While working with the building materials in the Front Yard, Theo and Teddy realize that their construction site has a significant amount of foot traffic from peers passing through from the Paper House to the Living Garden.
Theo: No! Don’t walk through here. This is a construction site and we are hammering.
Teddy: It’s not safe. We need guards.
Theo: This says, “Construction Site” which means walk around. (gesturing to a small barrier created from boards.)
Teacher Jess: I wonder if we could create a sign with letters to communicate that this is a construction site…
Theo: Yeah, let’s make a sign.
Theo and Teddy go to the paper house for the necessary paper and writing tools.
Teddy: Okay, what’s the first letter?
Teacher Jess: The first letter is “c”. Construction is a long word so we are going to have to make small letters.
Teddy: I don’t really know what a “c” looks like.
Emmaline: I’ll show you. I’ll do it on your paper. (Emmaline traces the shape on the paper.)
Teddy: You mean like this? (he draws a shape on the paper.)
Emmaline: No, that’s not it. (she traces is again with her finger.)
Teddy: No, draw it with the pen.
Theo: I’ve got a pen.
Emmaline: I don’t really know how to make a “c”.
Theo: I do! I do! This is a “c”. (he draws a “u” shape)
Emmaline: No, that’s the start of an “e”.
Teacher Jess: Hmm.. let me see… I notice if we turn our paper this way (turns paper) that’s a “c”.
Theo: Oh, I see it.
Teacher Jess: The next letter is an “o”.
Theo: Oh, I know.
Teacher Jess: The next letter is an “n”.
Emmaline: I’ll do it. That’s an “n”.
Teacher Jess: The next letter is an “s”.
Teddy: I know how to do it.
Teacher Jess: The next letter is a “t” like in Teddy.
Emmaline: I know how to do a “t”. It’s a line and then a cross.
Teddy: You don’t have to tell me because I already know.
Teacher Jess: The next letter is an “r”.
Teddy: How do you draw an “r”?
Emmaline: I know! It’s a circle and then a scoop and then… (draws the second leg to the letter r)
Teacher Jess: The next letter is a “u”.
Theo: Do the letters so small.
Teacher Jess: Now we have another “c” and we know how to make the “c”.
Emmaline: That’s a “c”. That’s a real “c”.
Teddy brings his pen to close the opening of the letter “c”.
Emmaline: No, no, you don’t connect it.
Teddy: Oh. You can make another one. (he draws another “c”)
Theo: Do the numbers so small, everyone. Teddy is doing them so small.
Teddy: Oh no, not again… (as his “c” turns into an “o”)
Teddy draws another “c”.
Teddy: Like that? That’s a “c”.
The group continued to work together to complete all of the letters in the word “construction”. After finishing the sign, it was time to attach it to the barrier to secure the construction site.
Theo: I get to tape it.
Teddy: We need two pieces.
Does the sign work to communicate their message to walk around the construction site rather than through it?
Evera stops. Teddy and Theo point out the sign and ask her to walk around. She does. The sign worked.
Communication is essential in community-building. It helps us to express our ideas, theories, and emotions. In the case of a construction site, it also preserves work and keeps us all safe. The scope of communication extends beyond verbal communication to include written words and non-verbal cues such as facial expressions and body language. Different situations require different strategies to communicate meaning and intention. At New School West, the children have numerous opportunities to hone their communication skills to ensure they are able to express themselves in any situation. – Teacher Jess