Building Community: Our Grade 1 & EY4 Buddy Partnership

by Sweta Agrawal, ICS Addis Grade 1 Teacher

One of the highlights of our school year has been the growing partnership between our Grade 1 students and our EY4 learners. After assemblies, our two classes meet to connect, collaborate, and learn from each other in meaningful ways.

Whether it's through shared reading, playful exploration, or sharing the end of unit learning, these moments are helping to build strong relationships rooted in mutual respect.

Grade 1 students are stepping into leadership roles—gaining confidence, practicing communication skills, and experiencing what it feels like to be a teacher.

At the same time, they are learning a deeper lesson: Their younger buddies have knowledge and insights worth celebrating! Rather than seeing their Early Years counterparts as "little kids," they’re learning to appreciate what their buddies know and bring to the table.

Together, they explore everything from storytelling to math to imaginative play—discovering academic concepts as well as how to be caring, open-minded members of a learning community. It’s a partnership filled with joy, growth, and the kind of authentic connection that makes learning come alive.