Earlier this week I was covering a playground shift in Gwen’s Castle. A few of the kids had built a makeshift fort between the wall and a bush. A brick annex was added, including a tire propped upright, held in place by large rocks. Groups of children moved fluidly in and out of this space. . . . Read More
For the second week in a row, light shining through glass jars caught my eye. This time it was in the PreK, after a weekend rearranging frenzy by its teaching duo. A science corner was set up with all kinds of natural objects, including a large rock occupying almost an entire shelf. The loft was . . . Read More
In a thoughtful space between an impressively successful carnival and Halloween itself, our lead staff met to talk about about teaching. I always look forward to these conversations, as they are strong reminders of why the Seed exists and how fortunate we are to work in an environment that not only invites children to think . . . Read More
It’s a busy week. On Friday night we’ll hold our annual Halloween carnival, a Seed tradition since the 1980s. The carnival has grown from a tiny event on a crowded school yard into a much-expanded major production. Preparations for a carnival basically begin right after the previous one, involving hundreds of hours by a small, . . . Read More
A small okra forest fills the space between the sidewalk and straw bale bench in the kindergarteners’ outdoor area. It was not planted intentionally, by the class anyway. When I first noticed the broad green leaves, I thought it might be okra. Although it’s a food not high on my list of favorites, I’ve tried . . . Read More
We’ve had a monsoon of enthusiasm from our alumni lately. Little did I know that a few dozen Seed archive photos would invite such an enthusiastic response. Last night while digging through closets at home, I hit a photo jackpot. I was searching for old carnival photos and ended up reliving the last 38 years . . . Read More
Four stories surfaced. At first they seemed unrelated, but with further thought, it became apparent that the stories are all about connection. Connections made by children, connections made by teachers, connections teachers are helping children make. They are about connecting to the world beyond and from our past experiences. Here are the stories: #1: . . . Read More
Digging holes is sweaty business. Although the temperature is dropping theoretically, it’s still hot enough to be dripping with sweat at the end of a digging session. Over the summer I had the idea to take a few of our excellent logs and partially bury them around the second sand circle to make a pathway. . . . Read More
It’s no secret that innovation is on our minds. As we pursue the conversation, timely and relevant material keeps coming our way. The idea of innovation fits perfectly with our staff’s growing interest in incorporating more of the STEM activities (science, technology, engineering and math) into the curriculum at all levels. We’re devoting this . . . Read More
I knew it would be a rainy day schedule, based on how hard it poured Sunday night. I just didn’t know the extent of that schedule, for the Seed and the rest of the valley. Reminiscent of snow days when I was a kid, it was the first ever closure for the Seed due to . . . Read More
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