Today, something amazing happened and I felt I could share it with you. If you don't have a Twitter account I think you should get on that now. I only started Twitter this past September, and I can admit I am not as active as I would like to be. I have had amazing followers, retweets, replies, and even conversations. You can see a passion that is felt and amazing new research that is up to date. It is a community in itself and today (back to my story) I received a mention from @scholaforis who has the same passion in Forest Schools and is an experimental educator for children in the woods and forest. She post different mentions to other "Twitters" that show what we shared and gives a special mention. It was a great experience to see my name in a Headline and when I retweeted it she even said thank you. She is an active educator and it shows that you eventually can get noticed! This motivated me to continue on with Twitter and keep my passion showing like @YRnature @Acorn_School @Better_Ed @LouiseJupp and @DianeKashin1 !!!
Here's some screenshots to show you hard work pays off!!!
I feel I accomplished something and hopefully this will motivate others to join this community. I hope you have learned about Forest Schools and social media. I have great passion and will always lend a hand, so please never hesitate to message. Please again follow my Twitter and Pinterest!!! I will continue to blog my experience and learning on Forest Schools so don't go away!!!
Most of my Twitter retweets are form @YRnature. You can see their passion in all there tweets and always have upcoming events to show how active they are in this field. After reviewing one of the articles I wanted to add that nature can also be therapy. This is important for all children and educators to be familiar with. I have experienced many children with exceptionalities and knowing this can be therapeutic could have been a great resource and very beneficial. This is an example of a paragraph and really shows the benefits and can help all with difficult situations.
"Many strings of research have shown that direct contact with nature increases mental health and psychological and spiritual development. Benefits of which include stress reduction, sense of coherence and belonging, improved self-confidence, self-discipline and even a broader sense of community. Aside from stress reduction (something most of us need and will undoubtedly benefit from) being in nature bestows a sense of connectedness, meaning and overall purpose. There is a beauty in the chaotic order found in nature; everything is interconnected, yourself included. “Look deep into nature, and then you will understand everything better,” Albert Einstein (Up Knorth, p.2, 2014)."
Those who don't understand nature deficit disorder, it is when children become detached from the natural worlds (Lively, 2014). It is not a medical condition but has negative side effects. This guide found on Pinterest really helps prevent this disorder and not give children attention difficulties and mental/physical illnesses (Lively, 2014). Number one on the list is playing in the woods and that's why I have chosen to share this article because again, it will benefit children.
While researching on Pinterest I came across a blog entitled "What is a stick?" After reading it I couldn't believe how many ways you can represent what a stick is. It really shows how much nature can help children and what it has to offer. From one object (that is free) can be an amazing tool for learning and development can grow. The blog first begins to ask the readers what they believe a stick is. It then says a stick is the most adaptable and educational resource for learning (Moseley, n.d). That sentence right there caught my eye to continue reading the blog. Below you see a list gathered of all things the writer researched about a stick. Read more on his blog http://www.forestschoolsblog.com/2014/02/what-is-stick.html What is a stick?
A flicker
A poker
Explore structure, form and transformation
Explore science of combustion
Nature of heat and thermodynamics while cooking marshmallows.. YUM
Sticks are variable, being short, thick, long, wiggly, straight and ore
A canvas for creativity
An imaginative object, a bridge or a pirate ship
Provide divergent thinking environments
Create meaning and explore social paradigms
Being unbalanced and changeable
Physical experience when weather occurs, is it brittle or delicate or soft
Gross and fine motor skills
The sensory symphony - smell, temperature, texture and weight
After all this, you as the observer would extend the lesson by asking questions. What happens next? Why is the stick on the floor? And many more (Moseley, n.d). Not only is this beneficial for inquiry learning but also focuses again on areas of learning such as; math, science, art, English and more (Moseley, n.d).
This really stuck in my head and I felt I wanted to post this blog because it had an impact on me.... Did it impact you?
Instead of typing all the facts I found this amazing chart that shows exactly what I was going to explain. That's one power that Pinterest has, it shows facts in an interesting way for some viewers. This chart not only explains how the learning is done but also gives examples and specific skills. This hopefully helps you see how the areas are incorporated. Below I will show some pictures and if you click the link below the pictures you can actually view the activity, see the picture, and lead you to my Pinterest for more!!!
The was done by a Grade 2 class and show how children use natural materials and tools to promote creative development. Have children go on a nature walk and collect materials for there own creation.
Imagine measuring this big tree. Children in Forest Schools have a bond with nature and want to learn all about. How tall different trees are is a great learning activity that will include many areas such as; measurement, comparison, patterns, weight and more!
This activity is great for children to investigate and question their own learning. Let them go outside with different tools and explore what nature has to offer. In Forest Schools children are excited to find out an answer, at their own pace in a fun and interesting way.
Forest Schools create "high risk" activities like creating a real fire using materials. Children can tell stores and be work together in a way to achieve this development.
In physical development children develop gross motor skills by running, climbing, lifting and more. Risk and challenges are again great for children and help their learning development. This tree is so amazing and you can see interest in all the children around.
In this area of development the children also use real equipment and tools for real purposes. This also helps the children learn about safety with guidance and experience.
All these activities and learning are based on inquiry learning from the children. Here is a chart that will help demonstrate different ways they inquire.
