I’d like to say something about the teachers. I mentioned last week our meeting to discuss how we could expand our conversation about race, culture and diversity. I didn’t realize at the time how quickly they would take it to heart. This week conversations have been popping up all over the school, many inspired by Dr. . . . Read More
At our staff meeting on Monday, the lead teachers sat together to take a closer look at what we do at the Seed to promote diversity. Utilizing materials from Teaching Tolerance (http://www.tolerance.org), an educational project of the Southern Poverty Law Center, we began with these two questions for each teacher: How do you incorporate culture . . . Read More
I’ll admit, it was good to have a break. We traveled to the ocean for a few days and I caught up on my sleep. I didn’t make as much progress cleaning out my art room, but I did finish a writing project that had been looming. It was a good time to pause and . . . Read More
Seed magic was alive and well last night. Onstage for the first time in South Mountain High School’s auditorium, our Seeds put on a show that warmed hearts, dazzled eyes, delighted ears, and offered a message of hope. With Mem Fox’s book Whoever You Are (http://memfox.com/books/whoever-you-are/) as a starting point, one-year-olds through 4th graders danced . . . Read More
Everything changed a month ago and I’m still regaining my footing. It hasn’t been easy and I know, in comparison to a vast majority of people on the planet, my life is blessed. I know the shift that needs to happen is within and that’s where my focus lies these days. Looking for inspiration last night . . . Read More
This week Gwen’s Castle and its outlying area became an art gallery. Inspired by the work of Andy Goldsworthy, a British artist who works with nature to create his art, the 3rd/4th graders made their own sculptures and arrangements. This project was part of the Seed’s Art Masterpiece program, where parent volunteers present a lesson . . . Read More
Fifty-three years ago on November 22, the President of the United States was assassinated. I was twelve years old. All weekend we sat glued to the TV, watching John F. Kennedy’s family grieve in public. Seeing JFK’s young children say goodbye to their father was one of the most heartbreaking scenes I’d witnessed thus far . . . Read More
When faced with a situation that feels problematic, I often rely on a simple question: What is true? Of course this is a tricky question because everyone has their own truth. So perhaps a better question would be: From my perspective, what is true? I find that just asking this question slows down my racing . . . Read More
On Tuesday morning, the day of America’s notorious election, I took my daily walk. For a brief moment I gazed at the sky to see a cloud formation that reminded me of Arizona’s flag. At that particular time I wasn’t even thinking about the election, I was reflecting on a fleeting but meaningful friendship I’d . . . Read More
There was a major oversight in last week’s blog. After composing an extensive list of all the people who contributed to the carnival’s success, I missed one of the most important people, one so obvious I totally missed him. Bill. For many of the tasks, we would also include his sidekick in maintenance, Richard. If . . . Read More
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