"Inside Out"

Two more days to enter for the CD giveaway.

2012-02-27T17:30:00.001-08:00

Just a reminder we have two more days for our CD giveaway, Sail Away by Eva Tree.
Thank you for your lovely comments and feedback.

Please enter by writing your comments below.

Blessings,
Chandi

Heart and hands connected.

2012-02-24T21:10:00.000-08:00

Handiwork and sewing havebeen important activities in my kindergarten and
preschool classroom this month.

About a year ago, I read aninspiring blog piece on handiwork for the young
child. I want to connect you with her post from January 2011.

It is from : Fairy Dusting and Sally Haughey.

This was the first stage of our pillows

This pillow is almost completed pillow.

Here is the Kindergartenproject we worked on together for our last full
moon day celebration. These are moon pillows. Each childindividually wet
felted their own moon by using roving wool. We then attached it very
carefully with felting needles to a piece of prepared felt. The children
then sewed the two felt pieces together and we filled each one with rice.

When the moon pillows are warmed for 15 seconds in a microwave, the childrencan use
them in their coat pockets on cold winter day or at night tucked
under their blankets for a gentle night's sleep.

In the preschool classroomwe completed our Valentine's hearts. During the process of completing both of these projects, I had the opportunityto
connect individually with each child. Handiwork for the child can deepenthe child's level of concentration and focus; it also challenges theirwillpower to complete something
they are truly proud of.

Try some sewing projects with your child . These were delightful.

We will live in joy! Free CD giveaway.

2012-02-20T19:57:00.000-08:00

Living Wisdom Kindness Quilt and our bird biscuits.

This has been a full week of inspiration withlove in my classroom and
through the halls at the Living Wisdom School.

I had a hard time just finishing up on all our projects each day. So,
in other words, it was a Valentine's week in my class.

In the spirit of love and inspiration, I want to acknowledge one of our parentsat the Living Wisdom School.
Eva Tree is a Canadian singer-songwriter who has a warm tone of complexity
and sings sweet heart-yearning melodies.

I had asked Eva to write a song for my class this year that would express thewarmth of being kind in the classroom. Eva wrote a song, then came intothe class to teach all of us. We have been singing it ever since. Amagical aura of love emanates though the room while we sing.

During the week prior to Valentine's Day, I had an idea to create a game that Isaw last summer. I wish to give the credit to the teacher in Vancouverthat first thought of this project, so I pinned on one of my"Pinterest" boards.

The game is as follows: When a teacher or staff member notices a childbeing
kind, or displaying friendship, the child is given a heart to color for our"all school" art quilt. The hearts will be attached together asa large quilt in the main entry of the Living Wisdom School for all to see.

At Valentine's Day, in a classroom setting, we want to expand the children's
love, and guide them toward a larger reality of sharing love to all. This can
be in the classroom, school setting, community, and also in nature.

This valentine project was designed to share the song and blessing for allwithin the
whole school. I created a game that all the children and staff can
participate in.
We found through the week that the environment at school was benefited
when we all participated together.

An extra special valentine gift in celebration of love has been donated.
Eva will be giving one of her CD's on this blog site.

Please comment below and I will enter you in the drawing. (I will include
the name her etc and link.)
The drawing will be made on February 29, leap
year.

Let's all share our love this month and all live in joy.

Recipe for Bird Biscuits at the top

3 cups of lukewarm water

1 1/2 Tablespoons of dry yeast

4 cups of whole wheat flour

4 teaspoons of salt

1/3 cup oil or butter, or margarine

3 cups additional whole wheat flour

1 cup whole wheat flour for kneading

Dissolve the yeast in the water. Stir in sweetening and dry milk. Stir in 4 cups of whole wheat flour to form thick batter.

Beat well with a wooden spoon

Let rise 45 minutes

Fold in the salt and oil.

Fold in additional 3 cups of flour until the dough comes away from the sides of the bowl.

Knead on a floured surface until smooth.

Let rise for 50 minutes. Punch down. Should be doubled in bulk

Punch down.

Now is the time to have each child shape some rolls for them selves. Let rise about 10 minutes. Cook at 350 for about 20 minutes.

Now take the remainder of the dough and add bird seeds. Need the seeds into the dough. Cut the dough into heart shapes. Cook about 10 minutes.

After they are cooked for 15 or 20 minutes cool them. The birds don't mind if they are hard.
Now take a darning needle and embroidery thread. Sew the garlands by stringing several hearts together in a garland. Individual help may be needed if the children have a hard time sewing the needle through the bread.

" Be kind to the birds". All the birds are loving the bird biscuits. Happy Valentines month.

Our love from the heart.

2012-02-14T19:39:00.000-08:00

A day in photos.

The Queen of hearts made some tarts on Valentines Day.

The knight of hearts stole the tarts and took them all away.

Where did the hearts go?

We had a great day in the Nora's Preschool class with all our friends.

Hey, where are you going with those tarts?

All the tarts were shared with all our friends at Living Wisdom School.

Happy Valentines Day

Dancing in thy light

2012-02-08T00:06:00.000-08:00

Our new rainbow maker. Uses stored solar energy to turn the crystal that send rainbows though the whole classroom.

We have been exploring in our classroom new ways of using light. We just received a new rainbow maker in our class for Christmas. This has been so much fun. The solar energy is stored through the light shield, thus in turn propels the motor, that turns the crystal at the bottom, which creates our rainbows. Wow. We have rainbows all though our classroom. It has been so warm and sunny this week in Seattle. We are blessed to have dancing rainbows on the ceilings and floor. It feels so good! Sometimes I just look up and breath in the beauty with all the sparkling colors. I can imagine the memories that this is creating for my students.


The rainbows are hard to catch from ceiling to floor.

Another area that we have been exploring is the light reflected in rocks and crystals. We are gathering rocks to build a rock garden soon in our playground area.

