September 26, 2019

I can do it.

​​I am I and I can hang my bag. Can you do it? ...

Giving the children space to develop their autonomy and to demonstrate their capabilities supports the authenticity of their personal expression, while offering a variety of approaches to problem solving. One child's solution, or way of doing something, may inspire or influence another person's choice or expression.

​For weeks now, we have seen the children taking on the simple task (or problem) of hanging their bags in the outdoor classroom. The lift and reach is not so easy when you are not yet able to lift the bag up and over the hook. Through their independence, observing, interdependence, and assisting, the children have been collectively learning and teaching.  We're not even three weeks into the school year, and we're already getting the "hang" of it!

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Collaging and Conversing

Perhaps influenced from yesterday's visit to the TR:
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Jane: Where's her (Reed) sister? 
Reed: My sister?
Melanie: Leigh is in the Tucker Room.
Jane: And her (points to Marley) sister?
Melanie: Marley's sister is also in the Tucker Room.
Audrey: My sister… My sister not her. My sister at Stoddart.
Melanie: And Jane doesn't have a sister. 
Jane: I have Olivia.
Reed: I have an Olivia too.

Audrey and Marley share a jar of Elmer's glue and cooperatively work together to use the one jar with two brushes.
"You wipe it on and wipe it off," Jane said referring to the technique of wiping the glue brush on the rim of the jar to avoid the drip and drag of the glue from jar to paper. So you wipe off the glue brush and wipe on the glue to the paper.

Without provocation or verbal request from Audrey, Jane and Reed thoughtfully offer and share materials with her.
Jane: Do you want one, Audrey?  Reed: Do you want one?  Audrey: Yeah.

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"Where is the jar?" -Jack

We have been collecting our unused water in this jar. The jar is full. What can we do with the water? What can we do now with the water we have saved in our jar? ...

… Lochie: We plant it!
Cedar: Elephants drink it.

How will the elephants get the water? 
Lochie: They lift their trunk and get they get the water out.

​Marley wants to pour her remaining water into the already full jar. It's too much volume and the water goes to the brim. Oh no… So we transfer the water from the jar to the watering can.

​Lochie: It's (the water) gone.
Giacomo: We can pour it. We can pour it into this. Into the plant.

And the plant gets our saved, unused water! 

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Rainey Room Gets a Turn: Visiting our classroom neighbors to teach a song​