No exciting news YET on "MY OVEN"-To Be Continued.
However, I have started a new term in school and one of my classes is about assessment and observation. I think that many of the points, quotes and teachings are very valid. I just thought I'd post a quote from my readings, once a week or so and get your opinion on the quote or what it made you think of...I'm just doing my own little experiment, so join in if you feel the desire...mahalo
#1- "Children are miracles, not minimums!" (Anita Olds) They come to us full of wonder, eager to understand and be competent. Yet amid our good intentions to teach them, we adults easily begin to deplete children's innate well-spring of zest for learning. No child on earth was ever meant to be ordinary, and you can see it in them, and they know it too. But then, the times get to them, and they wear out their brains learning what folks expect and spend their strength trying to rise over those same folks." (The Art of Awareness, introduction)
3 comments:
Those are some good thoughts! I have really learned, with my own kids, to not push them, or expect them to do what is not age appropriate for them. I could teach my 3 year old to read, if I wanted to, because I know how to, but I don't pressure him. I have really let my kids take the lead and let them learn/discover at there own pace and let them be interested in what they want. It's just what kids do. I DO, however, have high expections for behavior, manners, etc. I think that if more parents did have better expectations for that, then when kids go to school, teachers can use every minute of the day to teach and insire, instead of babysit and disipline. I don't teach school anymore, but I will ALWAYS have strong opinions about this. :) I hope you're doing well, Brie!!
Thanks Janel- that is great insight..i have to agree with you-especially with having high expectations for behavior and following through. i would love to spend more time teaching, inspiring and less time babysitting...
The public school system is failing our kids. I feel very blessed to live in an amazing area with amazing parents who bend over backwards to help our amazing teachers who do the same, but the bottom line is...everything is streamlined and the only way the schools get funding is through passing standardized tests. Standardized testing, in my opinion, is the beginning of the end for children feeling like they can get anywhere they want and that learning is "fun." Judgement begins and if you don't fall in line, you are labeled. The teachers are labeled and so are the students, so then the teachers focus becomes just that, and not how to teach and inspire, but how can I get my class to meet the standards.
I could go on and on about the schools, but I shan't. I LOVE preschool! As a parent, YOU, are in charge of picking what school's philosophy fits best with your child and yourself. YOU are paying and so you see to it that your child has the very best. The preschool we are at's main theme is "each child is an individual loved by God" I love it. They follow age appropriate activities and focus on each child's specialness. They creatively find ways to teach. The children don't realize all the learning they are doing. They are learning in different ways and settings as young children do. The boys have thrived there.
Kay-I'll get off my soapbox now. You are an amazing teacher Brie! The students are blessed to have you!
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