Change is on the horizon!

Hey friends!

Over the past 18 years or so, we have worked together to create change. We've talked about what a classroom would look like if the children's interest drove the curriculum, if circle time could be tweaked and seen as an opportunity to meet, rather than teach. We considered a change from whole group to small group learning, and even wondered if it would be possible to make snack a center rather than a forced activity.

Some of us pulled out the easles for the first time in years, knowing the importance of this experience on brain development. We changed our thinking regarding classroom clean up in order to allow the children the chance to build higher towers and longer roads. Many of us eliminated time out from our vocabularies, and even created a position in the class for 4 year old mediators. All of this happened because you believed.

You believed in a vision that you couldn't yet see. You believed the children to be competant and capable, and wanted to learn how to best care for their growing brains. You trusted enough to try new things, and you made the changes and saw the results. Then you used that momentum to make more change. Your emails and notes prove how surprised and proud you are of the changes.

Today I sat in on one of my school's experience with the inauguration. The children, decked out in red white and blue, were eating lunch and listening to speeches, music and poems on the tv. (BTW, this is the first time in 5 years I have seen teachers watch TV in a preschool with children. There's another change!)

The children's behaviors were perfect. They are four years old and very good at it. They were curious, interested in the entertainment, and even talked amongst each other. The teachers let them chat, only asking for a bit of extra silence when the actual swearing in took place. For over 45 minutes these kids were interacting, discussing, laughing and enjoying the idea that "something special" was about to happen.

I walked over to Ben, my bestest 4 year old friend. I asked him what was happening and he told me "The president is not an elect. He is a president today." The little girl next me said, "And that's a change!"

Well, President-no-longer-elect-Obama, you have a new group of followers who are looking to you to create a vision. Although they can't quite read or write, they have faith in you and believe you are something special. I wish you much luck and want you to know we look forward to your success.