Exit Slip: September 21 (Traditional crafts and learning gardens)

Today's class felt incredibly welcoming. The comfortable atmosphere made the activities were so communal and relaxing. It was so heartwarming to see everyone working on their 5-strand and 7-strand braids, twisting the ropes, and excitedly fashioning a kite. Instead of the competitive environments we are used to, I felt so proud of everyone's creations and appreciative knowing how much work each person put in to their project! 

Throughout our time in the garden, we've frequently discussed the impact of learning gardens on students, especially the 'trouble' ones. The garden offers something that most classrooms don't, and I think that is the gentle chaos of nature. I think that's the reason why students are able to slow down, connect, engage, and question more enjoyably. In the first days of the garden, it was quite a bit to adjust to! The grass, the mud, the bees, the squirrels... every tiny detail that didn't exist in a classroom made it stand out. But that reminds me of Susan's statement in the earlier weeks, about the distractions being more wholesome. At every point in time, we were engaged with elements that made our brains feel pleasant. 

In terms of the activities, what I really loved was that concept of distraction. We all worked at somewhat similar paces, but no one felt distracting or disrupted by another. After just a couple weeks in the garden, we learned how to learn in our own little bubbles while filtering applicable stimuli from the environment. At the same time though, we also became a tighter knit group after understanding each of our personalities and how those fit together. For example, we were all able to marvel in the amusement of the kite-group, and still managed to continue plaiting our ribbons or twisting the blackberry bark or contributing to discussion. The lesson plan also managed to match the flexibility of nature, catering to our own interests, interpretations, and timelines. 

I'd love to bring my students into an environment like this because the patience, focus, independence, motivation, and connection that came out of only 3 weeks is something that can take much longer to recreate in a traditional classroom. It's been a beautiful experience and in the same way our class has been evolving over the last few weeks, our environment is in tandem with that energy and evolving too.