Wolfe Stew

Leaders, We know discussions are important to learning.  Communicating your ideas to others, hearing them accept and build upon them is tantamount to building self-esteem.  It helps us know we're accepted.  Making connections between ideas and expressing them in unique ways showcases learning.  Learners love talking, and it is important to their academic development, so why do we not always allow them the opportunity? I'll tell you why, because...chaos.  It's true.  I've seen it.  I've been there.  I had it all planned out in my head.  It was going to be great.  All the learners would sit in a large circle and freely express themselves.  We would dig into extremely emotional issues and all would emerge unscathed.  We would understand each other completely and no feelings would be hurt.  Bonds would form.  Unbreakable bonds.  We would unite as one.  I'll tell you right now, and I learned it the hard way, this kind of conversation, does not just happen.  I

(Updated 10/6/2022) Can you believe it, Leaders? November is only a week away!   It doesn't seem like it should be.  Does it feel like the year only started to you, too? Today we unveil our November Idea for Everyday Calendar. We hope that it will serve you well throughout the month and this month is a fun one! We bet you have a file folder full of activities to do and we hope you'll share some of them with us. We'd love to hear about your favorites! If you're looking to diversify those activities, or maybe your file folder is thin, we'd love to share some of ours. November welcomes a wide range of National Days. Some of which help us prepare for the big holiday at the end of the month. You know it - Thanksgiving!  Days such as Chicken Soup for the Soul Day, World Kindness Day, National Gingerbread Cookie Day, National Cranberry Relish Day, and Tie One On Day. There are other days that will just be fun, like Mickey Mouse's Birthday, Play Monopoly Day a

Leaders, Does it ever feel like you’re leading a group of monsters? You know how it is, some days you just wonder, “What was in the water?”  “ Is it a full moon tonight?”  “ Did aliens invade and plant secret technology in all the kids that just made them turn?” Well, whatever it is, know that we feel it too ! Today, we’re sharing a slew of activities for you to do with your little monsters.   These are hand-picked, child-tested, and monster-ready!   We’ve used them in our lab on our little monsters and we’re alive to tell the tale!   We’re even sharing our secret formula derived from the creative potion of another educational chemist.   Let’s welcome those monsters into our educational lab.   No way they’ll be prepared for what we have in store.   Mwhahahaha!    1.  Pumpkin Spice Playdough    This recipe (from Tinker Lab ) sat in the to-do pile since the end of September. But, when we came across the next activity, we knew it was time to move it on up to the

Listen Leaders, The much anticipated moment is here!  On this, the day of our nephew's birth, we're releasing a gift to you.  Today, we release to the world: Victoria, our technologist, is the second member of the STEAM Team.  By now, you and Silas - our scientist - are old chums.  If not, and all this ramble about the STEAM Team is lost on you, check out his story first: Meet Silas And then, choose from these cross-curricular activities to further immerse you in his story: Science and Research Music and STEAM Design Physical Education and STEAM Design Social Studies and Writing Oh, you're ready for Victoria now?  Well, then, allow me to tell you a little about her.  Victoria hails from a subdued, rural setting, unlike Silas' action-packed metropolis. But make no mistake!  Her wheels are still turning.  In Victoria's story, you'll begin to see into the inner workings of the STEAM Team.  Her story tells of inspiration from nat

Welcome Back Leaders!   Over the past few weeks, I’ve invited you along with me to dive deeper into David’s story.   During the first week, we looked at how God trained David carefully, over time, with purpose and unexpectedly to complete a task which brought glory to God.   And, if he did that with David, He’s working in you too! Next, we studied David’s response to Eliab’s verbal attacks .   Now, we will look at the third, and final, lesson. We last saw David in Saul’s tent, asking him about Goliath.   With a little convincing, Saul agrees to let David be the one to fight Goliath.    To make sure he was battle ready, Saul: “dressed David in his own tunic. He put a coat of armor on him and a bronze helmet on his head. David fastened on his sword over the tunic and tried walking around, because he was not used to them.” I Samuel 17:38 & 39 Two thoughts emerge here.    One is a kid wearing his daddy’s clothing.   Cute, but not quite what David needed.   T

Welcome Leaders! We’re glad you’ve joined us at Wolfe Stew today!   We’re hoping your mid-week slump is headed downhill and plans for the weekend are looking up.   Last weekend our family went cold weather camping. We’re talking biting-cold-despite-warm-layers and wind-possibly-carrying-away-the-tent-to-Oz weather camping.   And we loved every minute of it!   We’re even planning our next outing.   Indeed, our niece suggested we plan a camping trip in each season.   She, however, did think we were currently in winter. It was that cold! Despite the cold, we enjoyed the warmth of yarn crocheted gear (I Love Yarn Day) and developed outdoors skills (Train Your Brain Day) .   While sitting around the campfire roasting smores (necessity), we even had a well-mannered debate about Columbus Day .   And, upon our return, although warranted due to exhaustion and illness, none of us were grouchy . Now, back at home, we’re stewing on ways to help you celebrate the remaining national h

Leaders, It's time we make writing fun again, and I'm calling on you to help me do it!  It breaks my heart that starting in Kindergarten I hear my nephew being prepped on writing the five sentence paragraph with the transitional words first, next, last, in conclusion hammered into him.  It's repetitive, redundant, repulsive.  We're making our kids dread writing.  And writing should be fun!   Last night, the Mr and I went to the library  Most of the time I just put books on hold, drop books off, pick up my holds and leave.  But last night, I went hunting.  I was hunting a book of writing exercises to help me build that muscle.  And not only did I find that book, but I also found a book of like-minded leaders who organized essays meant to breathe fun into writing again. I'll be featuring both of these gems on our menu today. N e o n W o r d s The first book, Neon Words  by Marge Pellegrino & Kay Sather is the book I'll be using to train my

(Updated 4/19/2022) Happy Tag-You're-It-Day, Leaders! For forever that's what I will now call touch tag.  My niece, years ago mind you, used to run around asking everyone if they would play "Tag-You're-It" with her.  And, yes, it all came out as one word.  It was the cutest thing ever and my new name for touch tag.  Confession: I didn't play today.  Did you? Apple Betty I promised I would share with you the recipe for Apple Betty if it was good.  Well, it was.  I actually have two kind of particular eaters in my household, even when it comes to dessert, and they both liked it.  So, I'll share.  And I won't be mean.  I won't lure you to the end and then give you the recipe.  I'll give it to you right now.  It's not even my recipe.  It is Barbara Milam's and it can be found at allrecipes.com. The first step in Barbara's recipe was to slice the apples.  I did.  It took four of them.  However many cups a recipe calls for in