Glimpses into the first week
When people come to visit Opal School, we often hear the question, “What does all of this look like in the beginning of the year? How do you start?” And really, that can feel tricky to respond to, because it never looks just the same as it did before. New children, new families, new teachers, new ideas, new resources, new connections, and new possibilities guarantee that this living, open system that we call school will always change and grow and evolve. None of us (adults or children) enter a school year the same as we left the previous one.
But one thing that remains constant is that we’re always trying to put our values and guiding principles into action; to make those words that are on a page come to life in the classroom. We are just finishing up our first full week of school so I’ll share a glimpse into what getting started has looked like so far this year.
Exploring new materials, asking questions, and imagining possibilities
Making new connections with materials and each other
Finding, creating, and sharing stories
Slowing down, looking closely, and zooming in
Using materials to explore and share what lives inside our hearts
Looking at something familiar in new ways
Reader, what has getting started looked like for you this year? What are you doing to bring your values to life?
