Edutopia – Kristin Rydholm
Ask most early childhood teachers and parents/caregivers about “cleanup time,” and watch for commencing eye-rolls. Listen for corresponding phrases such as “I wish they would clean up“ or “They really should clean up.”
Now, carry that perspective through to the beginning of the school year. A new crop of young students and sometimes new teachers, unfamiliar with the classroom and each other, must now collaboratively clean up after independent play. Is it possible to be good at a task that you have limited experience doing, much less participate cooperatively to efficiently get the job done? Probably not.