I witnessed so many amazing moments at Prairie Creek that it is hard to pin down just one. I chose the image of Ravi’s Birthday circle (and, relatedly, the impromptu goodbye circle) because it felt special being there that day and sharing a moment with this special little community. This image also encompasses many of the values that are emphasized at prairie creek and gives a good representation of my time there. Ravi’s birthday circle is both what it sounds like and so much more. It was Ravi’s birthday and the students all sat in a circle. We were told that this was a prairie creek tradition for birthdays.

First, the class sang a birthday song called Kings and Queens. Then, they go around the circle and each student tells the birthday boy why they are glad he was born. It is truly incredible how thoughtful second and third graders can be when prompted. Many of Ravi’s friends mentioned how funny he is and how he’s a great friend to them. One boy said that he appreciated how he was kind to everyone even if they were not friends. Another student mentioned how their class would not be the same without him. All of the students ended their share with a “Happy Birthday Ravi!”

This tradition shows the strength of the prairie creek community. Teachers take time out of learning to prioritize these special events that allow students to reflect on their gratitude. In saying something nice about the birthday person, students practice social skills and interaction which is another theme that prairie creek emphasizes. I felt almost brought to tears by the show of affection for the birthday boy. It was clear that all of the students were grateful that he was in the class and the teachers said some very sweet things. I never did anything like this in school and I think my community could have benefitted from these community-building events.

On our last day of tutoring, we forgot to mention to Molly that it was our last day until it was almost time to leave. She quickly gathered all the students onto the carpet and instructed them to sit in a circle. They then did an impromptu version of the birthday circle where they told us what they enjoyed from our time together and what they wanted to thank us for. It was adorable and very moving to get to hear the impact that we have had on these students over our short time together. Children are so influenced by the people in their lives and I am so happy that I was able to have a positive impact on so many of these amazing students.

These activities remind me that school is not all about rote memorization of facts. Social development is just as important as learning curriculum. I hope that as a teacher I will have the freedom and ability to be able to take time out of the day to emphasize special activities such as these. Activities like the birthday circle are a sort of positive reinforcement because they remind a student how integral he is to the class. This image led to a final conclusion that positive reinforcement is important for learning and should be used rather than punishment or negative reinforcement such as shaming.

I feel so blessed to have been able to work with the Egrets at Prairie Creek and hope I can go back to visit!