Discovering Connection and Gratitude Through Learning

At SYV Family School, our mission has always centered on nurturing the whole child by honoring their natural wonder, fostering connection, and encouraging lifelong learning. This season, we’re reminded how deeply these values shape everything we do, from the relationships we build to the ways our children engage with the world around them.

In 2006, I sold my home, let go of most of my possessions, and embarked on a 257-day walk across the United States. Moving at a three-mile-an-hour pace gave me the gift of perspective. When you slow down enough, you begin to notice the rhythm of footsteps, the changing light, and, most moving of all, the stories people carry. I realized that we just need to slow down, listen, and connect. True understanding arrives when we pay attention to the patterns that link us to one another.

That same idea is at the heart of our teaching. During in-service week at the beginning of the school year, our Green Door (preschool) team engaged in a professional development experience that marked an exciting step forward: the adoption of Bridges in Mathematics into our early childhood curriculum.

The Bridges approach aligns beautifully with our philosophy. Instead of teaching math as a series of isolated skills, Bridges invites children to explore patterns, relationships, and ideas in ways that are meaningful to them. Preschoolers are naturally curious; they count, sort, and measure long before they know those words. They notice shapes in clouds, compare the length of sticks, and wonder who has more snack crackers. Bridges builds on that innate curiosity, giving teachers tools to guide discovery and help children relate everyday moments to mathematical thinking, to each other, and to the world around them.

During the training, we explored playful routines that encourage children to ask questions, share their reasoning, and see math as part of their world. We also learned how Bridges integrates storytelling and play, perfectly aligning with the joyful, experiential learning that defines our Green Door program.

By weaving Bridges into our preschool classrooms, we deepen our commitment to an education that begins with the child. When math grows out of their own wonderings and investigations, understanding follows naturally, and children discover how ideas connect to each other, to the people around them, and to the world.

Connection is what makes learning meaningful. It’s in the moments when students collaborate, ask for help, share discoveries, and delight in the insights of others. It’s in the curiosity of a child noticing a shape in a cloud and the teacher responding with encouragement. It’s in the way our school community comes together to support one another, celebrate successes, and explore the world side by side.

And that connection leads us to gratitude. Slowing down to notice the relationships between ideas, people, and the environment reminds us of all we have to appreciate. We are grateful for our students’ curiosity, the dedication of our teachers, and the families who partner with us to create a joyful, engaging, and supportive learning community. Each day, we witness small acts of wonder and collaboration that remind us of how deeply connected we are and how fortunate we are to be part of this community.

Check out the video below to see Preschool math in action!