All I have wanted to do since ETC class ended was to get on my blog and share my excitement with you! 

Class today was absolute perfection. 

At our last class we asked the kids to think about their learning needs– Are you a visual learner? Auditory? Do you like music on in the background or do you need silence? Do you prefer to sit or stand? The list goes on. Each student was handed a piece to a puzzle and asked to represent their learning needs on the piece. 

Today, the kids shared in small groups before coming together on the rug. We gave the instructions: Figure out how all of our pieces fit together WITHOUT talking and only one person can work on it at a time. What happened next blew us away! The kids asked clarifying questions to make sure they understood the directions. They asked if they could support each other if they did it without talking. They communicated through eye contact and giving each other a “thumbs up.” They smiled and clapped when they were successful and they were patient and empathetic as others took thinking time and made mistakes. At one point a student whispered, “Yes! He did it!” It was beautiful and magical and everything we wanted it to be! When the kids needed a clue from us to get the final puzzle, no one felt defeated. They continued to work hard and stick through it to get to the completed puzzle- a car. 

Afterward, we talked about the activity and asked, “Why? How does this car connect to our learning together this year?”

Two students responded: 

“Because we each have unique parts like a car”

“And just like a car can’t work without the tires or mirrors, we can’t work together without each of us. The different parts support each other and we need to do the same.”

The end message was clear: We all have to work together to drive our learning. We are each unique individuals with different learning styles and needs. In order to find collective success this year, we are going to have to work really hard to compromise, empathize, and support each another. 

What a beautiful start to ETC, we can’t wait to watch the year unfold! 

Gev. Kimmel, Gev. Noorlander & Gev. McAdams