Natural Pod, represented by myself and Marianne Honnaker-Kelly our President, was at LearningScapes, a conference by the Association for Learning Environments (A4LE), in Portland in October. Attending a conference like LearningScapes helps us at Natural Pod to hear...
It was 1998 and I had just landed my first permanent teaching position four days before the start of the new school year. It was a full-time job teaching Kindergarten in a beautiful inner city school built in 1844. The school was led by Principal Judy Gard Puddester...
The World Forum on Early Care and Education is unlike any other gathering. The program is crafted to build relationships, expand perspectives, and provoke new thinking. Public status or recognition are not required to take on any role at World Forum, nor are any...
In the realm of education, where many institutions often find comfort in tradition, the Cranston Public School District has boldly stepped into the future. With the creation of the new Garden City Elementary school, they’ve painted a vivid picture of...
Consider this for a moment: when you change the way you look at things, the things you look at change. How might your learning space change when young learners have the opportunity to see the space from an elevated view? Or inches from the ground? Is it possible that...
Are you an educator who feels hesitant to rearrange your learning space due to fear of damaging your furniture or surrounding space? It’s a common concern, but with well-built, modular furniture, you can create different learning spaces throughout the year...
Transforming your classroom layout should be an exciting opportunity for innovation, not a cause for concern about the durability of your furniture. At Natural Pod, we design durable, multifunctional furniture that facilitates seamless transitions and supports diverse...
“We Want A School!” – a book illustrating how children define the learning spaces they truly want & need. “We Want a School,” written and illustrated by Enrico Giori and the learners of Grade 5B of the Caracciolo Elementary School Milan, explores from...
Interior Design’s ‘Best of Year’ is the design industry’s premiere design awards program, honoring the most significant work of the year as well as recognizing designers, architects and manufacturers from around the globe. You can help the Natural Pod team...
Our work is not only to create high-quality, functional, beautiful and non-toxic learning furniture. But also to innovate within this space. To create new paradigms for how educational environments and experiences are thought about, and how those are tied to ethical...
A traditional education is not suitable for every student. Malcolm Drips, a precocious nine-year-old of mixed racial heritage, is one of those students. At 18 months of age, he was diagnosed with autism and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). For him, the...
Although the majority of my working time is as chief strategy officer at Natural Pod, I thoroughly enjoy wearing other hats within education as well; I sit on the board of Green Schools National Network and I’m also the national co-chair and southeast chair of...
Our very own Michelle Carpenter, Chief Strategy Officer of Natural Pod, will be sharing the outcomes of her work as Southeast Chair of SchoolsNEXT at LearningScapes 2021 taking place on October 14-17th. The in-person session, Student Voice Informs Equitable Learning...
This year Natural Pod is teaming up with Green Schools National Network and heading to the Green Schools Conference! It’s taking place virtually over two half days on June 28 and 29th, and there are some fantastic speakers, events and interactive sessions lined...
The return to school is just around the corner, and it’s a time filled with excitement as well as a flurry of preparations for educators and administrators. As you tackle the challenge of planning for the next year, we’re here to ensure your classroom...
It’s exciting that many schools will welcome students back to campuses soon, but it’s putting a lot of pressure on educators and administrators to make decisions very fast, not only for the end of this school year but the beginning of the next as well. We understand...
We are emerging from a year that presented new learning challenges and opportunities. While learning did not cease to take place, it shifted to new topics and new locations. Looking ahead, the value of learning outdoors and true outdoor learning will continue to hold...
Natural Pod™ LIVE Episode Six is available to watch! If you are in any way connected to educational architecture, design or planning, this episode with Kate Mraw, Design Director at LPA Design Studios (LPA), is an absolute must watch! Kate shares so much insight...
This week, a project that I know well and is close to my heart won an Education Facility Design Award. Presented by the AIA (The American Institute of Architects) and its Committee, the benefactor is LPA Design Studios for the creation of the Environmental Nature...
COVID-19 has directly impacted students through widespread school closures, loss of learning, and widening disparities. It has also had consequential indirect impacts on students. A troubling rise in child neglect (Thomas et al., 2020), stress related to food...
Sprig, the last classroom table you’ll ever need
