Little Ambassadors

Hamilton Center, Classroom 104
Miss Linda – BA, Hired 2014 (pictured )
Miss Yolanda – AA, Hired 2000 (Substituting)

Not long after I entered Room 104, I found myself with an armful of child sharing a hug. I must have looked like I needed one. It was a really nice welcome.

I walked into a room in full gear. While attendance was light—just six children from a roster of 11—there was still plenty of energy in the room. The morning routine dictated a trip to the restroom complete with hand washing tasks before breakfast. By this time of the year, with one exception, the children showed themselves to be well-versed in the order of things. The exception was a newly enrolled child. She was a four-year-old given to daydreaming. Using her name effectively got her attention. She had a ready smile once her attention was gained. In addition to daydreaming, she was given toward touching anything that captured her eye. While it is too soon to tell, that may be an indication she will be a hands-on learner.

A classroom veteran was her buddy in the hall on the way to the restroom. Miss Linda shared that he appointed himself the classroom rules ambassador. My sense was that empathy guided his actions. He was a very kind child. While his new friend reached out for posters and artwork hanging outside of each class, he steadfastly held her hand and kept her with the group. That little guy even escorted her to where the children wait at the end of the hall. I was struck by how we start taking care of each other at a very young age.

What I Learned from Miss Linda

You probably guessed that Miss Linda encourages hugging. The children always initiate, but her response is designed to ensure repeats. No matter what the hug interrupted, she consistently leaned into the hug being given and genuinely smiled at each child. The “thank you” that crossed her lips every time was heartfelt. Her children’s fond memories of Head Start will likely recall hugs for the taking.

Memorable Moment

We attended Tae Kwon Do class in the gym. One exercise was for the children to punch hand-held pads and then duck as the instructor slapped the pads together over their heads. I was standing with Miss Kara, a teacher from the other class receiving instruction, when one little girl went through the exercise un-coached and unafraid. Miss Kara shared that up until a couple of weeks ago the same little girl had been very timid. The little girl I saw practically skipped away from the instructor. I am not sure if the child will go to Kindergarten this fall or next. Either way she is one step closer to being ready for new things, including going to school.

Linking It Together

Scheduling conflicts put me in the classroom on a Tuesday. I will not get back again until Friday, February 27. I will be back at Hamilton as a Rotary reader on February 24. The Literacy Committee of the Elyria Rotary will be visiting with a book for every child. I will not give away the title, but I will say the book is positively “rebbit-ing.”

Three years ago we conducted an employee survey where it became clear that staff wanted more communication. Since then we have implemented global address lists to make sending messages out more timely and consistent, revamped our website, started an electronic monthly newsletter, launched an intranet site, and linked meeting agenda content so that information cascades into the organization. We publish an annual report and have added a yearly Head Start Outcomes Report started in 2012. Oh, and yes, I am blogging this year.

Yet just this week our Communications Director said she has been planning what comes next. I was all ears. Some of her ideas are additions to what we are now doing; others will take time and resources to implement. What I see in the centers is similar: employees taking initiative, personalizing their jobs and making new things possible by working together and taking each other by the hand when needed.