Our Essential Agreements

- December 01, 2024

We strive to create a joyful and safe space for the children every day. One helpful tool we use is called an Essential Agreement. Let’s take a closer look at what this means and why it’s important. An Essential Agreement is a set of simple rules and expectations that everyone in the classroom agrees to follow. It encourages children to understand our expected behaviours and interact positively with one another and their teachers.

Rather than concentrating on what we can’t do in the classroom, we prefer to discuss all the things we can do. Using positive, “we can" language creates a more uplifting atmosphere and encourages a constructive mindset. This document is not set in stone; it will evolve over time. We will revisit it regularly to reassess, add new points, and reflect on our agreements. This ongoing process ensures that our Essential Agreement remains relevant and effective for everyone in the classroom.

For example, rather than saying, “Don’t interrupt,” we might say, “We can raise our hand.” This shift in language helps children feel empowered and fosters a positive atmosphere. By highlighting actionable behaviours, we promote a sense of agency and responsibility among the students.

In our discussions, we encourage everyone to think of ways they can positively contribute to our community, like taking turns, helping one another, and showing respect. This approach not only fosters a supportive environment but also reinforces the idea that each child plays a vital role in making our classroom a wonderful place to learn and grow. As you can see, while the morning and afternoon classes have their differences, they also share many similarities.

This can also be a helpful tool at home! You might consider creating your own family or home Essential Agreement.

AM Class

PM Class

We were next door at Bradbury this week to watch a rehearsal of their production of The Jungle Book. The Bradbury children were amazing, and it prompted some discussions back in the classroom. Only one child was a little too apprehensive about going over; sometimes, the anticipation of the unknown is a little too much.

We will be going back over to Bradbury on Monday to visit their enchanting "Tellytubby Land." This wonderful area promises to be a great experience for the children.

Not only will we be exploring this new environment, but we will also have the opportunity to work on our hand-eye coordination skills. To make the most of our visit, we will be bringing along some bean bags for fun activities that encourage teamwork and physical exercise. Please share this news with your child at home as we have done in the classroom so that they are more comfortable with the trip over.

We have been using watercolour paints in the classroom these past two weeks, rather than the normal poster paint.

Using watercolour paints in the classroom helps children develop important skills. They learn to control their brushes, which is essential for creating various strokes and effects. Managing water and paint is also key, as it influences the transparency and texture of their artwork. Children experiment with mixing colours to create new shades and practice layering techniques to add depth to their paintings. Altogether, these activities require children to be systematic and organised, teaching them how to use these materials effectively.
Additionally, their fine motor skills are enhanced through careful brushwork, and they expand their artistic vocabulary by learning new terms related to watercolour techniques. Overall, these skills foster patience, creativity, and critical thinking.

Spotlight on Jocelyn below

We have been continuing our discussions on Sharing the Planet. I have introduced the class to a wonderful book by Oliver Jeffers called "Here We Are". We have shared this book a few times previously but only to discuss certain pages and individual topics such as space and the land and sea on planet Earth. The illustrations are just perfect.

We discussed that as well as looking after ourselves and others around us, it is also important to learn how to respect and care for living things in the wider world. Helping the children to grow and take care of wildlife in their local area will support them in developing a love for nature that will support their wider understanding of caring for the environment.

The children looked at what animals they could see in the illustrations. Which can they name and recognise easily? Which do they not know the names of? Which animals are their favourites? Why? We thought about where these animals might live, linking back to a few weeks ago when we looked at different habitats.

The picture featuring humans was a bit more abstract for them. But I wanted to see what the children understand from this? This is a good chance to introduce key concepts like fairness, inclusivity, and equality. Having these values is important to our classroom and school community, where everyone is welcome and treated equally, no matter how they look. We were so lucky that Nathan's Dad came in with a book that fitted perfectly with our discussions.

"The Blue Penguin" is a story about friendship and belonging!