Dear Readers,
In early 2024, I informed you all that my
writing might be a little bit less-than weekly this year. I read about how consistency is key or king and took a big gulp. I felt unsure about generating a meaningful post worth of your time today.I’m well aware this fear is mostly in my head. Wondering about whether or not I will deliver my weekly post isn’t keeping any of you up and night. It’s not even keeping me up at night (thank goodness!)
Anyhow, ever since I hedged on my frequency, I’ve just kept humming along on my weekly schedule. And I’ve been enjoying it. Writing on a deadline has been good for building my muscle. The forced reflective practice has clarified my thinking about nature-based learning.
Last week, I wrote Permission — about “just” going outside for “regular” lessons and how that matters too. It is enough. About how teachers (maybe that’s you :) are enough. And how you should never ask permission to do what’s right for your students. And for you. Before that, I wrote If a Tree Falls in a Forest about educators taking A next right step that is do-able and within their/your locus of control.
All the while, I was writing and editing my first piece for Edutopia about one of my favorite teaching protocols — the Gallery Walk — and how (and why - though this won’t be news to you!) to move it outdoors to make it the awesomest Nature Gallery. It wasn’t supposed to go live until Friday — and then I woke up to an email saying it’s UP now. That is the universe conspiring in beautiful ways to give me a respite from the pressure to write something new this week.
So, I’m sharing my writing about nature galleries - A potential next right step to adopt apple-a-day nature-based learning.
If you’re a teacher, I hope it will be helpful. If you know a teacher, I hope you’ll share it with them.
❤️ Be well,
Becca
It's interesting and friendly to have outdoor learning activities