Today we have gathered and we see that the cycles of life continue. We have been given the duty to live in balance and harmony with each other and all living things. So now, we bring our minds together as one as we give greetings and thanks to each other as people.
We've been slowing down by tapping into gratitude with our students, our teachers, and ourselves. This practice can center us when things feel too big or too much.
Today I want to especially express appreciation for the ongoing support of our community. You've been helping us check off wishlist essentials that came with moving into our cozy new office.
Your generous donations made it possible for us to stay focused on bringing joyful learning experiences to students and teachers across the Bay.
Sustaining donors are making it possible for us to offer sliding-scale reading instruction at a time when families are in critical need of affordable support. If you're able, even $5 a month can help offset the costs of all the behind-the-scenes work that's needed to offer low and no-cost services.
Do you love making those kinds of connections? We're hiring a part-time development and communications associate to help us connect with our dear community and make new friends. This fun role is local(ish) as we return to doing more Bay Area pop-up storytimes and other events, and starts small but has room to grow.
Building and sustaining a collaborative learning community among researchers, specialists, teachers, families, and of course students involves continual reciprocity. As our team explores ways to support students, families, and educators, we're inviting new voices and ideas into this work. Stay tuned for an exciting announcement about a new way we’ll be expanding this learning community in the new year!
With a heart full of gratitude,
Grounding in Gratitude
This season can be a welcome reminder to slow down and take stock of the many things we have to be grateful for.
In many classrooms, Thanksgiving conversations invite the first experiences students have with words like gratefulness, gratitude and thankfulness. For young learners, it can be helpful to use books, prompts, and intentional practice with these words in conversation to support meaning-making as they explore these important concepts.
Check out our new blog post for strategies to introduce and practice new vocabulary.
While you’re there, grab our latest printable: Gratitude Grab Bag. Our template provides daily question prompts to help you build a consistent practice of mindful gratitude in your classroom community.
Thanks to you, your staff, and your organization, [our student] was off to a strong start for 4th grade! Especially when their teacher started the prefixes and suffixes unit; she was already ahead and confident! We really thank you for all your hard work and dedication to children's literacy and education!
- WordLab Parent
Reading Unlocks Doors
ALL learners need access!
We're just beginning to understand the true cost of pandemic learning. Only a third of our nation's 4th graders are meeting grade level proficiency in reading. Meanwhile, many students are coming to school with significant social and emotional needs that present challenges for traditional classroom instruction.
This year, we expanded our sliding-scale offerings beyond WordLab to include 1:1 and small group intervention. In the coming year, we hope to increase this funding to make these services even more accessible to those who need it most. As a tiny non-profit, we rely on donations from individuals to make these programs possible!
You don't have to wait for Giving Tuesday to make a contribution!
Give the Gift of Literacy Support WordLab with a monthly donation:
$5/month provides essential learning materials like paper, pencils, books, and clipboards for one child - our word scientists write a lot!
$10/month sponsors a crisp new set of field journals for nature journaling.
$20/month supports specialized professional development for a teaching fellow
We have giving levels for every budget, and one-time options too. Click the link to select an option that works for you!
Even if you are unable to donate, spreading the word about Words in the Wild is an INCREDIBLY powerful way to help. Follow us on Facebook and Instagram, share our content with your friends and family and become a valuable contributor to our growing online community!
You subscribed to these updates because you care about teaching and learning.
Most likely, you signed up at a workshop with Alexis Filippini or Words in the Wild in the San Francisco Bay Area.
Friends, 