These are the rocks that we collected this week. We were washing them, sorting them by colors, size and what type of rocks.

I also love to teach children all about crystals, light, healing and energy. We have a crystal basket where all the crystals are arranged in a display like a color wheel. I use the color wheels in many different situations. I like our room to be arranged with rainbows of colors and light.


This is a beautiful book written by Peggy Christian about how to find a rock. We read this for our morning circle time and then went outside to explore all the many different rocks we could find.

To conclude today was our full moon party and we created pastel moonlight paintings.The children had a wonderful time making them and they turned out beautiful.

It never fails me how children spark my imagination as a teacher. They also just seem to know my favorite subjects to teach. I love beauty, calmness and light in the early childhood classroom.

You might try some of these projects and let me know how it is going in your home or classroom.

Joy to you

" A week together"

2012-02-03T00:50:00.000-08:00

Many times I have been asked about the philosophy at our Living Wisdom School and how this compares to other systems of teaching. I want to draw you to an excellent article that was written on our Living Wisdom Website. It compares Waldorf and Montessori education along with the Education for Life system.

Mostly in this blog I am focusing on Early Childhood education and the Foundation years though the Education for Life systematic approach.

Today's set of photos above were taken throughout last week and the overall approach towards balancing all aspects of a young child's life in each lesson.

The foundation years from 0 – 6 years old are a critical period in the development of a child’s life. During this time, a child’s attitude about the world takes root. Our job is to carefully nurture qualities of curiosity, sensory awareness, concentration, and compassion so that the children may feel a deep sense of acceptance towards themselves. By focusing on mental, physical, and spiritual aspects of development, we foster the child’s cognitive and physical growth while strengthening the inner qualities of love, kindness and joy. In this way, the children naturally develop a sense of inner happiness and success.

Teaching math using the Physical body.


The children are all turning 4 in my classroom and love playing games together.

The foundation years are also called, the physical years. During this period the children learn through through movement and their bodies. This particular activity we were using dice and cubes. Though on occasion there were fun times where the dice ended up way across the room. Then carefully carried the dice back and counted the dots on the dice.

This game corresponded with number recognition and one to one counting.

Thechildren counted their dots on the dice andthen counted out individual unifix cubes. The unifix cubes are shown in the picture above. After counting correctly their cubes, they would manipulate, put into patterns and long towers. For some of the children they moved continuously as they counted the dots. That was the main reason for doing this project on the floor. Oneof the students was so visual that he could just open his hand and grab theamount automatically from the pile.

This gamegave me some further insight into which students were my visual learners, whichwere my physical learners, and which children were practicing using their willto make the largest tower. There are manylevels to the game, but today we started out with a simple counting game. The next level is to teach patterns and adding two dice together.

In myclassroom I set my goals for drawing out certain inner qualities that thechildren can experience from each lesson. Today the lesson was calling forthpatience and cooperation in waiting for their turn.

_____________________________________

Teaching Art through Feeling and Will Power During the Physical Years.

Art is another way the children canget in touch with their hearts and inner feeling during the physical years. In January I like to focus on helping the children to expandtheir own realities out in nature with a sense of wonder. It is one of my favorite times of the yearwith many beautiful memories.

Often I ask the children, "What ishappening to the animals in the wintertime?"

It is one of my favorite times of the year with many beautiful memories.

I have explored with children the wonder of the bald eagles, beavers, northwest owls and crows. Working with young children you just never know what might happen or which animal calls to their inner natures.

This is the picture book that I use every year to introduce the concepts of habitats, animals, humans, weather and food. The children love the story, Stranger in the Woods.

This week we finished creating our felted animal masks. Each child made a different animal from the winter forest in the picture book. We play several games using our masks, creating stories and homes for the animals.

Teaching art through the feeling and the use of their own will power.

In the picture above selected a winter animal picture that was clipped beside their poster paper. They began drawing with a pencil the animal that that they had chosen. (There are several steps leading up to this assignment. The children the week before had really practiced their circle drawings.)

They mixed their own colors using a color wheel and added texture to their backgrounds using sponges or several types of brushes. This particular activity is a way to balance the heart's natural love for animals. If a child becomes agitated at any particular moment, we change directions or complete the painting the next day. Buteven if it takes several days, I always want the children to finish a painting project. Will Power is taught at an early age to develop persevering and to conclude something that one has initially attempted. As children grow older I talk to them about how many master artists work on more than one painting at a time and may work for months and years to complete one painting.

There is a deep profound lesson that I have seen over thepast 7 years that I have taught children how to use their own will power to achieve something that they have started. It is amazing and brings tears to my eyes each time. Eachone of these young children has such intelligence and wonder they can access ifwe can just begin to grasp their attention and guide them through the processof becoming self-achievers. In this activity, they often break through theirown fears and explore deep within themselves the ability to achieve what theyset their minds to do.

Feeling inner joy

On this particular morning, ourhearts were open to creating snowmen. Itwas our first day back from school after a Northwest winter snow storm. Thisparticular morning we shared many snow family stories and had a joyful timewith our winter play dough. This exercisewas also taken from our picture story book, "Who's hiding in the woods."
"Joy doesn't come from outside myself but from within oneself."These children were feeling their inner joy today.

Teaching Gratitude, Detachment to any Certain Outcome and Will Power

during the Physical Years.

The lastactivity I want to share with you today for children in the physical years is a game to help them flow with the ups anddowns of life, learning perseverance, gratitude and detachment from any certainoutcome. This was the first time I had actually done this particular game usingpuzzles. I had for many years done it with art materials, but now I thought toexperiment with puzzles. One of our inner qualities we are addressing this month is perseverance.

