Connect with Green Sugar
Category Archives: Uncategorized
If we don’t know what’s going to happen, how do we prepare our kids?
Even as we adults work individually to keep our own lives headed in the right direction, the world around us is in chaos. A polarized and paralyzed Washington D.C. can’t handle our runaway debt and stubborn unemployment. Globally, only climate change dwarfs the challenges of entrenched poverty and hunger. We have no idea what the world’s going to be like in ten years, let alone when your child retires in fifty or sixty years. The … Read more!
Posted in Uncategorized
Comments Off
Bioneers= Solutionaries
No matter where we turn, we’re fed news and information about all the world’s activities. TV, radio, magazine and the web, we’re connected. With a limited attention span, the headlines demand our attention and they bombard us with disturbing stories that cause concern: chronic unemployment and rising income inequality.
Posted in Environment, Uncategorized
Comments Off
The Third Teacher
I like to skim through some of my favorite books, to remind me of useful thoughts I’ve forgotten. Touring Ogden International School’s new building last night inspired me to re-read The Third Teacher, 79 Ways to Use Design to Transform Teaching and Learning. As soon as I picked up the book, my mind began racing. Consider: A child entering 1st grade this fall will graduate college in 2030 and retire around 2065.
The world’s … Read more!
Education. What’s it for?
Education. While the word itself may not spark as much passionate debate as religion and politics, everyone has an opinion. Those opinions vary wildly, yet there’s one common theme: we can, and we must do better at educating children. Education is viewed as essential to “progress” and better lives. So, ideas for improvement are put forth. Sides are taken. Debates rage—ratcheted up as test scores arrive. What makes sense?
Posted in Education, Uncategorized
Tagged children, children's education, children's nature environmental education
Comments Off
A Recent Interview and A Recent Review/Recommendation
A two part interview with Little Green Pen’s Michelle Schaub with views on environmental education: http://www.littlegreenpen.blogspot.com/
And Sarah Davies of Unplug your Kids, wrote a review of one of the books I had mailed to her a few months ago:
http://unplugyourkids.com/2010/11/16/environmental-guide-from-a-to-z/
Posted in Uncategorized
Tagged children's books, children's nature environmental education
Comments Off
Education System: creating cars or teaching kids?
I crashed the ISACS (Independent Schools Association of the Central States) conference the other day. Yes, I’m getting too old to sneak into events. I didn’t do it for the rubber chicken served at lunch, but to listen to Sir Ken Robinson.
A world-renowned expert in creativity, Sir Ken entertains. After the lunch and a follow up session with him, my cheeks hurt.
Google him and watch one of his videos at the TED conference. … Read more!
Posted in Uncategorized
Tagged children's nature environmental education, creativity, sir ken robinson
1 Comment
How can your kids learn it all? Teacher Opportunity
So much to cover, so little time…
Being a kid today is different than a generation ago. Between an increase in the amount of enrichment activities, organized sports, “screen” options (TV, video games, computers, phones) and homework, some kids suffer from increased pressure. The only thing there isn’t more of is time.
A lot of teachers I’ve spoken with feel the same way. They’re expected to cover a growing amount of material in a limited … Read more!
Posted in Uncategorized
Tagged Chicago Botanic Garden, children's nature environmental education, teaching
Comments Off
Nature Teaches Children Well….an ABC article
http://www.greenrightnow.com/kabc/2010/07/28/mother-nature-can-teach-the-children-well/
By Clint Williams
Green Right Now
The kids are heading back to the classroom – if they aren’t already there sitting in rows in front of a blackboard – and parents are plotting how to give their children an academic advantage. Some are buying DVDs, books or computer programs. Some are paying for tutors or study skill seminars.
All well and good. But if you want you kids to be smarter, some experts say, … Read more!
Composting at Home
Worms eat my garbage. It saves some of my food and paper scraps from being trucked to the landfill, but it also reminds me how nature works, i.e. nature has no worthless waste. So, sometimes, I bring some of my worms on the road with me and get questions from people who want to set up composting at home. To that end, here are a few resources to help:
Comprehenisve Composting Information:
http://www.chicagohomecomposting.org
Worm (or … Read more!
Outdoor Fun During Winter….
THIS ARTICLE ORIGINALLY POSTED AT “A Fresh Squeeze” (with pictures)
Click on the link: http://tinyurl.com/ygh4g3k
Winter Weather Got You Down?
Embrace the cold, grab the kids and get outside!
23 Jan 2010 by Tim Magner
While the thermometer reads freezing and we can only dream of a prolonged spring thaw, don’t resign to spend the winter cooped up and stuck inside- especially when it comes to the kids.
Playing outside, no matter the weather, is … Read more!