The Croft School
The Croft School: Jamaica Plain, a high-quality private school built around the attributes of “rigor and spark,” “student-centeredness,” “balance,” “strong relationships,” “outstanding teachers, collaborative improvement,” and “diversity, inclusivity, and anti-racism,” opened in Summer 2020. I volunteer there twice a week, Tuesdays and Thursdays.
As I don’t want to violate any of the children’s privacy, I am writing blog posts. Feel free to read about my experiences!
Week 1
Today was my first day at The Croft School, and I’m already feeling excited for the weeks ahead. Each afternoon is a good mix of learning and play: from 3:15 to 4:20, I work with 3rd graders during their Marine Biology block; from 4:20 to 5:00, I join the 1st graders for Free Play; and from 5:00 to 5:30, I help with clean-up and pick-up. In Marine Biology, I helped students research aquatic mammals and create slide presentations. We focused on foundational skills like spelling, research techniques, and presenting, which helps with building confidence and curiosity along the way! During Free Play with the 1st graders, I got a glimpse into how to foster creativity through hands-on activities. We played mermaids in the rain, and their imagination really came alive. Bonding with the kids and beginning to form those student-teacher relationships gave me a glimpse into what it really feels like to be an educator. I can already tell this experience will be both joyful and meaningful.
Week 2
This week is my second time coming to the Croft School. The kids take a minute to adjust to my presence, but after 10 minutes of questioning who I am, they warmed right up! The kids had free-play from 3:30-5 and they love it. A group of 8 kids and I played some tag, duck-duck goose, and most of all, I taught them how to make a ton of paper fortune tellers. I found that paper fortune tellers are such a great way to learn and practice spelling, identifying colors and numbers, using imagination, and of course, interacting with other students. Overall, it was a quick day, but we had a lot of fun working on these basic skills through engaging activities!
Week 3
My third week was packed with activities. We started off with some independent time where the kids could work on homework, classwork, or just read. While they were busy, I walked around and did quick check-ins with each of them. Later, we headed outside to play. The swings became a hot spot, and the kids started fighting over whose turn it was. To keep things fair (and avoid more arguments), I decided on a system where each kid got three minutes on the swings before switching. It worked out well and everyone eventually got their turn.
Week 4
This week, I really started to feel settled into the routine. During Marine Biology, we talked about coral reefs and why they’re so important. The kids made little posters showing what lives there and how everything connects in the food chain. They got super creative — one even drew a “shark café”! Later with the 1st graders, we built a “coral city” out of blocks, inspired by what the older kids had learned. It was sweet seeing how ideas travel between groups. I’m starting to realize how curiosity can spread when kids get excited about something.
Week 5
Today was one of those days where things just clicked. I tried a “quiet challenge” during independent reading — whoever stayed focused the longest got to pick our next game. It worked better than I expected! We ended up playing a spelling version of Simon Says, and everyone had a blast. I’m learning that structure and fun don’t have to be opposites — if kids know what’s expected, they rise to it. Seeing them laugh and work together reminded me that learning isn’t only about lessons; it’s also about community.
Week 6
This week was buzzing with excitement. The Marine Biology group worked on presentations about endangered sea animals, and I helped them research and organize their slides. They were so proud to share what they’d found — it was awesome watching their confidence grow. During Free Play, a few kids turned the playground into an “underwater adventure” and invited me to be the sea captain. It’s moments like that — when imagination takes over — that remind me how powerful play can be for connection and communication.
Week 7
Rainy days can be tricky, but this one turned out great. Since we couldn’t go outside, I set up a mini “science station” with recycled materials. The kids built pretend ocean habitats and talked about how pollution affects marine life. Later, we had a cozy storytime with The Pout-Pout Fish. Slowing down gave me a chance to really notice each kid’s personality and how they learn. I’m realizing that being flexible is one of the best things you can be as a teacher — sometimes the best moments come from last-minute ideas.
Week 8
This week was all about teamwork. The 3rd graders started turning their Marine Biology projects into a mini “ocean museum.” I helped them set up displays and write labels, and they were so into it. The 1st graders joined in by making fish decorations, and it turned into this big group effort. Watching the older kids help the younger ones made me so proud — they’re learning leadership without even realizing it. It’s amazing to see them take ownership and work together toward something they care about.
Week 9
I can’t believe how fast these weeks have gone. This week, the 3rd graders presented their Marine Biology projects to the class, and they absolutely crushed it. You could tell how much they’d learned — and how proud they were. Afterwards, I joined the 1st graders for their favorite game of tag. It’s funny how even in play, I can see how much they’ve grown — they share more, argue less, and include everyone. Looking back, it’s wild how much we’ve all learned together — not just about science, but about patience, teamwork, and joy.