The experiences of speed, distance, movement, measurement and sound of the water engaged the children. The addition of huckleberries a current interest, presented a venue for social interaction and problem solving when a huckleberry became lodged in the funnel.
The huckleberry is stuck, stopping the flow of water: These are the children 's observation, actions and language.
Isabel: “It's stuck. Put more water”.
Zoe: “It puck”
Isabel: “It gets stuck and a water down and can't get out.” (Isabel is responding to the outcome of her request to “Put more water in”). “Not again”.
Isabel and Felix hold cups under the funnel awaiting the occasional drips.
Zoe holds the water table and moves it back and forth many times.
How does a teacher develop and cultivate the art of listening to children? It is easy to hear a child verbally expresses themselves and write it down word for word. But the meaning becomes lost. This is only one way that a teacher must use his or her skills to truly listen to the children.
Zoe says “It puck”.
Zoe is standing on a step stool next to the water table. She observes the huckleberry getting stuck in the funnel. Zoe puts her hand in the funnel with the water and the huckleberry lodged inside and exclaims: “It puck”. She pulls out her hand and places it on the top rails of the water table. Zoe then starts to move the water table back and forth. My first reaction is to say “Gentle Zoe”. Then I listen to what she is saying “It puck”, “It puck”. I realize that she is teaching me something. She is trying to shake the huckleberry out of the funnel by moving the table back and forth. I say “ Zoe are you telling me that the huckleberry is stuck and you're trying to get it out? Zoe says: “It puck”.
“ The challenge is to notice the details of how the children are communicating their thinking as they play and sing... Sometimes this involves introducing a related idea in a conversation with children about what they are exploring.”(Curtis & Carter 2008, p. 139).
*the children 's names have been changed to respect their privacy.
References
Curtis, D.; Carter, M. (2008). Learning Together with young children. St. Paul, Minnesota: Redleaf Press.
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