Halloween is a sweet time of year, and I’m not talking candy. Certainly it’s sweet when the temperatures fall below 100, even if it’s just barely in double digits. It’s fun to hear the kids talk excitedly about their Halloween costumes and what they plan to do at the carnival. As I wrote last week, . . . Read More
Without fail, the same thing occurs between our September teacher work day and the annual Seed Halloween carnival. Regardless of who’s on the staff, it happens every year. It involves wacky costumes, glasses with noses, ridiculous jokes, creativity, and imagination. It’s a tradition that dates back to circa 1986, called the Mystery Theater. Started by Mike . . . Read More
My circle of elders is dwindling. As of Sunday evening, the circle is minus one more. Marilyn Russell, age 93, passed peacefully from this world. Marilyn was the mom across the street, the mom who pulled our wiggly teeth, the mom who made us feel like she loved us as much as her own kids. She made . . . Read More
Sunday was the perfect day to plant a garden. In the morning it rained and later in the day it happened again. By the time I was ready to plant my seeds, the soil held just the right amount of moisture. The sky was full of dramatic cloud formations and by late afternoon, the light . . . Read More
I invite you this week to try an experiment. What I’m asking you to observe is a growing phenomenon that we talk about often at the Seed. This topic has been on my list for awhile, and I’ve hesitated writing about it because I don’t want to offend anyone. I don’t want any of my . . . Read More
A colorful equinox is a given this year. Sandwiched between our vibrant nutrition study and Halloween is one of my favorite Seed events, tie-dye day. Some of us scheme all year about our next tie-dye projects. Others, looking upon it admiringly from a distance, have never actually done tie-dye. A few won’t touch it and . . . Read More
I thought for sure that twenty chairs would be enough. As it turned out, we were nineteen short. Yes, 39 of our Seed community elders showed up for the inaugural Seed Gathering of the Grandparents. When I mentioned to one grandmother that it was a historical moment, she looked around the room and said, “Yes, . . . Read More
The same day the Toddler 2s filled the kitchen with a sweet smell of zucchini muffins, two interviewers showed up in our office, pencils in hand, to inquire about Danielle’s new job. They were gathering story details for their class newspaper, “The Big Idea: 1st/2nd Class News.” In addition to writing for their class newspaper, . . . Read More
During lice checks Thursday morning one of the teachers noticed a large praying mantis resting on the edge of the trash can. She pointed it out to a few of her students and they eventually scooped it into an observation container for the day. Later when I stopped by the K-1, the praying mantis was . . . Read More
We’re making a change this year. Since the early 90s, we’ve had the kids come to curriculum night to offer a glimpse into what a typical day might look like. The teachers and students demonstrated how circle goes and activities were planned that involved both parent and child. It’s always been a fun, though slightly . . . Read More
In the summer of 1984 I was operating a small summer program out of my home. The Seed was about to begin its seventh year and I was looking to hire a kindergarten teacher. I heard of a young art teacher who had just graduated from ASU, had experience with young children, and was looking . . . Read More
This day is finally here. Since my last post, I’ve traveled Scotland, returned to the Seed for the last day of summer art camp, then flew to Minnesota for a few days with my parents. My return to Phoenix on Sunday evening was not without its share of drama—our plane was due to land in . . . Read More
We lead busy lives at the Seed. Being responsible for keeping children safe and happy all day long, five days a week, is a daunting task. Ensuring they are meaningfully engaged and creatively inspired adds another layer to the details we each attend to on a daily basis. A school has many moving parts that . . . Read More
Grandparents are on my mind. Quite possibly it’s because I’m turning 65 next week and thinking more about shifting patterns in a person’s life. I used to be the same age as parents in the school—now my peers are the grandparents. I’ve been a grandmother for nineteen years and it’s one of the most precious . . . Read More
I had great expectations for the strawberry moon. For the first time in 70 years, the full moon and summer solstice landed on the same day. I learned it is called the strawberry moon because it’s during summer strawberry season. I knew it would be spectacular and I looked forward to gazing skyward as it . . . Read More
Two floods have closed the Seed. The first was September 8, 2014, when the whole Phoenix area was drenched and even sections of Baseline were closed. The other flood was today, the third day of our summer art camp. On the way to teach my annual kids yoga camp at Desert Song, I got the . . . Read More
It was dusk. Wednesday, the last day of the regular school year, was coming to a close. It was a full day, filled with awards, celebrations, graduation, and all the emotions that go with completion and letting go. There was a surplus of both cheers and tears. Although it was hot, our end-of-the-year party went . . . Read More
On Monday morning I looked out my window and saw a mama quail and her three just-hatched babies scurry across our garden. The babies looked like puff balls on wheels. It’s hard to believe something so young could run that fast. I stepped out to catch a photo of them, but alas, they were too speedy. . . . Read More
Last Friday there was a commotion outside our office door. I peeked out and noticed a small person holding a long string. Sure enough, it was one of our Preschool 4s. She exclaimed, “This is how long my dinosaur is!” The string extended the length of the hallway. Her dinosaur, the diplodocus, was the longest . . . Read More
For the past six years I’ve given two Tuesday afternoons a month to serving as a volunteer yoga teacher at Phoenix Children’s Hospital. Each time I go I work with two different groups of children and rarely see the same child twice. Some of them have done yoga before at school or with a family . . . Read More
It started with blood and poop, two hot topics in PreK since the beginning of the school year. When such preoccupations linger, there’s only one way to respond: embrace the interest and see where it goes. This happens often around the Seed. When toddlers are mesmerized by falling rain, the teacher sets up sensory experiences . . . Read More
In November I opened an Etsy shop. I had art work I wanted to sell, including the don’t worry dolls I’d just started making. I knew nothing about SEO, product photography, or what relevancy means. As with many things I’ve done with my life, I jumped in and figured out how to swim later. I . . . Read More
I’ve been a Joni Mitchell fan since way before most people around the Seed were born, staff and parents included. One of my favorites is her song, “River.” It has always spoken to me about the parts of life that carry us off to adventure, both actual and imagined. Daily activity in the sand circle here . . . Read More
The Seed is abuzz with Earth Day enthusiasm. This year our focus is on using reusable drink cups, containers, and shopping bags, as well as looking at myths surrounding recycling. Added to that, the lead staff met Monday to discuss an article called, “For Students, the Importance of Doing Work that Matters.” Author Will Richardson writes: “ . . . Read More