Hi, all.
A few weeks ago, teachers posed a question to our JK class. We were noticing that we’ve had the babies in the playhouse for a while now. We also had a doctor’s office, restaurant food, bakery supplies… We thought kids are ready for some new ideas, but we need your help deciding what to do in the playhouse next. What do you think we could try playing in the playhouse? (Another opportunity for children to take ownership of our classroom environment and participate in the decision-making process for our community). During the next play time, a teacher brought around a list and asked each child for their input. Some children had ideas right away, Trucks! Unicorn dress ups! Office! Jungle! Some children thought about it for a few days and then gave an answer, Bakery again! A Boat Space! Moving our blocks into the playhouse! Teachers shared these answers at various group times as they trickled in. We said that teachers would look at the list of amazing ideas and look in our supply closet to see what kids and teachers could use to change up the playhouse. (Teachers also wanted to narrow it down to some ideas that would be longer-lasting with ways to extend play for both our morning and JK groups.)
Next, we presented two ideas. We noticed our closet had some interesting supplies that kids and teachers could use for two of the ideas: OFFICE and BOAT SPACE.
We then asked kids to think about what things we might need and what we could do in either of those spaces, in a way “campaigning” for either idea. Well, in an office you could use suitcases, a chair that moves around, and type! Answer phones, look at calendars to make appointments! In a boat space you could have rides, get a boat there, or park your boat if you need to go do other stuff, fix the boat/jobs with tools or look for sea creatures down below! We need blue cardboard with sand on top! Here’s the lists from our group time:
In the meantime, we also chatted with our Morning Class. We told them that teachers had been talking with JK to think of new ideas, and many of them had suggestions as well. Fire truck! Store! Bookstore/library! Construction site! We wrote down their ideas. Teachers wanted to lay some general groundwork on how decisions could be made together, and so that they would be privy to the changes happening soon. We hope to build toward voting opportunities in the Morning Class as well.
Within the next few days, JK kids were told that they would be voting to help us decide. We talked through the voting process. Each JK child would get a cut out of their photo from our Face Page, and that would be considered their “ballot” (what people use to show their choice). During the next play time, teachers showed two voting boxes: OFFICE and BOAT SPACE. JK kids were then individually asked if they were ready to place their vote. If so, they could enter the voting booth and cast their ballot! Once finished, they had the option to wear an “I VOTED TODAY!” sticker.
The votes were in! JK kids had a chance to see the votes revealed. And during group time in the morning class, kids were shown our voting results chart. Hooray! A decision had been made. OFFICE won the vote this time.
The OFFICE opened this Monday, and things surely have been bustling! Placing orders for picture frames, calling to set up appointments, marking appointments on our calendar or in our planner, assisting in trouble shooting for Mario Kart (in JK), calling fellow colleagues and inviting them up to the break room or “lounge” for a coffee or water, a game of tic tac toe or looking through catalogs! This week, we’ve heard many familiar phrases, How can I help you? Yes, this is He speaking. Would you like to schedule a time for talking? Would the number 10 day work for you? Great! And even, And here’s your ticket to the movie theater! (Wow, what a bonus for scheduling an appointment!) We hope you’ve been hearing about this process and now all of the work being done in the Park West Office.
And lastly, a bit of housekeeping: we realize Valentine’s Day is approaching. Please DO NOT send valentines or trinkets with your morning class child to school. We embrace the literacy, writing and fine-motor work components of card-making, and will provide opportunities to do so during that time at school. Thank you!
Best,
Anita and Sarah