Looking Closely at Student-Owned Documentation

by Stephanie Bartlett A big part of my journey this year has been exploring documentation panels.  Inspired by the many talented educators on twitter, I have read, thought, researched, reflected...and the cycle repeats.  I take photos and videos and must admit that I am still figuring out a process to post the photos in the classroom in a timely manner.  (I would appreciate any...

Living Creatively Helps To Teach Creatively

By Stephanie Bartlett It's been over a year since I surprised myself and all who know me by publishing a book of poetry.  Since then, poetry has been a way of life but I have had to wiggle into it like a comfy chair and let it seep through the corners of my heart and life.  You see, when I wrote and published, I had a mere seven months to figure the whole thing out from start to finish,...

Coconut Tales: Looking Closely At One Student's Spark

By Stephanie Bartlett Hunter discovered a coconut in our Looking Closely centre.  He spent activity time looking closely, listening to the water inside, wondering and drawing in his journal.  "I wonder how we can crack this open?" He is a collaborative guy, so he quickly found a friend to share his discovery.  The group began to grow and our class discussion at the end of the day...

Looking Closely At Our Special Talents

by Stephanie Bartlett Transforming a program is akin to a leaf in the wind; sometimes you float gently, content with the wind to give you lift, other times you are thrown wildly somewhere you haven’t been before. My strongholds are my teaching partners and my action research in creativity in educational practice. This post is the next step in our creative journey of Looking Closely in the Kindergarten...

Tales from the Treefort

We talk about how important it is to model creativity so that we can recognize it in our students. Nurturing our own creative practice can be hard to fit into a busy life but I am a writer and sometimes I just get the urge to write. This is the latest. Enjoy. Tales of a Tree Fort by Stephanie Bartlett Walking down the cottage road known as the “Back Road,” all seems to be what one might expect...

Blow, Blow, Blow Your Boat

by Stephanie Bartlett A play-based program is the ultimate backdrop for the most incredible learning opportunities.  It is our job as educators to pay attention and listen carefully. As facilitators, we  can then offer tools and experiences for students to become mindful learners, all in the midst of play.  Take boats, for example. Over the course of the last couple of months, B,...