Andrea Knight

Teacher · Learner · Author

Outdoor Classrooms: My Summer PD Playlist

Outdoor classrooms and open-air schooling aren't new ideas, just forgotten. But the Covid-19 pandemic reignited the fire as teachers and parents got creative about redesigning safe learning spaces for kids. In some ways, history is repeating itself. At the beginning of the 20th century, the rising number of TB cases combined with the 1918 flu pandemic sent everyone in search of fresh air. It was … [Read more...]

Teacher Podcasts: A Summer PD Playlist

I love teacher podcasts. I don't always have to time to sit and read, but I do spend a lot of time walking and driving, and podcasts are the perfect company for those times. I've been keeping notes about my favorite episodes from this year, so I put together a summer playlist for teachers. I know ... It's only May. We're still in school. We're tired. And we certainly are not thinking about … [Read more...]

Children’s Books about Famous Inventions

My collection of children's books about famous inventions has become one of my favorites. Not to be outdone by my love for everything Mo Willems, this collection is a close second for sure. The funny thing is, I wasn't even looking for it. Frankly, I never even thought about it. Instead, it found me. It started when I was writing lessons for National Bubble Gum Day. (Yes, that's a thing.) For … [Read more...]

Famous Inventors: Biographies for Kids

In my last post, I wrote that we'd take a look at some amazing children's books about inventions, but then I decided to go with famous inventors first. To me, it makes more sense to talk about the identity we create when we live a curious life before we talk about the outcome of such a life. People who are curious observe the world. They ask a lot of questions and tend to notice problems. Often, … [Read more...]

Something from Nothing

👉 Being able to make something from nothing can be a valuable life skill. Making mountains out of molehills is the dramatic exception, of course. In my last post, I wrote about letting kids linger for a little bit after they announce "I'm bored." It's ok to be bored. Being bored allows time for creativity to develop. Boredom also motivates a search for novelty and can lead to new goals. If we … [Read more...]

I’m Bored *Sigh*

If you work with children, you've probably heard the phrase I'm bored a few (dozen) times. It's sort of a trigger because we take it personally, as if we aren't entertaining enough. And, maybe, sometimes we aren't. And that's ok. One, I'm not an entertainer. Two, I probably wouldn't be that entertaining even if I tried. And three... I don't remember where I was going with this. See? Now you're … [Read more...]