My First Grader Taught Me To Knit

There is so much power in learning from a child.  I can't even count all the lessons I've learned from my son about slowing down, enjoying life, etc.  But to learn a practical skill from a seven year old. . .

Sam attends a Waldorf school, and one of the subjects is Handwork.  In first grade their eighth grade buddies teach them to knit.

So I ask him if he want to teach me to knit, and he explains that I need to make or buy knitting needles and yarn.  I opted for buying them!

He was a patient teacher, and I was quickly hooked.  I'm already looking up videos and he is explaining to me projects I could be making.

Why is this so good?  It's amazing to see your own child as the "expert" and yourself as the "novice."  It gives children confidence in their abilities.  It makes us both more open to learning and trying new things.

What can you learn from your kids or students?

Thumbprint Art

When I was a kid I adored the book by Ed Emberley.   This cover was the one I remember, but there are several new versions, too.  Thumbprint art is fun and inexpensive.  It doesn't require fancy materials or extensive set up or clean up.

Now I have a son who also enjoys thumbprint art!  Here is work he recently  created on his own.

How could we use this in the classroom?

• Illustrations for a writing narrative
• Reviewing characters in an animal story
• Creating a character to write about
• Illustrations for math number stories
• Art component for science unit on animals

Other possibilities include:  greeting cards, indoor recess, free choice center, art or creative expression, and creative thinking.

Some tips:

• Have a moist paper towel close at hand
• Don't have colorful stamp pads?  Use washable markers.
• Pintrest has many examples
• Have examples younger students can recreate and model the process, and then the rest can be independent

Happy thumbprint creating!

Seasonal art

Even if you can't find much time for art at least once a quarter make some seasonal art.  Fall is a great time to start because pumpkins and gourds make wonderful still life.  You can see some drawings that some kids started one year here.

I love art as a process so I would do several quick 15 minute sessions.  Here is what I would do:

Plan to model each of these for one or two minutes.
1.  Sketch the still life with pencil
2.  Trace around the objects with crayons.
3.  Add color with watercolor paints.  {If you don't have paints, crayons or color pencils will work nicely.  This would be a lovely way to teach kids to use several colors together, working lightest to darkest.}

Need a reason to justify season art?  Write poetry or seasonal narratives, and display them together.

28 Uses for a Single Sheet Eight Page Booklet

I love having kids create their own learning.  It takes much more time, but it's so worth it.  One of my favorite little tools is a little booklet made from a single sheet of paper.  These are probably too small for students under third grade, but from there on up the uses are limitless.

Here is a little video to show you how to make two different styles of the little book:

And I came up with 28 ways that popped into my head for using this book.  I bet you can think of tons more.  If anything comes to mind, please add it in the comments.

How many uses can you think of for a little 1 sheet eight page booklet?

1.  Record daily temperature or weather
2. Answer a daily word problem/number story
3. Write a story using spelling words
4. Make a comic book using spelling words
5. Write spelling words in different fancy fonts
6. Use spelling words in sentences
7. Word of the day--each booklet could contain 7 words with a “chapter” title page for the theme of those 7 words
8. Create “How to” process books ie How to make chocolate chip cookies
9. Use to record steps of scientific method for a science experiment or demonstration
10.   Record ways to make the number for that day of the school year.  If it’s the 25th day, use 25 tally marks, a quarter, 5 x 5, 20 + 5, twenty-five, etc.
11.   Make a comic book or what you are studying in any subject
12.   Retell a story
13.   Make a timeline
14.   Make a little magazine collage on each page
15. Use to show examples of a grammar concept--Write sentences and highlight all the nouns or all the adjectives
16.   Make lists of words that can be used instead of overused words
17.   Make a book on a topic of study for a younger student
18.   Record growth over time--i.e. from egg to butterfly
19.   Examples of good study habits
20.   Examples of kind behavior at recess
21.   Write a story on any topic
22.   Record favorite quotes
23.   Write a recipe
24.   Record definitions for vocabulary words
25.   Illustrate vocabulary words
26.   Make a multi-page card filled with good wishes (ie what you wish for mom on Mother’s Day)
27.  Use the booklet as a final assessment at the end of a science or social studies unit.
28. Incorporate into science notebooking

I totally love story stones

Material:  Sticker and gems or rocks

Two little sets:  Woodland plants and animals and meadow life

I totally love story stones!  I think they are a great way to incorporate more creativity into the common core classroom.

You can go to pintrest of just search "story stones" to find many more beautiful and creative pieces than those that I have made!  One blog post I particularly like is HERE.

I want for simple--down and dirty.  I just use stickers on glass gems or rocks.  My classroom students and kids yoga students have both enjoyed using them.  They can be used whole class, in partnerships, at table teams, or as a learning center alone.  They can be used to strengthen certain skills (ie. describing words or beginning/middle/end).  They can be used for differentiation, too.  They are fun, and so you know kids will like them.

