through a space like the one they have, I do think if it is possible to create a space like this without funding like that.  

Inspiring spaces do not have to be schools, but simply places designed with the capabilities and interests of young children in mind. More photos soon!

do not forget

I'm going through things, getting ready to ship our things back to the states.  I don't have a lot of personal teaching things, but I do have books.  These are some titles that, sadly, are not mine, and I have to leave them here for another teacher.  But I don't want to forget them, so I had to save them somehow.

Art Basics For Children Visit : The Trailer

I really love ABC here in Brussels.  I was glad my husband came along on this visit - I think now he understands a bit more about what I've rambled about and tried to describe over the years.  It really is a beautiful place that not only children, but adults too feel they want to be in.  I probably overuse the word inspiring, but this, for me, is the whole package.

I'll share more soon - I took a lot of photos, so this is just the beginning!

Ferdinand the Bull

Ferdinand the Bull turns 75

The Story of Ferdinand 

ABC House Brussels

I'm going back to Art Basics for Children tomorrow for an open house.  Its been about 2 years since I went!  Moving is a time to start fresh, and I'm gathering all of the inspiration I can before we leave this city.

Many, many, many photos to follow, I'm sure.