Inspiring Educators Everywhere
Recently I was asked by a Kindergarten teacher who works and teaches in India to give a talk to her class about plants. I decided to bring them on a virtual nature walk using Zoom. How did I do it? I went to a local park near where I stay and took a close walk... Continue Reading →
Recently someone reached out to me and asked me for ideas on how they could connect outdoor learning with a community-based unit of inquiry. Many schools start year off by working towards building community within a class of school. Across early years and through elementary and even older grades, there are fairly standard activities teachers... Continue Reading →
As you noticed, it has now been more than eight months since I last posted an episode of the Making Better Teachers Podcast. I can honestly admit that the sun has set on the podcast. I decided to throw in the towel because I was simply burning myself out. Being active in the world of... Continue Reading →
What's it like to teach science and conservation to both adults and children? This week we chat with Cari Ritzenthaler, co-host of the Bugs & Stuff podcast. She is a scientist, adjunct instructor and works in an elementary school in the United States. Cari also co-hosts the Bugs & Stuff Podcast, a show all about... Continue Reading →
When I was a child growing up in rural Eastern Canada in the late 1970s and early ’80s, being a child was a very different thing than it is today. I was a Pre-Internet child. I was a Pre-Helicopter Parent child. Things were indeed different. I grew up playing hours each and every day in... Continue Reading →
Often people lament that they are unable to connect with nature because it may be too far away. In a way, I understand their thinking. I grew up in rural Eastern Canada and the forests and shorelines of Nova Scotia were my playgrounds. I was extremely close to nature as a child and young adult.... Continue Reading →
You’ve now made the decision to help get your children or students more connected to nature. It’s time to get them outside and let them explore and inquire. Kids can of course simply do this using their own senses and that is a theme that will appear throughout this series, but there are some basic... Continue Reading →
Playing outside is essential to the healthy growth of children. Children need to get outside, get dirty and discover the natural world around them. They need to, but they are not. In a recent article in “The Guardian”, a survey in the U.K. showed that 74% of children spent less than 60 minutes a day playing... Continue Reading →
About a year ago I decided to check out a Birding Beijing social event here in Beijing, China. I do a great deal of work within my school with regards to environmental and nature education, but I wanted to meet people from outside the international school world who like-minded. It was a fantastic event and... Continue Reading →
I have always been a huge advocate of outdoor learning and outdoor play. I think it stems from my upbringing in rural Canada and I grew up with a close connection to the outdoors and nature. That coupled with the sadness I have felt my entire international teaching career, working in large cities where... Continue Reading →
