Oh this is so true. Recently a student of mine told his mom - "They don't call her Ms. Joy for nothing!" (Our school has this quirky thing of calling teachers by their first names prefixed by Ms.) I'd have to say that was one of my proudest moments. And why it took me so long to recognize what I should do with my life, I'll never know. I was always the pied piper, every gathering I went to I always had kids following me around. Drove me crazy when I was 16 going on thirty, but finally hit me as I grew older and wiser that I had a connection with kids that I just couldn't ignore. I've got two new children coming tomorrow, Camellia and Magnolia. Two sweet sisters who will boost my population of girls to a majority! The girls in my class will be so thrilled, I will have to keep things calm so the boys (who have been in the majority since 2nd grade) will not feel too squashed! Oh the fun! I know it's not usual to have siblings in the same class, but we only have one class of fourth graders. I had siblings last year, and while not ideal, it works out fine in our small school. Debbie Goodis <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: Speaking from my former life as a preschool teacher, I know all too well the importance of forming a RELATIONSHIP with the child before expecting academic results. Think about the scenario of a three or four year old walking up to you holding his parent's hand, meeting you for the first time and being introduced to you as his "new teacher." Wow! From the child's perspective, this is one big expectation...to then take the teacher's hand, be led to a group of kids you don't know, to be brought to the bathroom you will use, the mat you will sleep on, the kid you'll sit next to and the group you'll be a part of for the next 9 months. This will not happen successfully if we do not, first and foremost, make what I call "brownie points" with the students. It's a game of drawing them in, making them like/love you, asking them about their pet, their family. Complimenting them on their new shoes and how fast they make him run. This all has to be done in a genuine, honest way by the teacher or this child will not see you as someone he can trust or like. He will not "want to learn for you, to please you or to be around you." I think teachers are born, not made, and if you don't have the heart for what you are doing, and keep your eyes on the prize (the child's individual success) they can see through that and will keep a certain distance. I have found that elementary students are not at all different from my preschool students. I can be a skill though, and I'd suggest for anyone who really wants to see this in action to go visit a quality preschool program at their local college or university. Watching a good preschool teacher is like watching an artist paint, or a dancer dance. I love four year olds. But I also love 2nd graders. Debbie
Beverlee Paul wrote: Very true. It's the children who don't know. If you are forced to sit a child in a chair and do meaningless things all day every day, and if you're an ELL (or any) child who has no idea what you're talking about, or how to do what you're asking, or how to please you, or how to please herself, or that you really care, even though you faithfully read the script which shows you don't. . . . When you are so under pressure about scores that you plain can't help but sigh when another child who isn't going to "make it" is brought to you. . . . When your brain does dead and your tongue goes numb by repeating the same words and signals over and over to children who haven't the faintest. . . . When you have to say to child, "Yes, I know about your grandpa" but you have to move on because the coach is coming between 9:13 and 9:17 to see what part of lesson 17 you're on. . . . Any program which puts the program first, the coach second, the teacher third, and doesn't see the relevance of the child at all, just the empty vessel . . . . > Thanks for the article; it's a keeper. However, unaddressed in the > article > is the belief that ALL reading programs, etc. can be used effectively IF > the > teacher is caring, etceteras. Unfortunately, I believe some reading > programs (used with FIDELITY, of course) are mutually exclusive to > establishing positive relationships. There are some programs that just > plain make it impossible to treat a student with respect. Love, maybe, on > the part of the teachers, but can the child get it in the environment set > up > by some reading programs? > > What programs would those be? I think most teachers know that their relationship with that child is more a factor in that child's growth than an impersonal program.... Bill _______________________________________________ Mosaic mailing list [email protected] To unsubscribe or modify your membership please go to http://literacyworkshop.org/mailman/options/mosaic_literacyworkshop.org. Search the MOSAIC archives at http://snipurl.com/MosaicArchive. _________________________________________________________________ Its the Windows Live Hotmail® you love on your phone! http://www.windowsmobile.com/hotmailmobile?ocid=MobileHMTagline_2 _______________________________________________ Mosaic mailing list [email protected] To unsubscribe or modify your membership please go to http://literacyworkshop.org/mailman/options/mosaic_literacyworkshop.org. Search the MOSAIC archives at http://snipurl.com/MosaicArchive. --------------------------------- Moody friends. Drama queens. Your life? Nope! - their life, your story. Play Sims Stories at Yahoo! Games. _______________________________________________ Mosaic mailing list [email protected] To unsubscribe or modify your membership please go to http://literacyworkshop.org/mailman/options/mosaic_literacyworkshop.org. Search the MOSAIC archives at http://snipurl.com/MosaicArchive. Joy/NC/4 [EMAIL PROTECTED] How children learn is as important as what they learn: process and content go hand in hand. http://www.responsiveclassroom.org --------------------------------- Need a vacation? Get great deals to amazing places on Yahoo! Travel. _______________________________________________ Mosaic mailing list [email protected] To unsubscribe or modify your membership please go to http://literacyworkshop.org/mailman/options/mosaic_literacyworkshop.org. Search the MOSAIC archives at http://snipurl.com/MosaicArchive.
