One of the best pieces of teaching advice I ever got was “Quit while they’re still kicking.” At first, I didn’t get it. Why quit if the kids are still having fun? Turns out, there’s an art to knowing when to end an activity. Here’s a case in point. I went skating on Monday with my […]
“Quit while they’re still kicking” or when to know it’s time to leave Read More »
I let three 9-year-old boys walk a good distance ahead of the group on a hike at Governor Nelson State Park last week. This might not sound like a big deal, but it was for them. They wanted to feel independent. And yet, they kept looking back, just to make sure we were still there. That’s
A Taste of Independence: Trusting kids Read More »
Thursday was cold, very cold. Temps topped out at about 10 degrees with a nasty wind chill. As a result, kids at Lowell and Emerson Elementary schools had no recess – their second in a row. Now, it was my turn. Would I take 11 kids cross country skiing? We did the week before and
Is it ever too cold to Get Kids Outside? Read More »
Devil’s Lake is beautiful, but it can also be dangerous. So, it was with a healthy dose of caution that I took 9 kids on a 2.5 mile hike. We went up the East Bluff Trail, down the Balanced Rock Trail, and then back to the North Shore along the railroad tracks. It’s a classic
Devil’s Lake: Danger, Turkey Vultures & 2 Billion Year Old Rocks Read More »
Friday we had insect club with 15 Kindergarten and first graders. The plan was to have the kids dig pitfall traps and then hunt for insects. We did both of these things, but the outcomes were different than expected. I’ll make some observations and then suggest changes for the next outing. Observation One: Kids love
Insect Safari with Kindergarten and 1st graders: Notes and Tips Read More »
We do lots of bubbling during warm weather. Here are some tips for hours of happy, bubbling fun with lots of kids. These guidelines use the Big Bubble Wands and recipe available on this blog. 1) Make Bubble Juice: Make at least 2 gallons of bubble juice. It’s cheap and you don’t want to run
Bubble Party: Tips for Bubbling with a lot of Kids Read More »
Lippy kids bug me. When a kid is defiant, my face tenses up. My voice tightens. My whole body stiffens. I want to push back. That’s exactly what the kid wants. That’s exactly what doesn’t work to alter the situation. Truth is, some kids are sassy. It’s my job to respond in a calm manner
Lippy Kids: How to react in a positive way Read More »
Q: How do you teach kids the art of listening? A: One minute at a time. While hiking today at the Arboretum with 10 kids, I tried something new. I held up my watch and said, “For one minute, let’s see how many birds we can hear.” It wasn’t perfect silence, but that’s okay. The
One minute of silence: Listening to the birds at the Arboretum Read More »
It’s spring and it’s time to get kids outside to enjoy the nice weather. There are countless ways to do this, but where to start? If you are new to taking kids outside, here are a few tips: Give your Activity a Purpose. Pick up trash, have a scavenger or insect hunt, look for different
Tips for Simple Outdoor Fun Read More »
Kids are loud. I don’t always want to hush them up, especially when outside. On the other had, if they miss the sounds of the outdoors altogether then I don’t think I’m doing my job as a teacher. Yes, kids are loud, but teaching kids the value of being quiet is a gift. On Saturday,
Zero Voice: Making it quiet on the trail Read More »
