The role of the teacher at the Growing Place has multiple dimensions. First and foremost the teacher is a keen observer of the children: listening, watching and documenting their ideas, feelings, and ways in which they communicate. Teachers notice the children’s competencies, ways of approaching the world, styles of interaction, preferred modalities for learning, and support them to expand these as they encounter other children who may not share their perspective. She shares her observations on each child as a member of the group, both with her teaching team, and with the parents of each child in a formal conference twice a year and informally all through the year.

The teacher assists children in making bridges to other children and adults in our school community. Our teachers encourage building relationships through shared experiences but also by teaching social skills, modeling problem solving, and providing language and strategies for conflict resolution. Our teachers slow things down so that the child can understand how their actions and words have effect. Teachers also scaffold or provoke children into considering other ideas and strategies to expand their repertoire of skills and ideas.

Our teachers work with children in small groups and ask what we call “think starter” questions. Rather than “give” answers to a child’s inquiry, our teachers can be heard reflecting the children’s words and encouraging them to consider where they might find their own answer. As researchers along with the children, our teachers are receptive to following the children’s lead in what to explore next. They encourage children to revisit experiences by documenting them so that they can become a story, a dramatic play, a discussion in the group, and a springboard for the next step in the curriculum.

In order to do this kind of teaching, the Growing Place staff is engaged in continuous reflection of their own work. They meet weekly with their teams to share and dialogue. They spend planning time each week to communicate with colleagues and parents by creating documentation including the daily reflection stories, planned possibilities, and panels. They save the children’s work to help them to see the progress they are making and the fun they are having. They continue their own growth by attending regular workshops, university course and visiting other schools using innovative practices. The teachers and staff at the Growing Place are the most critical resource we have and they are the ones who make a difference in each child and each family’s experience in our programs.