Place for Wonder

In A Place for Wonder: Making Space for Curiosity in the Elementary Classroom, Georgia Heard and Jennifer McDonough share how to create “a landscape of wonder,” a classroom where children’s questions, curiosity, creativity, and exploration are encouraged. For it is these characteristics, the authors write, that develop intelligent, inquiring, lifelong learners.But in a time of increasing standardization and mandated curriculum, what spaces still remain in schools for children’s ideas, questions and curiosity? The first edition of the best-selling A Place for Wonder introduced readers to a set of small, but powerful practices that opened up endless possibilities for children’s creativity and curiosity in the classroom. Now, in this second edition, Heard and McDonough expand and update their ideas for today’s elementary classrooms, sharing engaging and accessible ways to bring wonder to every part of the school day.The ideas and strategies in A Place for Wonder align with the standards and curriculum teachers already teach and center children’s questions and creativity. The authors share powerful classroom examples including:● Creating Wonder Spaces, Discovery Tables, Observation Windows, and other classroom invitations to engage children from the moment they walk into the classroom each morning● Centering children’s curiosity in language arts through read-alouds, Wonder Journals, Wonder Poems, Wonder Book Clubs, nonfiction wonder writing, and student podcasts● Using outdoor spaces to create simple, but engaging connections with nature including the One Small Square Project and listening walks● Opening doors to curiosity in science, social studies, math, art, music, and everyday classroom conversations.● Featuring guest essays from beloved educators and writers that offer additional classroom invitations for wonder.A Place for Wonder will help teachers reclaim their classrooms as a place where children’s questions matter and true learning can flourish.