One part magic and four parts love. . .

First of all, I'm finding this a little tough. So many things go into creating an active learning environment, and the ingrediants may need to change a little based on the group of children in question, and everyone pretty much already talked about all the good ones. But here's my list:

1) Yes, I agree with Febe, safety first. Children cannot possibly be expected to learn if they are feeling unsafe. No matter where I am teaching, maintaining a physically safe classroom should be easy enough (no knives lying about or kids beating each other up). However, if a child's home life is unsafe, then there needs to be a special infasis on making the classroom become a safe haven or an environment where everyone is well fed, clean, and respected. (I'm watching the Wire, season 4 and one of the teachers has to provide showers, clean clothing and meals for one of the children in his class. I believe this might be influencing my definition of "safe").

(The rest are not placed in order of importance)

2) Based on my belief that different groups of children need different things, or may need different things to make a successful active learning environment, I am going to say that openness and being present in the moment is another key ingrediant. I am not quite sure how this would play out in all classrooms, but teachers and cirriculum need to be flexible and focused on where the children are right now. I am a huge believer in observation, and I also believe in scaffolding of course, but meeting people where they are at instead of where I think they should be or someone else says they should be are very different things. One group of kids might be able to sit down and quietly work for an hour while another group might need to move their bodies every fifteen minutes, or, one group of kids might really need compassion, understanding, and very gently guidence whereas another group might need very firm boundaries and very little compromise. So basically, being open, shutting up, and listening are my second ingredient.

3) Magic and mystery are extremely important. So, this one is a little harder to explain. I think it has to do with creating a sense of wonder and excitement through modeling and exposure, as well as giving children the time to revel in their own experiences and explorations. Some of the most remarkable experiences I remember from elementary school were ones that I was encouraged to use my imagination and came to see the magic in something. I feel that often kids are pushed so hard to learn and produce that sometimes they aren't allwed to experience how beautiful and exciting it is to be a kid. If this sense of wonder for the world is cultivated, I think that it can be carried into adulthood and translated into joy, respect for fellow human beings, and the natural world.

4) Nerdiness. Nothing is more inspiring than seeing someone do or talk about something that he or she is completely excited about and totally inspired by. When teachers dork out and express their passion and enthusiasm, it is contageous. Along with nerdiness should come a healthy dose of silliness and fun, and as we do these things, we give kids permission to be silly and excited too.

5) And of course, love. Everyone needs love. Love of self, love of each other, love of environment, love of community, love of learning, etc.

Children need:
Encouragement and understanding. Many other people have already mentioned that children need to be encouraged to throw themselves out there and understand that making mistakes is a central part of learning. I agree! One of the most wonderful things a teacher every said to me was, "blunder boldly".
A context: Explanations and demonstrations of the purpose of what they are learning and how these things fit into the bigger picture.
Firm boundaries: By being resonable but sticking to your guns a teacher tells students that they are worth investing in and sometimes struggling over something with.
A sense of self and self worth: Children need to be allowed the space to develp independence and self-confidence.

Teachers need:
To do the best they can.
Believe in what they are doing.
To (nearly) always to patient: No one is patient all the time, but we have to try!
Take care of themselves: It's easy to give up everything for the job. Finding a balance between work but also a personal life is important.

Schools need:
I'm not really sure. I've never worked for a good one. Support teachers maybe?

P.S. I'm concerned about Michael's wellbeing. Did anyone else listen to that song?!