September is an incredibly exciting time for teachers! Our hard work in August of thinking up new ideas, rearranging the classroom and sorting through new treasures we’ve collected over the summer has paid off. The children are curious about new activities, happy to see their friends and so ready to learn new things.
We really allow the children to reconnect with their classmates and their teachers during the first few days of school. We see them pouring and scooping beans over conversation and sitting in the library looking at books with friends. It is such an important part of feeling good about coming to school - feeling successful socially. For students entering for the first time, we set them up with partners, we work with them one on one and we encourage connections with older friends who can serve as role models for them.
This year, I actually wrote a book about Ground Rules. It is specialized to our classroom - The Magnolia Class. And establishes, highlights, and reminds children of the basic routines and rituals of our day. Establishing Ground Rules during the first few weeks of school is vital to the rest of the year. Children become quickly accustomed to the routine of tucking in their chairs (so no one trips), rolling up their work rugs (to free up space), getting their work ready for the next friend (so each child can learn rightfully), and working peacefully with others using conversation and sometimes The Peace Rose (in order to nourish those budding social skills).
All these things must happen in order to begin learning. A child cannot learn without knowing they have friends to play with outside, they cannot learn if they do not have a bond with their teacher, they cannot learn if the materials are not in order and they cannot learn if obstacles are in their way - all these things are the work of the teacher to instill and the job of a child to apply. It is amazing how quickly children pick up on these ground rules and therefore learning ends up beginning quite fast!