Wonder Lead Ambassador

Carol Varsalona

Joined 5 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 ...

Mar 1, 2021

Writing is a daily practice, an opening of my heart to the whispers of my soul. It just so happens that as I begin this ritual of daily ...

Beyond LiteracyLink

Feb 27, 2021

Looking back on the hectic days of February has brought many days of worrying and executing my to-do list for the biggest move of my life. In order ...

Beyond LiteracyLink

Feb 24, 2021

I have always been fascinated by the turn of the 20th Century living. When librarian-poet, Diane Mayr, posted her topic for Day 22 of Laura Shovan's ...

Beyond LiteracyLink

Feb 19, 2021

With my upcoming move, there is so much to do that my mind keeps racing. Sleep is interrupted and the to-do list keeps popping up at all hours. ...

Beyond LiteracyLink

Feb 16, 2021

Sometimes, I am oblivious to small details. I can walk into a room and not notice something even when it is in front of me. Is it that I focus on ...

Beyond LiteracyLink

Feb 12, 2021

Imagine waking to a quiet, cold morning of drifting snowdrops pirouetting in a bright sky. Nature's artistry in motion is visible. Intrigued by the ...

Beyond LiteracyLink

Feb 10, 2021

She takes baby steps along the trail, carefully gliding forward, one foot at a time. Without fear, she inhales winter's crispclean air and strives ...

Beyond LiteracyLink

Feb 5, 2021

A new term popped up in the news this week. Although it rang of truth, I was disheartened by its nomenclature, Long-Haul Pandemic. With this ...

Beyond LiteracyLink

Feb 4, 2021

For three weeks I searched for available COVID vaccine appointments for my family. Frustration mounted with each new search. I looked, wished for a ...

Beyond LiteracyLink