Learning Emerges Through Thoughtful Discussion

As our study of community has evolved, we find ourselves in the wonderful place where we are fortunate to have several PreK family members join our class to share careers and talk about how their jobs are those of a community helper. We know that learning is most meaningful for children when they are fully engaged and involved and we were excited to connect our learning with our family members. Active participation, emotional investment and direct contact are all such powerful components in creating healthy , rich learning experiences. Our 'call' to all those in our community to help support our learning by visiting with our children has been amazing ! Family members and friends have graciously volunteered to share their work and connections to the community with our children. This outreach is such an important aspect of the children's learning in supporting the home and school connection. Family involvement in the classroom is a wonderful model for children experience first hand the richness of the home and school relationship.

We realized that our first order of work was to think about how we would prepare our children for the many visits that we would be hosting. What types of skills will our children be developing and practicing when a visitor shares in our classroom? How can we make the learning meaningful? The questions continued to fill our adult conversations and we brainstormed our ideas to help us look at this more clearly. We soon realized that we were looking at two distinct areas of thought on the topic of what is really happening when we invite a visitor into the classroom.

The following is a glimpse of our thoughts as we brainstormed the topic of' skills and learning experiences we anticipate the children may have when a community helper visits our classroom...

Language skills: expressive language: learning to ask a question;

receptive language skills, following directions

vocabulary skills

listening skills

comprehension skills

Cognitive skills

Social skills : how do we make a visitor feel welcome;taking turns asking question; working as a group ; respecting new materials

social and emotional joy that children glean when a family member shares with a child's class at school

Learning About Jobs In The Community .....the list goes on and on.....

We decided that we would prepare the children for each visit by leading a discussion which supports so many important thinking and language skills. The umbrella question would be for the children to think about questions they may have for the visitor and to focus on things they may be wondering. An important step in this process is to record the children's ideas which helps support the relationship between written and spoken language. The questions facilitate responsible conversation during a visit as well as become useful tools in reflecting and recalling after a visit.

A sample of what this process looked like when we had a discussion prior to one of our first few visits is as follows:

Noah' mom Brooke is a professor who teaches teachers how to teach people that are blind. Our plan was that she would visit on one day, and the following day she would return and visit with one of her blind students and guide dog who would also share with the class .

What are some of the things you are wondering ...

How do they brush their teeth?

How will the know where their bed is?

How do people get blind? How do people who are blind know how to read?

Can blind people ride a bike?

How can blind people see what they are painting?Can blind people be artists?

How can blind people see if it's day or night?

If you are a PreK child that's blind, do they go to school?

Can blind kids play sports?

How do they play baseball?

can blind people open their eyes?

How do they drive?

If you look at too much light will you go blind?

Do seeing eye dogs help blind people lead the way?

How do blind people eat their food?

How do they know where to move?

How will blind people know where their clothes are ?

This activity reminded us of how much learning and development emerges when quality time is allocated in the classroom for thoughtful discussions. We will use the ideas and questions that were generated to further guide the direction of our study.