Category Archives: children

the beast.

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‘the beast’ finally sees his shadow, horns and all

 

“for man, as for flower and beast and bird, the supreme triumph is to be most vividly, most perfectly alive.”

-d.h. lawrence

in fresco.

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“teach the children, it’s painting in fresco.”

— ralph waldo emerson

 

How do you paint in fresco?

Frescos are paintings that are created by adding paint to wet plaster. When an artist paints a mural on a wall, they start by applying a layer of plaster to the wall and then add the paint. The paint sinks into the plaster as it dries and it becomes part of the wall.

the final conference.

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after many years

yesterday

was my very last experience

sitting at a table

sharing stories with families

listening to their stories

 connecting over something unique and wonderful

their child

at parent teacher conferences

in priceless conversations.

“conversations are the most direct way to connect with people.”

-padgett powell, american novelist 

kids watching kids.

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where are those kids going and what are they up to?

today we went back to the farm

to see how it has changed since our fall visit

there were no leaves

there were no pumpkins

there were lots of new babies

there was not a lot of green

but the animals were as sweet as ever

and that never changes.

‘to teach children that animals have certain rights

creates in their minds a respect and regard for life.’

*-caroline earle white

*Caroline Earle White founded the first animal shelter in the United States in 1869. Born on September 28, 1833 in Philadelphia, Penn., White became an influential figure not only in animal welfare, but also fought for women’s suffrage and equality. White and a group of 30 women activists created the Women’s Pennsylvania Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (WPSPCA), America’s first official animal shelter. Later known as the Women’s Humane Society, the organization pioneered programs that helped save homeless animals and employed animal cruelty officers to prevent and punish animal abuse. The organization still operates today as the Women’s Animal Center.

word after a word.

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someone sure has a lot to say
not sure exactly what that is yet
but i think
someone has to pay something.
“a word after a word after a word is power.”
― margaret atwood

the language of hands.

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“look, i made a map! and it goes right to my house!”

 

‘the most expressive part of the body when it comes to art. 

for a child, their hands often become their voice.’

-the art of creativity

tree huggers.

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 the kinder were very worried about a tree that had lost some of its bark

they spent a long time finding little chunks of bark lying on the ground

trying to piece it back together and fill it in like a puzzle.

some had questions about how it might have fallen off.

‘was it a big, big storm?’

‘did something hurt it?’

‘did it get sick?’

some had thoughts about the tree.

 ‘i remember this tree from when we played here.’

‘that’s kind of sad.’

‘don’t worry, i saw in a book that it will be okay.’

try as they might, they couldn’t get the bark 

to stick back on the bare part of the trunk

they left the pieces nearby on the ground around it

 used a stick to mark where it was

 gave it a hug before we walked back to our classroom.

“there’s nothing wrong with having a tree as a friend.”

-bob ross

reports.

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*frank the 6-month-old puppy with his report card that hailed him as the “life of the party.”


spending the recent past writing report cards
for the kinder
 always a fascinating trip down memory lane
seeing how far they’ve come already

an unlimited distance still to go
the good, the bad, and the unexplained
all the good hearts, dramas, tears, and laughs
each their very own person
learning as we go.

all of us.

*more of frank the puppy’s report card:

“We sent him there because he is truly the most energetic puppy I have ever met,” his mom told Newsweek. “Our older dog needed a break,” she joked.

When Frank came home with the report card, she was in stitches. “I thought it was hysterical when I saw it because I can only imagine that Frank is probably the class clown that’ll do anything for a laugh and that’s definitely his idea of the best time,” she said.

Described on the card as the “life of the party,” the report also says that Frank loved wrestling with his buddies.

“It makes my heart so happy to know that he has so many pals at preschool,” said Spahr. Working on etiquette skills in his preschool class, the report also told Frank’s owners that his best friends are Daisy, Cooper, Vader, Hudson, and even a dog named Angus Beef.

“my report card always said, ‘jim finishes first and then disrupts the other students.”

-jim carrey

 

credits: newsweek magazine uk, alice gibbs

snow very happy.

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“well, I know now.  know a little more how much a simple thing like a snowfall can mean to a person”
― sylvia plath

 

 

tribute.

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during the wake

we all gathered inside

close together

to talk, eat, laugh, cry, listen to music, tell stories, remember

celebrate a life

the children from 4-10

all played together

went outside

chalk in hand

 wrote a beautiful welcome to all who would come

and loving tributes to the one who had left.

“tears are words that need to be written.”

-paul coelho