Do you know this book? Schools’ First Day of School by Adam Rex? The story is told from the perspective of a brand new school building, not quite sure what to expect as opening day of school approaches. As we wait to welcome students back to our school tomorrow, I have been thinking a lot about this book. Our school, like most others, has been without kids since March. So much has changed since that whirlwind Wednesday when our school was suddenly shut down. Staff has been back at school for over a week and as we prepare and dream up what school will look like going forward this year, there is certainly an energy missing without the kids.
About ten years again, I went through an intense training to become a Responsive Classroom Consulting Teacher. I was lucky to have strong Responsive Classroom mentors from day one of my teaching career. An idea that has always stood out to me from my Responsive Classroom training and all the reading I have done, is the goal of creating the kind of community where kids feel like it matters that they came to school, it matters that they were there. Now more than ever, we get to create a safe place for kids-to give them back predictable routines, connections with adults and peers, and a place to meet their basic needs to feel a sense of belonging, significance, and fun. We have always known that strong relationships are key in all of this. Last weekend, I read a transcript of a podcast with Colleen Cruz and Nell Duke. Nell Duke said, “In the research on resilience , one of the things that you find that really fosters resilience in students, is the relationships that they have, in and outside of the classroom. So, we can endure hardship better when we have a supportive, consistence presence in our lives, of someone to be with us through those difficult times” She went on to say, “I think that rather than thinking of resilience as something that we hope people have, we can think of resilience as something that we have the power to build in children and youth, through the relationships we have with them.”
We have the power to build resilience in children…within each other.
I have so many emotions about the 20-21 school year, ranging from fear and worry to excitement and hope. I feel a little like the school in School’s First Day of School, not quite sure what to expect-but full of anticipation.
As we launch this new and unusual school year, I hope you all know that it matters that you show up, whether in your physical school building or the virtual classrooms you will create. I look forward to sharing our stories, learning together, and leaning on each other. Wishing you all a safe and fun school year.
Where There Is Joy 
Love it! There are so many things that are unknowns or out of our control. This slice is a reminder to all of us that we do still have power – the power to build those relationships that will build resilience and community and kindness! Thanks for sharing — I can’t wait!!!
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School’s First Day- I read this to Elena’s class one year! You describe well the way I am feeling. I think I will feel so much better once we get through the first Dismissal, but I am hopeful…
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That dismissal! Hope it goes smoothly!
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I don’t know this book but now must find and read it — we truly don’t know what to expect each day, more than ever — and a host of emotions is definitely running high. Children themselves are amazingly resilient; I am thinking that part of the power to build resilience lies in the ability to reinvent, in pushing the possibilities… maybe in embracing it, as we embrace the sharing of stories, for these grow us all. So encouraging, Jessica – thank you.
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Happy new school year! I love that book and your thoughts on resilience were really interesting. I thought back to the hardest times in my life and it’s true- it was having supportive people to walk the journey with me that made all the difference. Even just the text messages from loving friends from afar helped. It made me remember to be the person who walks with others through their hard times- who sends the text or makes the call and shows up. Now, a chance to help students feel connected again. Excited about the good that can come this year.
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I’m nervous about how this will all go, but I’m so grateful that I’m going through this with you.
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All the very best for the new academic year. We started with out online classes way back in March end. We explored MS Teams and use it as out platform and what an incredible journey it was. We were nervous but today are happy that the teacher student relationship has grown stronger with us available to them 24/7.
You may enjoy reading this: https://soansrezones.home.blog/2020/04/22/the-techie-teacher/
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I really like this idea of building resilience. It really means helping kids believe they are part of something that’s bigger than them but has room for them…like a school building that’s made of people.
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You gave me goosebumps with this slice. You put so clearly into words what so many of us are feelings…all while connecting it to a great book. 💖
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Wise words for everyone involved in the education of children. Thanks for the tip about this book. Can’t believe I never heard of it. I’ll search it out…sounds delightful.
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