The Garden School Tattler

So many things to think about, so many things to do!

I don't know if you've noticed, but we've gone to block time teaching. It came from a brainstorm the faculty had not long ago one weekend. What it is is a division of school time into teaching blocks. These blocks define the children's day. Every teacher is not needed every day all day, so teachers chose blocks corresponding to the teaching they do, and presto bingo, we have a really happy staff and some really good classes going on.

This week we've been studying Africa as a continent. We've looked at the geographical layout, the rain forest area, the deserts, the plains and Madagascar. Today we will learn an African song and play some rhythm instruments to accompany it. We will look at Egypt in Fine Arts tomorrow.

I read an article in a dentist's office not long ago that spoke of empty space on walls as soothing. I think that's the trend in early childhood - empty walls and soothing. Not at the Garden School! Soothing is for home where we find a place to get away from the market place and the crowds. School, on the other hand, is supposed to stimulate minds and keep us suspended with what is going to happen next! School is supposed to be a burst of interesting things to explore and discover and see and touch and smell and think about. You won't find us removing the plants, painting over the murals or pulling artifacts down off the shelves to make room for -- the dullness and mind deadening qualities of nothing. I promise.

Blood drive today - just a reminder that blood is always needed. Please be generous and give!