Tool Belts, Anger, and Sunflowers

When animals ate the corn in Victor Soto's students' garden, he used it as a teaching tool. What kind of animal leaves those prints? What should we plant here? How can we help it grow? A beautiful bed of sunflowers resulted.

Victor's solution represents just one of the creative learning approaches he acquired through PO's Human Development program-approaches that he integrates daily into his work at Pacific Oaks Children's School. Techniques such as peaceful conflict resolution help Victor teach students valuable communication skills. He encourages his four-year-olds to recognize and name emotions and settle disagreements productively. Mom left for work-"I am sad." A friend took away the toy-"I am angry." "You are angry at John. How can you express that without hitting him?"

Victor's straightforward teaching philosophy stems from PO's human development program and his experience at The Children's School.

"You need a tool belt. One approach won't always work in the same situation."

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