‘The secret of change is to focus all of your energy not on fighting the old but building on the new.’- Socrates
One thing that I have learnt is that change can take time. I know that because when I was a new school dog I had to do my work in little steps and stages.
I had to do small visits to Peterhouse. First I only visited when no one was there. Then I visited more often but I mainly stayed in Lesley’s room and only went further when all the children had gone. Next Lesley started walking me through school but this was to help me get to know all the different places and all the children and staff to get to know me when I was working.
Do you know that my coat says ‘please ignore me’ on it? That is something that helps me so that I don’t get too excited because if everyone said hello to me I would forget all of the things that I need to do. When I practiced walking around school everyone ignored me and it helped me change from a home puppy to a working school dog! We all have things that help us and everyone at Peterhouse has different things that help them.
I also learnt a new word this week. Not for me to use but something that I do that I didn’t know I was doing. My word is ‘transition’. This means a time of change, learning about a new process, taking time to get it right. Sometimes I help in transitions.
When I help I do lots of different things. Sometimes I help to do tours of the school. I am often a focus when I go into a classroom so it means that new children can come with me and I help to join in games or playtime or snack with everyone. Hopefully it is fun! I think so. I can sit quietly while we all get used to new spaces. I can also do my own tricks and have fun in helping people to make friends and get to know each other. Also some children like to visit me in my room to just be with me for a short time. I think they must know that I had to transition to Peterhouse in the same way as them.
One thing I know too is that change always happens. I have learnt that because I am now in my 4th year of being a school dog! New people, new equipment, new activities. Sometime I have to think very hard to work out what to do when there is a change but a good thing at Peterhouse is that there are lots of choices and ways of helping everyone to get things right for them. We all like to do things in our own way. It is important that we help each other so we can be successful.
I have been helping different people do different things this school year. I have helped with reading, walking, making friends, concentration but I have also found out that transition is one of the things that I do too. I thought I was just having fun…. but isn’t that what education is all about?
#funinlearning #transitionhelp #schooldoggoals #peterhousepup #personalisedlearning
