Pumpkin Provocations

To provoke someone is to stir up or arouse a feeling or action.  It is an intentional act to draw someone out.  Often we think of it in a negative term as in to provoke anger. 

A provocation is meant to inspire another to investigate.  With this in mind I provided white pumpkins, decorative gourds and squash for my class.  I put out hammers, golf tees, rubber binders and sticks.  Nature provided the leaves and tomatoes that joined the provocation.

Once set up on the table children were drawn to it like magnets.  They came and went as they pleased.  I stood by but did not offer any suggestions or aid; unless help was requested starting a golf-tee or removing a golf tee.  A few children remained at the table for over 2 hours never once heading anywhere else to play.  

Being outside meant that there was no concern of what kind of mess the exploration would create.  The sun danced over the table creating fun shadows and lighting while the exploration was going on.  The breeze blew leaves around the activity in swirls.

Once done the loose parts were gathered up for another day and the pumpkins, squash and gourds were left outside for further perusal at another time.  

Fine motor skills and hand-eye coordination were put to work while trying to hold a golf-tee and use a hammer to pound it into the gourd. There was focus, muscle memory and language
developement, while manipulating the loose parts.  

Science, language and literacy came into play as observations were made.
*"The pumpkin shell is cracking the further I push the nail in."
*"The outside of the pumpkin is hard to poke."
*"These binders stretch easier than those little binders."
*"Tomatoes poke easier than the pumpkins."
*"These brown spots are softer than the rest of the pumpkin."

Art was explored as rubber bands were added like spider webs, and leaves and twigs were braided into the rubber bands.  Gourds and tomatoes were stacked to create 3 dimensional art.

Social skills were developed as children took turns with hammers, helped each other problem solve issues and discuss what their plan was with the

gourd they were working on.  Cooperation was developed as several children worked on one pumpkin together.This provocation was rich in learning and so much fun to just observe.

To stay up to date subscribe by email in the top right corner.

Making Magical Memories

Look at this smile.

It embraces everything I love about children. Joy - He is definitely delighting in the moment.
Goofy- Yes, he is a ham.
Creative - He and another child have been busy building together, exchanging ideas and learning to work cooperatively.
Engaged - Nothing is going to stop his plan, not even a nosy teacher with a camera.

Memories are born from allowing children to just be. To spend time seeking, searching, exploring and playing without an adults agenda sitting over them. Memories are a gift we allow our children to create, package and wrap for themselves. I believe it is one of our greatest gifts we give if we sit back and just become a part of that magical moment in their life.

It is my personal belief that in the push to provide the best for our kids we have forgotten how magical moments become magical memories. Providing the best education, the endless exposure to sports and sport camps, and planning every detail of our children's lives are not allowing them to discover their own memories. They are carrying away memories we lovingly, gave them.

But what about their own memories?

I think of my mom and stories from her childhood that would give today's teacher, gray hair, heart palpitations and yet at the core do embrace Developmentally Appropriate Practices.

She tells of finding and big, old tire and rolling it down a street, that was on a long hill with several cross streets. This was back in the late 40s and early
50s but still dangerous with cross traffic.

When the thrill of that wore off what do you do next? Wedge the smallest child in the tire and roll him down the hills. (Deep breath, he survived, unhurt.)

The best part of the memory is watching my mom tell the story, see her picturing the moment as an old home movie and listening to her laugh as she describes the scene to us.

I want to supply the children in my life with those moments, but within the bounds of safety and security. 😀 So how do we do that?
1. Provide plenty of time for children to play on their own.
2. Provide expose to nature, and the great outdoors.
3. Open ended materials. (Sticks, rocks, stumps, tires, tubes, boxes, sheets, etc...)
4. Quietly observe and only step in when danger is a real thing.

Please share some of your fondest childhood memories in the comments below.

FEAR NOT! When my mom comes to visit me at work I keep her with in arms reach and under close supervision.

Love you mom!

Still making wonderful memories with my mom.
Camping together October 2017 in Afton State Park.

Take Care of Yourself!

Teaching is hard.

Loving and supporting little individuals, with minds and personalities of their own is not easy. So why do you do it?
I started teaching, to put myself through college. I was going to be a veterinarian.  (I am still using lots of skills I learned preparing for that field, everyday with classroom pets.) I stayed a teacher because I fell in love with my kids. So why do you teach?

I have many wonderful days with my class. Then I have thousands of average days, with my class. Then I have runs of Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Days where I am not even sure Australia is far enough away and Mars sounds peaceful. But I get up every morning, actually eager to see my kids. And go back. So why do you go back everyday?
 One of the things I discovered early on was I needed to know why I chose teaching, why I went back every day and I needed to know how to recharge. Have you asked yourself these questions? Only you can answer them.

I teach because: I am amazed by their minds and thoughts. I love learning with them and because of their questions. But my biggest reason is I can not image not getting up and going to school. I can't imagine not seeing their smiles, hearing their giggles and not helping them through their difficult moments. I do it for the pay. (Hugs, snuggles, drawings and paintings, and never ending trust that they are my most important treasure.) Yes, I am rich beyond measure, but penny poor. So why do you teach?

I come back because: I make a difference in each life. I matter to these children and they depend on me. I need them in my life because they teach me so much about them and myself. Why do you go back?

I recharge by: drawing, writing, painting and learning. I recharge by taking time away from work, by going on restful vacations and camping. I recharge by reading, crocheting and sometimes knitting (not always recharging). I recharge by reevaluating my whys in the above questions. If children ever slip out of the main focus then it is time to either recharge or find another calling for my life. A passion never burns you out if you take care of yourself.