How PLAY Develops a Child’s Physical, Emotional and Mental Growth

Recently, I was walking by a playground of children playing in Paris, France. The sounds of the play could have been happening in China, Holland, or Tulsa, Oklahoma.  Because the fact is, all children are wired for play. It’s one of the universal drives inherent in...

Let's Say Goodbye 2020 and Create 2021!

Phew! It's finally time to say goodbye to 2020. It brought so many curve balls. It was exhausting and yet, there were gifts as well. It was amazing to see the incredible passion and inspiration from early childhood educators worldwide as they had to pivot their...

How To Social Distance Without Giving Up WONDER

Social distancing is just wrong in early childhood. You know it. I know it. But what if you are mandated to do it? Recently, I was on a Zoom call, and an educator told us about her colleagues who had made taped squares in their rooms. In those squares they put a chair...

A Wonder-Filled School in the Philippines

In July 2019,  I had the incredible honor of presenting a seminar in Manila.  Mia Villavicencio, who is in my Wonder Tribe membership, was there and invited me to visit her center.  It was such an honor and treat.  Here is a peek into her amazing center! To enter this...

Hopes and Dreams featuring The Orchard School

Wow.  I love how social media connects us.  The Orchard School in Plano, Texas saw the hopes and dreams project for families on our Instagram and brought a new spin to it. They made a Faculty Hopes and Dreams hanging! Something that would be incredible if we all did...

Going Beyond Cupcakes: Reggio Inspired Birthday Traditions

Going Beyond Cupcakes: Reggio Inspired Birthday Traditions

Birthday Traditions are an important component to celebrating children in your class. A birthday tradition celebrates the day with a special tradition rather than food. It goes deeper than the cupcake and engrains from an early age the importance of celebrating one...

 3 Steps to Creating a Hopes and Dreams Display

 3 Steps to Creating a Hopes and Dreams Display

One of the most meaningful family projects is the Hopes & Dreams Display.   This is a visual piece displayed all year long in the classroom.  It holds the hopes and dreams of the families for their child in your class. There are basic 3 steps to creating a Hopes...

How To Make A Family Chandelier In Your Classroom

How To Make A Family Chandelier In Your Classroom

“Our job is too difficult and too beautiful to do alone.” -Amelia Gambetti, Reggio Emilia Family Chandeliers are one of my favorite connections to do with families at the beginning of the year. Today, I want to give you a step by step guide on how to make a family...

Guest Post: How can I create a collaborative school culture?

Guest Post: How can I create a collaborative school culture?

Written by Chanie Wilschanski DiscoverED Consulting   I was chatting with a director a few months ago about school cultures. She was sharing that she feels her school goes through phases of different environments and cultures. I thought about what she said a lot...

3 Must Read Books When Preparing for Self-Portraits

3 Must Read Books When Preparing for Self-Portraits

I wanted to share with you three books to inspire children during the creation of self-portraits. TIPS for using these books: Read a couple pages per day and focus on a unique trait or aspect of self Explore a medium - using our creativity to find objects to represent...

Setting up the 3rd Teacher: A peek into Nammi's Classroom (Part 2)

Setting up the 3rd Teacher: A peek into Nammi's Classroom (Part 2)

You are currently reading our archived blog. While these older posts may not reflect our current vision and direction, we encourage you to visit our new website at wunderled.com to explore our latest, updated content. There, you'll find a wealth of valuable articles,...

Setting up the 3rd Teacher:  A Peek into Nammi's Classroom

Setting up the 3rd Teacher: A Peek into Nammi's Classroom

I am incredibly excited to share a peek into an incredible Reggio Inspired Classroom. This is Nammi's Classroom. She is a teacher at  Educare.  Her classroom is for 3 to 4 year olds.  It is the end of the year for her, so you will notice how the children,...

Setting up the 3rd Teacher:  A peek into Sidney's Classroom

Setting up the 3rd Teacher: A peek into Sidney's Classroom

“The environment should act as an aquarium which reflects the ideas, ethics, attitudes, and culture of the people who live in it. This is what we are working towards.” Loris Malaguzzi With the new school year fast approaching for many, setting up the classroom...

5 Ways to Take Your Sensory Table to the Next Level

5 Ways to Take Your Sensory Table to the Next Level

  For over 27 years, Tom Bedard has been building apparatuses for the sensory table. And it all started with a bucket. The bucket answered a NEED at the sensory table - transporting the sand out of the table. Hello!  How many of you have fought the “there’s more...

3 Simple Ways to Get Children to Pick Up Loose Parts

3 Simple Ways to Get Children to Pick Up Loose Parts

If I were completely honest, I’d tell you I nearly gave up on loose parts because of the mess in my classroom at the end of the day. I remember seeing all of those beautiful photos of loose parts in action. I loved the creativity, exploration, and inventiveness the...

How to Engage and Inspire Young Children

How to Engage and Inspire Young Children

I am super excited to share my guest appearance on Patty Palmer’s podcast Art Made Easy. Deep Space Sparkle has been one of my favorite go to blogs for years. I was so honored to be interviewed. Go HERE to listen in. . .

