Article Link: http://exchangepress.com/article/understanding-and-supporting-children-just-as-they-are/5024134/
A few years ago, James, a four-year-old new to our cooperative school in Seattle, hesitantly entered the classroom. Clutching the back of his father’s shirt, he hid in the shadow of his dad, not wanting to be noticed. After a few minutes of transition, he was able to say goodbye but spent most of the morning under the table—what seemed to be his self-designated safe spot from peer and adult interactions.
Preschool wasn’t a new experience for James. He had previously been at a school his older sister attended, which the family had loved. This school was bigger with more students and a larger class size than ours. After giving it a try, they decided to find a place that would feel more comfortable and thus manageable for James. They heard about our school from a neighbor and decided to enroll due to our small class size of nine students and home-like environment.
From the safety of his perch under the large drawing table, James observed and noticed all the happenings in the classroom—families coming and going, children playing with manipulatives and reading books, adults moving about the room guiding and helping as needed. He paid close attention to ...