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Inspiring

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A. Passion, epiphany
B .Agree- I believe, as Yates said, that the very best education is about lighting the fire.
C.pg 12. What I am really talking about is supporting ourselves in finding ways to deeply and richly experience life in all its complexity: wonder, joy, sorrow, excitement , frustration, curiosity, laughter, learning, and love.

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As a child, I mostly played outside with my two twin cousins. We explored and played in imaginary worlds. As a teacher and a mother I sought ways that me and the children/child could experience nature together.

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Adventure

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A. Self Care and authenticity
B/C.  How much do I censor my authentic self because I am afraid of what others reactions might be? Children respond to nature in a transformative way. Their anger softens, their empathy deepens, their curiosity grows and the creative spark inside them burst into flames.

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As a child, I wasn't allowed to have a lot of outside play due to my parents fear. As a result, I didn't allow for my kids to kids to explore unsupervised. This is a regret of mine. I am working on correcting this for the children in my programs.

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"Children deserve to be taught by people who delight in the wonders of the world and are eager to share them. Children deserve to be taught by people who teach through positive example."

It is so important for us to share our enthusiasm with the children to help them grow and develop and become (and stay) excited about learning

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Like most children of my generation, I spent a lot of time outside. I remember my Dad bringing home my first tricycle, my first bike with training wheels, my little red fire engine (had pedals to push to make it go), playing on the swing set, climbing a tree with my cousins at our grandmothers house....My best memories are from being outside.

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Exploration

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A. heart-centered , authenticity, JOY, transformative
B. SO many that I agree with, but here are a few:
"Children know authenticity when they see it."
"Children deserve to be taught by people who delight in the wonders of the world and are eager to share them..."
"...children's skill development is only one aspect of learning, and not the most important one at that."
"The emphasis in today's world seems to be on test scores, teacher accountability and efficiency, not on 'right hearts.'"
C. One of my big commitments as a director is to have a center where ALL kids can learn and no one gets asked to leave, EVER. I think this quote expresses beautifully why I think NATURE needs to be at the core of our program- "Children respond to nature in a transformative way. Their anger softens, their empathy deepens, their curiosity grows and the creative spark inside them bursts into flames."

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I spent much of my childhood play outside. Riding bikes, playing "house" in the front yard and making "food" out of rocks, mulch, grass, sticks... whatever we could find. Our plates were always the leaves from the neighbor's magnolia tree! This reflects what I am working TOWARD offering children at our center as I go on a learning journey with my staff to be more nature-based, more Reggio-inspired.

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FUN!!

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I was outside a lot as a child. I grew up in smoke town in Louisville. It was mostly playing in alleys and parking lots. We lived near a park but weren’t really allowed to go there without an adult because of the crime.  Playing with other kids and without adults is where real learning, communication, critical thinking, imagination, idea of fairness, and creativity among other things, lives

When I was working directly with children I think I did trust them to do what thought they wanted to do within reason. If they had ideas I heard them and often tried them. I wasn’t quick to stop them from exploring, but instead there to make when they wanted to try safe. As curriculum coach I try to pass that same relaxed idea onto teachers.

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I can’t think of just one:

Discovery- of self and of nature

Harmony – between all things

Curing

Adventure

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Children deserve to be taught by people who delight in the wonders of the world and are eager to share them.

The direct quote from the book really speaks to me. I feel like it has April Crow written all over it.

I love to learn things, again, for the first time with children.

Connections with nature deepen your ability to support children from a heart-centered place by experiencing what life unchained looks like. Breaking everything down by what it looks like raw and untamed helps to grasp the idea of the circle of life and helps with understanding our place in the universe.

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1. Agree/ “I like to offer a new way of thinking. I’m convinced if we want to inspire children to become their best selves, we first have to become ours.

2. Opposition/ The quotes are mostly from European standards. As an African American woman I understand that apart of loving yourself is also by seeing representation of people who look like you. Even though I do not disagree with what the educators are saying, OUR representation is hardly seen or heard.

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My childhood outdoor experience was always outdoors.  I had to use my imagination to have fun, but it was so much fun and purity that came from playing in nature. I felt connected and not distant from reality. The reason was because I was feeling apart of nature and it allowed for me to meet friends because I was out and EXPLORING.

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FUN!

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Louie Schwartzberg: Nature. Beauty. Gratitude.