The Winter Woods — A Teacher Coach’s Perspective
Hello! My name is Paula and you may see me this winter at Wolbach Farm, as a Teacher Coach with Keara and Sasha. I began working with this group last fall, lending support as BOPN opened this new site—a special place between woods, water, meadow and sky.
A Teacher Coach is someone who serves as another trusted adult for the children, and supports the staff in learning experientially about site assessments, and risky play amongst the elements and land. A Teacher Coach may support and facilitate conversation and communication among staff, students and families. They observe and take notes, sharing reflections, wonderings and resources. Coaches listen to the reflections and wonderings of the teachers as they navigate their roles in supporting child-led learning, nature-based curriculum and the joy (and challenges) of being outdoors in all kinds of weather. We are creating a professional learning community, supporting and learning from each other.
It has been wonderful to see the growing relationships between teachers, students, and land. The daily rhythm of their time together creates a container of safety, allowing deep learning opportunities for the children. This week the children safely viewed frozen water/ice to see what was below the surface, moved their bodies over uneven terrain, carried heavy objects through the woods, experienced hammock play, experienced the color and texture of bark (rubbings), stones and frozen objects, made a shelter, and started a “fire.”
During morning meeting Keara asked the children “What do you see?”
They answered…”cloudy sky, the sun behind clouds, bare trees, the wind making our bodies feel cool, ice, pine needles and the brown all around.”
Paula lives and works on Land of the Massachusett and the Pawtucket (Arlington, Somerville, West Medford). She is a certified nature-based and garden educator, who works with teachers—and children of all ages—in a variety of settings. Growing up in the city, Paula learned in urban nature to love plants, animals, and all beings.
We would like to acknowledge The Sudbury Foundation for their support with teacher professional development—deepening our culture of inquiry and collaborative study.
