Vanessa NiroJan 18, 20233 min readNoticing Nature: Incorporating Mindfulness into the Rhythm of the DayMindfulness & Nature Connection Connecting with nature and practicing mindfulness are closely intertwined. Being a nature-based educator...
Vanessa NiroFeb 6, 20223 min readPrecipitation & Puddles: How Children Construct Authentic Understanding of Scientific ConceptsWhen I first started teaching in early childhood, I student taught in a school that did not go outside on days that were remotely wet or...
Vanessa NiroNov 11, 20212 min readLearning from StewardsAs a nature school, we benefit from and impact the land we play and learn on, so we recognize the importance of teaching BOPN children...
Vanessa NiroOct 20, 20212 min readAutumnal Musings - Seed DispersalSeed dispersal is one of the many natural phenomena in autumn that children begin to notice and ask questions about. Today, we hiked past...
Vanessa NiroJul 17, 20212 min readNature's CurriculumOne winter day, I was out hiking with my students and one child excitedly pointed to animal tracks in the snow and asked “who made those...