Wonder Lead Ambassador

Carol Varsalona

Joined 4 years ago

I have been a lifelong learner and wonderer my entire life. As a child, curiosity allowed my mind to wander to imaginative places and seek answers. My mother and grandmother whose creative talents were boundless fostered my flights into the world of creativity. Appreciating the gifts of reading, writing, art, and learning at a very young age, led me to creative outlets and a long teaching and administrative career in the field of literacy. I continue to notice and wonder about life, learning, and literacy; write with passion and an observant eye; ardently champion voice as a means to be creatively expressive, and passionately promote positivity during my unretirement days as an ELA Consultant. Being one of Wonderopolis’ Wonder Lead Ambassadors is an honor and will provide the opportunity to continue to impact teaching and learning in a broader sense. Besides being an educator, I am: -Co-moderator of #NYEDChat, the voice of New York State educators and beyond where I continually invite educators and colleagues from across the globe to join in timely discussions -Writer/creator of the "Reflect With Me Galleries of Artistic Expressions" that connect literacy, the arts, and technology, bringing a sense of voice through poetry and photography to the public eye -Blogger and member of the following social media communities: Celebrate This Week, DigiLit Sunday, Poetry Friday, Slice of Life, Spiritual Journey Thursday -Presenter at local, regional, state, and national conferences -Executive Board Member and Editor of the Long Island Language Arts Council -Member of the following literary associations: International Literacy Council, Nassau Reading Council, National Council of Teachers of English, New York State English Council

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Summer Creative Challenge

Summertime is a joyful time of year to explore, play in the sun, relax, and recharge. One way to do so is to enjoy the pleasures of reading and ...

Apr 25, 2019

Seaside Walk Into the Fog

It only took one spontaneous moment to jump in the car and drive to a favorite Long Island seaside destination, the City by the Sea/Long Beach with ...

Feb 20, 2019

The Potent Winter Cold

It's that time of year again when the winter cold spreads from one to another. Yes, it happens every January in my house but this year it did not ...

Jan 12, 2019

National Milk Day

White, fluffy snow came down in buckets when I was little. The entire backyard was covered in drifts that prevented the local milk truck from ...

Dec 15, 2018

Holiday Haiku

It's that magical time of the year when the night sky sits in stillness, the neighborhood quiets down, and wait for the sounds of jingle bells and ho ...

Oct 11, 2018

What's The Art of Summering?

My concept of summering started many years ago as a young girl. I grew to love the summer season that always allowed me to relax, reflect, and ...

Oct 1, 2018

Summer Wonder Poetry

Have you ever experienced the feeling of sparks flying in your brain? I have. Today, I am in the creative zone, am energized, and eager to notice, ...

Aug 9, 2018

"Summering"

Each summer day and evening brings a surprise, a gift from nature, if we just pause to look. On Long Island, New York where I live, "There's nothing ...

Aug 4, 2018

National Watermelon Day

"Nothing quite says “summer" like a big slice of watermelon on a hot day." (Wonderopolis, Wonder of the Day #330) Today is National Watermelon ...

Jul 10, 2020

The heat is oppressive today but a quick lunch outdoors on my patio brings a new sense of balance. Flowers are popping, spreading their own brand ...

Beyond LiteracyLink

Jul 7, 2020

In the moments of quiet contemplation during my #QuarantineLife days, poetry has become my expressive outlet. Knowing that hope and faith are needed ...

Beyond LiteracyLink

Jul 4, 2020

How surprised was I when I found in my email that my Aussie poet-author friend, Kathryn Apel, brought greetings and a summer poetry swap gift. ...

Beyond LiteracyLink

Jun 26, 2020

I am practicing what I "preach" this week, as I prepare remote lessons for the ELA Summer Institute graduate class that I will teach ...

Beyond LiteracyLink

Jun 19, 2020

The years have passed quickly between newborn wonder and three-years of age. When I saw photos of my little granddaughter rock climbing (one of ...

Beyond LiteracyLink

Jun 11, 2020

You can see the animated version of the card above at Buncee. I recall one NCTE a few years ago when Poetry Friday friends were seated around a ...

Beyond LiteracyLink

Jun 9, 2020

It is the end of the school year and I think everyone will agree that this year has been a tumultuous one for schools around the globe. Because of ...

Beyond LiteracyLink

Jun 5, 2020

When the stress mounts, it's time to relax with my digital notebook and create. So that is what I did this week and joined Kathryn Apel, Aussie ...

Beyond LiteracyLink

Jun 4, 2020

There is no denying it that agitation plus restlessness and rising conflicts are now adding to the already stressful issues related to the ...

Beyond LiteracyLink