The thunder is booming, and the lightning is flashing so much that I jump as I type this post. I love every minute of the excitement. I’m on the porch; I wouldn’t be any place else. So much about thunderstorms remind me of adventure and excitement – and bravery – as a child. It’s what I give to my preschoolers. Here is one of my favorite posts. It really hits home.
Last evening I was outdoors with my husband and our adult daughter watching the big thunderstorm rumble into our yard. We were all enjoying the anticipation as well as the storm itself. I asked my daughter what memories popped into her head whenever she heard a big storm. She replied, “Camp, of course! We had nothing else; no TV, no computer, just the outdoors. Thunderstorms were great!” Funny thing. This was the same experience with me as a child at camp.
We talked about exciting and adventurous experiences in our childhood, and about childhood itself. We analyzed why children feel the way they do, and what is it that ‘makes a difference’ when they grow up. One thing kept ringing loud and clear. Children who are given experiences that challenge them, who are encouraged to take a chance and ‘do it’, and who have the firm love and support of their family, seem to grow up with a good, strong sense of self.
Roots and wings.
In my classroom I approach each learning experience and activity, planned or unplanned, as an exciting opportunity. We are a family. We help each other, support each other, and encourage each other. We provide roots for each other with daily routine, tenderness, and a positive, fun attitude. We give each other wings when we learn how to write our name, pump a swing, stand in front of a group to talk, or try something new.
Roots and wings.
Remember, it’s all the little experiences, over and over again, that we build upon. It’s not the big things that make a difference. Dancing with painted feet, coming to school at night and singing in the dark, shopping in a real Indian market, painting to classical music, setting up nap mats for other children, finding a new place on our big map with the magnifying glass, reading all the name cards without help… it is the culmination of all these activities, and many others, that make the difference.
I hope that in years to come, children and their families sit through a thunderstorm together, walk through the woods together, or sing in the dark together, and find it is an experience that is exciting. I hope that my Aqua Room classroom, and all we have done together as a group, has helped to give children the experiences to feel a happy and confident sense of self.
Roots and wings.
Jennie
A Teacher's Reflections 
that is such a tremendous, lifelong gift to them, that they will no doubt pass on to their children one day
I feel the same way, Beth. Thank you!
I’m sure you have done all these things for your classes over the years, Jennie. They’ve been so lucky to have you.
That’s so nice to say. Thank you, Anneli!
Beautiful, Jennie 💛
Thank you, Ritu! 💕
Yes you are right, the little experiences matter a lot. Excursions in the forest, nature , fishing, swimming, little trips, etc.
Regarding thunderstorms. The thunderstorms in northern Sweden, where I grew up, were fun to watch, but here in Texas you often have to seek shelter. They are dangerous. I was sitting in my backyard having a beer as a thunderstorm approached. I decided to go inside and one minute later a tornado ripped a piece of a neighbor’s roof and smashed our chimney and bricks flew all over where I had been sitting one minute earlier. That never happened in northern Sweden.
How scary! Our thunderstorms in Massachusetts can be violent with wind and rain and lightening, but rarely a tornado.
This is either an old post or you alluded to it before because I remember telling you that we had a reading program called Success for All. One of the main concepts was to group kids along ability levels rather than by grades. It was also divided into Roots and Wings.
Growing up in the Midwest, we had our share of thunderstorms and tornado warnings. Thunderstorms are quite rare where we live now. One day we had a doozie while at school. Many of the children had never been in a thunderstorm before. As much as I tried to tell them they were safe indoors, some were totally freaked out.
Yes, it was an old post, and perfect for the moment. I do remember Success for All, a great plan. I like that it was divided into Roots and Wings.
That’s so interesting thunderstorms are rare where you live. What a big difference from the Midwest. I can see kids being freaked out.
Love a good storm- washes away the cobwebs my mum would say. Happy weekend Jennie.
Wise mum! Happy weekend to you, FR.
I also love thunderstorms, but I fear that many of today’s children wil only complain about the loss of Wi-Fi signal! 😊
Best wishes, Pete.
Sad but true!
I love storms, as long as I’m not driving in them.
Me, too.
We also had a doozy the other night, Jennie. I bet there were a lot o dog shivering and looking for a place to hide, like under a bed.
Yes!
You are so right, Jennie. It is the little things that we build into our life story.
Yes, yes!!
Great tips and insights.
Thank you.
You hit the nail on the head once again. Children need roots and wings. My parents gave us the ground rules and then encouraged us to be the best we could be. They understood that we would have to fall down a few times before we could fly. I like to think I passed that on to my children as well. Isn’t it great to talk about these things with our grown up kids?
Thank you, Darlene. Yes, children do! Bravo to your parents. They are role models for raising children. And yes, you are the same with your children. It is SO great for parents to talk about these things with their children. We are lucky to have had those conversations and experiences with our children when they were adults!
I love this roots and wings post! You’ve explained children’s fundamental needs very clearly. We had thunderboomers last night.
This is one of my favorite posts, Liz. Thank you! The weather app radar showed big thunderboomers your way. Do you like thunderstorms?
You’re welcome, Jennie. I enjoy watching thunderstorms as long as there aren’t high winds threatening to bring tall trees down on our house.
I feel the same way! 🙂
A lovely post, Jennie. Talking with our grown children about their childhood is one of the treats of life.
I’m so glad to hear you talk with your grown children about their childhood, too. Since our two live far away, Oregon and Virginia, we don’t see them often. That means childhood stories come along more often. It’s definitely one of the treats of life. Best to you, John.
Best to you, Jennie.
😀
😊
I love thunderstorms too – the great flashes in the sky, and the smell of the ozone in the air. My children are also adults. And though they are very different people with different ideas than me, I hope that I too have given them roots and wings. They are in their late 20’s and I don’t see them as often as I’d like, but I know they are living their own lives and making those discoveries young adults need to make.
Yes, thunderstorms are wonderful! It wasn’t until our children were in their mid-30’s that we had these great conversations. When they were in their 20’s, they were still on ‘their’ radar, and hadn’t yet absorbed everything else. Make sense? Never doubt that these unexpected moments will happen.
Hi Jennie, thank you for an excellent post!
I’m glad you enjoyed it, Charles!
I’m sure the children in your classes have taken away a greater sense of self then when they first started. You teach such wonderful lessons, Jennie.
I hope they have, Deborah. Thank you for your kind words.
It continues to be a challenge as they move into and through high school. Different roots, different wings, but the same necessary balance.
Well said, Elizabeth.
Excellent philosophy. Where fi i sign up for next year???😉
That would be wonderful! 😀
Beautiful Jennie. It’s the little things. ❤
Thank you, Debby. Yes, it most certainly is the little things!
❤
Hi Jennie, I enjoy thunderstorms too. We get some very wild and ferocious ones here and I’ve been on safari during a cloudburst before. That is some experience as the rain stings your exposed skin like tiny ice bullets. A great post.
Stinging rain must really hurt. It must be like hail. Best to you, Robbie.
It does hurt. Foreign tourists don’t understand our climate and they think the sun always shines here. This rain is also very, very cold.
I love this, Jennie!! What beautiful experiences for the children in your classes! These are all the things I did with my kids and now with my two little grand girls 💕 Roots and Wings, you’re so right!!!
I’m so glad! Thank you, Debbie.