One of my all time Favorite authors, Amy Krouse Rosenthal has been sharing fun missions. One of my favorites was "Things we've learned from kids." You might know Amy from her books like "Duck! Rabbit" or the life affirming/changing YouTube sensation, "The Beckoning of Lovely".
With Amy's permission, I would like to adapt this idea for teachers. PLEASE comment with "Things my students taught me." Funny, sad, poignant.....everything goes. You may also email me if you would like to be anonymous. Results will be posted soon.
Thanks to Amy Krouse Rosenthal for the inspiration and the permission!
Monday, February 15, 2010
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
12 comments:
Things my students have taught me:
1. Zebra cakes make everything OK.
2. You're never too old to enjoy "fun with crayons and markers" time.
3. Perfection is relevant.
4. Everybody likes tangible rewards, but not everybody appreciates them.
5. How to use my Blackberry.
6. Every child deserves a chance to find their own success.
How to use your knuckles to determine the number of days in a month.
It is ok to let a first time escalator rider to run up the escalator backwards.
It's ok to laugh about the fact that someone threw a string bean at lunch.
It's not ok to throw the class frog in the garbage when he dies.
"Bell to bell instruction" needs to include time, once in awhile, for them to talk about what's on their minds.
Everyone wants a chance to be the class star, even if that means taking time to listen to bad jokes.
Kids want hugs or high fives, even if they say they don't.
Even grade 7 and 8 students like getting stickers.
Teachers are more fun when they laugh with you.
My "best"ness often depends on how well I listen to my students.
Learned from my daughter:
1. The walk to the park is just as important as getting to the park.
2. Plan to leave the house at least 15 minutes before you really need to leave. This gives time to find lost shoes, run back for forgotten items, and time to listen to one last song.
3. Don't ever be patronizing. It's insulting, no matter how old the child is.
Learned from my students:
1. Laughing is much better than yelling.
2. Discussions that go off topic are usually the discussions they remember the most.
3.You always need to take time to talk...before school, after school, walking down the hall. It's a great time to find out the most amazing things about your students.
My students have taught me to see the humor in just about every situation. Also you can use rock, paper, scissors to settle almost anything.
WOW not sure I have enough time. I came across this quote and think it is appropriate: If you are teaching and not learning, then maybe you're not teaching.
Too many things to count, but...
• Kids are often way harder on themselves than you are.
• Never condescend.
• Preschoolers are a lot smarter than most people give them credit for - put the info out there and they will suck it up like sponges.
• Be prepared to be outsmarted.
• Enjoy your class and the students will too.
• Even lunch/snack time offers great teachable moments.
• If you laugh out loud at an unexpected potty joke, prepare for a full day of more.
• Everyone deserves the benefit of the doubt.
• The "Hairy Eyeball" and an enticing lesson are highly effective forms of discipline.
• You can't always reach every child, but you can start over each day.
• Life lesson: Check your bad day at the door.
Thank you everyone! These are great and exactly what I was looking for. Stay tuned!!
1. Kids are strikingly better behaved when I have had a good sleep.
2. Count to five before repeating a direction, and stop talking in between.
3. When teachers get frustrated, they talk faster. When kids are being reprimanded, they listen slower. Teachers who recognize this tendency, and manage it gently, are much more effective.
WHAT A GREAT VIDEO! AT TIMES WE FORGET IT IS NOT ALL ABOUT THE TEACHING, BUT ACTUALLY ABOUT THE LIVING!
Post a Comment