We invite you to think with us around “community”. So complex and integrated, connected… What kind of community do we hope for? What does it mean to be a part of a community? What does it feel like? How might we live with community as a verb? Becoming….
Awakening and attending to a community in our childcare spaces is an integral part of everyone’s sense of belonging, sense of place.
Students in all six sections of the infant/toddler virtual placement, alongside their field mentors Laura and Nicole from the Seneca ECE Lab School, spent some time thinking deeper about community. Students were invited to step out of the ECE world and think about what communities they belong to. What insight may we gain from thinking about how those communities come together and continue to stay connected and what makes these communities feel like a place we each choose to belong to?
We invited students to take a moment to write about how these reflections may connect to what you can bring to the creation of community in our practice as an ECE.
As we read through their reflections, we were so inspired by their stories and insights into what makes a community, what gives us a sense of belonging in a community and how we may attend to community within our practice.
We felt called to “collect all voices”, to begin to create a collective expression of these insights, and began to take note of a sentence or few words from each student’s reflection that sparkled. Together they formed a collective insight about what community means to us. We are honoured to share these sparklet poems with you in this three part series, comprised of reflections of over 120 students.
community is both a feeling and a set of relationships among people
being the hand that extends towards others
you value their input and ideas, and they value yours
collective insight, wisdom, and creativity
building a community entails trust, genuineness and compassion
show our genuine care to open ourselves
an environment that feels like home and provides the children with “a beautiful education”
We helped each other in life’s dilemmas
find something in common and experience new things together, we can grow closer
Like a trust fall, able to trust in those around you that they can help cover you
need support from each other
creates a virtuous circle to encourage people willing to engage in our community
increase the connection
Communities don’t just happen due to proximity. They awaken, or become in and with reciprocity between all members of the community.
I really appreciate and thankful being in the community of diverse and multicultural community
a multi-cultural mosaic that offers tastes and sounds from all over the world, united by the love for the natural beauty of the lakes and forests that surround us.; an illustration of a great new beginning and the perfect place to grow some roots…
people that love you and want the best for you
people who make me feel that I can truly be myself around them without feeling judged
we are co-learners in this ECE community
______
I am drawn to these particular communities because we can all find and count on eachother when in need and it is also a place I call home
unconditional love that each individual pours into one another. The way we all genuinely want to see each other grow in a fruitful way.
everyone has the possibility to change
Inviting a space where transparency and vulnerability is welcomed and respected
I show up for others as my authentic self so I can be open and transparent;
_____
people should have same value in the community and there shouldn’t be discrimination against anyone
sharing the same right and responsibilities
be able to straddle cultures and will be comfortable navigating both worlds.; keeping some of our culture alive
value of preserving their cultural identity
Connecting with families is not only providing information to them, it is also connected with each family and support each other
community members will work harmoniously
_____
a cohesive community
we need to work together with respect to each other, families, and everyone
being open and welcoming of people’s personal history, whom they identify with and appreciating their capabilities
joy in meeting new people and finding out what makes them unique.
it is fundamental for the educator to listen and support children, parents, colleagues and the whole school community
listen to each different family’s stories
respect for the uniqueness of and diversity among members of the community
When we get to know the children and they get to know us as well, this will help them to feel safe and supported
always make them aware that they deserve to be where they are, and that they are special
that no community is greater than humanity. So, we should not discriminate among people but we should see everyone equally and with respect
the collective consciousness is important
people can have different opinions, but we should have the same goals
_____
Connection is everything;
In Turkish, we have an expression: “You buy the neighbour. You don’t buy the house.”
Friendship is so precious
Finding a connection with one another
build a relationship that starts with commonality
creating opportunities for communal experiences
it’s particularly important when we communicate with children. They can be our teachers somehow
keeping the memory alive through documentation and storytelling
(Through) communication and collaboration should know that they belong to our world
By being present, I was a supportive friend
_____
children to feel that they are part of this community and they are participating in it as one of the community members
Another way is to remember to allow the children to build their own sense of community with one another
I was welcomed with open arms when I started there
important for educator to communicate with the families of children
I spend a lot of time with them which make me feel we have a strong bond between us
People in the same community work together
I extend the communal sense of togetherness to other members of this community
_____
we have to be there to provide the children a place where they can come to let out their feelings and a place where they know where they won’t be judged for being who they are
Providing love and abundance to feel inclusion accompanies the benefits of experiencing a real and compassionate community
I feel a connection to this community because I identify as part of it
realize that I’m part of something bigger; that what I do and say does matters
something that is truly important and worth fighting for
~Sparklets from ECE316 NAA, NBB, NCC, KAA, KBB and EFP202, Winter Semester, 2021
We have been thinking with what it means to co-compose…
…to co-compose a community
…co-compose our thinking and rethinking
We invite you to share your sparklets on community to add to this collective composition by leaving a comment.
An incredible collection of understanding, care, and purpose. Keep these ideas, these beginnings, as you impact change in our community.
The is a great collection, I especially enjoyed the quotes! They were very thought provoking. Definitely sharing this with my friends and family.
You made me wondering about the complexity of becoming of a community when we include beyond humans in our imaginations. You are reminding me of hopes and determinations while I am struggling with experiencing virtual spaces as a place to meet with my communities. In your reflections I see desires for feeling belonged to a community, or perhaps to many communities. And I see the sense of empowerment that may come with it.
I am wondering about the responsibilities that we need to co-compose in a community.
Thank you for putting this format together. Very kind of all of you. Sense of belonging is crucial for the child and for the parents/caregivers. We are all as strong as the weakest link. If we can touch one child and one parent and make them smile and have a HOPE of their existence, then count it as a huge achievement.