In the Blur

            I believe that humans and the earth are intertwined, interrelated, and connected on both physical and spiritual levels.  The earth houses or brings forth the components and building blocks of life (water, food, air). Reconnecting with nature is a common component of well-being in many parts of the world (forest bathing in Japan, “Nature Step to Respiratory Health” in Finland (2018), or grounding) and is growing within the global medical community (for both physical and mental health). I wholeheartedly believe that there is such a thing as a “natural curriculum”.  Although, I also believe that the lived curriculum is a larger part of what we learn than our specific time within formal classroom learning.  I believe the natural curriculum is larger than what we learn in our science classes and I found the readings linking environmental issues and learning to social studies curriculum to be very interesting.   I personally have embraced interdisciplinary instruction an

Cycle One: What is curriculum?   Ask 10 educators what curriculum is and it’s likely you will get 10 varied answers.  Ask me the same question on ten different days and I’ll likely give a slightly varied answer each time myself.  Curriculum is complex, convoluted, and sometimes a conundrum to me personally.  On the surface, I believe curriculum to be the basic set of information (objectives, goals, standards, etc.) that you teach in a class, course, or learning situation. Thought of holistically, curriculum takes on a much broader scope.  Or is it perhaps boundless?  I believe that “curriculum” can stretch across the lifespan. Curriculum becomes the sum total of everything we learn and how we relate that knowledge to our beliefs and values ultimately encompassing everything in our lives.  Alfred North Whitehead wrote, “There is only one subject-matter for education, and that is Life in all its manifestations.”              I wrestle with curriculum in my personal and profess