Celebrating 5 Years on Outschool: Mindfulness, Creativity and a Reggio-Inspired Approach to Virtual Education

virtual education
my early days on Outschool, July 2020

As I celebrate five years of teaching on Outschool I’m reflecting on how far I’ve come, both personally and professionally. My experiences with virtual education have shaped my approach to teaching and living, and I am excited to share my story.

A Reggio-Inspired Approach in the Virtual Classroom

When most of the world shifted to virtual education in 2020, I was already grounded in Reggio-inspired education principles, which emphasize the idea that children are capable, competent, and full of potential. My experiences before and after joining Outschool have affirmed that these principles are relevant to any learning context. This includes the virtual space, where technology serves as a bridge to creativity, curiosity, and connection, rather than a barrier.

In my early days, I pivoted to virtual teaching with a Reggio-inspired mindset. Since then, I have continued to explore how these practices can be applied to online spaces. Whether I am leading a Zoom Yoga class or supporting a small group of young learners in their own creative explorations, I make it a priority to honor the child’s voice, interests, and developmental needs. The lessons learned from these transitions continue to shape how I approach teaching on Outschool.

Building Relationships Across Distances

One of the most rewarding parts of my virtual education journey has been the opportunity to connect with families and learners from across the globe. As of today, I’ve worked directly with 1378 learners (WOW) through Outschool (and even more indirectly through my other virtual education contracts). My virtual classroom exists as a space where children feel respected and empowered to explore their interests (check out the parent feedback about this). I think all of this is made possible by not only understanding the power of technology, but also by creating an intentional, welcoming atmosphere where connection (to self, others and concepts) thrives.

I’m inspired by the creativity and curiosity children bring to our virtual classes. Whether it’s altering the camera angle to experiment with perspective, creating stories together, or using the Zoom annotation tool to draw and express ideas, every class is a unique collaboration between me, my learners and our virtual classroom. The interactions I have with children on Outschool feel just as meaningful and authentic as those in a physical classroom, reinforcing my belief that when children are given autonomy they flourish in any learning environment.

Yoga and Mindfulness for All Ages

Another cornerstone of my offerings on Outschool is the integration of Yoga and mindfulness practices. From children as young as three to teens, I believe these practices are an essential part of a child’s social, emotional, and physical development. By offering a combination of live, interactive classes and self-paced content, I’ve been able to provide flexibility for both learners and families.

Yoga, especially when shared with a playful, heart-centered approach, supports overall well-being in young learners. It allows opportunities to process emotions, build resilience, and develop a deeper sense of connection with self and others. In my classes, I also incorporate elements of storytelling and creative movement, making the practices more engaging and accessible for the youngest learners. Every learner, regardless of age, has the opportunity to find a practice that works for them.

Story drawing on shared Zoom screen; created by a group of five learners ages 5-8

Building a Community of Learners

The beauty of Outschool lies in its sense of community. It’s not just about learning—it’s about connection. Some of the learners in my classes have been with me for nearly five years! During these last five years I’ve witnessed learners and families grow and move homes, I’ve been on roadtrips and amazing outings (via the screen), met and even said goodbye to beloved pets. Teaching on Outschool has opened doors to meaningful exchanges with families from all corners of the world. I’m constantly inspired by the ways in which families share their unique traditions, values, and interests, enriching the classes with diverse perspectives.

Whether we are learning about nature’s wonders, practicing Yoga poses, or diving into art-making projects, the relationships I’ve built with families over the years have been foundational to the success of my classes. I deeply appreciate how families on Outschool value the individualized and responsive approach I bring to each learner’s experience.

