Art, RattleBag and Rhubarb

Winter Solstice

The winter solstice – the shortest day of the year in the northern hemisphere. The earth – tilted away from the sun –  receives the least amount of sunlight today.  Here’s Winter Solstice by Barbara Hepworth  – originally created in 1970 as part of Hepworth’s suite of screenprints and lithographs known as ‘Opposing Forms’. This work expresses Hepworth’s interest in exploring a…

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Education, RattleBag and Rhubarb

Finding the Heart of Progressive Education

Finding the Heart of a Progressive Education What follows is the text of the article recently published by Hudson Valley Magazine Q&A with Josie Holford​, Head of School, Poughkeepsie Day School How does the no testing/no grading philosophy work? The traditional assessment system is designed to rank and sort out winners and losers. At Poughkeepsie Day School, we think of…

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Education, RattleBag and Rhubarb

The 100 Ways Children Learn and Why You Should Ignore Them

Learning styles – they used to be everywhere. You know – learning styles –  that notion that the way children learn is this way or that – visual, auditory or kinesthetic – or some other more complicated variation on a theme. There are three, there are four and sometimes many more styles or types of learners. There used to be…

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Education, Politics, RattleBag and Rhubarb

Keep Your School All-American

Here’s some good advice from Superman worth sharing in these political times of divisive politics and inflammatory anti-immigration rhetoric. “…and remember, boys and girls, your school – like our country – is made up of Americans of many different races, religions and national origins, so … If YOU hear anybody talk against a schoolmate or anyone else because of his religion,…

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Education, RattleBag and Rhubarb

The One Sentence Employee Handbook

This is (only slightly) adapted from the original  (without the typo) that you can see here “All Poughkeepsie Day School employees use their common sense, have respect for others, grow professionally and personally, create value and treat our families’ children as if they were their own.” Kind of sums it up right? Good guide for what to do and how…

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Education, RattleBag and Rhubarb

Everyone is a Maker: Resources for Educators

There’s a new book available it’s packed with practical ideas for teachers from teachers: Meaningful Making: Projects and Inspirations for FabLabs and Makerspaces. And even better it’s available as a free download. You can’t beat that for a bargain. The book is an initiative from the FabLearn Fellows who are part of a larger project sponsored by the National Science Foundation entitled “Infusing Learning Sciences Research…

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Education, RattleBag and Rhubarb

First they make you crazy. Then they sell you the cure: Be Mindful of Mindless Mindfulness

Coloring books for adults are apparently a big new craze. Amazon’s #1 bestseller in stress management/ self-help is a coloring book. And there are many to choose from with beguiling names like Calm and Balance and Enchanted Forest and Secret Garden. Now I have no problem with people of any age coloring inside or outside the lines, with doodling, drawing,…

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Education, RattleBag and Rhubarb

Talking with Children about Tragic Events and Loss

I share two resources in case they may be helpful in conversations with children about tragic events. The first is from Mister Rogers whose wise advice was “Look for the helpers”. My second resource is the five points from the psychologist Rob Evans written in response to 9/11. They have relevance now. I wrote to him then asking his permission…

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RattleBag and Rhubarb, WW1

Unreal City: November 11th 1919

London on November 11th 1919 – a two minute silence at 11 o’clock to observe the first anniversary of the end great war. This photograph by an unknown artist conveys the collective grief of a people. To stand in that crowd in the stillness and silence for two minutes – the individual weight of personal loss and mourning magnified beyond…

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Education, RattleBag and Rhubarb

Play to Fail Not Fail to Play

The good folks at 21 Toys are at it again. First it was TThe Empathy Toy  and now The Failure Toy The Empathy Toy is beautifully constructed and a pleasure to hold. Not to mention fun to play with and helpful in provoking communication and thinking about oneself and others. I’m looking forward to playing to fail! So much healthier…

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Education, RattleBag and Rhubarb

Light Blue Touch-Paper

Growing up in the UK in a certain era meant that you got to play with fireworks. I have no issue with the safety restrictions now in place but I am glad they came after my time. All the weeks running up to November 5th in my childhood meant collecting the wood to build the bonfire and steadily accumulating the…

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Education, RattleBag and Rhubarb

White Smoke! The future is announced

Last fall I informed the president of the board of trustees that 2015-16 would be my last year at Poughkeepsie Day School. Today Amanda Thornton, the president of the board of trustees, announced the new head of school.  Please read that announcement here. After a thorough search and a considered process that involved all constituent groups within the school community the…

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Education, RattleBag and Rhubarb

I am not a fan of Halloween

I am not a fan of Halloween. There – I’ve said it! What a killjoy, spoil sport, and miserable curmudgeon! Ok – to explain: First – It’s not a part of my childhood tradition. My personal mental furniture of memory for this season trends toward Bonfire Night, November 5th.  I do remember once bobbing for apples – a game now out…

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