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By: Jill Ostrow

Introduction:

Jill Ostrow is a teacher of a blending room of first, second, and third graders. The kids range from ages six-to nine-years-old. Each year her students choose a theme that they will use to "transform" the room. The year that she is writing about is the year of the "Island".

"The key to building community is respect" (5). She spends the beginning of the year establishing a community in which her students can feel they belong and are vital members of the society. This begins by every child taking a role in changing the classroom. They spend a considerable time making it feel like they were really on their own island. The room was transformed into a world that the children could build their community.

She sets up committees for each child to participate in. Each child has their responsibilities and is held accountable in and out of the classroom. There is almost always a discussion with the entire class before any decisions about the classroom is made. The students in the class feel comfortable disagreeing and respect each other’s opinions.

Jill Ostrow challenges every child and their ability range by creating "problems" that the students are to solve. Below is an example of the "garden problem" (90).

In her classroom students can work in groups that they choose. She finds that kids are evenly distributed by ages naturally. Because Ostrow has spent so much time on building a community, students are respectful of everyone in the class. She observes children asking others for help and trying different ways of solving each step. Because of this respect she does not hear children accusing another of cheating. To these children it is common sense that someone else may be able to solve the problem easier.

Ostrow uses these projects because each group has very unique outcomes. She can incorporate every kind of subject into these long projects. Kids seem to be very motivated and they are using problem solving techniques that often aren’t taught this early in the educational system.

This classroom was very remarkable. To have children who are respectful of their peers and who come into class ready to learn each day. Jill Ostrow doesn’t have anyone need "special classes" because no one can be behind in her classroom. Everyone is looked at as an individual. I was inspired by her ability to allow the children to take their own path with projects and even throw out ideas that weren’t working.

Jill Ostrow stresses the importance of adapting ideas each year depending on the children you have. She does not claim that the ideas in this book can be taken and directly applied to a different classroom. She warns teachers that attempt to do this. Rather, she wants teachers to begin to look at students as individual learners that can come together as a strong community. She wants teachers to let the students lead the way and watch what incredible learning can take place.

This book seems very idealistic and leaves me thinking if it is truly possible. As a new teacher I don’t think a classroom like this would be possible. However, I think a classroom, like in this book, is one to strive toward. Each day think of a new way to give more power to the children.