The Story Garden with Mrs. Sandoz

 After some gentle nudging from my students (and a little tug on my own heart), I’ve started something new— The Story Garden . This is a small podcast where my kindergartners—and any little listeners who would like to join us—can come and listen to stories. Some are old and well-loved, like Uncle Wiggily . Others are stories I’ve written over the years—first for my own boys, and now for the children I teach. My hope is simple. I want to give children a place to slow down, listen, and grow their imaginations. In a world full of fast-moving images, there is something quietly powerful about hearing a story and cultivating the pictures in your own mind.  Reading books aloud is a great way to germinate the love of reading in children. Like any good garden, this one will grow slowly—with care, intention, and a bit of wonder along the way. To learn more about the first story I am reading on the podcast click here.  If you’d like to listen, you can find The Story Garden ...

So much joy comes for me with Spring!  Just the sheer knowledge that I made it through the dark and gloomy Oregon winter is enough to send my heart soaring.  But Spring's gifts do not stop there, Easter, a steady unfurling of flower blossoms, off and on sunshine with fresh pourings of rain, and the endless opportunities to work in my yard.  I feel so alive! This week I'm working on my garden.  Today I started a Three Sister's Planting.  This is an Native American tradition of mindfully planting corn, beans, and squash.  Before I started planting I did a Google search to get more information on how and why this is done.  What I found on it was so interesting I wanted to pass it on here. At first, I thought this page was too "Thanksgivingy" to post in Spring.  Then I realized the only reason the Pilgrims and Natives were able to have a feast in the fall was because they planted in the Spring.  Their planting technique was unique to No...