Mary Schoolcraft Saunders

I am an author, storyteller, and origami workshop facilitator. I am a former SLP. I am currently serving as a substitute teacher (K-5). I served as an after school workshop provider in the areas of literacy and arts and crafts.

I believe in student-centered, student-generated instruction. Education is derived from the Latin "educare" which means "to draw forth". Begin with the students strengths and interests and one can build and spring board from there. My focus is origami and literacy. "The hands lead the way to learning" - Aristotle I feel called to encourage children and origami is a natural vehicle for this.

I won the Writer's Digest Self Publishing award for my book "Spread Your Wings and Fly, An Origami Fold and Tell"

I hold a Masters degree in Special Education, served 11 years as an SLP, 6 years in after school programs, have been involved with young writers workshops,origami workshops, taught origami in a variety of platforms for over 25 years, and PD provider. I delight in seeing how just a piece of paper comes to life in the hands of a child. I have witnessed over and over the unlimited possibilities for almost every subject and discipline "to appear" through the act of folding paper.

I live in a quirky, "querque" cottage in New Mexico with my cats Praline and Heart. My passion is sharing simple to intermediate level origami models with people of all ages, but particularly with children. I love to see them come ALIVE after they have made even the simplest of models with their own hands with just a piece of paper. When not playing with paper, I read, write, and quilt.