As you are coming back to your classrooms and your classroom communities are changing, I thought you might find this encouragement to continue the good work you are doing!
List...
This morning as I get ready to go into the classroom I have sat and reflected on my first two weeks with a new group of children. From all perspectives the year should be one full of challenges---this year we switched to mixed ages--thus 3, 4 and 5's in a classroom. To do this we wanted "mentors" for the new children, to do this we split our last year 3/4's class in half. It was a hard decision but we also put in place many things to prepare the children---however the parents were another story! That was one of the challenges. Another challenge as always in having completely new children. Add to this how do we now blend and make a community?
Another layer to this is last year I began with two new assistant teachers--one with minimal knowledge of Reggio the other wondered who he was. Now we begin with a blended classroom--those two things would be a challenge to any teacher let alone those new to Reggio!!
After much reflection and dialogue with my team over the summer-- along with LOTS of communication with the old families coming from the 3/4's classroom and with the new families our year began. To begin the year I decided to start with a provocation--a micro project on found natural materials. To transition all the children in I decided to have the parent and child find a small memento to bring in on our very first day.
As part of the morning meeting (parents have to stay with the child) the child with the parent had to share the memory of the memento. Once the memento was shared I had each child do what seemed as a small gesture--which in reality was HUGE--each child placed the memento into a basket in the center of our group meeting. One by one each child let go of THEIR object.
We have been have the children work in the studio with the their found materials around "compositions" and the composition game which they are loving as they work in groups of two and three. This gesture has set the tone for collaboration, reciprocal dialogue, and building on each ones ideas.
On the playground, last Friday, I was talking with P and we spoke about our morning’s work. I mentioned that she would be going into the studio to do the composition game. She replied: “We are going to use our found materials!” I loved how she used the words “found materials” but I was struck by the word “our.”
Children are very deliberate in the use of their words and if we slow ourselves down to truly listen we can also marvel at their “brilliance”! Ps use of “our” was significant -- and it was, also, an “aha”, if you will.
P could have used -- ”my” or “the” but instead she used the word “our” -- indicating that the materials that were brought in now belongs to the community of children -- not the individual child (even though each brought materials he or she had “found”).
Did the small gesture that we framed on our first day -- when each child shared their material and then placed it onto the tray -- set in motion this notion of “community” ----- and that “I am who we are” and WE are now on a journey into becoming a learning community. I like to think – indeed, that one small moment WAS the beginning of “we” versus “me.”
I wondered and sighed...
Yesterday I had two observers from a preschool here on the island. We (teachers and children) went through our morning while our visitors looked on. At one point during the morning while we were checking in children with their plans--I observed my assistant teachers working and listened to their conversations and questions they posed to the children. I smiled and sighed--both of them (teachers) reflected all that I hope for in teachers---scaffolding and pushing children's thinking but respecting when to let it go. I sighed (filled with joy at the image of the teachers that I see in front of me--much like a proud mom who watches their child graduate)...
When the observers were getting ready to leave I asked them their thoughts about our morning--one teacher expressed it as this, "I have goose bumps thinking and watching how your day flowed, how its as if this community have been together for an extended time vs a mere week."
The other teacher, "Leslie how did you do this as we watched the morning we kept saying these are 3's and 4's and a new community-amazing. Your morning was seamless--group meeting, to daily plans, then each child slipping into snack--independently. Each child helping the other. Very little need from the teachers at all!! Then to watch each child as they finished (not at the same time) move into work. I look around the room and every child is engaged and filled with joy. This leaves me speechless. I want my daughter here."
As I looked around the room indeed each child was engaged--but a smile came across my face as I looked every group was blended--young and old, new children with the "older" children. I had to sigh ( a sigh of joy)...
This morning I sit getting ready for a new day I sigh once again as I'm filled with joy--it is a sigh that that says--this is what it means to be Reggio inspired--pure joy as I face the day. Its not about looking at the small bumps or the challenges that each day holds--it is about the whole day...it is about the journey....it is about when walking away at the end of the day being filled with pure joy.
It is sitting here thinking about each child and holding to the image that EVERY child is indeed amazing and capable. It is about the image of the teacher--each capable and amazing. It is about the joy of my stumbling into an approach 16 years ago wonder who is Reggio....but not caring who he was just wanting what he has---the best one can offer to ALL children! That is what I wanted...this is what I am slowly find each day...
Sigh....now on to work to see what the day offers...
The joy of the journey--it doesn't get any better than that--hmmmm I hope I never arrive at the end--I would be sad to no longer have these moments to sit and sigh :-)
Sorry to ramble...just wanted to share...
Friday, August 20, 2010
Monday, August 2, 2010
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
