Monday 10 September 2012

Gratitude


I have had the good fortune in my life to be around a great many generous people and they inspired me so much that the unit of inquiry “Generosity Abounds” arose from my desire to understand it more.  Learning from the minds, hearts and actions of our little ones is inspirational. 

I was reminded of generosity once again when Anamaria called me yesterday to say that she and her boyfriend Stefan were doing the furniture shopping that she and I had planned to get done this week. What I learned was that not only was she taking her day off to do the shopping.  In fact she and Stefan were putting everything together and setting up the furniture so that the teachers and children would have things in order for Monday.  Such acts of generosity abound at Creative Minds.  From families helping keep the sinks running well, to smart board instruction and the filming and making of the concert DVDs, to paper recycling, kind words of thanks and boxes of chocolates (from our favourite places!)

This is my opportunity to thank everyone at Creative Minds who make this space such a place of warmth and joy.  Each day we come to work we know that we are appreciated and we want you to know that you are appreciated as well.  You grace us with your trust that we will care for your children and you share your laughter in so many ways.  It is this that makes the work light.

In gratitude,

Kate

Friday 31 August 2012

Beautiful Moments


Hello Families,

The teachers and I have been reflecting on the events of the summer and giggling in the retelling of the stories about camping trips in the forest, bike riding accomplishments, water play and cake days!  It was a great summer wasn’t it?  Kathryn shared a story with us about one of the children’s sense of history while at Creative Minds.  We were astounded to hear that the young child could retell, in order, the units of inquiry that have taken shape over the last 2 years!  Can you imagine it?  I can’t even name them all in order.  It may be because his mother has copies of all of the photo journals but I don’t think that explains it all.  I think part of this spectacular re/membering comes from the child’s complete immersion in the moments of play, conversation and exploration alone and with others.  It seems to me that while we are busy photographing, collecting and recording there is a part of us that is removed from the event.  I’m sure you have noticed this too as you video record or photograph your children’s special events.  It made me wonder.  There is a emphasis at Creative Minds on recording the learning process in order to develop reflective practice, to support the children’s unique and individual learning needs and to celebrate with children and families, the wonderful events that grow out of our time together.  This seems reasonable, purposeful and important to continue.  In the middle of this thinking I came upon a quote from one of my favouite authors, Toni Morrison.  She wrote, in Tar Baby,

"At some point in life the world's beauty becomes enough. You don't need to photograph, paint or even remember it. It is enough. No record of it needs to be kept and you don't need someone to share it with or tell it to. When that happens — that letting go — you let go because you can."


I am reminded to take the time, like our young learner, to be with the beauty of the moment.  To let it sit with me, wash over me and become part of me.

As we ask you to bring in photos of your child know that we are making this request while holding Morrison’s thought of the beauty of the moment in mind. 

Wishing you all a restful long weekend.

Kate

Sunday 22 July 2012

Child Honouring

Hello Families,

As the teachers and I sat together for brunch on Saturday (thanks to you for the gift) we discussed the ways we support the children to enter into conversation with one another and with each of us.  We pondered the deep relevance this action has for the children.  It is central to our connection with them and what we hear them say plays an important role in the curriculum that develops.

As I continued to think about our role and the value of the conversations we all have at Creative Minds I came upon some work by Raffi.  Many years ago I participated in a conference at UBC where Raffi was the guest speaker.  At first his words seemed just that, words, with little connection to my work as a teacher of 25 children in primary classroom.  Today,  I ponder how Raffi's commitment to children has taken shape.  I also reflect on how Creative Minds has taken shape and I am grateful for the warmth, appreciation and support so many families has given us in our process.

I share these with you as an opening to even more conversation:

Here is the short clip:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mp61lUu8VaA&feature=player_embedded and here is the web site: http://www.childhonouring.org/covenantprinciples.html

Enjoy.

kate

Tuesday 26 June 2012

The concert was a wonderful event for us all

Thank you everyone for entrusting your children to our care.

It was delightful seeing them on stage wasn't it?

