weaving in the real world

Yes, we are still weaving! A wonderful parent brought in sunflowers for us to plant, AND also a new weaving project that has challenged my little experts! Our sunflowers have sprouted and are ready to go into the ground, and our woven sunflowers are worked on daily and are in process of completion. I've noticed real learning with this sunflower loom: it's HARD to weave in a circle, and after several failed attempts, the primates shoved them in their drawers in frustration. Adopting my "Zen teacher" mode, I said nothing, and as days passed by, i noticed the sunflower looms appearing at choice time. First primate to proudly complete his sunflower (and interestingly--he was also the first to give up!) rang the bell (our original tradition when someone completes a weaving project), and the crowd cheered as he showed his sunflower. Since, finished sunflowers are celebrated daily. PERSEVERANCE!

This is just a perfect example of supporting classroom learning from home--and it's not the only one this project inspired! Several parents have purchased and/or made looms for their children at home--at the primate's request! This reinforces the idea that what they are doing in school is VALUED by their family--and those are the people the primates learn most from, and what they learn elsewhere is filtered through their personal lenses, which are developed at home.

The parent who brought in the project and made a connection to the season of spring and the natural world (planting, growing, caring for living things--side note: every morning the primates line up at the sink to individually water their flowers. Some have written and sketched in their journals, some have measured and recorded growth--with NO direction from me!!! THIS IS LEARNING!!!!!! THIS IS MI!!!! THIS IS REAL!!!!)...anyways, that parent teaches us that there is more to learn about weaving and gives us a new perspective on connecting nature to art, via weaving.

The families who have encouraged continued learning at home by providing looms teach us that this skill is valued, and that they are proud and inspired by what we have done. Isn't that the approval from our parents we spend our lives chasing?

Finally, and this was the first "home connection", one parent took her family to the textile museum in Lowell. Her son is a self-proclaimed, "weaving maniac". He brought in his own loom--a different one!--and a book, and this quiet, newest member of our group was suddenly the center of attention. Every primate gathered around him as he showed his loom and the potholders he'd made--they begged for him to teach them, and he did. This also sparked an interest in him to work on our wall loom in the hallway that had been dormant for weeks. Within days, and with the help of others who followed his lead, we had 3 finished pieces on the wall loom, and they were begging for more.

This just reminds me of that cheesy poster, (one that I do secretly believe) that says something about throwing a pebble into still water to create a ripple, that creates a wave...etc....this blog makes me increasingly aware of exactly how sappy and sentimental I can be...I suppose it balances out the cynical, defeated teacher I have been known to play at times!