There is a unique kind of learning that happens when we pair older and younger students together. The older students encounter a new level of responsibility, as they are given the task of guiding the younger students through activities and Meeting For Worship. The third graders develop greater reflective ability, as they assess their own actions in the new light of modeling behavior for their younger partners. The kindergartners are essentially star struck by "the big kids." and they bask in the attention and connection. The kindergartners feel a deeper sense of safety and belonging in the school community, and the happiness they feel is evident in the way that they greet their partners in the hall, in the classroom, and on the playground. When children feel more securely connected to their school community, they are better able to learn and thrive. The third graders got to model their reading skills for the kindergartners earlier this week, as they read books to the students before going to Meeting For Worship. We have found that engaging the children in quiet activities before the journey to the meetinghouse settles them in a way that makes the experience more comfortable and meaningful.
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