I set out six puzzles for six children. We started to play soft music in thebackground. They quickly began to focus in on completing their own puzzle. Whenthe music stopped, they were to stop and go to their neighbor’s chair andcomplete their puzzle. When they finished a puzzle, they could dump it out andstart over. This was interesting to watch the children. Some of themcompleted their own puzzle quickly and were eager to get to the next station.Others did not want to move, or complete the game at all. Two children ran around the table after most of the childrenhad left, eager to complete all the puzzles while helping each other. Onestudent wanted me to take photos of him with all his puzzles to show his momhow well he had completed them.

It was a joyful experiment for me to watch and to observe each child. As ateacher, I am always looking for ways to help children uplift their feeling energy. I often have the time to ask myself during a plannedactivity, "Where are their strengths and how can I build upon thosestrengths?"

Education for Life philosophyhas given me the tools to tune into each individual child’s energy andreadiness and respond sensitively at any given moment. This sensitivity is particularly importantduring the physical years, so I am truly humbled and grateful to be able to usesuch an effective philosophy.

Your eyes are the window into the soul

2012-01-26T00:16:00.000-08:00

This week at the Living Wisdom School our classrooms celebrated with one of our staff members her national heritage, culture and events in her early life. She has a extraordinary story to tell about coming to this country with her family on a boat from Vietnam. She is one of my dearest friends and shares so much joy with many truth-seekers. Her generosity is so humbling.

Together we were able to participate in the Vietnamese New Year and tour the local Buddhist Temple just around the corner from where we live in Lynnwood,Washington. We took a small group of older students there this afternoon from our 3rd-5th grade class at the Living Wisdom School.

This is a magical spiritual place and I wanted the children from our school to feel the power and devotion that is so measurable on the grounds.

There is a section at the top of the property, lined with over 30 statures of Buddha and Quan Yin.

Devotional Prayers

Walking peacefully together in a prayer mediation, we instructed the children as to the deeper meanings of each Buddha. I also spoke to them that each stature represented a small part of themselves inwardly.

One of the third graders said to me, "You can really look into their eyes and see the difference." Many of these children have been at our Living Wisdom School now for many years. They know what it is like to pray, meditate, chant and they see themselves as light and energy bodies.

Even though stormy weather had closed down the New Years celebrations, the temple remained open just for our students. They were also personally guided through prayers in the temple by one of the monks. They were able to do full saluations to the Buddha along side of him. Two of the boys when leaving today said to me," I wish I could live here."

Lightening incense and offering prayers to the great ones.

This was a deep experience for all of us today.

May your heart and soul be filled with gratitude during this auspicious time in the Asian New Year.

" I bow to the soul in you as you bow to the soul in me

And together we are one."

Aum, Namaste

Listen, Listen, Listen

2012-01-20T01:56:00.000-08:00

Have you heard that it has been snowing in Seattle,Washington since last Saturday, January14th? The predictions were that this was going to be the worst storm in Seattle's history, and maybe if you are in cold home without power this evening, you may be thinking that the predication's were correct! I do hope this evening finds your family warm, safe and shielded from the natural elements.

Since all the local schools are closed, I have been at home all week working on my student evaluations for our midterm at the Living Wisdom School. I have been missing my students this week, so I wrote to the parents for pictures of them in the snow.

How many joyful memories can you remember playing in the snow for days on end? Do you remember possibly arriving home cold and wet? In the Northwest our snow consisted of mostly wet water and the clothing we had in the 60's, well it isn't anything like the children own now. I have many memories of proceeding to hop in a hot bath and then my Mom would began to prepare hot tomato soup and grilled cheese sandwiches. Or how about hot chocolate with the small tiny marshmallows floating on the top? I know my mom made the best hot chocolate.

Then within an hour, I would change clothes that have been warmed up by the heater, and I was off out the door again. Children love the snow and the coldness doesn't seem to bother them. I wish, I could say that now about myself.

I love these memories of childhood. May all our children be blessed with rekindling memories of sledding with friends, sculpting snowmen, snowball gatherings and enjoying close family time in this truly magical moment with Divine Mother's snow.

Bath in her beauty and connect together with nature's divine rhythm that is calling us to listen to the deeper meaning of life in pure joy.

Listen, Listen, Listen!

Let me know what you find out there?

Joy to you

Teaching children with spirit

2012-01-12T23:55:00.000-08:00

The Staff at the Living Wisdom School recently had an evening promotional event meeting new potential parents at our local Parent Map Preschool Event. If you were unable to attend here is a video that I compiled for our Living Wisdom Booth. It shows some of our activities that we participate in each day. I hope you enjoy it. More information about the Living Wisdom School is located on our website.

Spirit in Nature

2012-01-09T23:29:00.000-08:00

A beautiful video came today, from my friends at Sharing Nature with Children. The Living Wisdom Schools across the globe use these techniques in their classroom.. Enjoy!

Nature sings praises aloud

2012-01-07T01:36:00.000-08:00

This week was our last ceremony for our winter festivals of the light that we have been celebrating since November.

 I have started following on Facebook, a well known story teller and felt artist: Suzanne Down.  Suzanne is the creator and business owner of Juniper Tree School of Puppetry Arts in Boulder, Colorado. I have found her to be an extraordinary artist and storyteller. I hope to meet Suzanne in person and expand my felting skills by taking one of her many workshops she offers. In her January newsletter she included a story about the blessing cake for the New Year. If you feel to contact Suzanne about the story, she can add your name to her monthly newsletter. This sounded like a wonderful project for our new year celebration at the Living Wisdom School.

I began the night preparing my cake and writing individual Education for Life,skills for living qualities on all the stones. Each one was wrapped in a small piece of foil. Then I made the angel food cake and dropped each one into the cake. 

I spread all the pieces out evenly so when the cake was finished it would be easy to slice a piece that included a wishing stone. I then covered all the stones with the remaining batter and baked the cake as usual. 

We placed our New Year angel, candle and cake at the table.  We sang a short blessing, poured our peppermint tea and I sliced the cake. Each child pulled out their blessing for the year.

