Look and Listen

Biography

Born and raised in the suburbs of Chicago, I love the energy of the city. I enjoy the theater, the ballet, the museums, and the lakefront. I had all the advantages of ballet lessons, piano lessons, and day camp. I had the freedom of a baby boomer to explore the neighborhood with all the other kids on the block. I had an empty "lot" to play in, a local swimming pool, a pond for ice skating, and hills for sledding. I had twelve years of Catholic schooling, eight brothers and sisters, and the emotional baggage of a middle child. I wanted to be a teacher from the time I was in grade school. Not because I admired my teachers, but because I thought they were doing it wrong and I thought that there must be a better way. I didn't find what I was looking for until graduate school where I was immersed in the research of Jean Piaget. I was taught by Constance Kamii PhD. She worked directly with Piaget and was his English language translator. She gave me a solid understanding of constructivist theory. Working in Speical Education in the 1970's, I was exposed to an explosion of research as therapists and educators learned as we went along in this new world of Public Law 94-142. I was in on the beginnings of Early Intervention, Neuro-Developmental Training, Sensory Integration... I have over 30 years experience teaching in a variety of settings. I have taught everyone from infants to adults, the gifted to the challenged. I have taught a variety of subjects from the Alphabet to Probability, Anatomy to Creative Writing, and Ballet to Swimming. I have undergraduate degrees in Education and Special Education and two earned masters degrees in Instructional Leadership and in Educational Administration.

Inspiration

My work with young children has taught me that learning is a natural process that occurs in the real word between people. We have created the unnatural environment of the school and most of what happens in school is about functioning in the school and not about learning at all. My work in public schools has taught me that the public school system is the cheapest way to house, and the fastest way to train large groups of young people in basic skills and teach them the cultural history required to be an educated voter. In an effort to retain what may be left of individuality, spontaneity, and joy in the process of learning, I have devoted myself to defending play, imagination, and creativity in the education of children. My first book, Sparks Ignite Imagination, is the embodiment of that idea.