All names are changed for privacy
Children are natural learners, absorbing the world around them through curiosity and conversation. As educators, we've found that the most profound moments of learning and connection don’t happen through formal lessons but through simple, everyday interactions.
Who Gave You Joy Today?
The other day, a volunteer watched as Emily, a young student, wrote in her daily journal. They read the prompt, "Who gave you joy today?" together.
Emily smiled and replied, “My baby sister, Maylah”
Our volunteer, Sara says “Let’s write her name! How do you think you spell it?”
Emily paused, sounding it out. “M-O-L-U?”
Thinking she knew the correct spelling, Sara gently offered, “Maybe it’s M-I-L-A-? Hmmm...I’m not sure either. Let’s ask your mom.”
It was a small but perfect moment—proof that learning isn’t about having all the right answers but about the joy of figuring things out together.
A Moment of Curiosity
Later, as they were reading a book together, they came across the word “curious” Sara asked Emily, “Sara, what do you think “curious” means?”
Emily hesitated. “Um… being nice?”
Sara smiled, “Good guess. Actually, it means that you are interested in something and have a lot of questions about it. Are you curious about something? ”
Emily’s eyes lit up. “Polar bears,” she said.
Sara said, “What kinds of questions do you have about polar bears?”
Emily fired off ten questions about polar bears, “Why is their skin pink or brown? Why do they live in the cold? Why is their fur white?...”
“Emily, you are very CURIOUS about polar bears!” Sara laughed.
The Power of Playful Learning
Late one afternoon, Ella was working on a new 250 piece puzzle with two volunteers. As they worked on the puzzle together, Ella said “Ms Sara that was a F----, G, H..”because she hadn’t put together any puzzle pieces for awhile. They playfully graded each other’s efforts—if someone found a piece that was missing for a long time they’d announce, “That was an A+++!”
Proud of putting together some pieces that made Snoopy’s face, Ella announced, “That was an A to infinity!”
Sara turned to her, intrigued. “Do you know what infinity means?”
Ella grinned. “It’s the biggest number you can think of.”
Sara’s eyes widened. “That’s right!”
After thinking about their conversation, Sara is going to go back and talk to Ella about what infinite means a little more because it can also mean boundless or without limit like God’s grace and love.
Learning That Never Ends
These small, seemingly ordinary conversations are where the real magic of learning happens. When children are encouraged to ask, wonder, and make connections, they’re not just memorizing facts—they’re developing curiosity, critical thinking, and a love for discovery.
Maybe learning is a little like infinity. It never really stops.