“It's not about what it is, it's about what it can become." ~ Dr. Seuss, The Lorax. Not only is nature beautiful, but also in ways more far-reaching than we ever realized, it is vital for our kids. Richard Louv, founder of Children & Nature Network succinctly sums up a truth, “Time in nature is not leisure time; it’s an essential investment in our children’s health.”Increasingly, our children are missing out on the benefits of outdoor play including vitamin D intake, exercise and... read more
My sprouting lettuce plants need thinned. Normally as a gardener you plant many more seeds than necessary to ensure you get enough. When you have too many plants too close together they compete for the same resources of water, sun and nutrients and none of them do as well as they would do with more space. So you have to either pull or cut the weakest sprouts. "Thinning" is choosing the strongest plant. Gardeners recommend cutting the plant as opposed to pulling to ensure that you... read more
Brett C here. I wanted to talk about something that affects all teachers. I have noticed over the years that there have been times when it feels like all I see are my failures: the children who can't "get it" fast enough, the children who flunk out, the children who get in trouble with the school, their parents and even the law. The reason I bring this point up is I recently received a letter from a boy, Seth that I worked with almost ten years ago. At the time I was working at a... read more
Why shouldn't education get a bigger piece of the sponsorship pie if it can be wholesome and healthy? I asked myself a few months ago. At the time the Bloomers! team had introduced the Bloomers! Schoolyard program to overwhelmingly positive reviews, successful testing in pilot schools, and a sincere expressed need by educators. And yet most of the schools we talked to could not afford it. I thought, Why not a sponsorship model? I mean if companies can put their names on the back of... read more
Brett C here again. I wanted to discuss a subject that every teacher has to deal with in one form or another, stress and frustration. One of the most common traits that all teachers and caregivers share is we put our clients or students needs and feelings above our own while we are at work. This is one of the things that makes us good teachers but it is also troubling for our own well being. As teachers we often have to deal with student's temper tantrums and insults, and just... read more
Sage Advice is....
The Bloomers! blog for grownups. Whether you're a family member, educator, or friend, join us in the wonderful ways to explore the splendors of nature with children. An early appreciation for nature allows our young ones to grow up with a healthy regard for themselves and their surroundings.
farm garden children Bloomers vegetables T.E.D. virtualworld digging cooking entrepreneur botanic LA arboretum conservatory bloomers check-in fireflies fields meadow dusk spring follow Bloomers! sky lightning thunder storm electrified rainbow clouds brook snakes creek swimming Girls Schoolyard Rosey Dolls Garden Vegetables Nature Science Daughters cornfield dark cornstalk hide-n-seek doe halloween treats avatars costume Leaves autumn fall nature size measure kids bloomers chores groceries shopping economics coupons snowpeas preschool technology education games StarWars Gingerbread Family Traditions Christmas Recipes Gift Subscription Instructions Register school bullying protect Patience Growing Gardening Seeds Snowpeas Overwatering Planting hooky gardening trails families functional laughter comfort closeness love fun dysfunctional backyard mud toys eco-friendly play outside dog trail hiking commitment responsibility exercise 127Hours greenhouse trapdoor abandoned family dinner recipes sneaky mom veggies responsibilities needed behavioral School Performance Grades Studies Student apron tool belt clothes behavior chickens eggs hatching brooders journals small motor skills documentation Outdoors Gardens Mother's Day classroom management behavior management behavior challenges teacher autistic counselor afterschool Respect Empathy Flowers Trees Plants striving cllimbing goals failure belay stress frustration validation Sponsorships Education Schools Funding teaching troubled educators thinning multi-tasking lettuce classroom worry seeds sprouting plantains patience faith drought starvation Grass Persistence Letting Go Hanging On