They placed their blessing rock into their New Years box. These boxes had been made the day before. These little boxes are very special for young children. They can hide all their magical treasures for the year inside. 

After we finished the children and I gathered our coats, hats and boots to celebrate the morning outside our classroom. The sun had just come out and it was a lovely brisk morning. 

Magical events seem to occur after we focus on spiritual natures and today wasn't any different. As we walked outside one of the little girls' looked up and there was a bald eagle floating directly overhead,circling the playground.  

I turned to the little girl who had spotted the eagle and said: "That means good luck to see a eagle right after our spiritual ceremony inside." The eagle was shortly joined by a large group of crows that were following him. That too, was unusual for a band of crows that early in the morning.

Nature sings praises aloud. We were all deeply blessed this morning and for the opportunity to feel the deeper rhythms of nature all around us. I love when four year old children are so keenly aware and can spot eagles in the sky.  This seemed like an topping to our  blessing cake! What joy filled our hearts to see the birds soar.

" Classroom Environment is Stronger than Will" Part 1.

2012-01-04T23:35:00.000-08:00

The new year began in my classroom today but I had many opportunities for rest, service in the Ananda Community and rejuvenation over our holiday vacation.

One of my favorite things to do is create art with others and I was able to spend time with our Living Wisdom School's artist in residence, as we painted a cosmic mural for my classroom.

In the months ahead, I will write about the nurturing aspects of the classroom environment and how effects the young child. I have been experimenting with this over the past ten years and we are just touching the surface as to the best ways we can serve the young child in their environment. In my classroom at the Living Wisdom School, I use as many natural materials and fabrics as possible. I like to bring nature into the classroom. I use soft colors, natural lighting, prisms, mirrors, plants, crystals, aromatherapy, natural flowers, pine-cones, rocks, handmade felted materials, tree materials and beautiful music. Several of my materials are handmade. All my materials on the walls are made from my art designs or the children's art. I do not use materials that have been purchased in stores for teaching aids.

I will save this topic for another time in greater length as a series, but I want to share a magnificent mural that we painted this past week. It was thrilling and fun to do.

This mural is made from only the best art products and is on a fire proof paper to appeal to our fire code restrictions in our district.

The photo was taken below after three coats of paint. We first applied gesso, acrylic polymer medium that was used on the very bottom layer to coat the paper. The result was magic. It turned the poster paper into a soft canvas to work on. At this point in the painting three light washes of aquamarine, marine blue and fuchsia were applied in a circular fashion. The paints were all student grade acrylics and applies with sponges. We did not want to have brush strokes visible on the paper. The paint layers were dried in between using hair dryers. This helped to speed up our process. We were watching the colors as they began to build on top of each other.

This was magical when I placed my finder in the gesso a faint moon face showed up. There are never mistakes in any mindful practice.

We used our fingers dipped in the gesso medium once again. Squirt bottles of aquamarine was also used to add texture and dimension. Again more hair drying.

Small cosmic layers of designs added. These were individually wiped down and colored with an alcohol acrylic paint solution.

More light washes applied to the designs for blending the layers.

At this point of the process, I counted up to thirteen layers and we had only been at this for one day. I couldn't wait to see the final process completed.

The next day arrived and more paint was applied in faint washes to deepen the colors.

A rich purple was now applied to tone down some of the green gesso

This is where the purple was added on top to check out the enhancement of all the colors. We added another coat of deep fuchsia.

We began the process of hand-painting all the small cosmic figures. My art teacher now wanted to surprise me and finish it at home. After an additional 10 hours,she was able to get the quality she was looking for.

Every new year I like to experiment with my classroom, change the environment around, while keeping things fluid so when the children return the room seem fresh, exciting and new.

I asked them what they thought of the new mural? Their comments to me were: "It makes me feel, kind ." Another four year old said: " It reminds me of love in my heart" Another boy said: "It is peaceful with bright light. 'The moon is bright."

As a teacher you can use this handmade classroom aid and provide the learning opportunity in several directions.

I believe through the children responses, they realized by themselves what beauty and nature holds for them. What a great gift we can offer our children. A peaceful environment that touches their very soul from within.

Happy New Year: 2012

2011-12-31T22:39:00.000-08:00

In order to capture 2011, I wanted to share it in some of my photos. May the light and joy of this year, carry all of us into the new year with a greater source of determination, courage and joy.


I was able to spend Christmas with two of my dearest friends from our early years at the Living Wisdom School. The picture on the left is in 2006. The boys were in their first year of Kindergarten and the picture on the right is now in fifth grade. The boys live in different states. Until August of 2011, they were in different countries. This was a lovely reunion for us all.

This is an arrangements of highlights: I was able to take two healing vacations to Washington's lavender festival and to our special retreat home in Palm Springs,California. I started my blog this past summer and the other photo was taken in my class from early 2011.


My husband and I moved upstairs from our home after 17 years in the Ananda Community.

High tea with my students at the end of the school year!

Remembering our friend and brother, Narada Agee

Our fourth and six graders at the Honda dealer showing them their electric car they built.

Fall Basil Harvest. The best basil I have ever cooked with.


Our first Labyrinth walk at Yoga Camp

Swimming at Yoga Camp with new friends

May we all be connected in love as we enter into 2012 together.

Happy New Year .

Accepting a moment in Divine Gratitude

2011-12-21T13:49:00.000-08:00

A couple of weeks ago I wrote a short entry about my new approach to the holiday season. I wanted to let you know that I am still slowing down and taking a day at a time. The world is speeding up and I have to constantly remind myself that in order to experience each moment I have to remain centered. Living at my center comes from my daily practice of meditation and prayer life. I had a small break in my holiday schedule and was able to relax and catch up on some reading this afternoon.

This video was sent to me on Facebook a few weeks ago by my dear friend Julie Szybz from Hopscotch Photography. Timing is everything and low and behold, I found this today. This film is like a walking meditation of gratitude as we remind ourselves about daily reconnecting to this inner awareness of life. It is truly timing and beautiful. I hope you can take a moment of gratitude to watch it.

