As the children developed deeper-connections with the vertical garden, they realized that our living garden was missing a sign that would communicate its importance. We decided to create a “Community Garden” sign in the woodworking space. As we spent many days working on the sign, we decided to pause and reflect. I wondered what the children were getting out of this experience.
Greyson: Oh, Adriana. The Community Garden sign is almost finished.
Teacher Adriana: Remember when you first added the letter “C”?
Greyson: Yes, and now my friends added more letters.
Lola: Oh, yes. I know how to work here. Remember, I worked here yesterday with Charlie? We worked on making the “Community Garden” sign.
Adriana: How did it feel to work on the Community Garden sign?
Lola: Oh, Charlie and I felt happy because we both hit the nails at the same time. We both made the same sound at the same time.
Adriana: What does the sound remind you of?
Lola: It reminds me of friends.
Henry: I felt happy because we are working on this sign together. I support the West Wingers.
Adriana: How does it feel to support them?
Henry: It feels good because they learn new things.
Adriana: And what do you learn from them?
Henry: I learn to feel good. I learn to help.
Remy: We learn to be helpful.
Henry: (smiles) Yes, we learn to be helpful.
Rio: This sign makes me think of empathy and perseverance.
Adriana: Can you explain a little more, Rio?
Rio: Well, It’s because we help each other. And look, we work here for many days. It’s being a community.
I see how it takes time and many different experiences for children to develop reflective thought. It is important for us to pause and take a moment to question their thinking and to understand their process of learning. I noticed that they have the incredible experience of self-reflection which is a gift for personal growth and knowing oneself better. I’m thinking that by connecting with their internal reflections and having them share with each other, these reflections influence our group learning. Do others now see different perspectives of their friends? Our Community Garden is a journey of relationships from within and beyond ourselves. Both the East Wingers and West Wingers come together to add their ideas and spend time together as a community of learners.