"Won't You Be My Neighbor?": Fostering Connection through Mister Rogers' Legacy By: Sarah Wilt

 "Won't You Be My Neighbor?"

Fostering Connection through Mister Rogers' Legacy

By: Sarah Wilt

During a school year where teachers nationwide have been taking to TikTok to share their classroom challenges, professional learning communities have become more important than ever. Recognizing this need, the Pennsylvania Council of Teachers of English and Language Arts (PCTELA) hosted a professional development book club this past February. Led by 2023 conference committee co-chairs Emily Trace and Ryan Kaiser, this book club served as a follow-up event to PCTELA's annual conference, where keynote speakers Gregg Behr and Ryan Rydzewski shared insights from their book, "When You Wonder, You're Learning." Similar to the viral Tiktok discussions, the PCTELA book club offered educators a space to share their experiences and explore the teachings of Fred Rogers, creator and host of the popular television series Mister Rogers' Neighborhood.

Over the course of four weekly meetings, book club participants delved into different chapters of the book, engaging in collaborative discussions inspired by Rogers' profound impact on education and personal growth. The diverse group of participants—from various education levels and career stages—contributed to rich discussions and an exchange of valuable insights. 

One strategy that resonated with the group was the concept of daily 'vibe checks.' Inspired by Mister Rogers' emphasis on nurturing emotional intelligence and fostering a supportive learning environment, I conduct these quick and informal check-ins with my students, asking them if they're striving (behind but have a plan/just need a bit of work time), thriving (on top of all their work/ready for more), or just surviving (struggling/need help). These vibe checks help me gauge their socio-emotional well-being and foster a sense of connection in the classroom. Depending on student answers, class time might shift to be more like a study hall to complete late work or stations in which I can meet one on one with students who are struggling. To my delight, a fellow educator who teaches special education shared that she was inspired by this idea and decided to implement vibe checks in her own classroom. Despite her extensive experience and different teaching context, she found that her students responded positively to this approach. This experience highlighted to all in our group the true value of collaboration and idea-sharing among educators, as we each bring unique insights and perspectives to the table, regardless of our career stage or specialization.

As we explored the book's themes and methodologies, our conversations branched out into various teaching strategies and resources that resonated with Mister Rogers' approach. We shared techniques and resources, such as humy.ai for AI-generated conversations with historical figures, Skype with a Scientist, Wonderopolis.org, and the Wonder Jar, where students can ask questions for their peers to research and answer. These tools, along with resources like Blob Tree, The First Five, and book recommendations, provided a wealth of ideas for participants to implement in their classrooms and share with colleagues at their own schools.

During one enlightening meeting, authors Gregg Behr and Ryan Rydzewski joined us to share further insights, emphasizing the importance of nurturing curiosity and self-discovery in both children and adults—a core aspect of Fred Rogers' methodology. They discussed how creating opportunities for wonder and exploration not only enriches learning experiences but also cultivates a sense of self-awareness and personal growth. A memorable quote from Ryan Rydzewski summed up the essence of our conversations: "It's like going to church. You don't go to church to learn new things; you go to church to be reminded of the goodness we are and are already doing." This sentiment underscored the value of reflective practice and the power of connecting with like-minded educators in fostering professional growth. The book club provided a safe space for us to share not only our thoughts on the book but also our personal frustrations and difficulties, which served as a powerful reminder that we are not alone in our dedication to providing the best possible education for our students, even when faced with obstacles. Through this shared experience, many of us rediscovered our passion for teaching and found solace in the knowledge that we are part of a larger community committed to fostering growth and exploration in the classroom.

The PCTELA book club cultivated a space where educators could collectively draw inspiration from the Quaker principle, embodied by Fred Rogers, that "attitudes are caught, not taught." Through our discussions in February, both Rogers' teachings and the connections I formed with fellow educators motivated me to adapt my end-of-semester research project unit. Instead of giving a specific prompt to my students, I transformed the assignment into an opportunity for students to embark on a personal "deep dive" into topics that genuinely interest them. Now my students are exploring their own senses of wonder and curiosity through developing their own personal research plan and annotated bibliography of helpful sources. This new approach has already generated a palpable buzz of excitement among my students, demonstrating the power of Mister Rogers' methodology. One student shared, "If I put my mind to it, I can enjoy getting my homework done and I can get it done well." Another expressed, "I'm a better thinker and imagine-er than I thought!" Furthermore, a group of three girls, who were not originally friends, all connected over a shared passion in researching possible cosmetology careers and began daydreaming about owning their own salon together some day. By embracing connection and collaboration with my fellow PCTELA educators, my classroom is now becoming a place where attitudes of excitement, growth, and wonder are not only caught but celebrated, leading to greater student engagement and a lifelong love for learning. Now, that’s something worth posting about on TikTok.

To further explore insights from Gregg Behr and Ryan Rydzewski, readers are recommended to visit the "When You Wonder, You're Learning" book website as well as their nonprofit organization, Remake Learning. To learn more about Fred Rogers or to watch episodes of Mister Rogers Neighborhood, readers can visit the official Fred Rogers website.

Mx. Sarah Wilt teaches 9th/10th grade English online at Bridgeway Homeschool Academy. Beyond teaching, Sarah enjoys spending time outside with her dogs, birding, reading long books & manga/comics, playing video games, and learning new things. Connect with Sarh here: @SWiltEdu  LinkedIn & YouTube