May your holiday season be filled with divine gratitude in every moment.

Many Blessings,
Chandi

Festivals of the Light

2011-12-16T22:43:00.000-08:00

Today was our last day together in Preschool before our holiday break at the Living Wisdom School.

Our winter snow altar in our classroom.

The time for celebrating our world cultures and festivals goes by so quickly each year. I never want it to end. There is something so beautiful and captivating with the early dark evenings and all the lights that adorn the suburban neighborhoods. I love all the illuminate lights and sharing the "Festivals of the Light" from around the globe that start in early November with Diwali.


Diwali pinch pots with olive oil to light the lamps.

Yesterday one of our Mothers in our classroom came to share her experiences as a child and the celebration of Hanukkah. All the children listened tentatively and quietly. They also were about to sample many new delicacies from the Hebrew tradition. We heard new songs, prayers and of course played the Dreidel game.


Chocolate Yiddish Gelt used in the Dreidel game

These were the little blocks that the children made for their family trees. On each side was a different symbol of love, gifts and with radiant stars of the season.

His Christmas tree on his package for his Mom . We made many crafts with Christmas trees. Christmas trees first originated in Germany. I share the traditions each year from Germany since I was born there.

This is a double sided felted Christmas tree . The pieces are glued together with a yarn in between the layers, to hang on the tree. We used 'tacky" glue. The sequins were the lights on our trees. Very easy for Preschoolers. They love it.

May this season of light radiate your heart and may we share it with all whom we meet.

Many Blessings,
Chandi

Thy winter night bestowing; Saint Lucia Day

2011-12-13T21:50:00.000-08:00

Saint Lucia,
Thy light is flowing.
Through darkest winter night bestowing.

Author unknown

Today, December 13 is Lucia Day and the longest night of the year. This is a celebration we do every year in my classroom and it is one of the festivals of the light. Lucia seems to have taken on many stories passed down over generations but above all, the more positive role, as a symbol of light in the dark Swedish winters and as a symbol of growth for man. She is a figure who emerged from obscurity at a time when light and nourishment were most needed.

The girls who are selected in cities all around Sweden are voted into this role. They wear the cedar wreath made of real candles and white gowns adorned with tied red ribbons. The young girls participate in local ceremonies, church and village functions. In their individual homes the eldest girl is selected to carry out the role of St. Lucia. The family prepares saffron buns and she rises to serve their families. Traditional St. Lucia carols are sung. The angelic tone of children's voices and the gentle glow of candlelight make this day an emotive one.

Today, we selected our St. Lucia since she was the eldest girl in our classroom of six girls. She wore a cedar wreath adorned with soft flannel candles, a white gown and a red sash. The boys wore white hats and carried star wands.

I was delighted so see the calmness and acceptance that the children displayed this morning. The children took turns while helping to ice all the cinnamon buns and then served them to the whole school before receiving one for themselves. We sang soft Christmas carols as we walked through our school halls. The children were joyful and eager to help St. Lucia when we walked through the school dispensing our festive buns.

How often do you see such maturity from Preschool children? They waited until all had been served before they had the opportunity to eat these delectables.

May the light of this holy season radiate love and goodwill to soul friends throughout the world.

Away in a Manger

2011-12-12T18:28:00.000-08:00

“Children andFestivals around the World”

Our focus in the curriculum for December is the cultures, children and festivals taken from around the world.

In chatting with my group it has been sometime since I have actually told the story about the baby Jesus and why we celebrate Christmas. In a private school we are able to tell these spiritual stories. One of the little girls in my class loves to sing: "Away in the Manager" so that is where I started last week .

Saint Francis of Assisi is credited with creating the first nativity scene in 1223 intending thereby to cultivate the worship of Jesus Christ.

Many Christian traditions celebrate this every Christmas.

Away in a manger

No crib for a bed

The little Lord Jesus

Laid down his sweet head

The stars in the sky

Looked down where he lay

The little Lord Jesus a sleep on the hay...

Making our manger scene

Today we were acting out the play together. It was a very sweet time.


We had two Mary's today.


The baby wrapped in swaddling clothes.


They made the basket cradle for the baby. The sheep are looking on.

The morning continued with acting out the story with figurines and natural lavender play-dough.

Creating this creche scene together brought out such sweetness in the children. Using natural materials also brings forth the calming spirit in the young child.

Joy to the world the Lord has come


This was a show and tell nativity scene from one of our classmates.

Let heaven and nature sing, let heaven and nature sing, let heavn and heaven, and nature sing.

New approach this holiday season

2011-12-12T00:27:00.001-08:00

The other day I was chatting with a friend and she was asking about a couple of dates coming up and if I had them on my calendar. Now, I just blurted out:"I don't know, I'm only looking one day at a time this Christmas." I was a little surprised at myself when I actually said this. "How can you actually do this and still stay on top of all your the responsibilities?" A teacher's life is extremely full at this time of year. What if I forget something? What if? There are many what if's we can get tangled up in. I just wanted to take the leap this year and try something new.

I am making a very conscious peaceful decision this month to enjoy even the simple moments that Christmas has to offer. Well, my word is my bond and I do have a Blackberry that keeps me connected to the world, but I am actually putting into action my new approach this holiday season. I have, of course entered in all my critical dates first. I am being more selective in the projects that I can accomplish and those that are more time consuming.

I only look at my calendar in the morning after meditation and before going to work. I only look at one day at a time and remind myself that I need to be totally present in this moment. I am finding that I am more alert, joyful and I have more energy to accomplish the little things ahead of schedule. If for any reason, I have forgotten something, then actually it wasn't that important in the larger scheme of things. This weekend was a beautiful and restful time for our family. We also accomplished more.

