As I reflect on almost 50 years of teaching in K-12 public schools and in higher education at a small, elite liberal arts college, I am struck by how knitting has grown into a metaphor and instrumental practice in my teaching of learning and literacy. Here, I share a range of experiences with knitting that have informed my teaching and my students in the hope to encourage others to bring knitting into their campus setting. It is just one way for me to thank the practice of knitting for the gifts it has given me, and to thank the many knitters who have mentored and inspired me, including those in my family.
Why do I find knitting so relevant to my teaching? Because learning is so much more than learning skills and acquiring knowledge. It is also about the rote practice that gets learning into your muscles and brain; it is about making mistakes and fixing mistakes; it is about…
