A Classroom Community: Where Everybody Knows Your Name

Article Link: http://exchangepress.com/article/a-classroom-community-where-everybody-knows-your-name/5018349/

“Belonging to a group can provide the child with a variety of resources that an individual friendship
often cannot �" a sense of collective participation, experience with organizational roles, and group
support in the enterprise of growing up. Groups also pose for the child some of the most acute problems of social life �" of inclusion and exclusion, conformity and independence.”
Zick Rubin (20th century), U.S. social psychologist

Five year-old Andrea is starting a new early learning program today. Although this will not be Andrea’s first early care experience, she is anxious. Andrea’s family moves often and she has attended other programs, so she thinks she knows what to expect. Like the programs she has attended before, she anticipates the new classroom will seem large and overwhelming. With little guidance she will be expected to learn her way around, pick up on classroom routines, and quickly fit into the existing peer groups. She is familiar with both the feelings of confusion and alienation of being the new kid on the block.

Fortunately for Andrea, this time will be different. Even before she has entered the room, she is already an important part of her new classroom. She has a cubby already labeled with her ...