William doesn’t want to clean up again. I remember he doesn’t like circle time. I sit beside him and try to understand what he wants to tell me. He wants to say he doesn’t like circle time. I look into his eyes. “Can you play quietly?” he says softly. “Yes,” I reply. Some other children join in, and I ask them to play quietly too. I’m glad the OWL technique helps us have a good circle time where we meet everyone’s needs. I remember what Kathleen said about each child having different needs.

Educators work with a pedagogy of listening to notice the many ways children express themselves, recognizing that intentional, open listening is the basis of reciprocal relationship. BC ELF page 18.