Anticipation and Preparation

At the beginning of the school year, the students and I have similar feelings. There is anticipation, excitement, hope, eagerness, and nervousness, mixed with delight. Why not. This is a new school year…a new beginning.

Every little hand I shook in the first few days of classes relayed a sense of eagerness and excitement. The returning children are eager to see and work with each other again. They are eager to interact with the new children who had just a short visit to this classroom at the end of the last school year. Many returning children are excited to continue where they left off, to go to the shelves and pick out the materials they are were becoming familiar with at the end of the year. They are excited to move forward and to receive new lessons.

The children new to the elementary display excitement and readiness, as well as a hint of nervousness. After years of preparation in the primary classroom, they are not just entering a new environment, but a new phase in their development. As they reach the age of 6 or 7, they begin a shift into becoming conscious learners, who want to understand everything about the universe they live in.

What is comforting to observe is that their nervousness is being overcome by their delight to see familiar faces. The new children want to do what the returning children are doing – working, socializing, and, yes, sharing. Patience - that virtue is surely being tested and is allowing them to grow deeper roots in character.

These new children's eagerness displays their preparation for this move. They are willing to come when invited to receive lessons. Many are able to repeat the lessons they receive. Some are already able to take advantage of the freedom to work with their friends when repeating the lessons. There are even a few new children engaging in big work, like learning the multiples of 7 using the Long Chain of 7. Meanwhile, there are others who need guidance and support when starting their day and transitioning. A few just need an encouraging word. Others need a focused partner to help them stay on the task. All are motivated to learn and grow.

I can truly state that we all are starting this school year full of anticipation. The new children have anticipated this move to the elementary all through their last year in the primary. The returning children are anticipating this year as they transition from the receiver of lessons to the sharer of lessons. I anticipate that this year will be full of unforgettable, transformative moments for all.

Mrs. Nieva