Introducing Ateliers…
The basics: As you know, we now commute to nap rooms where the individual needs of
your child can be best met. After nap we return to our ‘Homerooms’ for snack and
afternoon centers. Starting in mid-February however, we will break back up into
small groups after snack (3:30-4:15).
The groups will include children from all three classrooms. There will be seven groups corresponding to seven new specialized
classes or ‘ateliers’ that will take the place of afternoon centers. The groups will range in size from 6-12 children depending on the class.
The ateliers will be: Baking, Science, Art, Mechanics, Cooperative Games, Dramatic Play, and Movement.
Ateliers will last for one week and will be led by one or two teachers giving lots of opportunity for focused learning and one-on-one interaction. Although groups will be teacher assigned (based on our experience of each child’s current interests and
learning style), every child will have the opportunity to experience every atelier!
The big picture: The main goal of this new program is to create more opportunities for children to creatively explore the learning topics that are the focus of their morning circles throughout the remainder of the day. The new ateliers will facilitate
this goal by creating more small group time and lending more focus to our afternoon work and play. Importantly, although the activities that take place in the afternoons will now be more structured, they will still be child-directed, consistent with our overall philosophy.
This balance will be struck by using the “Research-Plan-Do-Reflect” strategy of education. This means that each week long atelier will begin with children and teachers sitting down together to decide on a common interest related to one or more of the ongoing learning topics in the preschool homerooms. Together they will then do any necessary research, plan an activity or project and execute it.
The last day would be spent reflecting on their endeavors (the focus should remain on the process rather the final product) or sharing them with another group. This final stage of the process will allow children to internalize the experience and encourage community spirit.
Additional benefits of ateliers: In addition to expanded ‘academic’ opportunities, ateliers will provide lots of opportunity for social/emotional growth and development. Preschoolers will now be able to form meaningful bonds with like-minded
children (and teachers) from other classrooms. With each new atelier (i.e. each week) they will also be challenged to communicate, cooperate and compromise within the context of a new group dynamic. The social and emotional skills that this will exercise will be invaluable preparation for the larger class sizes and more frequent teacher and peer group shifts that children will encounter in school beyond childroots.
Most importantly, because children will be taking the lead in directing their own work -playful but purposeful learning- they will develop not only independence but a sense of empowerment as they become capable and confident self-educators.
click here to read about Ateliers in action.