Tour of The Blue School - with definitions
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Reflections and photos from a tour at The Blue School with Brad Choyt. This explores some typical definitions and Blue School interpretations to reveal a bit more about their constructivist pedagogy.
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Tour of The Blue School - with definitions
- 1. a tour of blue school with definitions melanie kahl
- 3. welcome noun an instance or manner of greeting someone blue school A feeling that you get when you walk into the blue school–also, an intentional practice. Everyday, the school community meets for a quick hello, a short reflection, or an impromptu game. It strengthens the parent community and makes every day at school one that starts with community and a sense of welcome.
- 4. portal 1 noun 1 a doorway, gate, or other entrance, esp. a large and elaborate one. blue school A glow hallway laden with black lights that connects the entrance/community gathering area with the rest of the school. Used for public art projects and sometimes just to let out some energy.
- 5. mural |ˈmyoŏrəl| noun a painting or other work of art executed directly on a wall. blue school A manifestation of a larger exploration of form. In this case, done in glow paint and after months conversation about squiggles and shapes. Always in progress and awaiting exploration of meaning.
- 6. documentation noun 1 material that provides official information or evidence or that serves as a record : blue school Everywhere. Mostly depicting the evolution of shared inquiry that comprises a curriculum that is constantly evolving. A mix of reflection, quotes, and pictures. It celebrates and illuminates process. Here we explore the transition from squiggle to form to production.
- 8. perception noun a way of regarding, understanding, or interpreting something; a mental impression blue school A playful concept in inquiry that encourages pattern finding and discovery. It often involves finding the familiar or exotic in apparent chaos.
- 9. signage |ˈsīnij| noun signs collectively, esp. commercial or public display signs. blue school Abundant in hallways and on cabinets. Often made by or for children themselves. May have creative lettering or child renderings of object in question. Clarifying, playful, child-centric.
- 10. mind map | map| noun A mind map is a diagram used to represent words, ideas, tasks, or other items linked to and arranged around a central key word or idea. blue school A tool to illuminate the necessarily winding road to learning. It is often used to trace a line of inquiry and relevant themes and concepts. It is both a tool for teachers (and students) to wrap their mind around their own evolving curriculum and a public artifact.
- 11. emotion | | noun a natural instinctive state of mind deriving from one's circumstances, mood, or relationships with others blue school A key component to child development and everyday blue school conversation. The goal is to develop emotional awareness, intelligence, and control. Books that inspire their work: • The Development of Emotional Competence, Carolyn Saarni • Emotional Intelligence, Daniel Goleman • Raising an Emotionally Intelligent Child, John Gottman Here, the kindergarten class has made a creature and space (emotion station) to deal with emotions (like anger) through art. A shared dialogue about emotion and a public space for its understanding keeps it from something relegated to hushed tones and hallways.
- 12. color | | noun the property possessed by an object of producing different sensations on the eye as a result of the way the object reflects or emits light blue school Something to be explored, splattered, studied, and mixed. Recipes for new kinds of color are constantly concocted.
- 13. world | | noun the earth, together with all of its countries, peoples, and natural features blue school Something to be explored but also created. In the four-year-old classroom, this world was a mouse world. This means systems, structures, and spaces all on the mouse (and child) scale to be discussed and refined by the class.
- 14. workshop | | noun a room or building in which goods are manufactured or repaired. blue school An authentic space in the classroom with real tools and artifacts of process. A place for making and learning skills like precision and measurement. It is a place where ideas are manifested and all ages are empowered.
- 15. make | | noun form (something) by putting parts together or combining substances; construct; create blue school An synonym for learn. You see, learning is active at the blue school. Here, kindergarten students are using a real saw (under supervision) to construct a bird house. But to get to this point? A lot of learning...look around.
- 16. projector | | noun an object that is used to project rays of light, esp. an apparatus with a system of lenses for projecting slides or film onto a screen. blue school Old school device gone wonder room mainstay. Pictured here, it is a tool for displaying shadows (dinos, obviously) and color. A modern day screensaver, puppet show, light-bright...whatever you want.
- 17. wonder | | noun a feeling of surprise mingled with admiration, caused by something beautiful, unexpected, unfamiliar, or inexplicable blue school A feeling that a many rooms have at the blue school–but one room (for the 2-year- olds) is designed to embody it. Used for creative and dramatic play, this room is meant to inspired wonder. The foundation of learning.
- 18. movement | | noun the general activity or bustle of people or things in a particular place blue school A crucial part of the healthy development of young children. The children weigh in (and so might you) that this is best done in spaces that glow. While special rooms with soft building materials are good for this, corridors and courtyards also work quite well.
- 19. treehouse |trē ˈhouziz| noun a structure built in the branches of a tree for children to play in. blue school A space for reading, thinking, napping, plotting, learning, or many other -ing things. It is found in the branches of a tree, even if those branches are brought inside. One might make an argument to the formal definition that it isn’t only for children.
- 20. invention |inˈven sh ən| noun something, typically a process or device, that has been invented the action of inventing something, typically a process or device blue school Created items of imagined utility and great novelty. This invention gallery was made by first graders. It allowed exploration of people, processes, creativity, and form.
- 21. map |map| noun a diagrammatic representation of an area of land or sea showing physical features, cities, roads, etc. blue school A product of exploration of self and place. Shown here is one of many maps of New York City created by first graders. Using the city as a laboratory, lessons from sociology to urban planning to maps can be explored.
- 22. neighborhood |ˈnābərˌhoŏd| noun a district, esp. one forming a community within a town or city blue school Something one should be aware and active in. At the blue school, neighborhood and boroughs are explored virtually and by foot and then recreated as maps.
- 23. curate |ˈkyoŏˌrāt| verb select, organize, and look after the items in (a collection or exhibition) blue school An active process of cataloging selected and found materials for use in learning activities. Key to storage is transparency so that students and teachers may be inspired by the object itself. This is at the end of a corridor – a sort of exhibition for art supplies rather than art itself.
- 24. collection |kəˈlek sh ən| noun an assembly of items such as works of art, pieces of writing, or natural objects, esp. one systematically ordered blue school Whether manmade or natural, bought or found, the blue school has an impressive collection of materials for use in projects or exploration.
- 25. circus |ˈsərkəs| noun a traveling company of acrobats, trained animals, and clowns that gives performances, typically in a large tent, in a series of different places blue school An opportunity for performance during a parents’ night. In this classroom, the 3- year-olds were excited by this idea and used a circular rug (that also acts as a way to explore the solar system and meet in groups) and hanging fabric to create a circus tent and grounds.
- 26. sanctuary |ˈsa ng (k) ch oōˌerē| noun a place of refuge or safety blue school Here is a space where transition and emotion is explored. For three-year-olds, a nook in the classroom is special and quiet place to reflect on the transition out of full parent-contact classrooms. This space has soft objects, images of their families, books, and curtains to create a safe space.
- 27. mess |mes| noun a dirty or untidy state of things or of a place blue school An incidental by-product of play. It is often intentionally created and or celebrated at the blue school. It shouldn’t be a deterrent for certain types of activities, such as drumming with paint.
- 28. portfolio |pôrtˈfōlēˌō| noun a large, thin, flat case for loose sheets of paper such as drawings or maps. blue school Key components to a child’s time at the blue school. They contain art, stories, and other creations that are reflected on amongst teachers, with parents, and by the students themselves.
- 29. reflection |riˈflek sh ən| noun an idea about something, esp. one that is written down or expressed blue school A practice to for teachers to mediate on their class activities and report to parents and one another. While curriculum reflections are posted throughout the classroom, weekly reflections are posted at the entrance of the school.
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