Thanks to Doug for all his care and attention to the filming (and often the hours of editing to make a great DVD!)

Thanks also to Sean (Kai's dad) who worked with a friend to create the wonderful music for The Lollipop Tree.  We were in a tizzy because we couldn't find anything on the web that worked for the children and he was quick to create a wonderful version for us.

When it was clear that the children needed some support with the song our good friend Annette Coffin sang the song for us to practice with.

It's so great when we all come together like this right down to the clearing up at the end of the evening.

Thank you for your kind words and the gifts.

We love working with the children and can't wait to add those family photos to the current photo book.  Let us know if you want to order one.

Warmly,

Kate

Friday 8 June 2012

Ecology Workshop by SFU

The children had a wonderful time at an Ecology presentation by SFU Science Alive.  Mary brought a few children to the SelfDesign Learning Centre on 4th Avenue where I held a presentation for some school age learners.  It was delightful to see our little ones moving so confidently in a space with children ages 5/6/7.  At first they were tentative but they participated well and a couple of them also played the ecology movement game outside on the grass.  They are shown here completing the survey about the session and were very able to give descriptive feedback.  It was great also to have the connection with outside communities.

Friday 25 May 2012

Authorization Visit

Hello Families,


We had a bittersweet day today.  The Authorization team left with the comment that our program is one that exemplifies an Early Years IB program.  The children were enthusiastic learners and did a wonderful job demonstrating their reading of the musical score for the song we are doing for the concert.  The teachers explained in clear and concise ways how they improve the planners we develop for every unit of inquiry.  The parents shared their enthusiasm for the excitement that their children display at home as a result of the units of inquiry.  They shared that the children were being supported to be life-long, internationally-minded learners.


At the end of the day the team met with the Principal and the Co-ordinator to share some general comments.  The Authorization team did not share the outcome of the visit but the school will be made aware within 90 days.  There was some sense of hope shared so they feel they are on their way to making Southlands a strong IB Programme.


Creative Minds' position in the Authorization has been challenged however.  It appears that there were some irregularities in the first application 4 years ago (we may not have been adequately included).  Further, the fact that we are an independent body from the school poses the IBO some problems as far as who governs what.  I am not quite certain how this will play out and I have to say that I was rather taken aback by it all given that I provided the information for the final application and it was made clear that we were requesting Authorization as PART OF the school application.  I am disheartened by the lack of systems or policies to support such public/ventureventures especially ones that are in the best interests of all children.  


I don't know what will come of this I am reminded of the message in this quote:


We tend to forget that happiness doesn’t come as a result of getting something we don’t have, but rather of recognizing and appreciating what we do have. ~ Frederick Koenig


I appreciate that we have parents who are as wonderful as you all are and I will gaze upon the roses we just got from Caroline knowing that we will continue to see the beauty in all of this.


Kate

Monday 21 May 2012


Mindfulness and the Care of the Centre

I spent time in the Centre this weekend polishing the floor with my son.  The easy rhythm of our work compelled me to go back in the evening and do some simple tasks.  When there, in the quiet of the evening, I experienced an awakening to the space and to my senses within that space.  It was a reminder that in the care of the toys, the windows, the floors, I am showing the children my care for them.  It made me think about all the hours parents of Creative Minds children have given to the care of the building.  From plumbing help and the scrubbing of windows and walls to the organizing of the 3000+ books and the sorting of all that Lego!  Each of you have given so much to Creative Minds and the importance of the time you have given has not been overlooked.  In fact, each time we have a collective gathering to care for the space we, as teachers, experience a reawakening of our senses in that space.  As  Kabat-Zinn puts it " ...our primary connection to life is through our own interiority — the experiencing of our own body and all our senses, including the mind, which allow us to touch and be touched by the world, and to act appropriately in response to it."  Thus, our care of the space supports our care of the children in ways that go far beyond their safety and the programming.

I felt you might like to know that Tuesday is not just a work party, but an opportunity for us all to celebrate our care for the children.  

