The year started, well…big.
First there was an earthquake (in DC!?) and then there was a hurricane.
Then it rained. Not just rain, but RAIN, for a week. I believe that this all happened within the first 2 1/2 weeks of school.
The rain flooded the landing to the playground so much, workers were brought in.
The rain and the puddle did not deter fun. In between the lightening and thunder, the kids went out.
Room 11 (Ms. Ricks and Ms. Fineran even requested boots for this exploration.)
Water, the essence of survival. The joy it brings to every sense.
The qualities of water are soothing and invigorating, and exploration is endless. As an adult, great films , literature and works of art rely on the many metaphors and qualities of water. One of my favorite films is titled Water.
While squeals of delight mix with my my often heard voice in the Common Area, “What do you need to do when you make a big spill on the floor? Why do we need to clean up spills? Keep the water in the water table…”, the concentration, discoveries made , and social interactions are rich. The warm water is soothing. The funnels, pulleys, measuring cups, tubes, water wheels and marbles lead to the unexpected. This is the beginning of theory development. These moments connect to understanding concepts.
In addition to water, the Nature Play Space outside is a rich environment and never ceases to amaze me. Children create soundscapes;
Create rich make believe (birds with eggs game)
There are so many versions of King of the Hill games. When was the last time you spontaneously made up a game with friends, complete with rules and fantasy? This is complex stuff for any age disguised in play.
Testing physical limits while being connected to trees and stones is important. Children are drawn to this area, more so than the manufactured play equipment. And while the equipment is good stuff, the Nature Play Space allows children to move what they climb on into new configurations, expand, change and create.
I initiated this natural area after being inspired by so many creative outdoor spaces ( great blog from Australia about nature Play Let the Children Play and this 20 Ways to Creat Play Environments for the Soul ) so I wrote a grant and made it happen. Since natural materials decompose, we are often in search of fresh “tree cookies” and loose parts to keep this area vibrant. Feel free to contact me to add to the space.
Inside the school additions and traditions in the studio and common area keep things evolving.
Small additions to the playhouse has brought big excitement this year ( I love a good hardware store and thrift store!)
A very special hand operated machine
The beauty of this pulley, is that you need a friend to collaborate with you.
A small tray with handles and a fiber woven tea set provoked an elaborate playtime. While this might seem banal, there was an intense amount of negotiating and agreed upon management of materials, as well as debated role playing. Freetime is an intentional part of learning and offers guidance to teachers, not only on social climate-but on what is interesting the children and what is difficult for them. You usually will find me scrawling on a clipboard while observing the children. Often I watch quietly, while other times I join in to offer support or a challenge to provoke new thinking.
A new opened ended provocation allows children to “sew lines.” Doing this sewing works best with two, and I am thrilled by the way the children direct each other and decide where to place the needle to make a desired shape, Almost like looking at clouds, the children exclaim, It’s a rocket ship or It’s a car! Everyday it gets more and more filled with color and line.
I finally bought the missing small piece of hardware that has expanded the piano play. A double jack! It is beautiful to watch the many interactions here.
While the next two experiences are not new in the studio, they are new to all our entering children. The snow globe collection and the whirly plate machine. I challenge any computer to elicit this kind of wonder, awe, and thought…
And the simple pleasure of painting during free time, choosing from multitudes of colors and varieties of brushes created these complex and organized representations. Sylvie’s palette is cool and breezy and notice the details like the bird flying above the two smiling figures.
Alex painted a Matisse like painting, filled with movement and brightness:
This year, the Kindergarten students spent their first few weeks in the art studio working at a furious speed to make ceramic pendants. Every year, Kindergarten children make a gift for all the new students in PreK and K. We created a ritual of gathering, all together, a circle within a circle to greet new faces (including all the staff), sing songs and give kindness. We have this tradition in response to September 11th, and it is called Kindness Day (just click on Kindness Day to the left for the full explanation.)
It was the first year the Kindergarten created not only a ceramic necklace for a new child, but an identical one for themselves too. This new idea was inspired by a conversation between Mr. Jere , Ms. Scofield and myself about upholding traditions while at the same time adding new layers of thought/intention.
What is kindness?
