TowerPinkster’s Post

It’s a relief to see the issue of scorching playgrounds finally taking center stage, but this has been a concern for decades. Over 218,000 children are treated in U.S. emergency rooms each year for playground injuries, many suffering burns from equipment that can heat up to 140°F. (https://lnkd.in/e526Kn-7). Unfortunately, wealthier neighborhoods often see faster safety updates, while poorer areas face years of neglect (https://lnkd.in/eZ-FNHQ6). Now is the time to demand change—through private-public partnerships, grants, and community action, we can make all playgrounds safe, not just those in affluent areas. While federal grants often come with stricter requirements to meet specific standards, the expertise gathered for purpose-driven design can result in transformative solutions for all communities. Whether urban or rural, there’s a path forward, and it begins by being aware of these issues and collaborating with designers to move from prescriptive to transformative solutions. For equipment solutions and coalitions making a difference, check out Kompan ( https://lnkd.in/ewRhXGdj) for heat-resistant playground equipment and The National Program for Playground Safety to learn how to advocate effectively (https://lnkd.in/eDWVSa7S). Feel free to message me directly Cheers!

If you're over 50 years old, you probably beat the odds. You probably spent hours playing outside as kid. You waited for the street lights to come on before you went home, had a bicycle you rode regularly, maybe climbed a tree or two. Yes, at least 80% of us over 50 played outside regularly, but odds are today, only 1 in 4 kids play outside regularly. Why? We know why. Digital infiltration, lack of green spaces, overscheduling. Pick one. Or two. Let's challenge--and encourage--our younger generation to return to the outdoors. Ground Education has included fun outdoor spaces as part of our school program, literally, for the fun of it! Nature paths like these not only add a little pizazz to the playground but improve balance, concentration, even vision. For some of our students, school outdoor time is the only safe outdoor time they really get. This is one reason why our school garden program matters. Help us keep the momentum going as we grow into more schools! www.groundeducation.org #schoolgardens #outdoorlearning

Imagine standing in an open field at dusk, the sky painted with hues of orange and purple as the sun begins to set. Suddenly, a flock of starlings appears on the horizon, thousands of birds moving in perfect synchrony. They twist and turn in unison, forming intricate patterns that ripple across the sky like a living tapestry. It's as if the entire flock is a single entity, each bird instinctively knowing its place in the larger whole. This mesmerizing display is known as a murmuration— a natural wonder that illustrates the beauty of systems in motion. Just as these starlings create a harmonious dance through their interconnected movements, schools, too, can achieve remarkable outcomes when they embrace the principles of systems thinking. In both cases, individual elements—whether birds or people—are not isolated; they are part of a dynamic, interdependent system. Understanding this interconnectedness allows for fluid, adaptive responses to challenges, resulting in a collective intelligence that is far greater than the sum of its parts. In my previous post, we explored the foundational concepts of systems thinking and how they can transform the way we approach problem-solving and decision-making in educational settings. Systems thinking encourages us to see the interconnectedness of various components within a school system, recognizing that changes in one area can ripple through and impact others. In this follow-up blog post, we'll delve deeper into how systems thinking can help schools navigate the complexities of modern education, fostering a more holistic and sustainable approach to school improvement. We'll also examine a real-world example of how this approach made a significant difference in a New York school. #SchoolImprovement #SystemsThinking #MauceriEducation #EducationConsulting Read more @ https://lnkd.in/eDqCbSdn

Is summer over already? August is here and so is #NationalBacktoSchoolMonth. With Sarasota, Manatee, and DeSoto county students returning to class on the 12th, their new chapter has just begun. It's an exciting time filled with new teachers, friends, and subjects, but getting back into school mode can be challenging for kids too. Here are some tips for helping them prepare: https://lnkd.in/g9FturQV

Moving forward.

Where challenge, audience, and purpose of student learning intersect, you find informed action. 🔍 At the end of each of our K-5 inquiry-based social studies units, there's the opportunity for informed action that creates meaning AND deeper learning for students. 👏 Read more about how a 2nd-grade classroom in Ohio impacted their community through their informed action project – planting a garden. 🌱 ➡️ https://bit.ly/45fR6or

Attention Teachers! How do you feel about incorporating nature into the classroom? 🏫🌳 Whether that's outdoor lessons, nature-inspired projects, or green and blue spaces at school. This #WorldTeachersDay, we want to hear from YOU! Should a Right/statutory Right/legal right for nature be introduced in all schools, ensuring you and your students can connect and benefit from nature? 🌍📚 Take our 3 min survey and share how we can make schools more connected with nature for students 👇 https://ow.ly/GazH50TErpL

I'm especially interested in this post by Horizon Care & Education, describing their therapeutic approach with a focus on learning spaces. Many years ago I was a regular contributor for SEND Magazine. One such article was on the learning environment & optimum learning spaces, taking as research an analysis of the teaching spaces for children with SEND across a number of schools. Audits of learning spaces, for highly vulnerable children, included - dining halls, corridors, changing rooms, outside classrooms, outside the HT's office, libraries, IT rooms... Hardly optimum learning environments. Combine that with the number of hours a typical student with SEND is out of the classroom, and there are a host of added difficulties right there. So, lots of words to say, this article pleases me on many fronts. Well done.

As educators and administrators, we must remember that the voices of students with disabilities and their families are vital in shaping effective educational support systems. Too often, their perspectives are overlooked, yet their insights offer invaluable contributions. Empathy, a shared mindset, and including these voices at the table lead to stronger, more inclusive approaches to student success. Watch this video to see how shared mindsets are key to driving meaningful change: https://ncld.co/40Mk4w0

STEM should serve as the cornerstone of education everywhere. It encompasses much more than just science, technology, engineering, and math. STEM education fosters collaboration, builds confidence, enhances language skills, promotes communication, improves reading comprehension, connects to history, and encourages fluency. In essence, STEM education offers a well-rounded, holistic approach to learning.