Understandings

The little girls rush in from the bus and dart upstairs to put their coats away.  Without any after school snack, they come down single file following the teacher's aide and quickly take their seats in the small conference room.  I try to lay their respective projects out before they come and also to repair any tragic errors in the pieces they are knitting.

My "Littlest Knitters" are growing quickly.  I almost didn't recognize our youngest member as suddenly her teeth have grown in and she has gotten taller.  The girls have a composure while knitting that was not evident at first.  They take their needles and begin their craft, chatting only appropriately in tempo with working.  The bickering has entirely ceased and there is a surprisingly helpful and sympathetic decorum among them. They help me out by finishing my sentences when I am moving around the table.  One girl was concerned that my watch was making my arm hot while I was knitting. She stuck her finger under my watch and said ," It feels sweaty under there. Is it comfortable?"  I told the girls that I am accustomed to always wearing a watch because I am a nurse.  "You are a nurse?"  Hushed silence.

The teacher's aide has finally learned to complete a few lines of knitting as well, without tearing our her work and pouting.  I was able to figure out some errors in her perceptions of starting a new line that put her on the path to becoming more independent.  One of the girls brought in her knitting from home, and asked why it had gotten so much wider as she progressed.  "Let me look" I asked her.  "How many stitches did you cast on?" "Twelve, " she answered.  "Well you have 19 stitches on your needles now.  You increased your stitches along the way."  She took that in stride when I reassured that all knitters somehow change the numbers of stitches that are originally cast on, but that counting helps.

Along the way, I decided to let the girls bring their needles and yarn home for the duration of the week.  We talked about where to safely store them at home, how to remind ourselves to return with them next week, and how to inform teachers that the needles were for a class.  One child said that her teacher is excited to see her knit.  We'll see how our little experiment in responsibility goes.  The girls certainly had solid ideas about how to manage things.

Our most reluctant knitter took a chance yesterday in learning to use single pointed needles.  I gave her the spool with her French knitting in progress and hers is certainly a work of art.  K., I told her, "I am certain you can do this."  Her older sister in the group reassured her with saying that she would help her at home.  She put her hands on mine as I explained the steps.  The other girls recited the mnemonic and laughed at their recollection of it.  I touch K.'s forehead that was furrowed in concentration. "Relax."  It took about a half hour for her to pick up tempo and then she looked at me and said, "Miss Mindy, I can knit."

There is so much potential for growth within this little group.  The girls are dedicated to the process.  Children's minds are incredible.  Along the way, they have picked up my cues and we have come to many understandings. I have come to be more acquainted with them as well.

I can't take photos of the group unless they are officially sanctioned by the agency and by their parents.  One day soon, I think I'll be able to share them with everybody.