At our school we used to call it P.E., which of course stands for Physical Education. This year we began to call it “Health and Wellness.” As the new teacher of this new program, it feels not only like a renaming, but a reclaiming. My school views my twice-a-week 45 minutes with students as a time to focus on their health and their wellness, not just their physical bodies. A part of wellness is time spent in nature.
The Children are Listening: What to Say Instead of, “I’m Cold.”
You’re human, too! It’s 15 degrees outside. You might just want to stay in the cozy classroom. It’s so much work to get all of your gear on and let’s be real, you feel a cold coming on. It isn’t even healthy to go outside. Yep, that’s it. We are all staying inside. We will go out next time. Not today. Is anyone else really tired? Let’s just take it easy…
The children are listening….
Instead of:
- “I’m so cold!” you can say, “Who wants to play a game to warm up?”
Continue reading The Children are Listening: What to Say Instead of, “I’m Cold.”
I Was Once Worried Everyone Would Have to Poop
When I began thinking about starting an outdoor education program as a classroom teacher, I remember meeting with other educators and talking with them. It’s funny to think about our worries and concerns in retrospect.
We were worried about pee and poop. Poop, mostly.
Continue reading I Was Once Worried Everyone Would Have to Poop
The Day We Got Caught in the Rain
There was voting in the gym at school so we had to have Health and Wellness class outside. There was a 60% chance of rain in the next hour, nothing looked like it was coming on the live radar, but it looked like it was going to rain. If there wasn’t voting in the gym, I would have held class inside. Since it wasn’t an option for today, we went outside for a hike through the woods.
Although it was a lovely hike, at first the kids complained. “Why do we have to go outside?” “It’s gross out!” “I’m cold!” “It’s my birthday and we have to do this?!”
We hike on. We play in the creek with our hands. We jump through the rocks. It was lovely.
Drizzle. Pitter patter. It’s starting to rain.
Continue reading The Day We Got Caught in the Rain
What I Learned the Day it was Very Muddy…
I thought I was helping to make kids more resilient.
Dear Teacher…Everything is OK.
Dear Teacher,
You are conditioned. You do a head count about every 5 minutes, and that’s IN the classroom. You know that your primary job is to keep children safe. You are constantly thinking about their safety. You feel irresponsible if you don’t know where a child is, or if you can’t see where they are. Your classroom is designed so you can see children from wherever you are. You know you need to see the children. You are doing a great job.
Now stop it.
The Day I Offered to Lead a Short Staff Workshop on Fox Walking
We wake up 20 minutes early because I signed up to lead this thing at 8:00 and it would look bad if I was late. Dave’s (husband) throat hurts. The morning felt like a blur. Mike (dog) didn’t poop on his walk, but Honeybee (baby) pooped just as I put her in the car seat. Continue reading The Day I Offered to Lead a Short Staff Workshop on Fox Walking
Why Go Outside?
Pay attention
Continue reading Why Go Outside?
What is the Point of Outdoor Learning?
What is even the point? It takes too much work and effort…why am I doing this again? Why bring children outside?
What if someone gets hurt? Did you bring all of their medication? Does everyone have the right clothing? What if it starts to rain? Does anyone need to get picked up early for an appointment? What if they have to pee? What if I have to pee?
Outdoor Learning with Weslie 