Aligning with my desire to live an art life…

Before transitioning to virtual education I had struggled to keep up with the creative and business sides of my art practice while working as a full-time (plus after school hours) in-person educator. For years I came home mentally and physically exhausted …with little energy left to create art or really even take care of myself. I’m still working full time, but as an independent educator working mostly from home I now have the flexibility to create a schedule that considers my needs. Nowadays my schedule includes dedicated art-making, administrative, research and planning time. The change in schedule has quite literally changed my life. In addition to the gift of time, I find virtual education to be creatively fulfilling. I see it as a way to embrace my digital media skills and love for video art. Back in 2000 when I first started experimenting with video art I had no idea that those experiments would later show up as part of my job! I have so.much.fun creating visuals and experimenting with new video tools. My classes aren’t full of wham bam in your face visuals, but more of a seamless integration of relevant visual elements used to support whatever topic we’re exploring. Having fluency in video editing and tech skills allows for an environment-enriching experience that’s akin to setting up a physical room with invitations to explore.

my “pre-show” set up, back in 2022. I continue to use ManyCam and embrace all the related tech magic

Looking Ahead: Growth and Gratitude

Over the past five years, I have had the privilege of teaching a diverse group of learners, from preschoolers to teens, in subjects ranging from art, STEM, literacy and Yoga. The growth I’ve experienced as an educator, alongside my learners, is one of my proudest achievements. I am truly grateful to Outschool for providing a platform where I can connect with students from all over the world and continue to develop innovative, dynamic, and engaging learning experiences.

As I reflect on this milestone, I am excited to continue exploring new possibilities for integrating Reggio-inspired practices, art, nature, social-emotional skills, Yoga and mindfulness into my virtual classes. Whether it’s through interactive field trips, creative exploration, or building on children’s natural curiosity, the journey is far from over. The future of education—both virtual and hybrid—holds immense potential. I am ready to continue evolving and innovating as a teacher. (Look for some virtual resources for “grown ups” here, on my site, soon.)

Here’s to five years of learning, growth, and connection, and to many more years of inspired teaching ahead. Thank you to everyone who has been a part of this journey!

Ready to join a class? Explore my current offerings on Outschool:

Curious Bluebird virtual education with Andrea Dupree

Exploring Catholic Aesthetics through Contemporary Fiber Art

Growing up Catholic (including k-12 Catholic school, mass in a grand cathedral on Sundays, participating in all the classes & rituals around Communion, Confession, Confirmation, deeply religious family / Dominican Nun Aunt, etc.) in South Louisiana, I often consider the how the related experiences shaped how I see, feel, and make. The aesthetics of Catholic iconography, structures, and rituals—stained glass and incense, candlelight and sacred hearts—left a lasting imprint. These elements continue to echo through my fiber art work in ways that are both visible and felt.

teasing apart wool fibers

In my fiber art sculptures and altar-like installations, I often find myself returning to the textures and gestures of ritual. I’m drawn to repetition—stitch after stitch, fibers teased & layered into form—the kind of embodied rhythm that mirrors the rosary or the sequence of a Mass. Like a cathedral space, my work invites stillness and reflection. I want it to feel like stepping into a small, sacred pause.

Visually, I borrow freely from the symbolic vocabulary of Catholic art: the soft shimmer of gold thread, the almond shape of a mandorla, the form of a vessel or reliquary. There’s often a glowing center or mirrored surface in my pieces, a nod to the mysteries of presence and absence that live at the heart of ritual.

Mandorla (available via Electra Gallery Santa Fe,NM)

But more than form, it’s the atmosphere of Catholicism that finds its way into my work—the way sound and light move through space, the way ritual invites attention and reverence. In the quiet process of making, I sense the same longing I felt as a child in church: a desire to connect with something unseen, to make meaning through devotion, repetition, and beauty.

My art is not religious in a doctrinal sense, but it is spiritual. It’s a way of holding space for memory, grief, transformation—and the sacred woven into the everyday.

