“Dreams are extremely important. You can’t do it unless you can imagine it.” -George Lucas Let’s dream about public schools of the future where children are motivated by wonder, curiosity and compassion rather than the wish to do well on tests. My book, A Gift of Wonder, A True Story Showing School As It Should Be, is both an inspiring…
Source: Seven Reasons to Not (always) Answer Your Child’s Questions
by Kim Allsup My teaching bag of tricks is full of stories, lots of stories— biographies that are a window into history, stories to teach the alphabet, stories that break down the complexity of a math process and metaphoric stories such as parables and fables that spark thinking. My students are used to stories that take them on a journey…
I enjoyed talking with Mindy Todd on WCAI about my book, A Gift of Wonder, A True Story Showing School As It Should Be. Our conversation was about: Waldorf schools, public schools, the importance of wonder in education, professional autonomy for teachers and why I wrote a story instead of a polemic. I also shared anecdotes from the classroom including the…
I followed his astounded gaze back to the high window ledge. The pod had burst wide open into a cumulous, pulsating mass. The slight breeze from the other window tickled the fluff, coaxing bits of down into the air. Suddenly the room was clouded with milkweed down. Then something happened, something that would happen again and again over my six…
From Chapter One, A Gift of Wonder, A True Story Showing School As It Should Be by Kim Allsup I followed his astounded gaze back to the high window ledge. The pod had burst wide open into a cumulous, pulsating mass. The slight breeze from the other window tickled the fluff, coaxing bits of down into the air. Suddenly the…
Reesa was lost in golden October. Shining maple trees bridged the concrete walk down the gentle hill. Brown-gold fallen leaves carpeted the hillside. Bright gold leaves floated toward this mottled carpet where, upon landing, they glittered like brilliant stars. Alone in this golden splendor, Reesa seemed unaware that she should be with her classmates. Tall, slender, and light on her…
The two minute video at the top of this page shows kids who are engaged at school. It is this engagement through wonder, curiosity, and joy in learning –not test scores– that is the true indication of effectiveness in education. A Gift of Wonder, A True Story Showing School As It Should Be, is a new book available here through pre-order…
You can’t put wonder in your lesson plan any more than you could plan for a sunny sky. But, while the weather is totally beyond our control, you can put out solar panels to catch the sun when it shines and teachers and parents can, similarly, prepare to catch wonder when it happens. Or you could bring a monarch chrysalis…
Source: Ten Tips for Parents and Teachers About Healing Stories That Help Kids Cope
Kim Allsup is the author of A Gift of Wonder, available here