With 4th graders it might be fun to try putting vocabulary or specific words on story rocks instead of pictures or stickers.  If you try this, let me know how it works!

Supplies

a variety of small stickers
rocks or glass gems
modge podge + brush
box or bag for storage

1.  Choose stickers that will work well for the size of rocks or gems you have.  {Small round stickers are great on small glass gems.}  Consider if you want some stickers that seem like they fit together for a particular topic--woodland animals and plants or all insects or jungle animals.
2.  Add stickers to rocks
3.  Modge podge over the tops of the stickers and allow them to sit out and dry overnight
4.  Store story stones in a bag or box.  {You might want to store each set in its own little pouch.}

What about the common core standards?  Where does this fit in?

I'm just highlighting the anchor standards that apply to every grade:

Speaking/Listening:  
Prepare for and participate effectively in a range of conversations and collaborations with diverse partners, building on others’ ideas and expressing their own clearly and persuasively.

Writing:  Text Type and Purpose:
Write narratives to develop real or imagined experiences or events using effective technique, well-chosen details, and well-structured event sequences.

Writing:  Production and Distribution of Writing:

• Produce clear and coherent writing in which the development, organization, and style are appropriate to task, purpose, and audience
• Develop and strengthen writing as needed by planning, revising, editing, rewriting, or trying a new approach. 

Have you used story stones?  How?

Best wishes with bringing more beauty and creativity into your classroom.  Let us know how it works!

How Creative Can you Be?

I love creativity.  I love recycling/upcycling.  I save Altoid tins.  I've obsessed about what to do with them for years.

I wanted to share an art book I recently made, because I thought it might spark your creativity for what you could do with such things for yourself or your students.

I made a book titled Curiously Strong Change.  Here are some photos:

Tag!  Your it!  What has this sparked in you?

Top Tips for Igniting Creativity Mojo

It takes a huge amount of creative energy to be an amazing teacher.  Sometimes the creative stream seems to have dried up and become a harsh desert.  Here are some of my best ideas for bringing back that creativity mojo.

5.  Unplug for as long as you possibly can--a day, a week, a month.  All that access to the world and crazy cat videos does not fuel our creativity.  Quite the opposite.  Turn everything off and take a little break.  I used to do this one day every week.  You will be amazed what your brain will do when it's not constantly thinking about facebook.

4.  Take a little artsy/craftsy class or workshop {Did I mention I'm teaching 2 later this month.}  It doesn't have to be fancy or expensive.  And the less it is something you "usually do" the better.  Find a Wine and Canvas event, and drag a friend with you.

3.  Take a nap.  Sometimes I actually go to sleep thinking about creative problem solving, and it's crazy what I come up with the next day.  Sleep is essential to creativity.

2.  Grab some old art or craft supplies and see what you create.  Let it flow.  It doesn't have to be anything you ever show to anyone.  I LOVE to grab a few old magazines, scissors, glue, and a big piece of paper.  I'm amazed by what becomes clear when I glue all those little phrases down.

1.  This is my number one best tip:  Go for a walk in nature.  If possible do this alone.  If possible make this a regular part of your life.  It will change the way you see the world, your problems, your body, and so much more.  Let yourself just relax--especially your mind.  I can't tell you how many times I've been driving home from a couple mile walk in the woods and an idea will just pop into my head.  It's amazing.

I want to point out that most of these ideas are FREE.  That does NOT make them easy.  It's all about stepping outside of your regular routine.  That is always a little tricky so BEST WISHES!

Take Apart Center for Home or School

When I started teaching {back in the dark ages} I had a take apart center in my first and second grade classrooms.  People would send in broken gadgets and gizmos, and the students would use screwdrivers, pliers, and rubber mallets to disassemble everything from an iron to a computer keyboard.  They learned so much through this process of exploration!

WARNING:  Make sure the devices you take apart do not have any toxic components--televisions and computer monitors are especially bad.  Also, cut off all cords before leaving something for students in the classroom!

Fast forward about 18 years, and you will find that I live with a very curious almost six year old.  He has taken apart a mixer, hair dryer, toy robot, CD player, and quite a few other things.  He has learned so much {for example, speakers have magnets that you can attach a LOT of screws onto!}  He has even taken apart a TV under the supervision of Dad.  {I don't recommend this unless you do research, as some parts still hold an electric charge.}  I do recommend the free exploration of the world around us.  My son is waiting for me to say yes to taking apart a DVD player that I think is dead.

This is such an inexpensive way to encourage discovering and exploration.  I think it would even be great for inside recess days.  If you put the word out, it's easy to get a box full of items, and there is a good bet that a local hardware would donate a few tools.

How do you integrate exploration and discovery into your classroom and your own world?

Make It For Mom Or Anyone

Mother's Day is just around the corner.  Some years it comes and goes with little acknowledgement in my classroom.  It really depends on the lives of my students.  I always try to emphasize that we can honor everyone who loves us.