Lately I’ve been thinking about the phrase “aesthetics of Catholic iconography, structures, and rituals” and how it conjures a rich and layered sensory world—both visual and experiential. I’m using this concept as a way to explore not only the work I’ve already made, but also as a way to plan for future work. Here are some elements and associations that come to mind:

Iconography (Visual Symbols & Imagery):

  • Sacred hearts, crosses, halos, angels, and saints
  • Prayer cards, gilded edges, soft pastels and golds
  • Madonna and Child images
  • Stigmata, relics, and symbolic flora (e.g. lilies, roses, thorns)
  • Stations of the Cross, biblical scenes in sequential panels
  • Intricate embroidery, vestments, and altar cloths

Structures (Architectural & Environmental):

  • Cathedrals, with vaulted ceilings, flying buttresses, and elaborate stonework
  • Stained glass windows / colored light
  • Confessionals, pews, candles, marble altars
  • Grottoes and shrines—small, intimate, and contemplative spaces
  • Layered materials: wood, gold leaf, glass, wax, and velvet
  • Sound-enhancing design (domes, echo chambers)

Rituals (Sensory and Embodied Practices):

  • Incense smoke curling in the air, blending with candlelight
  • Organ music and chants, echoing through vast spaces
  • Holy water, tactile gestures (crossing oneself), and genuflection
  • Processions, call-and-response prayers, ringing bells
  • Rhythmic, often repetitive actions that create trance-like attentiveness
  • Sacraments (e.g., Communion) involving transformation of substance (bread/wine)

Emotional/Atmospheric Associations:

  • A sense of mystery, awe, and sacredness
  • A mix of comfort and reverence, often tied to childhood memories
  • A deep ritual logic—where every object and gesture carries layered meaning
  • The interplay between intimacy and grandeur, solitude and community

In many ways, my practice is a quiet response to those early experiences of sacred space—a way of recreating, reinterpreting, and reclaiming them through fiber, found objects, and intuitive process. I’m not Catholic, but remain a spiritual person drawn to the beauty and symbolism of Catholic aesthetics—their ritual, repetition, and reverence offer me a visual language for expressing comfort, grief, and wonder in a world that often feels overwhelming. Through art-making, I engage with these forms as a personal, poetic practice of meaning-making and repair.

The aesthetics of Catholic iconography and ritual continue to shape how I approach materials, time, and meaning-making. Through my work, I hope to offer spaces where others might pause, reflect, and reconnect—with memory, with mystery, and with the unseen threads that bind us all.

If this post resonated with you please follow me on Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/andreadupree) for more reflections, updates, works-in-progress, sales and exhibitions.

Artistic Alchemy: Transforming Materials & Self

I create fiber art and found object sculptures, video and site-specific works that explore the interconnectedness between humans, nature, inner worlds and the unseen. My materials include wool, plant fibers, rusted metal, weathered wood, broken glass, and stones. I work slowly and intuitively, using wet and needle felting, hand embroidery, and layering to build textured, abstract forms. These pieces serve as altars—contemplative spaces for ritual and re-connection.

I’m drawn to materials that maintain a strong connection to nature. I am also attracted to materials with history, especially those that have been discarded or changed by time and elements. I source materials from thrift stores and eco-conscious vendors. I also gather from inherited collections, estate sales, and roadside free piles. Additionally, I use resources from the land around my home in Northern New Mexico. 

As a Yoga Educator and Reggio Emilia-inspired Early Childhood Educator, I approach materials as collaborators. Art making is an exploratory and reflective process. I believe in staying in conversation with materials, nature and my inner child. My creative process is rooted in responsive listening through the acts of observing, collecting and making. I’m deeply influenced by the aesthetics of Catholic iconography, structures and rituals I experienced growing up in South Louisiana, as well as spiritual and nature-based practices, animism and the ecology of place.

Along with my ongoing explorations in felting, embroidery, and site-responsive ecological artwork, I’m currently working on a new concept. It involves a sculptural fiber, found object, and video art installation. This will be for a public window in Santa Fe, NM. It will function as a kind of altar for the street. It is an invitation to pause, reflect, and consider what’s been discarded. It encourages reflection on what still holds meaning and what might be reimagined. This project continues my exploration of altars as a form of ecological and emotional witnessing. I will be sharing more about this project soon…

My intention is always to create with care, to collaborate with materials and place, and to offer moments of stillness and connection in a world that often moves too fast.

