You want the truth? YOU CAN'T HANDLE THE TRUTH!
Tuesday, November 15, 2011
True Facts
Koodoos goes to my former coworker and dear friend, Mzz. Mackenzie.
You want the truth? YOU CAN'T HANDLE THE TRUTH!
You want the truth? YOU CAN'T HANDLE THE TRUTH!
Monday, November 14, 2011
Scissors the Enemy to all 4 year olds
In my class, everyday in the 3 day program there is a scheduled time slotted for "Small Group" sessions. Here, the kids are split up into three "animal" based groups and it is at this time, preschool brings in the academic learning. Right now, the kids are learning how to print a new letter each week. Last week was "A", this week is "B". I try to make the small group activities as interactive as possible, but repetitive in the sense that what it entails (i.e. cutting, gluing, colouring = fine motor development). With the six groups I've made, I know which ones are my strong and my weak and so I make extra time for those groups who I know will benefit from it most.
Today, in my afternoon class, I chose to change things around by scheduled groups based by day because only three of the six were present. However, the group I chose to do instead, ended up being one of my struggler groups. So I anticipated the usual reactions - excited to learn a new letter, not so excited to hear cutting was involved. Although the usual, "Ms. Jenn, this is too hard" wasn't sounded, the "Ms. Jenn, my hand isn't working right" was.
Two students in particular in this group, J and L, are the ones who have, now had, problems with learning how to hold a pair of scissors. I'm sure their anxiety towards the task was equivalent to me having anxiety before a plane ride to anywhere. Anyways, after some attempts, I decided to take on a different approach. Here's how the conversation went:
MsJ: L, look into my eyes.
L: Okay..
MsJ: When you cut, YOU tell your hand where you want it go.
L: I tell my hand where to go?
MsJ: Yes. You do. You are the boss of your hand. Do not let the hand tell you what to do - YOU tell IT what to do. You boss your hand.
L:...I'm the boss of my hand...
MsJ: Exactly!
L: (holding scissors, looking at his hand) HAND! YOU STOP BOSSING ME AROUND!
And within seconds, this child was cutting out the perfect circle! Not just once, twice, or three times.. FIVE TIMES! And while I'm cheering this kid on with a "KEEP GOING!" and a "YOU'RE ALMOST THERE!" and hearing him tell his hand he's the boss.. J is mumbling the SAME THING! And guess who else ends up cutting out those five circles?!
I was so excited for them! They were excited for themselves and more importantly, PROUD that they were cutting out shapes that used to be so exhausting and challenging! I'm not even sure what they more excited about it - being able to cut shapes or finishing their worksheet the same time as the rest of their peers (also something they hadn't experienced in a long time).
Regardless, those two kiddos were extremely proud of themselves and I was proud of them. And so satisfied too in what I had accomplished in my job for the day.
Who knew telling your hand to stop being so bossy could conquer the evil scissor pair?
Today, in my afternoon class, I chose to change things around by scheduled groups based by day because only three of the six were present. However, the group I chose to do instead, ended up being one of my struggler groups. So I anticipated the usual reactions - excited to learn a new letter, not so excited to hear cutting was involved. Although the usual, "Ms. Jenn, this is too hard" wasn't sounded, the "Ms. Jenn, my hand isn't working right" was.
Two students in particular in this group, J and L, are the ones who have, now had, problems with learning how to hold a pair of scissors. I'm sure their anxiety towards the task was equivalent to me having anxiety before a plane ride to anywhere. Anyways, after some attempts, I decided to take on a different approach. Here's how the conversation went:
MsJ: L, look into my eyes.
L: Okay..
MsJ: When you cut, YOU tell your hand where you want it go.
L: I tell my hand where to go?
MsJ: Yes. You do. You are the boss of your hand. Do not let the hand tell you what to do - YOU tell IT what to do. You boss your hand.
L:...I'm the boss of my hand...
MsJ: Exactly!
L: (holding scissors, looking at his hand) HAND! YOU STOP BOSSING ME AROUND!
And within seconds, this child was cutting out the perfect circle! Not just once, twice, or three times.. FIVE TIMES! And while I'm cheering this kid on with a "KEEP GOING!" and a "YOU'RE ALMOST THERE!" and hearing him tell his hand he's the boss.. J is mumbling the SAME THING! And guess who else ends up cutting out those five circles?!
