Let the Voices be heard

How many times have you felt the need to switch things up but also felt the need to just stay quiet because "it might be best" ? We preach constantly about active participation while some still lack a voice to actually be centered with enough courage to speak up their true mind.

I have a voice and frankly I use it often for my best abilities or to speak about what I feel unjust. However this does not mean I may be everyone's cup of tea and I got my fair share of so much indescribable adjectives. Does it get under my skin? At times indeed! Not everyone likes to hear a different opinion, perspective or dialogue and debate. Many times it is due to intimidation or worst of all fear.

Photo Credits to Clive Pace Pictures during our son's confirmation back in May

Honestly after 36 years on this planet I can read body language and smell dodginess from around the corner. Why? Because I have learnt that not everyone may like to hear what's on my mind! Therefore instead of having a civil conversation about it, some find it easier to gang up, twist my words or simply misinterpret my true argument. Yes at times it is just to upboost an individual's own self-esteem but at times I tend to agree to disagree when a case lacks key elements to communication. Hence resulting in loss of understandment.

Sounds familiar right? The reason is because eventually in our life, one day or another we have experienced these kind of individuals, scenarios and circumstances. It is unlikely that you have never encountered a confrontation or disapproved over what other individuals are saying or doing. Why? Because that is part of a living society. Not everyone is of the same understandment and what is logical to us may not be practically in normality.

4 different perspectives of DUCKS during a work shop with Amy McMillian .

Creating Lego Ducks at a workshop in the Bright Start Conference in Athens with Amy McMillian

Now in my years of teaching kindergarteners, I have had numerous occasions in which I had to speak my mind. Nevertheless it doesn't mean it always ended up the way I desired and not everytime it felt as an inclusive decision. BUT does it stop me from trying? Does it stop me from speaking my truth? No! Why? Because from a young age life has taught me differently. As written in Article 12 of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC)

"It is every child/young person's right to have their voice heard in decisions that affect them".

This Article is a universal law that gives children rights to voice out their personal feelings, opinions and arguments that will affect them from a young age. I am proof of this Article because if I have never knew about these rights, I would have thought differently on how I could speak up my mind in a democratic approach.

Providing a Voice for our students before starting an eTwinning collaborative project

My own personal encounters have taught me that unless I make children aware of their rights, they can not fight for what they truly believe in. Their presence on this planet is not to abide by the adult world and move along with whatever they are told. They are the society, civilization and an important piece to the future. If they are not provided with key elements such as speaking their truth, there would be lesser chances of our future looking brighter. Unless children are given the right tools to learn how to project their ideas, thoughts and suggestions, they can not express themselves when they are older. There would be less probability to civil discussions, more animosity, fear and above all a world with no rights for different opinions. Hence less likely to see change grow beautiful and an increase in conflicts arise.

This is what motivates me to engage my students into making their own decisions, discussions, debates and involve themselves in their own growth. I allow them to conflict and resolve their personal issues, giving them time to settle their differences while compromising their own. They have freedom of thoughts and get opportunities to share, respect and support a community that is willing to accept change. As hard as it is for all of us, children too need assistance and guidance. Before we go any further, we learn how to evaluate all possibilities. We explore feelings and emotions, while accepting that our happiness and sadness are not the only two important elements that we will encounter across in our life.

Two students having a civil debate during their Freeplay about sharing resources

Our classroom revolves around student's choices. They get the chance to present their ideas and execute them with all successes while embracing failures. They get the chance to plan their own content, debate over common conflicts and above all work wholesomely. It is not all perfect roses and sunshines, because we get the tittle tattle arguments and those shoves, pushes or tugs. How are they resolved? We commute. Communication is not just a "hello" on a cellphone or a "goodbye" at the end of our day. In our classroom communication is an element to express your own opinion, understanding the differences, evaluate possibilities and act together. As adults we might be spontaneous with what we say or do because our thought process may be quicker, however with young children their thinking process is rapidly increasing and changing. Hence their pauses are not to be misinterpreted or pre-assumed.

A debate can take them time to resolve but once they get the chance, courage and right opportunities to be heard, then the process would become less of a struggle and more empowering. How do we keep up with so many tiny beautiful voices? We listen! We do not pressure, nor impose. We listen! We do not force our own ideas or shut down others opinions. We listen!

Two students having two totally different perspectives on how to do things as a pair.

After we listen, we discuss the similarities, the differences and the endless possibilities. We move forward together by evaluating as many outcomes as we can and we act in the best interests of those involved. We provide a platform for decisions to be taken in the open allowing freedom of expressions to be debatable. This way we have time to converse and dialogue together to meet all parties and have inclusive experiences.

How do we do it? Stop! Yes.... We Stop! Stop from whatever you are doing, change your plans, rotate your focus around the children's voices, stop whatever you are doing and listen. Easedrop every time you can and watch the 100 languages of children. See how they react to one another, watch them build their communities and provide them with the necessary skills which will keep these communities at peace. Provide opportunities to work in teams, group works, pairs and help them work with different perspectives. Challenge their knowledge and upskill their levels of thoughts. Encourage them to take a giant leap of faith and explore the possibilities of their ideas. Allow them to voice out their own content through different medias and above all love them for doing so.

When 2 voices become one. The success of the 2 students on the previous photo.

As hard as it may seem for us adults to let the voices of children be heard, we need to let them try. We fear for them and we tend to jump on that helicopter a bit too quickly. Let us give them a chance to explore and voice out what they don't like about how things are around them, what preferences they have, what knowledge they bestow, what ideas they came up with and how these can help them become fearless active voices in the future.

I once was that child who had such opportunities that eventually made me the person I am today. Love me or hate me I stand by my own voice as it is what keeps me grounded. Not everyone likes me for what I do, how I act and more so how I respond. But yet again I am sought for the way I act, for what I do and how I respond. Why? Because I have learnt how to accept, move on, be fearless and above all celebrate how difference can beautify into a successful changes worth every celebration too.

Children have 100 languages! Let them use their voices more often than we speak