“Mom, can we print some pictures so I can make a scrapbook?”
“Sure, Wren. What gave you that idea?”
“Well, Ms. McMellon read us a book about a scrapbook and now I want to make one.”
This conversation happened as Wren taped some construction paper together at the kitchen table, preparing her scrapbook before she even had pictures to add.
Moments like this are pretty common occurrences for our kindergartener. She loves to create. With all of the storms hitting us lately, she’s had a lot of time for all of her projects like writing books for her book club. She’s hired her friends to write books that they plan to sell. One day she came home with a book about the beach and said she needed 30 copies for Monday. She loves to turn paper into creations- costumes, animals, signs. Boxes are treasure in our house.
Today as she affixed a homemade paper crown to her sister’s head and placed a paper wand in her hand, I marveled at her creativity and wonder.
One of my colleagues attended a session about keeping curiosity alive at last week’s TCRWP Saturday Reunion. Back at school on Monday, she shared at our staff meeting that in kindergarten, we can’t get kids to stop asking questions, yet by second grade we find ourselves having to teach them how to question. I’ve been thinking about that all week. What happens to squash that natural curiosity in our students? I have a few hunches but I also believe that it doesn’t have to be that way.
I certainly don’t have the answers, but I would be crushed to see the wonder if my own daughter’s eyes fade away. This past week, I’ve had two different teachers from her school tell me that Wren’s enthusiasm for learning is contagious. My heart swelled. Who could ask for more?
Keep wondering, sweet girl. Please, don’t ever lose that spark.
Where There Is Joy 
I see similar traits in my daughter. Have you seen the video short “Alike”? If not, just Google it. It speaks to this same notion. Unfortunately, I believe the way we “do school” is what may be part of the problem. Many children are naturally curious about the world and all things in it-we must find a way to keep this alive in all kids-the question is how?
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Love Wren’s work. I find lots of the kiddos I meet are trying to find the right answers not heir creative spirit. Nurture Wren’s, it will take her far.
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That is such a bit and important question – How can we keep the wondering spirit alive? Why do kids ask less questions as they get older? Why do kids feel pressure to know the answers?
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It’s good that you’re curious about this question. I think that curiosity is still there for the kids that we are “teaching” to ask questions. We just have to figure out how to show that we value it. It requires time (like snow days), so I wonder if time is a factor in the disappearance.
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Time… one of my hunches for sure!
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I think there are many “things”, like curiosity, that children are born with and the adults in their lives squash. It’s important to maintain our own curiosities as adults so that we can live the rewards of our own curiosities. It is then that we can nourish, not squash the natural curiosity in children. (Great work, Wren, keep it up! Start your own blog, Curious Wren!) Thanks for sharing!
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This line will haunt me: “in kindergarten, we can’t get kids to stop asking questions, yet by second grade we find ourselves having to teach them how to question.” I’m with Humbleswede that the curiosity is still there. In high school, even when my seniors are at their grade-grubbing finest (lowest?) if I can figure out how to value their curiosity, it comes out in spades – well, for most of them. Others, more doubtful, look at me askance and slip away… Still, simply by blogging about this, you show your daughter how much you value her creativity. Keep it up!
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Love this. Go Wren! So true though…how do we keep that spark?
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There is so much to think about in this post today. As a middle school teacher, that spark no longer exists in many of my students. And it is so, so sad. Your little Wren sounds so sweet (and I love that name!). Oh, if we could only keep them little for a little while longer.
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Precious Wren and her learning, literary desires (30 copies of a book!) I hope the spark never dims, and that her teachers keep fueling it.
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“Back at school on Monday, she shared at our staff meeting that in kindergarten, we can’t get kids to stop asking questions, yet by second grade we find ourselves having to teach them how to question.” I wholeheartedly agree with this. I also teach second grade and have a second grader (as well as a Kinder and toddler) at home. Each of my own kiddos is so inquisitive, and I see that in only a few of my students. I too hope they don’t lose their spark!
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