My name is Gillian Wood, and I am one of the 6th grade teachers at Hanahauʻoli School. In November of last year, my co-teacher at the time, Noreen Varney, died suddenly. She was a true progressive educator, and I feel profoundly grateful not only to have worked alongside her, but to have learned with and from her. Each school day, I experienced the joy, creativity, and the possibility this model of education can bring to life. Over time, I came to believe that this is how learning should feel for everyone: both teacher and student alike.

Environments shape how we think, feel, and engage more than we may realize. Have you ever walked into a space that instantly made you feel overwhelmed? Sensory regulation, or the brain’s ability to process, organize, and respond to sensory input, is essential to learning, attention, and emotional well-being. When our sensory needs are unmet, we may struggle to focus, manage stress, or feel comfortable in educational and social spaces. When those needs are supported, we are better positioned to thrive.

We are Federica Gallone and Federica Lentini – two educators who feel most alive when we are learning with children. Our professional lives have unfolded in early childhood settings, where relationships, curiosity, and wonder shape our days. We have worked closely with children as teachers, atelierista, and pedagogista, accompanying students’ thinking through materials, dialogue, light, and documentation. Our classrooms and studios are spaces of research—places where questions remain open and children’s ideas are made visible, respected, and revisited.