If any of this resonates you’ll enjoy following along with my process, discoveries, experiments and inspirations here (on Instagram).

Sense of Place Turns Four: Reflections on an Ecofeminist Art Journey in Northern New Mexico

This summer marks the four-year anniversary of Sense of Place, my ongoing ecological art project rooted in the layered terrain and history of Northern New Mexico. In 2021, I began by gathering discarded materials from the land I steward. This simple act has grown into a complex, interdisciplinary exploration of memory, land use, ritual, and repair.

Sense of Place is a site-specific, multimedia documentary project that asks: how do materials like glass, metal, wood and ceramics become story keepers? And what happens when we reframe what has been discarded, when we treat the land itself as both canvas and collaborator?

The project site is located in Po-Woh-Geh-Owingeh, “Where the water cuts through,” on ancestral Tewa lands—once a homestead ranch and now an interstitial space bordered by the Pueblo of San Ildefonso and shadowed by the legacy of Los Alamos, birthplace of the atomic bomb. These overlapping histories weigh heavily on my process. Guided by Ecofeminist principles, I examine how land use, colonization, and environmental overuse intersect with issues of gender and ecological disconnection.

Over the past four years, Sense of Place has taken shape through:

This work continues to be deeply informed by theories of ecological art, the Reggio Emilia approach, and the pedagogical philosophies of David and Frances Hawkins. Through the lens of “Messing About” and the Theory of Loose Parts, I treat materials as provocations: What stories do they hold? How might they be reassembled into something healing?

My prior work, especially Art of the Bayou (2011–2013), an eco-activist experimental documentary rooted in community-based art in South Louisiana, laid the foundation for this current inquiry. Like that earlier project, Sense of Place combines environmental awareness with storytelling, reflection, and a commitment to place-based learning.

Looking ahead, I’m excited to continue expanding Sense of Place through:

At its heart, Sense of Place is an invitation to slow down, to notice, to remember, and to mend. In this fourth year, I’m more committed than ever to holding space for the complexities of place and time, and to using art as a vehicle for ecological and cultural healing.

Thank you to everyone who has witnessed, supported, and engaged with this journey. Here’s to the next chapter.

Virtual Education and AI

When I began sharing art, Yoga, Mindfulness and Reggio-inspired classes on Outschool as an independent virtual educator, this way of teaching quite literally changed my life. Five years later, I’m getting to witness how Outschool is also changing.

One of the changes involves Outschool’s use of AI. The AI summarizes each of the Zoom meetings I lead and it generates messages to families. Here’s one example from a recent virtual session of my Yoga & Mindfulness class for ages 7-10:

During our meeting, we engaged in a variety of mindfulness and yoga-inspired practices designed to help develop self-awareness, focus, and relaxation. We began with some gentle breathing exercises, where we tapped our fingers to our thumbs while coordinating our breath.

We then transitioned into some seated and standing poses, including a side stretch, plank pose, and a balance pose (hand to toe pose or Supta Padangusthasana) where we held our foot with our hand. Throughout the session, I emphasized moving slowly and mindfully, while also taking time to observe our surroundings and any new sensations we noticed.

Towards the end, we returned to the floor for some hand and arm stretches, culminating in a final round of the finger-tapping exercise. We concluded the meeting with an opportunity for learners to share any thoughts or reflections on the experience.

When Outschool, a forward thinking virtual education platform, first introduced this AI feature a few months ago I was skeptical. Could it really summarize my classes in a way that makes sense? Could AI really tease out my instruction from polite banter? Now, I realize this tool is a great asset. AI gives me summaries of my classes that are incredibly precise. It also saves me a huge amount of time since I need to share these summaries with enrolled families promptly.

Overall, AI is proving to be a useful assistant for this task. I’m happy for its help and eager to continue to use it to support my teaching practice.