Eastwest Bookshop of Seattle. Independently owned bookstore. One of my favorite stores.

Another practice that I enjoy during the holiday season is to shop in small local gift stores. I want to honor their businesses. I plan my shopping around short trips and I am often driving the back roads to avoid major traffic. Seattle is known for it's traffic snarls. I also get to see more of the Christmas light displays and the decorating on the nearby homes.

One woman said to me once: "Chandi you just drive the back-roads with such ease." Well, I am not sure about that, but I love the saying that my son said to me when he was about fifteen. "Mom, all roads lead to Ananda." Ananda Community is where I have lived for the past seventeen years. It is located on 5.5 acres in Lynnwood, Washington.

Anyway, I thought to share with you my new approach this holiday season and I will keep you informed on the sweet developments.

Please leave me a comment and let's share ideas together.

Many Blessings to all during this holiday season,
Chandi

Mother Moon

2011-12-09T23:00:00.001-08:00

Mother Moon

Oh mother moon
you are a full moon tonight bring me much spiritual delight.
I stand outside to catch your rays
for they bring me peace and tranquility of body and soul.
I mark your date on my calendar
and wish that your beauty will shine ever so bright
and bit be covered by clouds in the night.
I need your full moon light to enhance my being,
for your moon rays are my soul's delight.

Rainemoon

I can't believe that it has been a month already since our last full moon party in our classroom. Since the full moon is today Saturday, we celebrated Friday in our classroom at the Living Wisdom School. The children are delighted with this monthly ritual.

Both of my classes were inspired to join in the fun. In the morning Preschool class we made headbands and created night sky collages. After lunch we paraded around the school for our full moon parade. It was a beautiful day with clear skies over Seattle

The children are finishing their moon headbands. These headbands stay at school and are worn each month. They are made of soft felt and tacky glue is used to apply the embellishments.

In the afternoon Kindergarten class, I choose an activity from one of my followers: Beth a homeschooling mom,@ www.livinglifeintentionally.blogspot.com.


I had made the stages of the moon and mounted them on card stock. Each stage was numbered.

The children and I brought our Paul Newman Mint Oreo cookies and matched each stage to the moon cards. That was yummy and fun.

The second part of the activity was making our moon booklets. Below the moon stage cards were smaller cut out papers for the children to glue individually on each page. These moon stages were numbered to match each page in their booklet. Now the next time I do this project, I would like to make this process a little simpler for the Kindergarten child. I would break it down in small increments over a few days.

Ending with the Full moon

Now the fun part of this project had two perspectives that I had not actually planned. When I set the cards down on the table, we marched around the table and visually saw how the moon waxes and wanes. Also in their booklets, they are able to take the book and turn it around and watch the moon go back through the stages in the opposite direction.

Next month, we will spend more time on the waxing and waning stages of the Moon.

How do you ever know if you have acceived your goals in teaching to very young children?

A child said to me today: " I am going to go home and set this in my room, so I can look at the sky each night and match my new moon booklet."

That was a wonderful idea and one that I hadn't thought of today.

The children can always tune us into the next step in their learning process.We just need to be open, respective and quiet enough to listen carefully. Isn't this interesting. Aren't these some of the qualities that the "Mother Moon" can reflect back to us?

May this evening moon light fill your family with deep peace, joy and understanding as we prepare for the festive holiday season approaching later this month.

Expanding children's realities through healing prayers

2011-11-30T23:44:00.001-08:00

This past week our class has been doing morning prayers for Ashley, one of our teachers who had surgery on Monday. At the beginning of our morning routine, my class participates in " Braindance/ TM" combined with our Yoga sessions. During the first phase of the dance, the children blow up imaginary balloons.

The first day of Ashley's surgery, we all were imagining that our balloons would be right over the hospital waiting for Ashley when she woke up. Then we imagined they were floating over her house as she arrived home. The children got so excited to feel their balloons rising every day blessing Ashley with healing energy.

Today in class we painted the balloons and two of the little girls in the Kindergarten class finished our 3-D card for her.

One of the cornerstone philosophies for the Living Wisdom Schools are taken from this quote below:

"The task of education is to attractchildren toward maturity—that is, toward including others’ realities in theirown." Education for Life written by J. Donald Walters.

What joy filled their hearts today as they gave their card to Ashley. Our students made a major step toward expanding outside themselves and thinking of others though their simple act of healing prayers.

Something I know, some of them will never forget.

The Light of Gratitude

2011-11-23T22:44:00.001-08:00

We made this as a gratitude jar in class on Monday. It was for our children this week to drop pebbles into the jar and express their own unique thankfulness for the many gifts in their lives. Four year olds have such keen sense of innocence. We had many sweet responses.

I am truly grateful for my life as a Living Wisdom Teacher and to be a part of my spiritual community at Ananda Seattle and the worldwide work of Ananda.

Happy Thanksgiving to all and thank you for tuning into my blog.

What a blessing it is to share it with all of you.

May we be one in that light someday....

Come Gather Round.... It's Fall Storytime.

2011-11-21T20:00:00.000-08:00

Come gather round, with a friend on the left
and a friend on the right,
Come gather round. ...

Its that time ..
Gather round for a fall story.

Many of us grew up with the little field mice in "Frederick" by Leo Lionni.

But in case you haven't, here is the story. I recommend the book and I will be showing you a game that I have created to go along with this story. Since the blogs this week are about fall, harvest, families and

Stone Soup this is the one that I like to start out with in early November and read continuously through the dark winter months.

In my classroom at the Living Wisdom School, we also spend time in November on community building while working together. This story will guide your children as you create community though your classroom. Begin reading the story to the children several times. The children can also act out the story. I like to create props and simple mouse ear costumes.