Kate

Wednesday 25 April 2012

The depth of learning

Hello Families,

As we near the start of the last unit of inquiry of the "school" year I am reminded how fast time seems to move for me.  I wanted to reflect on how I perceive time and in doing, came upon this:

"We usually think of time as a river, a river like the Nile, with strong, swift current bearing us further and further away from what we have been and toward the time when we will be not at all... But perhaps we should think of time as a deep, still pool rather than a fast-flowing river... Instead of looking back at time, we could look down into it... and now again different features of the past --different sights and sounds and voices and dreams--would rise to the surface: rise and subside, and the deep pool would hold them all, so that nothing was lost and nothing ever went away." -Meghan O'Rourke

This led me to think about how the children help us stay present in a place where time almost fails to exist when we gaze at them in awe as they learn and inquire into the world at their disposal.  I hope this next unit which begins next week brings us all opportunities for connection to one another and to our immediate environment.  The title of the next unit is  Plants in our Midst and the concepts that frame our study are connection, responsibility and function.  We welcome your thoughts and, as always, your stories about how the unit is supporting you and your children to act with care in the world.

Tuesday 24 April 2012

With thanks for parent help

Hello Families,

I just wanted to say thank you to Henry Au for his work today with the teachers.  Last week he did some careful reading of a blog we posted and noticed some flip chart paper on the SmartBoard...
He quickly figured out that a refresher on the use of the board might be helpful and offered to assist us.

Thank you Henry.  We will continue to learn how to make this a useful tool in our work with the children.


Every action in our lives touches on some chord that will vibrate in eternity. 
~Edwin Hubbel Chapin

Monday 9 April 2012

Take Another Look: Family Time in the Forest

Here's a chance to play and discover together.  We hope to see you all there.  Kathryn took a significant role in this and I'd love to support her efforts.



Family Event
an Ecological Treasure Hunt
Saturday April 14 1-4 PM
co-produced by PSPS, Metro Vancouver, and Creative Minds


Take Another Look
Discover where forest creatures eat, sleep and just hang out. 
Test your skills on this ecology treasure hunt with 
three levels of difficulty suitable for everyone!


Level 1 - Yellow Flags
The youngest participants will search for toys placed in the forest.  See the picture, 
find the toys, maybe count them .. and talk about whether it really belongs here.  


Level 2 - Red Flags
Look for where the mouse has been. 
Its not so easy to find the right place to match the photo and the clue.  
Talk about what the mouse might have been doing.



Level 3 - Blue Flags
Adults and youth will learn about  ecology as you match the clues  to the photos.



Where?
The loop trail, which is a little over a kilometre through the park 
begins by Southlands School, on Camosun St. at 39th Ave.

Thursday 5 April 2012

learning the aliveness of the world

So now that you have had a chance to think about the importance of gazing upon your children I bring you a title that you might want to pick up at the library...


'A New Culture of Learning: Cultivating the Imagination in a World of Constant Change
by Douglas Thomas and John Seely Brown, 


in which the authors say:

"The twenty-first century belongs to the tacit [as opposed to the explicit]. In the digital world we learn by doing, watching, and experiencing. ... In a world where things are constantly changing, focusing exclusively on the explicit dimension is no longer a viable model for education. 
"The problem is that almost every technique and practice we have for understanding how we learn has been about the explicit - the content - in a stable world." 




He's a link for the book
http://www.amazon.com/New-Culture-Learning-Cultivating-Imagination/dp/1456458884#reader_1456458884


So, while I don't want you to fear that things are so unstable, I want to encourage you to follow the inspiration of this poem that we have put at the on the parent bulletin board:



I tried to teach my child with books, 
He gave me only puzzled looks. 
I tried to teach my child with words, 
They passed him by oft unheard. 
Despairingly I turned aside
How shall I teach this childI cried. 
Into my hand he put the key, 
Come, he said, play with me...

