Our schoolwide seedfood curriculum is in full force. Preschoolers are cooking bean soup and banana muffins. Toddlers are tasting different types of fruit. Lists of nutrition terms are growing longer and even in P. E. classes children are matching food colors with the colors of hoops. It’s inspiring to see such enthusiasm for food all . . . Read More
One of my favorite Seed images is retired keyboards in the outdoor classrooms with dirt balls nearby. I love the side by side juxtaposition of technology and mud. In fact, when asked, I often say the Seed specializes in dirt and technology (quickly adding creativity, kindness, instilling a passion for learning). I first said the . . . Read More
In the spring we brainstormed taglines for marketing. One that popped up was “inspiring innovation since 1977.” When it came time to put together a new t-shirt design, it popped up again. As I worked on the design, the phrase hung around and it was apparent that, over the years, inspiring innovation has had many . . . Read More
This morning a parent asked me how many first days of school it’s been for the Seed. Thirty-eight, to be exact. More than half of my lifetime. I’m feeling calmly excited about this year we’re devoting to inspiring innovation. Before I start writing about school, however, I need to write about Ireland. In July, Bill . . . Read More
We all know it’s hot. This time of year is what we endure as a trade-off for the winters we enjoy. While people in other places are digging themselves out of snow drifts, we bask in the sun. During months when others have to rely on produce shipped from far away, we can eat local . . . Read More
It’s a big time for art. This morning as I was walking into the school, a parent stopped me and remarked how impressed she is with the quality of art in our summer program. I would have to agree. Each week, as the theme changes, it’s hard to imagine that it can get any better . . . Read More
Corn has always been important in my life. After all, I grew up in Nebraska and continue to identify myself as a Cornhusker, even though I moved away and never attended the University of Nebraska. I have vivid memories of my dad teaching us how to eat corn on the cob, rolling the warm ear . . . Read More
On Sunday I harvested a a school year’s worth of garlic. They take that long to grow. Growing garlic requires patience and faith that the end result will be remarkable. It’s like cultivating a group of kids, then graduating and gifting them to the world. As I carefully extracted each head of garlic from the . . . Read More
Ending well is as important as beginning. Seed teachers put in countless hours completing their students’ awards and progress reports, reflecting on each precious child who has been part of this community for another year. I remember when I was a classroom teacher. Tears flowed as I wrote each child’s narrative, created his/her award and . . . Read More
For a community like the Seed, this time of year holds a mixture of emotions. Kids are excited about summer, just around the corner. Vacations are planned, artists are looking forward to the summer art camp and a sense of freedom is in the air. Teachers are scrambling to finish up assessments, write progress reports . . . Read More
It was a planes-trains-and-automobiles kind of weekend as I ventured to Nebraska for a visit with family and friends. It’s tricky knowing when to go there, as the weather can turn problematic in a nano-second. It was a swift drop into my homeland. My main reason for the trip was to check in on my . . . Read More
On Friday the spiral made another spin. It was unrelated to the ladybugs I wrote about last week. This spiral carried a boy, a dog and a mom. And a teacher, too. It was a spiral that wrapped around my heart. The 1st/2nd graders brought their dog mini-study to a close with a guest speaker . . . Read More
Late Sunday afternoon I was working out in our garden, pulling weeds and dried sunflowers that had completed their cycles. Most of the really juicy seeds were already picked over by birds with their hefty appetites and, of course, the visiting rat on April Fool’s Day. I salvaged the remaining sunflower seeds and even stuck . . . Read More
This morning one of the first messages appearing on my iPhone was from a Seed grad, wishing me the “happiest of Earth Days.” She said she’d be singing “Celebrate Life on Planet Earth” all day. It was a heart warmer. Other people have commented, too, some former students, their parents and staff. Reminders that our . . . Read More
I’d hoped for a breathtaking photo of Tuesday morning’s complete eclipse of the full moon. Unfortunately, iPhone cameras aren’t so effective for photographing the moon, eclipsed or not. Especially if the photographer is extremely sleepy. I lasted about five minutes gazing at the blood moon before crawling back into bed. It was awe inspiring nevertheless. . . . Read More
I started the week planning to write about this simple stool, a beautiful wooden step stool hand painted by the Toddler 2s and their teachers. It has tiny thumb and finger prints embellished to appear like insects. The stool rests prominently on the table of items displayed for the Seed art silent auction, which reaches . . . Read More
On April Fool’s Day I scurried around my house, trying to get out the door in time to be at school by 7:30. It was lice check day, and I didn’t want to let down Team Lice Check. Besides, being April Fool’s Day, it was a great opportunity to trick the older kids into thinking . . . Read More
This post is not about dieting. Nor is it about body types or places where slender people reside. It’s about places where we have access to light in a different way. I first ran across the term “thin places” when I began studying the work of John O’Donohue, the late Irish poet and philosopher. According . . . Read More
At last, the Seed has a real kitchen. Ever since the school started in 1977, prospective parents have asked how we do lunches. They want to know if they’ll need to provide their child’s lunch or if we have a regulation size kitchen to prepare nutritious food. Until a few days ago, I’ve always said . . . Read More
Book fair week is more than selling books. Over the years it’s turned into a solid Seed tradition that somehow gets better every year. It’s a community event that brings people together, supports literacy and has become a rite of passage into spring. Coordinated by our hard working APA team and supported by staff, thoughtfulness . . . Read More
One of the fences along the canal where I walk is a work of art. In its own way, it’s beautiful. In addition to the under layer of wood, it includes various types of wire fencing, a rusty panel that looks like it may have been a sign at one time, some corrugated metal sheeting, . . . Read More
I’d like to clear something up. The emergent curriculum is not a haphazard process. It’s a well respected, research-based approach to authentic learning. The emergent curriculum is generally known for taking into account the interests of children and teachers, developmental tasks, things and people in the environment, unexpected events, and matters that arise from living . . . Read More
Over the weekend a snake slithered into the Seed. Somewhere between parent/teacher conferences and early Monday morning, the snake, a new digging spot, pots and pans mounted on the fence and a log meeting circle appeared in the Preschool 2.5/3s’ outdoor area. In a short time, the space was transformed into an inviting dirt-floored classroom. . . . Read More
Tubs of tree bark, egg cartons, rocks and sticks rest on a sunny table. They provide an invitation for four- and five-year-olds to use their imaginations to create bird houses. The idea for making bird houses originated from one student and extended out to the entire class. This happens all the time at the Seed. . . . Read More