Self-Discovery

Hamilton Learning Center

Room 105

Ms. Wonder, AA-ECE,

Hired 2013

Ms. Goodwin, MA-ECE,

Hired 2014

 

 

Morning greetings were happening as I entered Room 105. Everyone--even me--was greeted by name. The class looked at the calendar and reviewed the date. One friend did a visual check on the sky through the window. At first he looked perplexed, then he reported the happy and surprising news it was sunny. The children answered the question of the day: “Have you ever had a fortune cookie?” (most had) and they were off to hand-washing before breakfast.

Shauna Matelski, our Head Start Director, joined us right before breakfast. When she asked the children at her table if the pears being served were sweet, one child matter-of-factly offered her some. No middlemen to learning in Room 105. They are all about self-discovery.

Between breakfast and Fun Fit Friday were teeth-brushing, journaling and free play. For me, free play was a group reading of all types of books including the “Croaky Pokey.” They knew the refrain from earlier in the week, so my job was really to help the children keep their rights straight from their lefts. A special thanks to Elyria Rotary’s Literacy Committee for reading the Croaky Pokey to all the children on February 24. They also provided each child a copy to take home.

 

At Ms. Goodwin’s suggestion, one youngster read me the classroom’s self-published book “Our Color Walk.” Laminated pages showed color-specific pictures photographed by the class while on a walk through the center. The youngster claimed that he was not a good reader, but he knew every color and told the story with a strong voice. He also shared the back-story of some the photos. The children knew which photos they were in and did quite a bit of pointing. Our reader gave them their moments but never let go of the book. He pushed right through to the end and finished with a big, big smile.

Memorable Moment

The coat rack in the room included a shelf. Proudly stashed above one boy’s coat was a stuffed replica of a superhero with whom I was not familiar. I was introduced. His name was Knuckles. The cherished toy apparently is a frequent guest that stays firmly on the shelf during class. Perched as he was, Knuckles provided a watchful eye.

What I Learned from Ms. Wonder

Ms. Wonder has a relatively quiet voice, but the children hung on what she had to say. Her topic and word choices invited each child to open up and share ideas or experiences. She was surrounded by chatter. Much of it was nonsensical, but her delight in what was being said showed that did not matter. Taking a page out of Ms. Wonder’s book, the children talked among themselves, too. It made for a very verbal classroom that was also fun and respectful.

What I Learned from Ms. Goodwin

Ms. Goodwin struck me as a teacher’s teacher. The exchanges between her and our Director had that “we could finish each other’s sentences” kind of quality. You know. Like when there is head nodding at the simple use of a phrase for a whole subtext of information. I noted that she was consistently purposeful. She was also kind, encouraging and trusting. That last part is what struck me the most. She knew the abilities of the children and encouraged each to work and act at their best. The trust she places in them causes them to blossom in her care.

Linking It Together

We received the resignation of a long-term employee this week. After 28 years, Barb Williams has retired. Most recently, she has been our food service supervisor. Her dedication and knowledge made a difference and helped create the great food service team in place today. I thank her for her service and count myself among the many that will miss her. We hope she discovers all the well-deserved joys retirement can bring.