Hand Sewing for Literacy

Hand Sewing for Literacy

When I decided to attend a NAEYC session on sewing with young children - I had no idea I would walk into a session with an author I love! In her book "Sewing School: 21 Sewing Projects Kids Will Love to Make" I had adored the simple but highly engaging projects like...

Sandra Duncan: Classroom Containers as Invitations

Sandra Duncan: Classroom Containers as Invitations

This year at the NAEYC Annual Conference I had the delight of meeting Sandra Duncan. It was exciting because I love her book Inspiring Spaces for Young Children. Sandra is such an inspiration!  She shared an amazing perspective shift in her session. Here's a sneak...

4 Steps to Your Greatest Teaching Year Ever

4 Steps to Your Greatest Teaching Year Ever

I have one of my favorite freebies for you - the Take One 2017 Toolkit.  It is a life-changing document that has transformed my teaching practice year after year.       I am so excited to share this with you. Feel free to share this with any friends or...

Toddler Tales ~ How to Make Your Own Sensory Table

Toddler Tales ~ How to Make Your Own Sensory Table

For my toddler's birthday this year, I decided to make him a sensory table inspired by Tom Bedard! I didn't really know how this would turn out since I was attempting to create this with items I had on hand, except for the bag of beans. However, I was pleasantly...

Toddler Tales ~ Making Reindeer Food

Toddler Tales ~ Making Reindeer Food

Who knew making reindeer food could be so much fun?! Needing a quick and easy gift for my toddler to give to his classmates, I settled on reindeer food. With only 2 ingredients, it's so simple! However, I had no idea how much fun my little man would have with the...

Meaningful Documentation in the Early Childhood Classroom

Meaningful Documentation in the Early Childhood Classroom

Providing meaningful documentation has many benefits in the early childhood classroom. Today I want to share some examples of meaningful documentation from Rosa Parks ECEC here in Tulsa, OK. What is Documentation? To put it simply, documentation is a way to track...

Empathy for the Big Bad Wolf ~ A New Take on an Old Tale

Empathy for the Big Bad Wolf ~ A New Take on an Old Tale

When I went to photograph at Rosa Parks recently, I noticed some peculiar documentation panels which seemed to show empathy for the Big Bad Wolf. I asked the classroom's teachers about this and they confirmed my suspicions. Upon hearing the age old story of the Three...

Invitation to Build a Turkey

Invitation to Build a Turkey

Thanksgiving is fast approaching and my little turkeys are super excited! I set up a simple invitation to build a turkey to keep them engaged this weekend while I got caught up on some much needed preparation for the upcoming holiday. The Provocation I used homemade...

Toddler Tales ~ Painting a Gift

Toddler Tales ~ Painting a Gift

Having toddlers make gifts is such a wonderful way to add a personal touch during the holidays. Painting a gift can be a wonderful experience for the toddler and makes a lovely, unique gift. This painting process can also be an essential learning experience for...

Atelier Ideas

Atelier Ideas

One of my favorite parts of the Reggio Emilia Approach is their dedication to the atelier. Today I want to feature some local atelier ideas in the hopes they may inspire you or spark an idea for you and your atelier! "Creativity seems to emerge from multiple...

Make Your Own Story Stones

Make Your Own Story Stones

Story Stones are a great way to get students excited about story telling and they are surprisingly easy to make! Materials Needed: Stones A variety of stickers Modge Podge Paint Brush Small container to pour the Modge Podge in (this is optional) *I purchased all of my...

12 Ideas for Storing Loose Parts

12 Ideas for Storing Loose Parts

During the FREE Live Webinar, Loose Parts! Provocations! Oh My!, I noticed a lot of questions about how to store loose parts. Today I want to share 12 ideas with you for loose parts storage! These ideas come from the amazing Reggio-Inspired school, Rosa Parks ECEC!...

Simple Literacy Provocations

Simple Literacy Provocations

I know some people get overwhelmed when trying to think of new ideas for provocations. Today I want to share with you some simple ideas for literacy provocations that may spark some new ideas for you! Enjoy! If you are reading this and wondering what a provocation is,...

Flexible Seating in a Reggio-Inspired School

Flexible Seating in a Reggio-Inspired School

Offering children flexible seating choices can be a great way to make the classroom environment more cozy and home-like. Let's take a look at flexible seating in a Reggio-Inspired school. What is Flexible Seating? Flexible seating is simply offering students multiple...

Toddler Tales ~ Pumpkin Painting

Toddler Tales ~ Pumpkin Painting

One of my favorite October traditions is pumpkin painting! We take our annual trip to the pumpkin patch and the next day, we paint our pumpkins! It is such a fun and easy activity and the kids get to be more creatively involved than they do with pumpkin carving. Full...

Fall Leaf Investigation

One of the perks of fall is the gorgeous weather and a leaf investigation is a great excuse to go outside which makes it a wonderful addition to your fall activities! To begin our leaf investigation we read the book, Leaf Man by Lois Ehlert. This book displays...