Fellow educators- what do you think about AI? If you’re using it as a teaching assistant I’d love to hear more about your experiences and perspectives.

Embracing the Mandorla: Fiber Art that Connects Worlds

Winter 2023 was when I really became enchanted with fiber art. I believe this came from years of being in the company of felt sheets. As an early childhood educator, felt seems like an ever-present material. I’ll share more about the evolution of my work in fiber art in a separate post. Here, I want to focus on a collection of pieces. These proved to be key in what I now know to be a shift in not only my artistic practice but also my way of thinking about the world.

SOLD via Eight Million Gods Truchas, NM
available via Electra Gallery Santa Fe,NM
SOLD via Eight Million Gods Truchas, NM
SOLD
available via Electra Gallery Santa Fe,NM
available via Electra Gallery Santa Fe,NM

In this collection of wearable and displayable fiber art altars, I explore the intersection of the metaphysical and the material world. Each piece serves as a portal. It invites the viewer or wearer to step into a space of reflection. There is intention and spiritual connection. The designs are inspired by the concept of the mandorla. This symbol represents the overlap between two worlds. It is often depicted as a vesica piscis in sacred geometry. Historically, the mandorla has been used in art to represent the convergence of the divine and the earthly. It is often seen in medieval and Renaissance religious iconography as a frame for Christ or other holy figures.

In my work, the mandorla becomes a gateway to the unseen, a bridge between the mundane and the mystical. This symbolism is amplified by the use of variscite, known for its metaphysical properties. Variscite, a stone of courage and healing, grounds the work, offering a sense of stability and calm.

The fiber elements of the altars are crafted from DMC Eco-Vita thread and natural wool. These materials are chosen for their sustainability. They have a strong connection to the earth. This wool is 100% organic and non-mulesed. It has been dyed using infusions of natural ingredients. Examples include walnut, rhubarb, indigo, and juniper. The Eco-Vita thread symbolizes the cycle of life and rebirth. The natural wool provides warmth and texture. It embodies the nurturing qualities of the earth.

An altar is a sacred space. It is a tangible expression of the liminal. This is where the physical and the spiritual converge. It is also where the past and the present meet. Through this collection, I aim to create art that not only adorns. It also invokes a deeper connection to the energies that flow through and around us. This opens portals to new realms of understanding and being.

…am I back in a blogging mood?!

Maybe? Every couple of years I get re-inspired to share thoughts about my professional/creative practices via words and pictures on a screen. I don’t know if it will stick, but am going to see what happens.

Topics will include (but are not limited to) reclaiming feminine power, fiber arts, working as an independent educator, life in New Mexico, dementia, ecological art projects, Yoga as a path to connecting with self and beyond, (finally) coming to terms with leaving Louisiana, etc. etc.

Please enjoy this image of one my recent works in progress…a hand-felted wool nicho housing a Louisiana oyster shell.

See you soon!

technology as a tool of empowerment for young children

Children are naturally active, empowered protagonists in their relationships with modern technologies.

NAEYC/Fred Rogers Center Position Statement on Technology and Interactive Media in Early Childhood Programs notes “When used intentionally and appropriately, technology and interactive media are effective tools to support learning and development.” 

Learning spaces and experiences that support child-directed interaction, accompanied by respectful technical support and responsive listening from adults have the potential to drive meaningful interaction with technology. 

Perhaps the challenges and issues with regard to technology and young children have to do with how comfortable adults are in their relationship with technology, and how adults define engagement. An adult who sees technology as burdensome or something to be passively consumed will most likely carry this mindset into how they present and model use with young children. 

The benefits of using technology…

for children and society, include incredible opportunities for innovation, creativity, and conceptual and social connection. When technology is intentionally included in learning experiences, these opportunities emerge. Intention includes an openness to experimentation, as Vea Vecchi states, “The digital experience is much too often exhausted simply in its functional and technical form. However, in addition to its technical aspect, if it is also used in creative and imaginative ways, it reveals a high level of expressive cognitive, and social potentials as well as great possibilities for evolution.” 