If your interested in looking at a typical day at a Forest School read the chart below. If I only I was given this privilege. It is so interesting and I believe that's how learning should be!!! Let's get outside NOW!!
It is important to see how a child is viewed in today's society. I experienced the traditional classroom growing up and felt I was uninterested, always rushed, not incorporated in learning lessons, no voice, and had no exploration. It always seemed there was one answer that you had to find out and the teachers always knew that one answer. Teachers and children didn't co-construct, it was the teacher teaching and the children learning. Let me remind you, the children were all learning the same thing and had to be at the same pace. If you didn't understand a subject that report came home and would say your "progressing with difficulty." I still remember having a talk with my parents asking why I am progressing with difficulty. I was compared to other students and again didn't enjoy learning. Being introduced to this "Forest School" learning brings such joy to my life and I hope to others. I can't get on Pinterest when I search for Forest Schools because all I see happiness. I look at the children's faces and all these amazing fun activities and I catch myself laughing and smiling. It makes me feel people really do want to help others and some children really are seen as citizens, not a blank slate. My Grade 3 teacher told my parents I need to be in a different class for reading ... This surprised my parents because at home I was a good reader. I know exactly why my teacher felt this way, because I didn't have the confidence to do this task, I was being compared by others, and just always felt I wasn't smart enough. Let me remind you, I was only 7 since my birthday is in December. I wasn't able to speak then but here I am trying to speak now! I know I want to educate children in a Forest School and help learning become fun, enjoyable, and powerful. Forest Schools view their child in these following ways;
Unique, valuable, and equal
The child is capable to explore and discover their own experiences with risks and challenges appropriately.
Able to choose and initiate their learning
Entitled to develop relationships that are positive, with others as well as themselves
Develop a positive and strong relationship with nature
These quotes really stood out to me because they are bold statements that help show the power of nature. Now I will move on to the learning of Forest Schools and how subjects can be seen in different domains and areas outdoors.
Potential
Benefits of Participating in Forest and Nature School:
"Improved
confidence, social skills, communication, motivation, and concentration
(O’Brien & Murray,2007); Improved physical stamina, fine and gross motor
skills (O’Brien & Murray, 2007); Positive identity formation for individuals and
communities (Russell etal.,2013) Environmentally sustainable behaviours and
ecological literacy; Increased knowledge of environment, increased
frequency of visiting nature within families (O’Brien & Murray,
2007); Healthy and safe risk-taking; Improved creativity and
resilience; Improved academic achievement and
self-regulation; Reduced stress and increased patience, self-discipline,
capacity for attention, and recovery from mental fatigue; (Russell et al.,
2013, p. 482); Improved higher level cognitive skills (Atchlet, Strayer &
Atchley, 2012); Male inclusion in education. (Children & Nature
Network, 2012; Massey, n.d.). (Forest School Canada, 2011, p.3)."
This was
a chart found on Forest School Canada that captured my attention and put things
into perspective. It shows different domains and many aspects to why Forest Schools can benefit children. These are powerful statements and show all learners really are incorporated.
This was a blog based on her experience as a student. She
was placed only in Traditional Classrooms and when going to Fells, it was a new
experience. She explains she is use to children taking a hard line approach and
having little time to complete work with no exploration. This was the only
teaching strategy and when walking into this school there was children running
around the forest with natural curiosity. Teachers weren’t pushing any lessons
and later found out that the children created the lessons themselves. The children at this
school had endless time and explored at ease. Teachers were there and
facilitated learning by asking questions to the children. It would challenge the
children in a way that motivated them to want to find the answer. She also
explains that in the Traditional classroom it was hard to keep the children
focused especially when not interested. Where at Fells, students went in the
woods and because of new experiences and ideas they explored and wanted to
learn up to an hour. Fell students never got bored and had a choice.
This blog showed an experience and compared a traditional classroom to a Forest School. In my opinion it seems a Forest School really is beneficial and, why not have the children motivated to learn? It seems we don't feel they are capable to do so and playing in a Forest may not be the answer. During my blog hopefully you will see it really is a great solution and key facts prove it helps children (ALL children) to develop appropriately.
Another article found on Twitter was posted by @nature_org in tilted "A Classroom with no Walls." They describe Forest Schools as a bond between nature and children, so they become aware of the environment and carry it on in adulthood (McGurk, 2014). They also quote that children attending Forest Schools have fewer sick days, better motor development, are fitter, and more attentive then children in a traditional classroom (McGurk, 2014). The children are imaginative which will increase children interaction and allow for role playing games (McGurk, 2014). The article explains that this experience of Forest School is richer when being outside. The example they explain is an activity with a leaf. Children will start by counting, then identify the tree it came from, then the leaf may fly away which children will then discuss wind, and more (McGurk, 2014). The article quotes "You learn none of these in a classroom counting plastic elephants (McGurk, p. 1, 2014)."
I really enjoy the last quote of that article. Where is the learning in counting elephants? Why not count leafs that will later extend children's learning?
This video was so inspiring and really puts Forest Schools into perspective. It tells you benefits, explanations, tools, and real life examples. The children are the leaders and the teachers are the observers. We need to let children take risks and challenges to help them grow and develop. Let's start making learning fun and enjoyable.
I hope you enjoyed that video as much as I did! Now that we learned some benefits let's look at the educators role and how children are viewed in their eyes!
