Reflections in the Dancing Primes (2 Year-Olds)
As the end of the year approaches, the Dancing Primes teachers have been spending time reflecting on all that has been accomplished since September, as well as how each Dancing Prime student has grown and what they have learned while at school. We look back to the guiding questions and intentions we established in the fall, and examine what we see currently happening with our students and in our classroom to uncover information about how we have remained true to these. As the youngest Center School students, walking into the Dancing Primes classroom in September was often the their first introduction to a school experience, as well as the first time away from their families for an extended period each day. Because of this, our initial hope for each Dancing Prime was that they end the school year having learned that school is a safe and fun place to spend their days, that they have acquired skills to help them succeed in a group setting, that they form strong bonds with their teachers and friends, and that they seamlessly do this all through play!
In order to track our progress with these goals, we asked some of the Dancing Primes the following questions: “What is school?” “What do you do at school?” and, “What did you learn at school?” Some answers included, “it’s big!”, “this building, a big building!”, and “a big tower” about what school is itself, while “play,” “running,” “hanging from the trapeze,” “swinging,” “learn songs,” “build with blocks,” “throw balls,” and “play with friends” were identified as what some of the Dancing Primes do at school. As for what they have learned, the children named “playing with friends,” “listening to my teachers, Katie, Julie, Bev, and Marcy”, “listening to my friends,” “playing and work and clean up,” and “talk.” One Dancing Prime even said, “I do everything at school!”
Looking closely at these answers, it seems that we are accomplishing what we set out to do in September. The students are confident in their identities and roles as Dancing Primes, enabling them to try out increasingly more challenging gross motor tasks, play collaboratively with one another, take on the routines of their day, explore all areas of our school and outdoor campus, and build relationships across our school community. We watch them move together as a group throughout their day, and we see how much they truly care about one another other. We have witnessed body awareness grow, allowing sharing of play spaces and materials, and verbal skills expand, supporting self expression, idea sharing, and turn taking. Most importantly, “play” stands out as a common theme within their answers. As a young child’s job at school is to learn through play, the Dancing Primes embody this tenent, even if they do not even realize it yet. To see their growth, happiness, and confidence in who they are is to know that we indeed have succeeded in our goal of providing a safe and nourishing environment for these young students. We look forward to the remaining weeks of school and we hope that, as the year comes to a close, the Dancing Primes leave our classroom with a secure and solid foundation upon which to build their successful school careers.
