Friday, May 21

Classroom Stories Night

"Ideas fly, bounce around, accumulate, rise up, fall apart, and spread, until one of them
​takes a decisive hold, flies higher and conquers the entire group."  -Loris Malaguzzi

Embarking on a year with inquisitive and capable children dictates enormous potential with ample uncertainty.  We begin with a progettazione or a projection that tethers us to the exploration of a variety of materials and to exposing the children to new and familiar languages or means by which they can express their thoughts and ideas to foster learning. Referencing Malaguzzi, as written above, the initial idea takes flight, and from their more ideas gets tossed and along the way, going back and forth between us, until we arrive at a place that determines the denouement of our journey together.

"And then houses on the other hand, they were created by builder men. But when people want to make something inside of one you use materials." -Giacomo

"I was at home because ​there was a virus." -Janie

Interestingly enough, but not too surprisingly considering the relevance and significance of our work, we arrived where we began -- at home. We also went full circle with bridges, back to our point of departure last year where our work with bridges was gaining momentum. 

Sharing an Abbreviated Version of the Presentation with the Children:

Giacomo: So you gave the moms and dads a tour?
​Cedar: My mommy was watching you, the adults, on the computer, and I was watching a movie when I was sleeping on the sofa. And it was so funny! 
Melanie: We told your moms and dads all about building houses. Why have we been building houses?
Sylvie: Because people have to live in them. 
Jane: You know, Sylvie we can't fit in the houses that we made!
Cedar: The monsters are scary. Them only wake up in the midnight zone. And then tickle, tickle, tickle...

"Janie said we can build together!" -Jane

"I remember!" (sharing the dramatic play w/ boxes video)
Cedar: We were building a house and it's raining now. And then the food. 
Maxon: Can we do that (watch the box video) again!
Giacomo: What's that song?
Melanie: You like the song?
Sylvie: Me too?
Melanie: The song is called "Shelter From the Storm."
Cedar: Why is Sylvie laying down? Why is Maxon lying down? hhhh...
Maxon: Because I was sleeping from the rain! Silly!

"Let's watch it aaagaaain!"
Cedar: Audrey and Me! Maxon with all those teddies!
Maxon: You know why I have all those animals? To keep me warm and the animals stay with me because all you guys are... I'm babysitting the animals.

Upon finishing our viewing of the presentation, it was as if the children were unanimously positioned to give Tree World a rest and continue their work and play in the hospital taking care of the wounded and sick people and animals. Everyone on their own time eventually announced: "Can I go to the doctor?" Evidence again of the children's connectedness, empathy, exploration of the world around them along with more simply but no less meaningfully their simpatico and desire to be together, play together, and continue their classroom stories, together. 

Cedar: Can I go the the building and go to the doctor?
Jane: Can I please go with Cedar?
Audrey: Can I go to the doctor?
Melanie: What do you need to do at the doctor?
Cedar: We need to take the bandaids off! And Jane's the doctor.
Maxon: Um, Melanie, actually the other sick people were just get sick from the germies.
Jane: Maxon it's not germies!
Lucia: I'm giving the medicine.
Maria: It looks like you could also be a vet (given all the animals).
Maxon: You know what Jane? You know what Turltley ate? A monster.
Audrey: I'm a kitty of Jane's. I'm the doctor's kitty.
Sylvie: I'm a nurse. ... (later) This squirrel got born. 
​

"Tree World" expands to include "Sick Station" and a hospital for people and animals 

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And the Mystery Reader Goes to...  

Yesterday, we were greeted on the front lawn by another surprise guest as our mystery reader! Mike, Lucia's dad, read three great books: The Tree House that Jack Built, Papa Bring Me the Moon, and The Book With No Pictures (a new book for almost all of us!) We enjoyed them all, especially the silliness of "blurf!"  Thank you for being our Mystery Reader!

Looking forward to Portfolio Review next week!
It's so wonderful having the children take the lead showcasing and sharing about their work.