At the end of the story during morning circle time, I have each child reach into this bag and select a rock. Without peeking they feel their rock, warm it in their hand and then place it in the center of our circle. With eyes still closed, they pick up their rock. One by one, I read their qualities that have been written on each rock. Some examples are: make a new friend today, be flexible and share with a friend, be joyful today, or hug a friend today. I slowly write down each quality. During the day, I walk around the room and point out the positive signs of their behavior. At the end of the day, at our shared inspiration time in circle we all review our day once again.

How were we like Frederick in the story? Did we use our words today mindfully? Did we work together as well as the mouse family in the story? I also acknowledge again each child and talk about how their energy matched the words on their rock that they pulled from the bag.

The colors of the rocks are all painted the colors of fall leaves. The rocks match the colors that Frederick is talking about in the story. This creates glow in our hearts during the cloudy days of winter in Seattle.

Happy reading until our next story time.

Blessings and gratitude,
Chandi

Mother Earths' showering leaves

2011-11-19T21:56:00.001-08:00

Autumn leaves come falling all around

Blowing colors found in mother earths' bounty,

Take a deep breath and feel her color magic

At a blink of an eye the colors will crinkle

Showering you with her glowing cosmic blanket sprinkle ...

This was the "lone" leaf craft that was left in the classroom this week and I love how it shows up against my classroom window. Light and beauty play such an important role in my early childhood classroom. Children flourish with vivid natural light, fresh air and colors.

This is a quick entry to let you know my husband and I drew the winner of our "giveaway" drawing this evening for the Calm and Compassionate book by: Susan Usha Dermond.

Thank you all who visited and shared your love and blessings through email, Facebook, Twitter and direct comments. This was fun. I will have to do this again.

I am so pleased and excited to announce that Sally Haughey is the winner from Fairy Dust Teaching. Sally is a National Board Certified Teacher and has been Waldorf Kindergarten trained. Sally lives in Oklahoma. Its far away from Washington but Sally is a kindred soul. I met Sally by reading her inspirational blog and now I have taken two of her online courses for parents and educators.

Congratulations Sally! You bless so many teachers with your inspiration of joy. It is fitting that Divine Mother is showering you today.

Have a nice fall weekend, as we all prepare for our bountiful Thanksgiving of gratitude.

Our Planetary Home and our place in the Universe Part 2.

2011-11-17T21:32:00.001-08:00

Our Planetary Home

Our place in theUniverse

This is part two from our class today on families, home and community building. We are celebrating "Stone Soup" with our school community next week. Each class is contributing to the meal. This week we have been reading and telling the story by:

Award-winning artist Jon J Muth. He retells the favorite tale of a selfish community who is tricked into creating a delicious soup from stones. Set in China, in Muth's beautiful landscaped watercolors. This is a newer vision taken from an older German folktale. I am in love with how this book takes compassion and weaves the community together. The Living Wisdom School celebrates this event with our families each year as our Thanksgiving tradition.


Setting the scene for re-telling the story together. All the children have a part to play.


Our new reading and acting corner. The children have many books and materials for telling their stories together

To continue our playful events around "families" today we had a fishing pole where the children fished for family member puzzle pieces. The pieces were then placed together into puzzles. These are activities that I like to provide for the Foundation years, at the Living Wisdom School.


Hum, I think this is how it goes?


Showing pictures and telling stories at lunch time. This gives the child a greater sense of confidence while speaking in front of a group.

Family Wall

Can you show me your dog? Where is he?

These experiential activities begin to keep children's hearts open toward as an expansive view of their classmates lives. It is a joy to experience their sense of wonder, as their values of compassion are beginning to expand and grow towards each other.

I will end with a quote from the Education for Life book written by J. Donald Walters:

For education to prepare children for meeting life realistically, it should encourage them to learn from life itself, and to view with skepticism a body of fixed knowledge that has been passed on unquestioned from one generation to the next.
Education must above all be experiential, and not merely theoretical. The student should be taught, among other things, to observe the outcome of any course of action, and not to depend blindly on the claims of others as to what that outcome is supposed to be, and therefore will be.

Our Planetary Home and our place in the Universe

2011-11-16T19:59:00.001-08:00

Our Planetary Home

Our place in theUniverse

Our theme for my classroom curriculum this year is:

"Our Planetary Home and our place in the Universe."

This is our family "go fish" game.

We started the year with our theme:"All the World is our Friend." unit. We continued with our "Animal Kingdom" and now we are into our gratitude month. This month encompasses our human family, homes, traditions, school community and our spiritual community. This week our parents have been bringing special family photos and we have been creating all sorts of games, puzzles, and books.

Playing our family puzzles games.


This is me and my Dad on Halloween.

In deep gratitude, we are humbly giving thanks to our families at the Living Wisdom School and though out the world this month.

Many Blessings All,

Chandi

Friday is my deadline for the book giveaway.

2011-11-16T19:16:00.001-08:00

Almost 100 of you have seen this blog post and free giveaway since Monday. But unfortunately I can't enter you unless you comment and send me your information? We have two days remaining.

Here is a review by the publisher below.

From the Publisher

* A parents' and teachers' guide to developing children's concentration, self-discipline, and compassion, as well as heartfelt qualities like openness and enthusiasm. * Includes more than 90 techniques and exercises drawn from the author's experiences as a teacher and director of the Living Wisdom School, a nonprofit elementary school that emphasizes nonsectarian spiritual principles and practical skills for living. * Recommends books, music, games, and other resources to help grown-ups nurture calm and compassionate kids.

About the Author

Susan Usha Dermond has spent the last 18 years of her 30-year career in education in alternative schools, including 12 years as a teacher at the original Living Wisdom School in Nevada City, California. She is now the director of the Beaverton, Oregon, Living Wisdom School, and also a columnist for modern mom.com.

Many Blessings,
Chandi

First Give-away on "Inside Out"

2011-11-13T23:13:00.001-08:00

It is an exciting moment on this blog. Thank you for your emails, verbal comments and expressions of love that you have given me since starting this blog in August.

