Westfield Friends School Preschool Program provides a microcosm for all that we try to do for children. For instance, on a recent rainy Monday following an even rainer weekend, Preschool Two and Three students talked together about all of the not-so-good things about going out to play in the rain. They mentioned that they might fall and get muddy, their hair might get wet, their socks might get wet, that it was cold out, that they would need to change into their boots, that the sun was not out, that they didn’t like their raincoat, that the ground might be slippery. All of these felt like reasons to stay inside. AND the children were nearly unanimous (there is always one) in choosing to go outside. Out they went to discover all the ways their play yard is transformed by rain.In our work with children of all ages we find ourselves asking them some variation of “Is it kind?” “Is it safe?” “Does it help our community?” This last one is a stretch for a two or three year old child. For them the question is “Does it help your friends?” You hear variations of this in every interaction teachers have with our students.” At snacktime a teacher sees a student help another child pick up trash and says “Thank you, Juliet, for helping to keep our classroom clean.” A child takes a train away from a classmate and the teacher asks “Friend, were you ready to share that train?” To the friend who took the train “You just took that train away. Would you want someone to grab a train from you?” And to give agency back to the first child, “Friend, do you want to share right now?” “No, not now.”
 |
 |
Miss Luz, Teacher Christina, and Teacher Michael work together to build joyful learning moments. We know that children learn best in communities where they are respected, where the structures and practices that support their learning encourage curiosity and discovery, and where the adults model for them the behaviors they want children to practice with increasing independence. This week, after the long fall break children were rambunctious and in a few cases unkind. The staff responded by choosing Hands are Not for Hitting and Little Monkey Calms Down for the morning read alouds. Helping the children reflect on the books, provided them with an opportunity to remember how to be when they are in school. By the time I stopped in for a quick visit, it was as if they had never forgotten how to be calm, kind, friends.
Warmly,
Margaret
PS In Meeting for Worship, a First Grade student stood up and asked that we hold the world in the Light so that people learn to be kind.
What We Are Reading
|
Preschool
My Town
by Ingela Arrhenius
 |
Preschool
Hands are Not for Hitting
by Matine Agassi
 |
Preschool
Fresh Fall Leaves
by Betsy Franco
 |
|
New in our Library
Sammy Spiders First Rosh Hashanah by Sylvia Rouss
 |
New in our Library
Wangari’s Trees of Peace
by Jeanette Winter
 |
What I am Reading
The Midnight Library
by Matt Haig
 |