A Message from the Rainbow Room

As a teacher it is the ultimate goal to discover what meaning the children wish to take from a curriculum unit and expand on it in a meaningful way.
In the Rainbow room we as a team of teachers are delighted to see strength in each of the children in there ability to relate to one another emotionally, connecting on mature levels in the class room in a very candid way.
Our in class discussions are full of rich content and in general led by the children after the the teacher who offers up a topic or a provocative question “gets the ball rolling”.

As Thanksgiving approached the teachers were interested to see where the children would take the information given to them in our first conversation related to this holiday. The introductory discussion was a story telling session where the children listened to the tale of the pilgrims leaving their home in England and finding a new place to live. As soon as the word came up we knew we had our theme.

“They had to leave their HOME?” they asked, offended by the very idea. They proceeded to sit enthralled with the continuation of the story eyes widening at the concept of a long boat ride with so very many people and not so much food or water. When the story finally came to the “good part” -the part where the Mayflower arrives on Plymouth Rock there was an almost audible sign of relief.

The children were clearly drawn to the principal of home in this story. The importance of home as a value continued to develop as an extremely applicable topic for these young children surrounding this time of year
For years to come it will probably be true that they hold, as undoubtedly many of you have held Thanksgiving in a place connected to home and family.

In the following days many more conversations occurred both formally and informally between the children. Initially there was a lot of dialogue about toys and other physical objects. This is exactly what we in our team had hypothesized. To help push the children out of their box we asked the question;
what makes a house a home?


The children responded with brilliant force and answers that amazed us as educators and caused an immediate affect amongst each other.

“Home is where you put your head down. it might not be a pillow. it might be a rock.”
“home is where your mommy and daddy live”
“Home is a place you can be lonely...its a place where you could cry”
“In my home my baby cries. its a loud sound and I don’t like but I will miss him when I am away from home.”
“Home is a place that you could smell something that you like. Like hot food.”
“Home has hugs and kisses.”
“Home is my sisters.”
“If you didn’t have a home you might feel sad. I am thankful for my bed, some people don’t have a bed.”

To close the loop the teachers extended the conversation back to being thankful. We reminded the class of the story and the way in which the Pilgrims needed help from the Native Americans as they made a new home. Using teamwork and good nature the two groups of people were able to come together and as a celebration of thanks a feast was arranged. The Pilgrims were thankful to those who helped them create a home. When we asked the children what they were thankful for the theme came up yet again. Each of them expressing thanks for the things most important in their worlds, be it with in the greater New York City area or their very own beds.

When these Rainbow Roomers come together on the rug for meeting and discussion the conversation flow is in a word, stunning. Thoughtful connections made by all and a consideration for others that creates an ideal platform for learning. We are thankful for the children’s natural ability to examine concepts thoroughly and converse with each other productively. We look forward to continuing to encourage these organic skills to extend our curriculum in the classroom.

Happy Thanksgiving, 
Franny, Lauran P. and Lauren S.

Sewlmates

jamberry.

i hate that i have this.
but i do wish i was your auntie.
thanks doctor parent...
this'll be bursting with digital narratives in the near future...