Eldon Park, Ruby Avenue, North Vancouver, BC, Canada
This week we have been focused Well Being and Belonging from the Early Learning Framework (ELF) and connecting it to our inquiry question of how can we enhance community in connection with the land through the setting of a community garden.
The idea of well-being and belonging is inherently tied to community as it is our communities that connect us to each other and give many people a sense of belonging. Our students are all part of a class community, but also a wider community that develops their learning and lived experiences. The connection between community and well-being also led many of us to think of the outdoors and connecting to the land which led us to explore community gardens which have been important sites of mindfulness and connection.
One of the main questions that we reflected on is what materials, spaces, or rituals/routines invite joyful engagement, and what materials, spaces, or rituals/routines seem to inhibit joyful engagement? This is an important topic for us to question as teachers as it forces us to assess our practices and how the environments we create affect students’ engagement and happiness. The creation of strict rules and structures can inhibit student engagement as they are not allowed to explore and engage with their interests. The creation of rules such as “students cannot get dirty” or students “have to follow a strict group plan which is determined by the teacher” can disengage students and could make them feel disconnected from these places of community engagement.
While it is important to provide some structure for student safety there should still be room for exploration and play which is student determined. This allows students to follow their interests and find joy in their communities. As adults when we are engaged in the community in a place such as the community garden we do not want nor expect strict rules for how we engage with the land and this same respect should be given to students. As teachers and community leaders we should provide others with the tools to succeed and follow their interests so that we can grow community in places that foster and develop joyfulness.