While working with Charcoal at the West Wing Mini Studio, Teacher Amy observed pragmatics in action:
Olive: I’m making my family. That’s me, and daddy, and sister, and grandpa. I can’t make mommy. I can’t do it.
MJ: (overhearing): I can help.
Both girls stared at each other. It seemed Olive was waiting for MJ to do it and MJ was waiting for Olive to acknowledge the offer.
Teacher Amy: Olive, MJ said she can support you. What parts do you need?
Olive: She has legs and a head and eyes.
MJ: Okay (She reached across the table and drew the shapes Olive described. Pausing, she looked at the drawing.) Does she have a mouth?
Olive: Yes and arms (MJ added those pieces). I can do the hair now (Olive, feeling confident, was inspired to add to the overall drawing). I’m going to draw MJ drawing.
The West Wing teachers are introducing the word “support” to our common classroom language. We added it to highlight a difference between “Helping”, having someone do it for you while you become a passive observer, and “Support”, being an active participant as someone comes alongside you as you work together. Rather than simply drawing her idea of a mommy for Olive, MJ was able ask questions and involve Olive in the representation of her idea. Because Olive was an active participant when she came to a part she could do, she felt comfortable to move forward with the work.
Our hope is that this will contribute to the sense of community and the understanding that we are in this together and what we accomplish together is bigger than what we can do alone. -Teacher Amy