Grizzly Bear + The Red Balloon

As is evident from yesterday, I love The Red Balloon, and I was so thrilled to come across this video at Uppercase Gallery a while back. It pairs one of my favorite songs of 2009 with footage from a beautiful, classic movie.



Grizzly Bear : Veckatimest

And if you're a music person, my brother writes about music over here -- its good reads!

The Red Balloon

It is summer in the Northern Hemishpere, so you should be outside. But perhaps later this evening, you want to open some windows and let the breeze flow in while you watch a good movie. Nothing too long...maybe something that you can watch and still have time to go get some fireflies in the yard later. I have just the thing.

The Red Balloon is an award winning film from 1956 written and directed by Albert Lamorisse, starring his son Pascal Lamorisse. I have loved this movie since I was young, and I was happy to share it with my class this past school year. They had wonderful things to say about it which are shared below.

Enjoy today, and come back tomorrow for some more (contemporary) sharing about the film.



Ma : I thought that the balloon ran out of air and the boy stamp it with his feet.
Am : I like the way that he took all of the balloons and flew away.
Pe : You know why all the balloons was flying away? Because the red balloon give all his magic to the other balloons.
Na : I like when it ended, when he flew into the air!
Ro : It was like Disneyland, it was magic, it was beautiful!
Jo : I liked the end
Al : How will he get down ?
Ca : I can answer that question. He will take one by one away until he gets down.
Ly : He can stay in the air for lots of days, and then he’ll come back down.

And a lovely interview with Pascal Lamorisse on the 2007 restoration of the film is here.

Tuesday's Photograph

photograph by es, age 4

LMNOP

I saw LMNOP mentioned at urban preschool ages ago, and then it popped up again at Playful Learning as part of their alphabet inspiration.

It is an online magazine, and like another one of my favorite online magazines, small, it has lovely photos and great contributors and great ideas for kids. It's another nice little source of inspiration from good people.

It is like a magazine in the sense that there are things to buy and a price tag is mentioned, but I find the artisans that they feature to be so great - they feature etsy sellers and small boutiques. And that's better than Toys R Us, right?

Happy browsing!

Old School

From Uppercase Gallery. Who said quiet is better?

ABC Open House

I finally picked up my film from the ABC Brussels Open House that took place at the beginning of June. I had been looking forward to seeing this space for months, since learning that this place existed!

I walked around and watched adults and children enjoying themselves, immersing themselves in materials and sensory experiences and books and paint and blocks and homemade soup. I was blown away by the space, by the planning that must be involved, and by how the adults were enjoying themselves as much as the children. I would LOVE to be in those planning meetings.





















I am in love with this place. I observed and interacted, and wrote and wrote and wrote about what was inspiring me. It was really beautiful to see! Perhaps I'll share more photos and words on another day when I'm looking for inspiration.

I'm off to China tomorrow...and luckily my travel plans include a visit to Alderwood House School in British Columbia when we get to that side of the ocean...I'm so excited!

Happy summer to all!

Goodbye school year!

*Images from our last day of school*

The children are gone; the artwork is down from the walls; the last glass of wine has been drank with co-workers. Cheers to a wonderful year, and wonderful children, and wonderful teachers; and to a new year in August!

I am off to my own holiday on Tuesday...China, the Pacific Northwest, Connecticut, and then back to Belgium in mid-August. I have so much to share that I have already planned and created, but I may not be around to respond to comments. I'll do my best! Have a wonderful summer, if you are a teacher or not!

We're coming to the end

Some images from our last week at school. We're all done on Friday afternoon.

house of cards

I spread some cards out on a table one morning, and this is what happened. For one boy in particular, it was a lesson in perseverence! That's not easy stuff!

Boulder Journey School

Inspiring images from what looks like a lovely school. Boulder Journey School is a Reggio-inspired school for children 6 weeks to 6 years. I'd love to visit someday!