For my friend, the maker

For my friend, the maker

This post is for my friend Jared Ward. Jared is fascinating.  He’s a potter and a ceramics teacher who transitioned to the world of Educational Technology a few years ago.  We collaborated on a presentation at NCECA last year – working back and forth...
Habit, Ritual, and Jasmine Tea

Habit, Ritual, and Jasmine Tea

Something fascinating has developed in our studio over the last couple of months.  Each day after school, a couple of students brew jasmine tea in a handmade teapot.  The soft, subtle aroma of the loose-leaf tea fills the air as soon as they open the tin.  The...
Advocacy and Evolution

Advocacy and Evolution

This reflection was posted at FLOW Project, a blog my students and I have been keeping to record our experience preparing and sharing an installation at Harvard’s Arts in Education Continuing the Conversation Conference this October. “What if a math...
The Tryers

The Tryers

“I don’t think I even know how to stand still and not try,” one student says. Several students and I are in the studio after school, creating cups.  The topic of conversation is ‘senior slide,’ and how yesterday might have been the perfect ‘senior skip day,’ but,...
The Nod

The Nod

Sometimes a song pulls me through a week, and this week, it’s Radiate, from Jack Johnson’s album From Here to Now to You. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CxiGXH-nccQ I know that we can attribute just about anything into music, but I’m reading this...
I want to teach Seth Godin to make a bowl.

I want to teach Seth Godin to make a bowl.

I want to teach Seth Godin how to throw a bowl.While he is fumbling through the centering process, I will quote Twyla Tharp:“You’re only kidding yourself if you put creativity before craft.  Craft is where our best efforts begin.  You should never worry that rote...