Day Two

Today was actually a hard day to leave North Bay!  The discussion and thinking today was wonderfully compelling.  I feel extremely privileged to be part of the inquiry going on within our group.  My brain synapses are firing second after second, building and strengthening all the connections happening. 

Visiting One Kids Place was fun and valuable.  The building is welcoming on the outside and breathtaking on the inside.

picture from purplechair.net

It was the first time I have seen a Child and Family Centre in action and I loved the atmosphere and the interactions going on.  What a powerful re-enforcer of the idea that parent (or family member or volunteer) involvement is very helpful in an early learning program.  It says to me that we need to discover ways to create as much of an open-door/involvement-encouraging policy as possible. 

Some things to think about:
-have clearly listed jobs that someone can help out with at any time (on clipboard on the wall)

-how open can our classroom be?  The more open the more likely we get them in

-find out at (JK or fall) interview time what parents/families are expert at.  Invite them to come share with the kids or help out in another way.

-keep encouraging family involvement

picture from Wood WORKS! Awards website

-provide opportunities for all kinds of levels of family involvement (provide police checks directly, provide "home-helping" ideas [making play dough, collecting found materials, finding natural things and sending them in with their child, etc.], get parents to come on walking trips, etc.)

-what are the barriers in your community? why are they there? what are some possible solutions?

The minimalism and organization, natural tones and places with colour provided by materials and the children's work spoke to me.  It can be hard to believe that a simple change of colour on the wall will alter the feeling of a room, but I believe strongly now that it can.  The picture below is a Reggio-inspired room.  Natural lighting, colours and objects.  Soft background colours and pops of colour (which ideally is provided by materials and the children's creations). 

picture from progressiveearlychildhoodeducation.blogspot.ca

I have decided to do my inquiry on creativity.  I chose it because:

-the concept of real creative art is new to kindergarten and very different from the "art" produced in the old program

-creativity is a fundamental trait connected to all domains that we need our next generation to have, they need to be able to innovate to solve the massive problems all global species are facing

-creativity can be recognized, subjectively assessed, analyzed, nurtured and encouraged

-kindergarten age children are referred to as creative geniuses because they are incredibly divergent thinkers (they can think of oodles of creative uses for one item... most adults can only think of a few)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zDZFcDGpL4U
This is a great animated version of Ken Robinson speaking on creativity.

Another soul-filling day. 
Eagerly awaiting tomorrow.