When I first started teaching, I thought essay writing was the ideal form of assessment. If students could “write intelligently” about an idea (or the big idea of a certain academic standard), they understood. If they struggled, they probably didn’t—and that struggle...
We tend to think of project-based learning as focused on research, planning problem-solving, authenticity, and inquiry. Further, collaboration, resourcefulness, and networking matter too–dozens of characteristics “fit” into project-based learning. Its popularity comes...
Teachers mean well. By teachers, I mean you and I. We mean well. After all, here we are, creating and consuming resources to improve the learning of someone, somewhere. And we’re both in education to begin with — that’s a selfless and Sisyphean pursuit in itself. We...
We’ve come to accept that just about the only thing that seems to be constant in this day and age is change. But we sometimes don’t spend enough time thinking about how to manage change. Here are some things to have in mind before undertaking any significant change...
There is an irony to bad questions, in that they can be more difficult to answer than a good question. Questioning is the art of learning. Learning to ask important questions is the best evidence of understanding there is, far surpassing the temporary endorphins of a...
Even though teachers have the summer off we usually have a hard time switching off our teacher brains. I find myself on my family summer holidays looking around and thinking about whether I can use different natural objects in my classroom. I can’t walk down a...
Thank you to everyone who entered our recent newsletter subscription giveaway. These giveaways are our chance to give back to our community and to help spread the word of our community work building better learning environments. The winner of this contest will receive...
Most of us are familiar with the idea of homeschooling, which involves parents educating their children at home rather than in a traditional school setting. Generally, these families are using less formal ways of imparting a traditional education and curriculum. A...
Children spend as much, if not more, time at school than at home, so shouldn’t our learning environments be given the same attention and care as our home environments? While recently reading this article about how to achieve Feng Shui, the ancient Chinese art of...
What we love most about our work are the people we work with. We’re very proud of our education community here at Natural Pod and to celebrate some of the people in our community, we enjoy connecting with them to learn more about their work so that we can all learn...
The days of classrooms filled with rows of desks are becoming a thing of the past. One of the biggest trends schools are currently exploring are the different ways to bring more movement and energy into the classroom environment. There are truly an endless number of...
How does your space influence your thinking? Our spaces need to be designed with meaning and purpose as the “third teacher” influences our mindset. As the co-founder of Natural Pod, Bridgitte’s ideas come from her experience. Bridgitte Alomes – As a thought leader in...
When we think of the latest trends in 21st century education, the first ones that probably come to mind are technology or STEM related activities. But there is another growing trend taking place across North America and around the world that brings children back to...
Interacting and exploring with loose parts, such as rocks and sticks, has always been a part of children’s play. In more recent years, these materials have become common tools in early childhood learning. In 1972, architect Simon Nicholson developed the Theory of...
In last week’s story, I proposed the idea that the use of technology in the classroom may not be the best solution to promoting innovation in a 21st century learning environment. I shared how some schools believe it detracts from learning and can even inhibit the...
Should technology play a central role in today’s classroom environment? Most would answer an emphatic “yes” to this question without giving it a second thought. To most of us, the ubiquitous use of technology in all its forms-phones, tablets, computers, etc. is...
We learn so much from our community and value the insights you all provide. They inspire our work and compel us to keep pushing to create better and better learning environments. In response to my article from a couple weeks ago that posed the question of whether or...
Spring is coming and that’s always a good time to clean, refresh, and simplify your space. Follow these tips to create a space that is orderly, calming and, most importantly, inspiring to be in. First, take some time to assess what you actually need, what is used on a...
Recently, I wrote a post about creating learning environments that support the four types of learners. In it I shared about The VARK Model that identifies the four primary types of learners: visual, auditory, reading/writing, and kinesthetic. I noted that, “Each...
Take a look around-the world is beginning to fill with color again. The flowers are blooming, grass is growing, and the trees are starting to bud and bloom. This is the perfect time to appreciate the natural wonders that surround us. Around the world there are days...
Sprig, the last classroom table you’ll ever need