“Being polite” -Luke
“Making a card.” -Caroline
“Sharing” -Zaire
“When the Kindergarteners gave us a bracelet last year! I wear mine all the time. Alex is his name who gave it to me!” -Ava
“When you say, ‘Do you want to play with me?'” -Brooke
“Being nice and helping them to do stuff.” -Joseph
Ms. Cross led us in song, I asked each Kindergarten friend to say “Hi, my name is ________, what’s your name?” and then present the gift, Mr. Burst introduced all the staff, and we all closed by singing You are the Sunshine of My Life.
Look closely at the images. The earnestness of the intros and gift giving. The joy of community. Tenderness and pride. It is refreshing and hopeful.
I love this small moment captured between Emma in Kindergarten, and new PreK Tessa:
Adinath and Gabriel make their new friends Archer and Emmett laugh by pretending their necklace is some type of transmitter /phone:
New Kindergarten student Anja helps another Kindergarten student Sophia:
The beginning of the year is about developing new relationships that nurture the spirit to grow and expand (kids AND adults.) It is about creating a safe and creative space that offers boundaries and room for risk-taking. It is about getting to know each child as an individual and as part of a group. It is about caring. That is what I felt I needed to share, more than the emerging projects.
The Prek children just started a project observing Swallow Tail caterpillars and representing their observations in their new sketchbooks. The Kindergarten children have begun a project about costumes, and have begun planning in their sketchbooks. I can’t wait to post these emerging projects in the next blog.
I will end this blog with a favorite bit of prose which truly explains what the start of a new school year is like. It is why this work is always filled with wonder, research, joy, challenge and surprise. It is a metaphor of The Hundred Languages of Children. Welcome to a new school year at SWS. I hope you will feel comfortable sharing your comments and thoughts. My intention is to blog every two weeks, so check back soon!
Each new year is a surprise to us.
We find that we had virtually forgotten the note of each bird,
And when we hear it again, it is remembered like a dream,
Reminding us of a previous state of existence…
The voice of nature is always encouraging.
-Henry David Thoreau
What a wonderful blog! I have a small nursery school in upstate NY, and one of your lovely children, who I truly miss, is a former nursery school participant. I get to see her when she returns to my summer program every year, but I am so very happy to see her smiling widely in your wonderful kindergarten program. This is an inspiring collection of photos and comments. I am heartened to see how you are truly defending the sanctity of childhood in your classroom, giving these developing and vulnerable souls countless opportunities to grow securely and naturally. Curiosity flourishes and fledging friendships are visibly nurtured as you give them the perfect balance between guidance and space.
@Kersten, thanks for the lovely comments. I’m so curious what little friend we share.
Thanks for such a warm, thoughtful and touching report. I can understand why Gaia feels so cared for. She gave me the necklace saying that when I died I should give it back to her. She did not tell me the story behind but I did feel this was not just another gift, it was special.
@Ciara, that is so touching.
When we first thought about sending our child to SWS, I heard that art was a big part of the curriculum, and I thought, “Well, OK, I guess, though I don’t really feel like I need to send my child to art school.”
Now, every time I read your blog it’s such a great reminder of how the your work with children in the studio is about so much more than making art. I really think your descriptions of studio projects are the best layperson’s explanation of a Reggio Emilia education that I’ve seen. Thank you!
@Adam, thank you. And thank you for being so involved.
I am so very happy to read and look at your beautiful blog and realize I should not have worried about Gaia not knowing how to speak English! The warmth and care of your comments, the children´s faces, so intent and curious… I read and look and read and look once and once again.
Your pictures and words help to make my child’s day come alive for me. Stephen’s description of the day often focuses on the transitions-not the discovery of the moment. Thanks for helping me to see what he is experiencing!
My granddaughter, Natalie is also in the new kindergarten class. I am so happy that she has this opportunity to grow and learn in such a caring environment.
I also will watch for your news throughout the year and hope (if allowed ) to be able to visit when next in Washington.
@Joan, you are welcome to visit!
I wnated to spend a minute to thank you for this.
I am so happy to finally have the time to rediscover your beautiful blog today! This entry is/was such a lovely opening to your year. What a lovely outdoor space your students have – and coupled with your incredible indoor studio. This plus time to explore and imagine – what lucky, lucky students!!
Marla, how are you? I can’t find any other way to contact you so hope this works 🙂 I’m currently writing an ebook on natural backyard playscapes. I’m writing to ask permission to use some of the wonderful images from this post to show other parents what is possible in their own backyards. I would credit you of course, and provide a link back to the blog. Thanks so much for your consideration, Jenny