The next step is finding something to make that is not too difficult or too expensive.  This year my friend Kathy showed me these great paper and pipe cleaner flowers.  I thought they would make great pins.  So here is our flower pin project that we are making in stages this week.

All you need for this little gem is a piece of scrapbook paper, 4 pipe cleaners--12 inches and cut in half (8 that are 6 inches long),  one or more buttons, glue and a pin back

Twist the pipe cleaner so that it looks like a balloon with a string.

Glue all 8 of these onto the scrapbook paper.  Let dry overnight!

The next day cut out these paper petals.  Then choose the six you like the best and twist together to form a flower.  This step might need the most help!

Then glue on the button(s) and the pin back.  Let these dry overnight.

Then we are going to put them in decorated white lunch bags and make cards.

I wore the one in the top picture on Monday, and that made the students more excited to make these.

Are you making anything fun in your classroom these days

Making Time For Creativity

I am the last person who is going to tell you it is easy to find time to be creative.  In fact, I don't think we find time.  I think we make time by making intentional decisions about what to include in our lives.  It is not easy, but it is worth it--well worth it!  Here is my experience and my tips that grew out of it:

Waterscape watercolor created this weekend.

Close up flower corner of painting

Close up of beach grass

For most of my adult life I had lots of after work time when I could create.  I had few responsibilities or time commitments outside of work.  Somehow I was always busy--sometimes the busy-ness was productive and constructive, but sometimes I was busy watching TV or eating ice cream.

I am now the bread-winner in my house, and I live with an active 3 year old (I know that's redundant!)  I am busy and tired.  I have every reason to never take a photo or make a painting or blog or create products or events for Brave Teachers.

Here is what I know:

• I can create in very small snippets of time.  The painting above was created in many little 2 - 5 minute segments around spending time with my family.  Sometimes I'm tempted to think I need to go into seclusion for a week or at least a weekend.  That might be nice, but it's not necessary.
• I do not need a large space of lots of materials to create.  Most people would laugh at the cheap watercolors I use, and my camera is just a little Cannon Powershot.  I usually paint in a space off our kitchen that is 4 x 7.  It's enough.
• I can include my family in many parts of creating.  We love to walk in the woods or hike the Towpath.  I usually have my little camera with me.  The bonus is that I get many fun photos of my family that I wouldn't otherwise get.  My son LOVES to watercolor with me, and sometimes I just set aside my project to have fun with him.
• I can schedule times for creativity.  I have a couple BIG projects that I'm going to unveil for summer.  This is the 2 week window in which I am just creating--this stuff will evolve into posters and calendars, but for now I'm just creating.  {It's VERY fun and freeing!}  By making a schedule and a timeline I am able to feel really good about creating now, and not worry about what is not getting done.
• I can ask for help and time.  I am just learning how to do this, and it's hard!  My husband spends the day with our son, and then he has other plans several nights a week.  I told him that I needed one evening a week to plan, recharge, and be.  I go from school to yoga and then to creative time on Wednesdays.  I have a favorite coffee shop, and I plan blogs, plan in notebooks, and sometimes create there.  It's amazing to me what comes to me in that 1 - 2 1/2 hour block each week.  It's a start!
• It has to be fun.  If I'm not excited about it, everything else will suck me in.  {I know it's time to revaluate when I am mopping the kitchen floor rather than create!}

If you're looking for more on this topic the most powerful voice in my life on this topic is Melody Ross over at Brave Girls Club.  She is so inspiring because she really walks the walk.  I highly recommend the online classes as a  reason to be creative and figure out priorities for yourself and live the life that was meant for you.

My Vacation Souvenir

So I just returned form an amazing and delicious week at Lakeside with my little family. If you don't know Lakeside, I will just say there is no place on earth like it! While we were there we saw amazing shows by Gaelic Storm, Apollo's Fire, and a crazy juggling duo, Passing Zone.

I taught Art and Soul of Brave Teachers.
Sam loved God Squad with Chip Richter and his wife and kids.
Virgil took a chainmail class and spent lots of time in Lake Erie with Sam.

But what did I bring back?

I brought back such a renewed sense of creativity in the artistic sense of the word. I just want to take classes and learn how to do all sorts of new fun stuff. I think I'm going to do the Akron in Plein Air event next weekend. I'm thinking of entering a photography show. I have ideas for new photo card sets and new products for the etsy shop. Oh, and I hope to take a metal stamping class, too. It's a LOT--I know, but I'm just going with it. I'm sure there will be lots of updates, so stay tuned!

From my point of view renewed creativity and artistry seems like a pretty good vacation souvenir!

Do Schools Kill Creativity?

This is one of the most thought provoking 20 minutes I've spent in a professional capacity in quite some time. I'd love to discuss it with others.

http://www.ted.com/index.php/talks/ken_robinson_says_schools_kill_creativity.html