Have a great weekend and we'll see you on Tuesday

Kate

Tuesday 3 April 2012

Having Genius

Hello Families,

I have had many conversations over the last few weeks with new-to-Creative-Minds families and with  current families about the process and meaning of knowing and knowledge.  There is too much to say in a short blog such as this but I would like to share a poem and a TED link with you to consider.  We have also put up a wonderful poem in the entrance of the room about our relationship with our children that we'd like you to consider.

Each day we work to create spaces where your children are awakened to their genie/genius.

Here's the poem by the late John O'Donohue

  • For Presence
Awaken to the mystery of being here 
and enter the quiet immensity of your own presence.

Have joy and peace in the temple of your senses.

Receive encouragement when new frontiers beckon.

Respond to the call of your gift and the courage to follow 
its path.

Let the flame of anger free you of all falsity.

May warmth of heart keep your presence aflame.

May anxiety never linger about you.

May your outer dignity mirror an inner dignity of 
soul.

Take time to celebrate the quiet miracles that seek
no attention.

Be consoled in the secret symmetry of your soul.

May you experience each day as a sacred gift woven
around the heart of wonder.



Here's the TED talk worth seeing/hearing:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=86x-u-tz0MA
Eat, Pray, Love" Author Elizabeth Gilbert muses on the impossible things we expect from artists and geniuses -- and shares the radical idea that, instead of the rare person "being" a genius, all of us "have" a genius. It's a funny, personal and surprisingly moving talk.

Thursday 2 February 2012

Thank you for entrusting your children to our care

In this month of pink hearts and chocolate we want to thank you parents for entrusting your children to our care.

The act of being truly present with ourselves and with the children creates awareness of what is happening in this moment, with loving and open attention.

As often happens in our days, we can get caught up in the busy-ness of multitasking and completing checklists.  Doing this can keep us thinking in the future or dwelling on the past.  In true presence we are are in only one place, the present.

One small way that we each help one another and the children to be present is to become aware of the breath.  Just reminding each other to be aware of breath can make such a difference toward being present.

We are committed to child and youth protection and to that end we have had training through the Plan to Protect group.

We want to take this time to wish you warmth from the sun and from the hugs of your wonderful children.

With care,

Kate, Wendy, Mary, Kathryn, Deb and Anamaria

Wednesday 4 January 2012

Celebration of Health

Hello Families,

Over the past month various children have been unwell with common childhood diseases.  One of the children who was away for several weeks is back with us and feeling much better.  This was cause for celebration.

We decided to celebrate with a picnic and this was a perfect connection to our Unit of Inquiry about Where We Are In Place and Time (for a full definition please check the IB wall).

A long time ago when people came to Canada and wanted to settle here they had to build houses, farm and do all manner of tasks from dawn to dusk.  It was very hard work and there was not much time for play.  Even the children had very important roles to play.  Everyone's work counted.  Once houses were built, and especially in today's times, there was more time for play and picnics together with friends and family.

Many of the children offered some of their lunch (fruit and veggies) as part of the communal plate.  The teachers made bread and jam and fresh butter with the help of the children.  We all sat around the blankets and chatted about times gone by.

A long time ago, and even today, people put special objects up in their homes to bring them good luck or ward off evil spirits. We decided to make our own special object and some of the children helped make a string of cranberries which now hangs over the entrance door.  Please have a look at it tonight when you come in and know that it carries blessings for a healthy year to you all.

If you have special sayings to share with us we'd love to hear about them.  If you know some superstitions share that too.  Yesterday we saw Wendy throw salt over her shoulder after some salt was spilt.  Do you know where that superstition came from?  Apparently, it helps ward off the evil spirit that would surely come after her for wasting the salt!  Salt has been so important throughout history.  Maybe this is something the children might decide to learn more about.

I marvelled once again at the level or respect the children showed one another at the picnic and at the concentration they displayed when stringing the cranberries.  There are many children who like to sew.  Maybe there will be room to make some corn dolls or even some sleeping mats with straw.  Does anyone have access to some straw for us?

The children showed that they were feeling open-minded when they tried the raw cranberries and found them much less sweet than the kind some of them have dried in their lunch (does anyone have a fruit drier for us to use for the Inquiry?)

Have a wonderful week.