Our first days together

The intention of our blog posts is to build connections between Opal School's pedagogy and what this actually looks like and sounds like in the evolving, organic life of the classroom. We will share images, stories and dialogues from the classroom as well as our work as Teacher-Researchers – our observations, questions, and reflections. Our hope in sharing these windows into the classroom is to not only give you a sense of the children's thinking and experiences, but also how it connects to what Opal School values and what guides our work with young children and why it is important.

    In these first few days of preschool together, we are reminded of our belief that children are natural collaborators, always in search of relationships. We know how vital shared experiences are in helping all of us to build meaningful relationships, but in the beginning of a school year those first experiences can require such courage.

    We are both humbled and in awe, in this short time we have spent as a community, of the children's unfaltering attempts to ignite relationships that will take root and grow. Below are some sneak peeks of some captured moments of the children's empathetic, graceful, beautiful encounters as they seek connections and relationships within this new learning community called Opal preschool.

Offering to help another with an unfamiliar job.

Trying a new experience together.

Sharing a strategy with a classmate.

An openness to share materials.

Working collaboratively on a piece of work.

 
Connecting ideas for play.

Inviting someone into your imaginative play.

Noticing a friend needs help and offering it.

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Joining ideas.

Reaching out for a new friend's hand.

Exploring a new challenge as a group.

Working together sparked by mutual excitement.

Commenting on a classmate's work.

Lending a hand (or two) of support.