teaching wonderment

A Walk in the Redwoods

2011-01-16T18:59:00.000-08:00

Today we took a walk in the redwoods. The ancient grove was silent. A soft fog drifted around the giants. Near the earth, moss covered roots and branches reached out at all angles while above, thick, dark, bark covered trunks rose straight and strong, up, up, up, out of sight.
Such stillness. Not a bird nor a squirrel was to be seen.
Beams of sunlight shone through the mist, lighting patches of the forest floor.
Under the graceful ferns, at the roots of the mighty trees, there were caves, doorways, openings. Who enters there, I wondered, when there is no one in the woods to see?

A Donsy of Gnomes

2010-09-28T16:42:00.000-07:00

Here are 7 gentle gnome stories to read to your children. Int hem you will meet 8 charming gnomes, and their friends; gnomes who teach gnome-sized lessons in generosity, selflessness, resourcefulness, courage, and friendship. Travel through the seasons as you share these charming gnome tales with your children. Then act out or perform the stories as puppet shows to further deepen their experience of Gnome.

Cross the threshold into Limindoor Woods to enter into the delightful world of gnomes!

"A definite buy for parents (and teachers!) who bring Mother Nature, visible and invisible, to their children."
--- Reg Down, author of the Tales of Tiptoes Lightly series

This volume of 186 pages, illustrated with black and white drawings, will be a little treasure for children 5 to 105 years old. The book sells for $14.85

(Also available at wholesale prices. Waldorf schools and initiatives are offered special wholesale deals for fundraisers. Please contact Sieglinde for more information.)

Wonder!

2010-06-21T07:51:00.000-07:00

"It is absolutely essential that before we think, before we so much as begin to set our thinking in motion, we experience the condition of wonder." Rudolph Steiner

I just came across this quote and thought it quite fitting.

A New Review for A Donsy of Gnomes

2010-06-01T08:01:00.000-07:00

"I was hooked after seeing the cover and reading the title. But once I dove into the stories I was in love. I now cant believe we went so long without having this book at our bedside table. A true treasure for children and adults alike. Our gentle gnome friends guide you through such lessons as generosity, selflessness, resourcefulness, courage and friendship. Beyond the stories themselves, there are amazing guides if you wish to act out or perform the stories as puppet shows and so forth. This book gets 5 out of 5 strawberry shortcakes from me, and my highest recommendation. For those of you who don't know her, Sieglinde (aka Sigi is a local author, artist and teacher). Thank you Sigi for sharing your wonderful stories and gifts!"
--- Megan Kirkwood, Berkeley Rose Waldorf School

The Art & Color Workshop in Berkeley went well!

2010-05-12T14:54:00.000-07:00

There was a 2 hour introduction to wet-on-wet water painting, an hour lunch and question break, followed by a 2 hour session of coloring with block crayons.

The participants turned out so much wonderful artwork! We all had fun!

Those of you in the Bay Area who would like a similar workshop, please contact me. Those who are not, may contact me about my bringing a similar workshop to your area.

The Legacy of Story

2010-01-24T12:23:00.000-08:00

As we welcome the New Year, we look at fresh opportunities to create new things. Because of a project I am working on, the first thing that comes to my mind is the creation and maintenance of our family traditions.
I am currently working on a piece called "Legacy of Story: Telling your Parent and Grandparent Stories". In it we explore our histories and how to bring them to our children in a living way; as healing tales, wonder tales, fun tales, teaching tales, as gifts, and as a legacy.
This subject is one that is very dear to my heart. I would like to offer an invitation to you, my readers, to share with me your thoughts, experiences and stories about your own Legacy of Story. What kinds of stories did you have passed down to you from your family and relatives? How were you told them? Where? When? Have you passed these stories on to your children? How were they received? What do you have to tell me about sharing this rich legacy?
You are welcome to reply here on the blog or to email me directly at sigi@teachwonderment.com. I will look forward to your comments and questions.

two Wonderment websites

2008-04-18T18:04:00.001-07:00

Please open to http://www.teachwonderment.com/ to learn more about teaching with wonderment.

And to open to "Leon & Lucy's Garden of Wonders" for stories that enliven the imagination & awaken a sense of wonderment, and crafts that teach skills & result in delightful toys and activities, please visit http://www.kitntales.com/kitntales.html

an invitation to share experiences of wonderment

2008-04-18T16:54:00.000-07:00

I would like to invite you to share those moments when you have experienced true wonderment in your life. Those moments that have taken your breath away. Sights seen, sounds heard... moments of magic and awe.
Do you recall an experience of wonderment as a child?
Have you seen your own children experience it?
What caused it?
What was the response?
How has it changed you (or your child)?

I believe that we must keep these wonder experiencing faculties alive and tuned, or else a veil will cover our senses and our world will become gray.
One exercise to do to keep open is to remember one moment of magic. Remember it with all of your senses. What were the colors, sounds, smells, tastes. How was the light? How did you feel? What were you doing when you experienced it? How did you respond? Hold that experience in your mind and savor it. Then try to put it into words.

I recall once driving across the country, I think I was in Wyoming, I had driven through a thick dark storm when the sky suddenly opened into a cathedral of apricot colored light. Then there appeared an almost audible rainbow; the height, brightness and clarity of which I could not believe was possible. As if with a "close encounter" I was powerless to drive any further. I pulled over, got out of the car, and was totally consumed in awe with this apparition. When, after a 'lifetime' of bathing in its beauty, I turned to get into my car, I saw that, there on this vast open deserted highway, were several cars stopped, presumably for the same reason I stopped mine. One by one we drove away, much changed by the experience.