“Ryan first made a cat and teached me how to make it.” CHARLIE

On Thursday it was Charlie's turn to tell a true story from Studio Red.

I was making a paper cat and Ryan.  Ryan first made a cat and teached me how to make it.  Charlie

          Were there any more people in your story?  Lyla

Bea, Ryan, and me.  She wanted to make a cat.  Charlie

          Why was your story so short?  Vivian

Because it was short.  Charlie

          How did you make one?  Zaahra

I don’t know.  I don’t remember.  Charlie

          How did Ryan make one?  Zaahra

Ryan, how did you make that thingy?  Charlie

 

The Story Documented.

RYAN

First you cut it into a square. 

Now you unfold it. 

And you do it to both sides and then once you’re done you flip it over.  You flip it to the middle. 

Like that, that’s it.

CHARLIE

Wait, you do what? 

How did you do that, Ryan?

How? 

BEATRICE

What comes next? 

You fold it in half.

I don’t even know how to. 

What do you fold? 

How do you make the ears? It looks like a fox.

I can’t. Can you do it for me Ryan? 

It sounds like it is tricky. I know when something is hard it can make us want to stop.  Is there a way to figure it out?  Emily

Yeah, like one time I had to cut it out. 

Look what I made!  Now can you help me make one of those [another cat with different colors]?  I forgot how.

I did it!

This is how learning happens! Children are powerful teachers. We see Ryan doing much more than teaching his peers how to make a paper cat.

He is teaching us about ordering steps of a process.

He is teaching us about how to analyze past steps, seeing the evidence of creases made in paper.

He is teaching us about how to go back and try again.

He is teaching us about how to use descriptive language to give clarity.

He is teaching us how to be encouraging of others.

He is teaching us the joy of sharing knowledge.