Mrs. Sweezey | Natoaganeg School

Don't Push the Button

Knowing your limits and assessing risk.

Posted: June 13, 2017

The kids have been quite adventurous these days. Climbing the side of the playground structure is the newest challenge for our crew. Some have been doing it for awhile and some are just finally reaching the top. What's interesting about this video is that the first child climbs the structure and rounds the corner easily. Both children are the same age, height, and build, but Mrs. Sophia just isn't there yet. We talk a lot about safety and check in with eachother daily when doing risky activities and from my conversation with Sophia, she was scared and in her words, "not ready yet, but I can jump down."

Imaginations running wild today.

Posted: June 13, 2017

Here the kids are using jump ropes to set traps for "The Joker."

Round and round.

Posted: June 13, 2017

Outdoor Classroom

Posted: June 7, 2017

"Do you feel safe up there?" . . . "YESSS, I doo."

Posted: May 31, 2017

I have been trying remove the words "be careful" from my vocabulary because they have a negative connotation and assumes that the child isn't being careful. Not only is Gia being careful, but she is also assessing risk, taking her time, testing her personal limits, and practicing her balancing skills. What you don't see is that this was her 3rd attempt. She fell, she crashed, and she slipped, but she was 100% determined to cross that log. Why put my worry on the students? When engaging in risky activities, I simply ask, "Do you feel safe?" Can you tell I ask this question a lot? ;)

Happy scientists!

Posted: May 29, 2017

Oobleck

Posted: May 29, 2017

It was a little chilly outside, so today we stayed in and did a mini science experiment and made some Oobleck. A little bit of water and a little bit of cornstarch and what do you get? Is it hard? Is it soft? What is it?

It's a zoo out here.

Posted: May 25, 2017

Just off to the side of basecamp is a tall grassy spot where the kids like to sit in and peer over the grass like little lions. Here is a pride of boy lions roaring their mighty roars.

"Take our picture Mrs. Sweezey."

Posted: May 23, 2017

When outdoors, Mary-Dale and I try our best to stay in the background and be there for support when the kids need us. Watching them play and explore the land around them is an interesting experience. Their imaginations run wild and sometimes it seems like they forget that we are even there. ...