Turning a New Leaf: 7 Things to Try at the Start of the School Year
Every year about this time, just as the goldenrod and asters bloom, many children return to school, and we notice a shift in the energy that surrounds us. Maybe it’s the hurried scurrying of squirrels caching food for the oncoming season, or the hummingbirds that sense migration is near. One thing is certain: there's an urgency to cling to the last warm, fleeting days of summer with an air of preparedness for what’s to come. Fading summer leaves turn golden and crimson hues as they begin fluttering down to earth, destined to become a quilt for winter’s slumber. These are vivid reminders that autumn will soon return in colorful glory – and we must be prepared.
For us at ANBE, September signals another year full of opportunities for nature-based learning and play. After our weeklong courses of the Nature-Based Teacher Certification in Baltimore, MD and Cortland, NY – and our online summer cohort – we know you are eagerly preparing, too. At our lab school, Notchcliff Nature Programs and our Schoolyard Outdoor Learning Experiences (SOLE) Program, ANBE staff also prepares for children to be immersed in nature this fall, albeit in very different learning environments.
If you want to turn over a new leaf in your teaching this fall, here are seven new things you can try as you kick off another year of nature-based learning and play.
- Make Agreements.
Instead of hard and fast rules, start the school year by making agreements among the class. Lead a dialogue about how everyone wants to learn and grow together this year, with everyone’s input. When we all agree about how we want to be treated, we help each other be accountable for keeping the agreement and working through it when challenges arise. The dynamic is far different than the authoritative one that rules can have and there is way more buy-in and respect as a result.
- Carry a Song in Your Pocket.
Whether it’s a beautiful tune, a quick rhyme, a call-and-repeat, or a finger play with motions, songs are a great way to engage children during transitions, redirect attention when needed, or add humor and movement into your day. Songs can also be embedded in safety routines and are invaluable if an emergency arises.
- Say Hello…Again.
Send a personal note to each family to let them know how their child is doing. You may already do this with an email or post about the class but make a point of sending a personal message to each family, too. This helps establish trust and open the door for communication for the rest of the school year…and definitely shows them that you “see” their child and truly care.
- Puppets. Yep, puppets.
Big or small, whether they are made from a stick and leaf or beautifully sewn, a puppet is a surprising way to connect with children. An acorn cap and two dots on your finger can be a great little guide! Sometimes a puppet is just the thing that will help focus attention on an important direction or idea. They encourage language and imaginative play, which children will mimic during nature play, too.
- Try a Talking Stick.
As children build executive functioning skills and their active memory, a talking stick is a tangible reminder who the speaker is during a discussion. It helps you build in wait time for children as they form their ideas and express them and reminds others to listen intently until it is their turn with the stick. As children get more adept during conversations, the stick may not be needed, but it’s a great way to start the year when you’re initially getting to know the group. (And nope, it doesn’t need to be a stick – a feather, shell, stone, or other special natural object will also do!)
- Daily Reflection.
Honor your teaching efforts by making space for reflection. Each day, take five minutes to informally journal about the class’s adventures and successes, as well as ideas for further inquiry and improvement. You may already be incorporating a Sit Spot Practice for yourself and your students for deeper nature connection. In addition, this kind of personal, daily reflection will help you hone your teaching practices and lean into your gifts and strengths. Reflection may also be part of a daily routine with a co-teacher or teaching team as you document learning to inform a holistic, emergent curriculum.
- Book of Nature. As you build relationships with children and colleagues, you are also developing a deeper connection with the land. Start a “book of nature” to document the many plants, animals, and natural wonders you discover throughout the year. Involve colleagues, children, and families in the process! This living catalogue is a wonderful way to develop children’s ecological identity and sense of belonging as part of nature.
