When students travel upstairs and become fourth graders in Prairie Creek, we call them "Big Birds." Their role in the school changes significantly and they are held to very high expectations — especially when we are with younger classes. These first six weeks we are very directly teaching what it means to be a big kid at Prairie Creek. For the most part, the rules around games (gentle tagging, call yourself out) and the woods (stay 10 feet from the creek) were learned long ago. But now they are the keepers of the Prairie Creek way — they are the ones who show the younger students what it means to include and care for each other.
During guided recess, we focus on how to connect to younger children. We even have a "Bird Watchers Guide" that's like a field guide to the kids they'll find at recess. Our older students learn to get down to eye level and be gentle in their voices. They learn how to play tag gently enough to be safe with smaller children. They learn how to reach out to shy kids or kids who have been left out. They learn how to constructively guide bossy kids and how to manage arguments about missing goldens in the woods (it's always the squirrels who took it).
They learn many kids' names and learn the importance of using those names so that kids feel seen and known in our school. They also learn the power of their kindness. By the very fact that they are a "big kid" they can bestow "coolness" on a child who might be left out of a game. They can make that child feel like the center of the universe just by paying attention and being kind. Conversely, a harsh word is amplified far more than they might realize so they must manage their impulsivity and think twice before saying something unkind.
Big birds are expected to care for younger students throughout the school day. If they see a younger child in the hall, they say "Hi" with a smile. If someone is fooling around in the bathroom, the older students are expected to remind them of the correct behavior and guide them back to their classroom. If we are at All School Gathering and a younger child is having trouble listening, their Big Bird buddy reminds them gently with our silent signal. For some kids, it wasn't so long ago they were the ones receiving the gentle reminder! It's a big step to be the one doing the guiding.
Big Birds have additional leadership opportunities at Prairie Creek. They often organize a student council and lead school-wide activities, service and celebrations. Last year, the Big Birds founded an environmental club and with the help of Ryan and some St. Olaf students they build a hoop house. That group will continue their work this year.
The transformation these first weeks is astonishing. The hesitant almost third graders who walk through the door on the first day become fully fledged Herons (sorry for the bird pun). They are ready to lead and they are also ready to have more freedoms – the other benefit of taking on more responsibility. It is truly an exciting time.
The Rookery 
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