Bringing the kids down off a summer like the Garden School’s summer is an effort. Just holding court for a few lax minutes seems to be all we can handle. The kids want to stay in fifth gear, so to speak, and it’s time to down shift to at least third.
We’re not climbing mountains or descending 350 feet into a cave, nor swimming out in the lake, we’re not even crossing two states in a bus. Just putting a child at a desk won’t cut it. “What does my child do all day?” is a question every parent wants to ask. The answer is: depends.
Restructuring the day from summer to fall takes time. Morning play and breakfast on the patio take a little longer. Circle time is not as informative as it is in say January. It’s more of a review of manners and how to use the bathroom safely.
Class time is slower, “A hundred is not impossible. Just think of it in tens,” less in depth, “That’s enough for today,” less demanding, “Well you can do it at home or not at all.”
Recess seems to come a little quicker and art takes longer. “Glue does not belong on the floor!” We are singing simple songs, and doing a little less with afternoon classes. “And how do you introduce yourself in French?”
Along about Labor Day, the down shift will finally make it to third gear, and then second along about October. That’s the power gear for those who drive automatics. It’s the hill gear. “Look Miss Judy, I can read.”
At that point, the recreation part of school needs to continue as a time that children let what they have bee taught to gel. Kids start looking for fossils on the playground again, and digging for beetles and discovering shapes in the pea gravel. “Look it’s a crinoid, Mrs. St. Louis.”
A good program offers learning with teachers who are interested, recreation to make it solid, food to fuel the energies, treats to satisfy the heart, and activities that challenge. “Home made fudge for those who kept their medals!”
Half of what our teachers do is done in the wings. The plan books are the thickest books we have. Everything we do is on the calendar. This is transition month. September will be discovery month. It’s about discovering families and friends and who we are and for the kids who have been with us a while, a new look at self and those around us. It’s a time when new more grown up relationships begin to evolve. Grandparent’s Tea, and you’re all invited.
October is world month. We look at the world past and present, and at holidays past and present and celebrate a very old holiday called Halloween which has both secular and religious connections. Costumes please and a visit to Willard Library to see the Gray Lady if she’s out and about that day.
November is sharing month. We share ideas, and time and talent and share a meal, put on a play, and do some cooking. Primitive meal and seven act play.
December is a festival month with Christmas around the world and a visit from Santa.
We settle down again in January to do quiet study. It’s our hibernation month.
In February, we begin to look around a lot like the butterfly about to unfold. “Yes, you need to dance with her. I’ll buy you a candy bar if you do.”
March is a transition month. It’s spring but it’s still cold, and we begin to exercise more and begin building “to go” energy for the summer. We do the big play, and start working on the summer garden investment. “Dig. Dirt won’t hurt.”
April is a re-evaluation month for who learned what this year. It’s spring fever month, and a lot of the kids are searching out new friends. The cocoon is shedding and we have a whole new set of big kids.
May is testing month. They test us every single day. “Look what I can do!” “Do that again, and you’re grounded for the rest of your life.”
And in June we start the summer activities again. Picnics, long bus rides, mountains, lakes, caves, maybe next year horses!
But now it’s August and we’re shifting gears.
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