In my all-virtual context of Outschool I encounter children from around the world experiencing benefits afforded by technology in their social, emotional, cognitive, speech, language and physical learning and development. I witness connections that are profound- sharing stories about the loss of family members and pets, joyful- describing and sharing birthday and holiday celebrations, and everyday- the weather outside their homes or their favorite toys and foods. The human-centered connections afforded by technology speak to the benefits for children and society. I am grateful for the ability to interact with children and families from all over the world in real-time group learning experiences, thanks to technology.

Forman, G , Vecchi, V (2012). The Hundred Languages of Children: The Reggio Emilia Experience in Transformation. Third Edition. (p.308, 352) Santa Barbara, CA: Praeger.

Literacy and Early Childhood Education

woman holding book with blank pages
Photo by Monstera on Pexels.com

The Reggio Emilia Approach to Early Childhood Education offers inspiration in so many ways. I’m particularly inspired by the Reggio philosophy of the hundred languages of children and how this shows up in literacy explorations by and for children. (i.e. child-led vs. teacher-led)

I recently began offering a new Outschool class, Creating and Experiencing Stories: Reggio-inspired Literacy, for ages 4-7. This class offers young children diverse explorations of literacy skills and ongoing opportunities to socialize. It upholds the image of the child as capable and competent and intentionally invites mixed-age groupings. It’s primarily child-led, and connects to “school readiness” skills including the “traditional” literacy & social-emotional skills such as: listening, speaking, story sequencing & comprehension, vocabulary, phonemic & print awareness. These skill-related explorations appear as:

  • Invitations to explore story elements and topics related to stories (from books, images, songs, objects, facial expressions, drawings & more). I use the guided discussion technique to support learners in discussions; guided discussion is an active learning technique that encourages students to reflect on their own experiences, explore alternative ways of thinking, connect to a topic, and improve analytical skills.
  • Story Inspiration Activities– games, images, toys and more. Experienced through a range of media and materials
  • Listening to, documenting and encouraging children in their creation & sharing of stories using the Hundred Languages (this sometimes appears as children moving toys around and making sound effects, sharing drawings and talking about what’s happening in them, telling a story about a picture)

Activities are presented as an “invitation to explore”, rather than a “drill”. This honors children’s unique abilities and contributions to the group.

This all can (and does!) happen on Zoom…

I go deeper into what this looks like here, “Sharing love: stories, multimodal communication & virtual learning environments” and more about literacy here “Literacy and the Hundred Languages” .

Let me know what you think!

wooden figurines on blue background
Photo by ANTONI SHKRABA on Pexels.com

Technology in Early Childhood Education

Technology in Early Childhood Education is a touchy subject. There’s a lot to unpack in terms of use, access and even what technology is. As an artist and Reggio-inspired early childhood educator/researcher I embrace technology in many forms. Conversely, I sometimes encounter educators who regard technology as a burden. This perspective usually has to do with frustrating experiences and sometimes stems from age-related matters. (The term digital immigrant was coined by Marc Prensky in 2001 to describe anyone who grew up prior to the digital age. Generally, people are considered to be digital immigrants if they were born prior to 1985. )

I’m developing a training on the topic of technology and early childhood education (launching late 2022). The primary purpose is demystifying and exploring possibilities for active, empowered use. The training is rooted in the Reggio Emilia Approach and STEAM education. Guided by these approaches, we will explore ways of embracing and using technology within in-person and virtual education environments. This training will provide an overview of a variety of technological tools and applications suitable for dynamic use by educators and children. Additionally, I’ll share practical information about tools, hardware, software, wires, ports and file formats (oh my!) alongside ideas for bringing young children into these explorations. I hope to guide educators towards replacing tech-related feelings of stress and anxiety with confidence and excitement. I’m excited to get this out into the world!

Complete the form below if this sounds interesting and you’d like to stay in the loop. Also, please use the message box if you have a question or suggestion for this training!