After falling in love with teaching Pre-K in a small town in Colorado, I returned to Washington D.C. to get my Masters degree in Early Childhood Education from American University.

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My second year teaching at Murch Elementary, a public school in Northwest D.C., I began bringing my class on weekly walks into Rock Creek Park. I was inspired by an article from the New York Times that explored the world of outdoor based schools. 

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It was transformative for both myself and the children. 

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It was an adventure that they looked forward to each week. The experiences guided our curriculum, and it provided children an opportunity to explore, play, and connect with nature.

 

It ignited a love of learning as we created research committees that investigated topics we were curious about. 

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After six years of using an inquiry based learning approach to guide children's curiosities in nature, I have learned more about our world as a Prekindergarten teacher than I would ever have imagined.

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Fungi, lichen, ferns, mayapples, banana slugs, clown millipedes: these are just some of the many interesting and complex organisms that I have loved learning about with them.

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By cultivating a habit of noticing, observing, and theorizing, we experience what happens when we wonder.

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The moments we take to appreciate the color of a caterpillar or examine the texture of a tree's bark create a sense of gratitude and an understanding of why it is important to ask questions and be curious. 

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I want to share strategies on how to embrace our essential curiosity so that we can provide children with enriching learning experiences and foster a love of being a lifelong learner. 

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