The end of the school year feels like a fast moving train about to arrive at the station. It seems like three weeks ago that we started our 40th year, and here we are almost finished. Teachers are working on assessments, final projects, and bringing closure to big studies. In the background we’re gearing up . . . Read More
It’s Thursday afternoon and I’m sitting at the table where a significant chapter of the Seed’s history began. It’s the same Starbucks table where, on Christmas Eve years ago, Danielle and I first entertained the idea of her eventually stepping into the directorship of Awakening Seed. It seems like such a long time ago, yet . . . Read More
This week as the temperature crept toward 100, Seed artists added final touches to our new mural. On the wall along 40th Street, it’s like no other mural among the dozens painted throughout the Seed’s South Phoenix history. This one was a community effort, bringing together ideas and talents of many. It began through a generous . . . Read More
Last week’s Earth Day celebrations delivered a wealth of blogging topics. On Friday morning, as the Toddler 1s practiced placing recyclables in a bin with a huge recycling symbol on it, the Seed was visited by Channel 3 for a segment of Good Morning, Arizona. The interviewer, Lina deFlorias, was masterful with the children. She started . . . Read More
Monday was National Sibling Day. I’m grateful to my three siblings, each for his or her specific contribution to my life. Admittedly, I was at times the bossy older sister, and it has been noted that my two youngest siblings were camped outside my bedroom counting the minutes till I packed up my things and left . . . Read More
At first glance, the name of our summer art camp might seem odd. If you lean into it for a bit, I think you’ll understand. Our intention for the summer is to provide an arts program for children that invites creativity and self-expression. Additionally, this year we’ve included a social justice piece, as we explore . . . Read More
As I write this, teachers and parents are engaged already in midyear conferences. The amount of preparation that goes into these conferences is significant. Lead teachers do most of the work and there are additional layers of staff support that round out the process. It’s a major wave of stories documented and preserved for . . . Read More
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
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
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
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
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
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
Last Friday Danielle and I had the rare privilege of covering lunch and nap time in the Toddler 2s. Both teachers were away, attending to family matters, and all our subs were occupied. Over the years we’ve both spent our share of time in the toddler classrooms, particularly at lunch time and helping with the . . . Read More
I’m always curious this time of year to see what the teachers come up with for the art auction. On Monday I wandered through classrooms to see what was in the works. My expectations were far surpassed. What I found so interesting was that all of the pieces have some connection to nature, either through . . . Read More