Susan Usha Dermond has offered our first give-away . Susan Usha Dermond will be sending out a copy of her book; Calm and Compassionate Children. I wrote a book review on this blog in September.

I will be giving the book away this Friday, November 18th. So please comment below and you may be the winner from a random drawing for this deeply inspirational book. I look forward to your comments.

Many Blessings and thank you, Chandi

I am as Steadfast as a rock.

2011-11-13T22:04:00.001-08:00

The fall has finally arrived in the Pacific Northwest and we are enjoyingevery minute of it. This is my first year with this particular group ofstudents so I am venturing slowly into "nature," taking them on shorthikes as they become familiar with my style of being in nature.

I have two rules in nature. The first one is to cross the street safelytogether, using our street-crossing poem. The second rule is expressed by asmall song I sing: "My eyes have to be on you!" If the childrenaren’t able to control their little bodies, then I have to hold their handpersonally until they can be safe. This is much too confining for three orfour-year-olds, so I get respectful responses from the beginning.

This particular morning we were out collecting leaves in our baskets.

We had such an exciting time together, as they led me in an exploration to findour new little forest of baby trees. Across the street from our school is avacant school that has several varieties of natural plantings that arecurrently not being tended to. I thought that taking care of these little treesmight be a good service project for our class. Children are so curious innature, and love to expand their own realities outside the classroom.

We collected many beautiful leaves. All week the children had been building upto our experience of gathering leaves outside the classroom. Even thoughtechnically the fall season began in September, the leaves hadn’t startedturning colors until late October. How can you start a project on fall leavesin your classroom when young children can look right outside their windows and still see bright green leaves on everytree? You can talk to them about the leaves turning soon, but until they seethe vivid red and orange and yellow leaves, it won’t be as memorable anexperience. It just doesn’t seem natural or real to me. So I wait as long aspossible, and find that the children’s receptivity is magically heightened whenthey can actually see Mother Nature lifting her fall veil before their eyes. Todaythe colors, smells, light, and beauty of Fall were around us.
At the Living Wisdom School we are fortunate to have the ability to create acurriculum that can respond to natural rhythms and best serve the children.I like to call our outings, not field trips, but direct experiences basedon Sharing Nature with Children by Joseph Cornell. As this book says, Once students' interestand energy is awakened and focused, the stage is set for deeply experiencingnature.

The morning was so captivating; Idecided to stretch my luck. “Let’s just sit a bit and have our morning circle,”I suggested, leading the children to one of my favorite spots on the schoolgrounds. This is where, throughout the year, I and my students practicemeditation, centering prayers or yoga together. It is a very quiet spot and hasan expansive view of the neighboring hillside. The site has enough largerocks for almost every child to sit on, or to share with a friend. This morning,we sat as still as rocks.
“I am firm and steadfast as arock.” I knew I had to catch them quickly as we settled into our sittingmeditation. We closed our eyes, and felt our rocks underneath our bodies. “Howdoes that feel?” I asked. Next we movedto noticing all the smells we could smell. We had done this several times inthe classroom, but children's natural senses are heightened in nature. This wastheir first sensory exercise that required being still outside. When workingwith young children, I have found that it is helpful to create good practicesand habits, building good foundations through the use of repetition. As youtake things learned inside out into nature, you can repeat the steps, but addnew, creative steps along the way.
“What do you smell?” I asked, tohelp them expand their practice now, in nature. They were coming up with alltypes of wonderful smells while sitting on their rocks. “Can you smell the pineneedles?”

As they opened their eyes, oneof the girls looked up at the tree and asked, “What is that on the tree?” Someonehad painted some graffiti on the tree. It wasn’t that noticeable, and normally Idon’t like to draw attention to these intrusions in nature; I want children toexperience the beauty of nature as it is. But I explained what had happened, andthen we all hugged the tree and thanked it for being such a profound deeppresence on our school grounds.

The following day, the children worked on our “House of Fall” by attachingthe leaves carefully with yarn.

In the Northwest, fall can be aprolonged event or it can be a short one. It is up to Mother Nature how long the beauty will last. A fall wind canquickly diminish the length of time we have to enjoy the beauty of the leaves.That is why we as parents and teachers need to be responsive to the moment.Take the children outside to experience the fall season as often as you can.That is where many precious living memories will be created. My most memorablehikes with my Girl Scout troop as a child involved collecting leaves, followedby warm hot cocoa and crackling fires to warm us up in the fall air.

Sharing nature with small childrenbrings such a deepening, and draws attention to what is important in our lives.This fall, it’s not too late to take a walk with a child, stop and breathe inthe colors, and feel the firm steadfast rocks beneath you. In gratitude, we gather an inner strength fromall the gifts Divine Mother has bestowed upon us this past year.

Gather your coat, scarves, gloves,and hat. Then, without any agenda, feelnature this week.

Let me know what you find out there......

O moon, O moon

2011-11-10T17:16:00.001-08:00

O moon o moon
You are very white,
Everything looks beautiful
Under your light....

Tonight is the full moon and another beautiful day in our classroom. I like to celebrate the expansion of children's' spirit and celebrate our connection with the moon.
Today in class the children began with a calming circle. We all began cooking our moon biscuits together.

Last month, I shared with you how I bring a group of children together harmoniously to cook. It works every-time like magic. The recipe is divided into stages. I make up recipe cards with handmade photos of the ingredients. The children choose their cards. We also talk about how important hygiene and our spiritual energy is when we cook. The children are learning on so many levels.

Thank you for giving your friend a turn at stirring.

The day continued with our afternoon parade though the classrooms.

She was a bright light today as our full moon.

At the conclusion of our afternoon together a special surprise of "moon bubbles" were shared.

The children are able to share the joy of the breath, light, sight, and expansion as they watched their individual moons float up to the sky.

May this evening bring your family into an inner state of calmness as we feel our spiritual connection with the moon and all that is.