BELONGING
Personal Example
One of the foundations for How Does Learning Happen! became very clear to my during my first placement.
We were welcoming a new preschooler into the classroom who was taking time to get used to being in class. This child was very distressed and upset for days on end. It seemed that nothing the educators offered him/her, no toys, blankets, or activities would calm him/her. This child came in on a Thursday, and for this placement students went to the college on Fridays for Field Preparation Class. I didn't get to see this child until I came back on the Monday and he/she was still distressed. I decided that this child needed to feel the support of the educators in the room and the other children. I spent the morning sitting on the floor close to him/her. I put one hand on his/her back while they were facing away from me, and in a calming voice I reminded everything was okay. I took him/her through some breathing exercises after they had stopped crying for a moment. I told the child I was very happy to meet them and that I was excited to play with them. We sat in silence for a while until he/she took my hand and led me over to the toys. It was there when he/she was able to join in play with other children and I was able to be his/her play-partner. This child spent the rest of the morning playing with the other children and myself.
Although in the next two weeks, he/she continued to need time to warm up to being in the preschool room, the sense of belonging that had begun to develop allowed for growth and exploration to take part.