Ashley Renee Johnson Fellowship Report 2024
Learning to Love the Natural World with the Help of Nature Journaling and Poetry
I studied climate justice, nature journaling, and poetry writing in order to develop and teach a new unit of study that cultivates an appreciation of the natural world and instills in students an understanding of how we can work together to conserve it.
Summary
Through this fellowship, I intended to study climate change, nature journaling, and poetry writing in order to develop and teach a new unit of study. I planned to pursue professional development opportunities that would help me to teach my students how to be present in and pay attention to the natural world around them while building their skills as readers and writers. In March I took the Mass Audubon’s nature journaling class at the Boston Nature Center followed by Grub Street's 6 Weeks, 6 Poems workshop. Although I originally planned to take Mass Audubon's ABCs of Teaching Climate Change course, the opportunity to attend Climate Generation’s Summer Institute for Climate Change Education came about in June and I participated in this institute in July instead. Towards the end of July, I traveled to Curaçao where I spent a week practicing nature journaling, touring the island, and having informal conversations about the impacts of climate change.
Engaging in natural journaling and poetry writing after taking the classes that I took in March through July has had meaningful short-term and long-term effects on my teaching. Learning about and practicing nature journaling has certainly enhanced my mindfulness and observational skills in addition to fostering a deeper connection to the natural world within me. After walking through the forest with a guide, I now know how much I was not paying attention to on previous occasions. I feel more genuinely curious about the lives of animals and plants that I see and even when there is no guide present to identify these creatures and plants for me, I’m enjoying spending time noticing their behaviors, patterns, and shapes before doing a quick Google search. This practice has and will continue to help me to cultivate similar practices in the lives of my students. In addition to having more tools, like nature journaling prompts, in my teaching tool box, regularly journaling and writing poetry about the natural world has refined my ability to express complex ideas clearly, nurture empathy, and model reflective thinking for students.
How have your knowledge, skills, and capabilities grown?
My knowledge, skills, and capabilities have grown immensely through both the Mass Audubon nature journaling class and Grub Street's poetry workshop. Nature journaling has sharpened my observational skills, teaching me to look closer at and capture details I once overlooked, while also inspiring deeper reflection on natural processes. The poetry workshop honed my ability to transform those reflections into poetic, evocative writing, allowing me to convey emotions and insights more powerfully. In addition to enhancing my own creative expression, these experiences have provided me with tools to integrate nature more fully into my teaching. I am now deeply familiar with and ready to use prompts like “I See, I Notice, I Wonder” and “Look High, Look Low” when guiding students to reflect on and write about the natural world and I have new ideas and strategies for teaching students how to respond to poetry written by their peers.
As a result, in what ways will your instructional (or other) practice change?
As a result of these experiences, I am committed to directing my students' attention to the natural world with greater frequency. By incorporating nature journaling and poetry writing into my instruction, I will encourage them to observe their surroundings more closely and reflect on the subtle details of the environment around them which was not a regular part of my practice before. I believe this approach will help foster curiosity, creativity, and a deeper appreciation for both writing and the natural world.
What is the greatest personal accomplishment of your fellowship?
The greatest personal accomplishment of my fellowship is that I spent a summer dedicated to writing, which has always been a dream of mine. Immersing myself in creative work allowed me to explore my voice and refine my craft in ways I hadn’t previously imagined. Whether writing about the vibrant colors that surrounded me in Curaçao or what I observed about the sky when sitting by the Charles River, it was a transformative experience that truly deepened my passion for the practice of being fully present in the natural world, writing, and teaching.
How will your experience positively impact student learning in new ways?
My experience will positively impact student learning by encouraging a deeper connection to both the natural world and the creative process. By sharing the techniques I learned in nature journaling, I’ll guide students to observe their surroundings with greater mindfulness, which will enhance their focus and attention to detail. The poetry skills I’ve developed will also help students express their thoughts and emotions more clearly, allowing for more authentic self-expression. Introducing reflective writing and observation into my lessons will foster critical thinking and creativity, encouraging students to explore new perspectives. Ultimately, this approach will cultivate a richer, more engaging learning environment where curiosity and expression are valued.
What are your plans to work collaboratively with colleagues?
I plan to work with my school’s Director of Garden Education to organize a mindfulness and nature journaling workshop for our colleagues. The intention will be to create a space where our colleagues can reflect and recharge while connecting with themselves in the natural world. After this workshop, the invitation for our colleagues will be to incorporate the mindfulness and observation techniques used into their own teaching practice.
Are there issues or challenges in your school, community or the world that you feel better prepared to address with your students?
We are not taught to imagine our relationship to the environment as a mode of learning. Throughout history, indigenous cultures have operated under the assumption that the earth is a sacred source of knowledge, yet colonialism has separated us from this. I believe that introducing environmental learnings into the classroom will help to connect my students both to broader issues of climate change, but also to rich cultural heritages.
How would you describe to a friend the most fundamental ways in which your fellowship has changed your personal and/or professional perspective?
As a result of my fellowship experience, I've developed a deeper appreciation for the natural world, which has become central to both my personal growth and professional work. It has increased my desire to slow down, observe my surroundings, and use the outdoors as a source of inspiration. This shift in focus has transformed how I engage with my students, as I now encourage them to draw from the beauty and complexity of nature in their own creative processes. Personally, it has sparked a mindfulness in me that extends beyond teaching; I'm more intentional in noticing the small details of the world around me. Ultimately, the fellowship has helped me realize that nature is an endless muse and teacher, offering fresh perspectives and ideas at every turn.