Spirituality and Literature

This past weekend I attended the Cincinnati AEYC conference. I attended two workshops; one was about Algebra and Geometry, while the other was about Enhancing Spirituality Through Literature with Leslie Roth. I found the latter to be particularly powerful, as I seldom considered spirituality to be a part of my classroom.

Sure, we all have a spirit. It's who we really are and drives our passions,  but is it appropriate to talk about or use spirituality in a secular classroom? It turns out that I already have been.

Every time I read certain books in my classroom, I get a gentle, relaxed reaction from my students. Certain books, such as "The Runaway Bunny" or "Good Night Moon" (both by Margaret Wise Brown)  are almost guaranteed this response. I thought that these were just pleasant pieces of literature, but there is more to this. These books, and others, help my students connect to something special inside themselves that allows them to understand themselves and others. As an adult who utilizes literature for this very reason, I should have realized the remarkable effect that it would also have on young children. It is definitely something to consider when choosing reading materials for my preschoolers. These books aren't merely delightful, they are broadening understanding and hope.

Spontaneous field trip day

Today was gorgeous, and one of the first days in a while that I had both aides in my classroom, sooo we decided to walk the children to Findlay Market. Now, I don't have the most well-behaved class in the world, so I was a little concerned at first, but they were awesome. Practically perfect.

We walked several blocks to get there, and the children loved it. They waved at everyone, were given candy, and learned a little bit about fruits, vegetables, and they way people exchange goods for currency. I have been to Findlay Market several times before, but it's amazing how places and events change before your eyes when you're with children. They were seeing and experiencing so much that I would generally not think twice about. Things like plums, tents, and strange dogs were suddenly interesting and worth talking about. This is just another reason to love preschoolers.

Another thing I mentioned earlier was their excellent behavior, but it's starting to make sense to me. Stimulate and interest children, and it will make your job (as a teacher or parent) so much easier. It seems like a lot of work to visit more local places or create fun and different activities, but it's worth it for both you and the children.