Dear beloved children, I am your teacher, and you are mine.
Dear beloved children,
Our journey began here where I sat amongst the floating papers, scattered staples, the books and the toys. I looked around the room with great intention and immense joy. I pictured where the new friendships would bud, where your inquisitive questions might be inspired and where in this space you might reach a new milestone, with eyes of glee and awe. I’ve arranged each piece of furniture for you, just so that I can be accessible to all of your beautiful assortment of needs. I placed visual aids on the walls displaying our shared values of kindness, faith, belonging and sensitivity for you and yours. I am blessed. I am the lucky one that gets to ride these waves with you for the next year. I hope, oh goodness do I hope, that I make a difference in your life, because YOU are my reason why.
Dear beloved children,
You ALL belong here. When you walk in our threshold we are the I can, you can, we can team. We hope you will find representation of your stories across our walls as we begin to write our own. Let kindness be our guide and empathy be our compass. We promise to revel in your wonder, hang on to your laughter and be the calm voice and gentle ear when your feelings become bigger than you. You all belong here, if we can accomplish that feeling, the rest will fall in to place as it has always meant to be.
Dear beloved children,
I am your teacher, and you are mine.
Rena Rosen is a long time JCC Chicago Early Childhood educator and co-author of “The Courage to Be Kind,” a groundbreaking children’s book that teaches children and the adults who care for them how to appropriately navigate interactions with individuals who have visible differences.