I’ve intended to write this blog for awhile, since learning that Vivian Paley passed away last summer. We met in the late 1980s at a workshop hosted by a local teacher organization. The event was hosted at Awakening Seed, and Vivian and I made a connection right away. In addition to our common practices of . . . Read More
Exactly a year ago today, I left for India. It was an adventure that changed my life and is still with me. The orange-pink sunrise, the smell of rose oil, and the flapping of prayer flags in my back yard all carry me back to India. Lately I’ve been reflecting on the year that has . . . Read More
Now that I have a seven-month-old great-granddaughter, I have more exposure to the “must have” gadgets and gizmos designed to make caring for a baby easier. Over the past several months, our house has filled up with all sorts of paraphernalia to keep the baby safe and cognitively stimulated. It’s made me realize how basic . . . Read More
Choosing a school can be a daunting task. We see parents in this process every few weeks as they attend our introductory tours. It’s a huge decision to choose the environment where a child will spend most of his/her waking hours during the week. The early years shape a child cognitively, socially, physically, and emotionally. . . . Read More
A few days ago I read a plea for help posted on Facebook by one of our Seed alums. She’s living in Australia. Her post included a stunning photo of a huge plume of smoke and an article describing the fire as big as Manhattan. I thought about her post all weekend and decided we . . . Read More
Although everyone is moving a bit slower this morning, we’re all feeling the glow of last night’s performance. The amount of effort that goes into our winter solstice production is unseen by most of our audience. The vision, patience, and practice that fill up our December weeks came forth last night as we offered an . . . Read More
In most places around the country falling leaves signal the arrival of autumn. Not so in Phoenix. When leaves at the Seed finally cover the ground, we know we’re well on our way to winter. Even though the winter solstice is still a week away, the leaf-covered ground is a sign that our balmy days . . . Read More
The other night at sunset, the looming darkness took me back to where I was a year ago. Just a few weeks shy of our departure for India, I felt like I was at the edge of a great chasm, preparing to step completely into the unknown. The month of December with the shortest days . . . Read More
Preparations for our celebration of gratitude started last week as each class brainstormed ideas of what they could for another classroom. In the K-1 class they began with the question: What is it to be thankful? Children said, “It’s when you love people.” “It’s when you say thank you for all that people do for . . . Read More
The rain was a blessing for our dry desert. It also transformed our playground into a mud bog that inspired all sorts of imaginative play. It was a heyday for small persons in brightly colored rain boots. On Wednesday I noticed a group of young sand chefs, madly stirring and pouring muddy water into a . . . Read More
On Tuesday a boy approached me on the playground and said another child told him he couldn’t play with him. He said, “That’s including.” I clarified that what he was experiencing was actually called “excluding.” Then I invited the child who was excluding to come over and talk. The first child said, “I don’t like . . . Read More
We want you to know about our exceptional K-4 program. Although we’re just entering our fourth month of the school year, it will soon be time for making decisions about the future. In order to help families make the most informed decision about elementary school placement, we are offering a K-4 information session on Wednesday, . . . Read More
Since late August, I’ve worked with the 3rd/4th graders on their writing once a week. At the suggestion of their teacher, we jumped into a form of writing that was new to me with this age group, development of a fictional character and creating a story around that character. In the past, I generally stuck . . . Read More
The Seed carnival started in the 1980s as an alternative to trick-or-treating. It has evolved over the years into a huge community event, attended by current and alumni families, as well as neighbors and other local friends. It’s become a much anticipated first return to the Seed after families leave to move on to other . . . Read More
On my walk along the canal yesterday morning, pushing my great-granddaughter in her stroller, a man with his little dog called out to me: “Good morning, Grandma. Never give up!” I replied, “I won’t. I’ll keep going as long as I can.” As I kept walking, his words lingered in my mind. He pretty well . . . Read More
For the past fourteen years I’ve taught a kids yoga class at Desert Song Healing Arts Center on Tuesday afternoons. I’ve worked with hundreds of children under the age of ten. Some of them are in college now, and new students keep arriving. Many of them attended my class for several years before outgrowing it . . . Read More
For over thirty years, the Mystery Theater has been a part of the Seed’s annual Halloween carnival. It began in the 1980s as a production put on by Seed staff to entertain carnival attendees. Dozens of staff have participated in all phases of the production, including script writing, acting, choreography, set design, costumes, music management, . . . Read More
Early Tuesday morning I sat in the dentist chair, looking out large windows into the overcast skies looming over the valley. I noticed a heron perched on top of the building in front of me. It was a color study in grey. Monday was the autumn equinox, and our shifting weather matched the change of . . . Read More
On Monday the Seed grandparents gathered once again. Over twenty arrived for the beginning of our fourth year as an organized group. During introductions we met grandparents new to the Seed and caught up with familiar friends who have been around the school for a long time (including one grandmother whose daughters are Seed graduates). . . . Read More
The scent of basil is a sure sign that our nutrition study is underway. Coincidentally, as food nutrients dominated conversation in classrooms, I came across a new term— psychological nutrients. My ears and mind perked up, wondering what this idea could possibly mean. It came to me in the same way I absorb most . . . Read More
Healthy food has always been a priority at the Seed. Over the years it’s taken on different expressions as we’ve responded to trends in nutrition. Our current practices have been highly influenced by this article. Another influence related to food is our dedication to planetary stewardship. During the first few weeks of school, I . . . Read More
Morning walks this time of year always seem to reveal life lessons. Whether it’s an unusually simple cloud formation or a homeless man balancing his found possessions precariously on a “borrowed” grocery cart, there’s always something that connects with what I’ve been thinking about. Two words, simplicity and presence, have been swirling around in my . . . Read More
In July we took my great-granddaughter to Minnesota to visit her great-great grandparents. Included in the mix of family present was my great-niece, Emmy. She’s a bright, articulate, curious girl, and was completely mesmerized by the baby. Being a typical four-year-old, she wanted to touch her new little cousin and find out all she could . . . Read More
The red threads captured my attention. During one of my summer morning walks, I heard an interview with Marcus Buckingham. He described his life long obsession with helping others improve the quality of their workplace experience. The interview held my attention, yet there was nothing extraordinary in the conversation until he brought up the red threads. . . . Read More