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C&NN Natural Teachers Network

Information

Welcome to the virtual gathering place of the Natural Teachers Network. A Natural Teacher is any educator who uses the natural world as a powerful learning environment—whether the subject is biology, writing, art, or any other.

Website: http://www.naturalteachers.org
Members: 319
Latest Activity: Apr 27

Every teacher can be a Natural Teacher.

Think of this forum as a break room full of your peers ready for a conversation, a place where you can share ideas and ask for suggestions, where you can be engaged, creative, and encouraged. The subject: How to use the natural world as a classroom to improve your students’ health and well-being, including cognitive ability and attitudes toward learning. The objective: Inspire action, individually or in groups.

Like any meeting place where diverse opinions and concerns are shared, the discourse here must be civil. For further guidance on the “rules of engagement,” please see a set of Frequently Asked Questions located at http://childrenandnature.ning.com/page/frequently-asked-questions.
The goal of the Natural Teachers Network and this website is to encourage more teachers to connect their students with nature and to provide a forum where Natural Teachers can share their knowledge and views. Collectively, Natural Teachers can have a profound impact on improving the lives of children, and, in some schools and communities, that is already happening.

Please participate actively, and encourage others to join. Get together face-to-face as well.

You'll find tools and resources on the Natural Teachers Network home pages and throughout the larger Children & Nature Network website.

The Children & Nature Network Leadership Team will monitor this NTN Group web site from time to time, to respond to ideas and encourage action. Thank you for your commitment to children.

Discussion Forum

Nature Preschool Vancouver 5 Replies

I am working towards opening a Nature Preschool in Vancouver BC Canada.I am a Early Childhood Educator and believe that age 0-7 is the most important tie in a human being's life. I want to open a…Continue

Tags: #naturepreschool

Started by sarah emily slade. Last reply by sarah emily slade Apr 27.

No Child Left Inside 4 Replies

Imagine what it would be like if every K-12 school across the country made environmental education (EE) an essential part of the…Continue

Started by Tamra Willis. Last reply by Ken Finch Mar 25.

Please Define Green for Me! 1 Reply

What is a “green” school? Although heads vigorously nod approval to the phrase “green is good”, it’s often not clear what constitutes “green” in a school setting. The Green Schools National…Continue

Started by Herb Broda. Last reply by Ken Finch Mar 25.

A Global Perspective

There is so much to be learned if we look beyond our immediate landscape! The International School Grounds Alliance (ISGA) is a wonderful organization that attempts to serve as a link and…Continue

Started by Herb Broda Mar 24.

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Comment Wall

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You need to be a member of C&NN Natural Teachers Network to add comments!

Comment by Juliet Robertson on January 8, 2013 at 1:27am: Thanks Suz - this resource has been well-written and it's nice to see such a collaborative piece of work. I look forward to the day when such activities are considered the norm and not a novelty for every child.

Comment by Suz Lipman on January 7, 2013 at 4:26pm: Happy New Year, Natural Teachers!

We thought we'd share a terrific new resource from Canada's Back 2 Nature Network, a Guide to Teaching in Nearby Nature that includes logistics, resources, forms, and learning experiences for teaching in nearby nature:

http://www.childrenandnature.org/news/detail/back_to_nature_network...

Comment by Suz Lipman on November 7, 2012 at 3:37pm: Kids learn better with Vitamin N! Check out our new FREE Natural Teachers Network eguide: http://bit.ly/NTNeguideN2

Comment by Suz Lipman on November 5, 2012 at 1:13pm: 10 reasons why students should get outdoors and 10 great programs. Download C&NN's FREE eGuide: http://bit.ly/NTNeguideT4

Comment by Suz Lipman on October 31, 2012 at 7:31am: Are you a natural teacher? Put more Vitamin N into your classroom. FREE eguide and resources:

http://bit.ly/Rr9v4r

Comment by Jim McHardy on September 24, 2012 at 11:13am: Parent Engagement

This past week the Kinark Outdoor Centre was fortunate to be able to facilitate a three day residential program with the students, teachers and parents from the East Alternative School in Toronto. While every school that visits the Centre is different, East Alternative stands out as one of only a handful of schools that actively include and engage parents in the field trip and the learning experience. Parents took part in the activities, experienced the learning moment and participated in content dialogue. For those students and for those parents you had a sense that the knowledge gained would not be lost and in fact would provide a stepping off point for new activities and growth.

At East Alternative School parents are an essential component of all that happens and it is an expectation that they are actively involved in their child’s learning. Perhaps their situation is unique, but it made me wonder other success stories around school, parent and community partnerships are out there. Schools in Haliburton hold family meals with organized activities for children and parents. The rural schools with the Upper Grand District School Board involve families in a host of ongoing activities. In Peterborough Kinark is partnering with the Kawartha Pine Ridge School Board, the City of Peterborough, Peterborough County-City Health Unit, the Kawartha Outdoor Education Centre and others to facilitate Family Nature Days.

When parents become equal partners in our schools, our social services and in our communities we enrich the lives of our children.

Comment by Katie Kunze on September 23, 2012 at 4:00pm: Hi everyone! I'm new here and am a very enthusiastic teacher who wants to get kids outdoors. I am currently looking for a full time job ( so if anyone here's of an elementary opening in Michigan please let me know) but when I sub I try to encourage my students for the day to get outside. I can see that I am going to find a lot of great ideas here!

Comment by Suz Lipman on August 14, 2012 at 9:25am: Hi All -- This is a wonderful blog from Natural Teacher Larry Volpe about his experiences using native plants in the school garden:

http://childrenandnature.ning.com/profiles/blogs/school-gardening-w...

Comment by Margie on August 8, 2012 at 9:38am: Hello teachers,

Ever thought of using nature for character education? The "Advice From Nature" folks have utilized my animal totem activity (wildlife education) for a character education curriculum using nature guides. Check it out at http://www.yourtruenature.com/library/images/Teacher%20Curriculum/K....

Comment by Monika Viera on July 20, 2012 at 11:52pm: I hope to influence the parents of the children under my care...will begin with fun gardening projects for the children to learn and share with their parents...to instill some interest in alternative learning opportunities from outdoor activities.