Curriculum Corner: ‘Finding courage’
As the school year progresses, Amber adventures abound. Each day brings wonderful wild moments of discovery and endless opportunities for Ambers to learn with joy, wonder and courage.
By Jacob Sisson, Blue Mountain School Amber teacher (seven- to nine-year olds)
Magic perpetually surrounds children. I truly believe that there is a reverence for wonder during childhood that when shared allows adults to remember what it was like to be young.
Working with the Ambers, I may be expecting them to gather up for a transition when suddenly I realize an Amber has stopped to let an inchworm crawl up their finger. I may expect them to “hurry up” when they’re washing their hands and find that a small group is giggling and in awe of a soap bubble that is slowly floating away. I am grateful that being a Blue Mountain School teacher has allowed me to look for these moments, pause and smile, and understand the little magic that is momentary, yet so prevalent as they grow.
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Our Ambers recently met to discuss courage during our Choose Love time. I asked them “What does courage mean to you?” Each expressed their thoughts on being brave when frightened or having the courage to speak up when they needed to form firm boundaries. We all talked about courageous fictional characters in our favorite books and films (“Harry Potter,” after all these years, is still quite popular).
Then, we talked about having courage when we experience loss. We feel loss when we move away or lose a pet or someone close to us when they pass away. Students also talked about when teachers and students are no longer present here at school, whether for days or long-term.
I felt it was important to check in with each of them to give them the opportunity to discuss any and all feelings connected to courage and to loss. I am really so very proud of how apt and expressive the Ambers were. These conversations can make us feel vulnerable or even relive these feelings. They were courageous.
As the school year progresses, Amber adventures abound. Each day brings wonderful wild moments of discovery and endless opportunities for Ambers to learn with joy, wonder, and courage. There really is never a dull moment with our Ambers!
Know a child who belongs here? Blue Mountain School is enrolling for next year — contact@bluemountainschool.net. Blue Mountain School is a progressive, contemplative school in Floyd, where intentional curriculum planning is part of the everyday.
“Curriculum Corner” is a bi-weekly column written by Blue Mountain School teachers to share insight and school happenings.
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