Opal School Blog
Compasses for navigating labyrinths
I imagine that, for many of you, the holidays included time for reconnection, reflection, and play – and lots of reading. I found myself immersed…
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Listening for what they need
Hannah published this provocative post earlier this week in a section of the site exclusively available to members. I repost it here for two reasons. Firstly,…
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Children will tell you what they want. If you listen, they might show you what they need
In my last blog post, I reflected on Opal’s 3’s experience of getting their writer’s notebooks, a process which I hoped would help them see themselves…
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Intention Setting and Habits of Mind
Last March, Cedar Teacher Caroline Wolfe wrote a blog post about some of the resources that we use at Opal School when thinking about goals…
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Is it playful inquiry?
Matt and I have been puzzling over this photo this week. Is this moment of questions posed and children deep into their research and writing…
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Scared and Brave at the Same Time
This year, in the Primary Group, we are thinking deeper into the idea of “self.” As stated in our Letter of Intention to parents at…
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Giving Thanks; Pursuing Hope
This morning, Opal School gathered for its annual Gratitude Ceremony. Each class demonstrated its unique response to the invitation to contribute: one composed poems about the ways…
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Reflecting on Election Day
The results of the election were more surprising in some settings than others. In Multnomah County, where Opal School resides, Hillary Clinton earned four votes for…
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Growing and Celebrating Writers
A writing life is a life with all the windows and doors open * * * * * * * -Julia Alvarez Ideas are all…
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The Possibilities of Loose Parts
When you enter the classrooms of Opal School you will be met with familiar materials that you might expect to see in a lot of Early…
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