The Rookery

As you know, the first six weeks at Prairie Creek are crucial to developing the school community.  As teachers, we talk a lot about how best to connect kids and help them learn the skills they'll need to play and learn together successfully.  We pay special attention to recess — a less structured time that can be difficult for children to navigate.

This year, we're developing a new leadership program for the 4/5s.  For three days, they will particpate in training so that they can lead the younger children through the rest of the guided recess weeks.  Students chose the area in which they wanted to lead:

• Game Leaders – In training, these children identified great leaders and leadership traits and tied those to helping others play games together.  They will be leading field games — explaining the rules, monitoring the play, and leading after-game discussions to solve problems and celebrate good experiences.

• Woods Leaders – During training, these students helped ready the woods for safe play.  They also worked to simplify the woods rules to help kids remember them.  During the rest of our guided recess, they will introduce the woods to students, guide their play and model good woods citizenship.

• Bird Watchers – During training, these students learned how to identify when children need help on the playground.  We came up with plans to help lonely kids, kids being excluded, arguing kids and a variety of others.  Last year, many older kids pointed out that if you had to use the "You can't say you can't play" rule, your feelings had already been hurt.  They wanted kids to reach out to invite others to play instead of waiting to be approached.  During guided recess, these bird watchers will model that type of pro-active, inclusive behavior by seeking to connect to younger children.

The students are taking their training very seriously and are excited to take on such an explicit leadership role.  As one of my Bird Watchers said, "Kids reach an age when they don't want to listen to adults…but when another kid who is a little older says it, it's like you know their level."  It's exciting to see the Big Birds realizing the powerful influence they have on the school.  It will be interesting to watch after the first six weeks to see how their work carries forward.