Wide open spaces

How lucky we are to have beautiful space and the freedom to use it!  Fitting in Exercise between Math and English tells about the lengths some city schools must go just to find a time and place for kids to run. 

Stream to River - Hudson River Day

Parker students participated today in the Day in the Life of the Hudson project organized by the DEC.  3,000 students from Troy to NYC collect data on this day each year to help assess the health of the river. 

Parker students in grades 2-3 and 6-7 have participated for several years.  They extend their study through our Stream-to-River project, and during the course of the school year, add data from Parker's creek and Crooked Lake.  They become knowledgeable about interconnected water systems as they advocate for clean water practices.  Plus, it's fun!

Autumn's treat

The smiles tell it all!  Fall Festival was a wonderful time.

Why kids need to play

Playing gives children self-confidence, decision making practice, and teaches them how to get along with others, among other life skills.  Kids really need time for unencumbered play.

"Freely-chosen play is a testing ground for life. It provides critical life experiences without which young children cannot develop into confident and competent adults" says Peter Gray, Ph.D., Professor of Psychology (emeritus) at Boston College.

Read this article in the Atlantic about how declining play among children is leading to depression and anxiety.  And about all the reasons play is essential!

Outdoor parents, outdoor kids

Turn off the toys and tune into the outdoors!

Outdoor Parents, Outdoor Kids is a new resource about getting your kids outside for adventure and learning.  As blogger Geek Dad says: "if you’re looking for a book that is inspirational, educational, and entertaining, this is the book for you."

Gotta be outside!

Where else should you learn but outdoors in this glorious weather?

Music in the world around us

Students were enchanted by musicians from Heard, who played a wonderful variety of international sounds in a concert here on Monday.  They held a workshop for middle school, who created a performance in about an hour!  Pre K was inspired to improvise their own rhythms.

Check out this TED Talk by Louie Schwartzberg award winning film maker who has been inspired by pollinators.  The slow motion shots of hummingbirds, bees, bats, and butterflies are simply astounding!

Sources of information

 High tech, low tech, and directly from the source - information takes many forms!

It takes grit

A little rain couldn't dampen the smiles at Camp Chincachgook. 

What do kids learn there?  That they can do things they thought they couldn't: like being away from home, sleeping in a cabin, going out in a giant canoe or kayak for the first time, and climbing pilot Knob or Buck Mountain.  These things take real "grit" - and everyone can manage it.  The satisfaction of accomplishment will last - and it will transfer to other challenges.

Meanwhile back at school...

What is grit?

What if the Secret to Success Is Failure?  www.nytimes.com

Why our children’s success - and happiness - may depend less on perfect performance than on learning how to deal with failure.