I was so excited for them! They were excited for themselves and more importantly, PROUD that they were cutting out shapes that used to be so exhausting and challenging! I'm not even sure what they more excited about it - being able to cut shapes or finishing their worksheet the same time as the rest of their peers (also something they hadn't experienced in a long time).
Regardless, those two kiddos were extremely proud of themselves and I was proud of them. And so satisfied too in what I had accomplished in my job for the day.
Who knew telling your hand to stop being so bossy could conquer the evil scissor pair?
Monday, November 7, 2011
Teachers have feelings too
Today I was placed on a "highly recommended" mental health day because of a situation I was placed in last week that I hope to never encounter again in my entire time remaining in this career. I won't go into details because it's unneccessary, but if you're an E.C.E and reading this, think of some horrible, insulting times you've been placed in - and compile that into one day. You feel like shit and want to quit your job..well, that was me; enough to scare my employer that resulted in a day off and a gift certificate for a manicure and pedicure.
Like any job, you encounter your bad days just as much as you do with your good ones. Typically in this field, every child care worker can tell you that it's not so much the kids that are the problem, it's the parents. And time and time again, us child care workers learn this and are proved right. For me and my experience last week, I finally had a set of parents who drew the line and it almost pushed me to quit my job. Not because I don't have a solid support system from the school itself, but because of how I was left feeling after a conversation with a parent who chooses not to take responsibility for their child's and own actions.
Despite the tears and emotional rollercoasters you go through, a person who chooses to work with children also knows they are choosing to work with their parents and what it entails and I will tell you, it's not all lollipops and flowers. We know what has and will be thrown at us; we have been called every name in the book, we have been told we don't know what we're doing or saying because some of us may not have children of our own and "have no idea what it's like". We have been lied to, disrespected, and ignored. We have been thrown up on, name called, and told "I don't like you anymore!". Some of us are labelled as "glorified babysitters"; we get looked down upon because that's all they see childcare or any form of it as babysitting. We don't have the best salaries or even benefit packages - sometimes none at all. We change poopy diapers, clothing that's been peed in, and wipe snotty noses. We do alot of things people will hire nannies for. And yes, depending on the situation, it can feel degrading.
However..
We have been told we're fun because we like to play and listen to them. We get hugs good-bye at the end of the day because we actually spend time with them. We keep good secrets and bad secrets. We wipe away the tears, give a little tender loving care, and send them back on their way. We are their friend who they can always rely on, even if we're over the age of five. We smile, do a happy-dance, or give a high-five when a child has learned a new skill and it's all because we taught it to them. We are their advocate when they need us most. And we know we are appreciated when we receive ample amounts of Christmas Starbuck gift cards, Valentines, and 'Thank You' cards with bouquets in June. We get compliments that pertain to 'knowing what you're doing' and being speechless when asked "how did you get them to clean-up?". There are individuals who respect us and what we choose for a living. We get told "Thank You" by those who we want to hear it from most.
It's all those things that will determine a good day from a bad day.
Remember ladies, and gents, who work as a childcare worker, preschool teacher, nanny, babysitter, or any other kid-based paid position: YOU are good at what you do. YOU know what you're talking about. YOU are who they depend on. YOU will be remembered. YOU do make a difference. YOU were meant to do this job.
Like any job, you encounter your bad days just as much as you do with your good ones. Typically in this field, every child care worker can tell you that it's not so much the kids that are the problem, it's the parents. And time and time again, us child care workers learn this and are proved right. For me and my experience last week, I finally had a set of parents who drew the line and it almost pushed me to quit my job. Not because I don't have a solid support system from the school itself, but because of how I was left feeling after a conversation with a parent who chooses not to take responsibility for their child's and own actions.
Despite the tears and emotional rollercoasters you go through, a person who chooses to work with children also knows they are choosing to work with their parents and what it entails and I will tell you, it's not all lollipops and flowers. We know what has and will be thrown at us; we have been called every name in the book, we have been told we don't know what we're doing or saying because some of us may not have children of our own and "have no idea what it's like". We have been lied to, disrespected, and ignored. We have been thrown up on, name called, and told "I don't like you anymore!". Some of us are labelled as "glorified babysitters"; we get looked down upon because that's all they see childcare or any form of it as babysitting. We don't have the best salaries or even benefit packages - sometimes none at all. We change poopy diapers, clothing that's been peed in, and wipe snotty noses. We do alot of things people will hire nannies for. And yes, depending on the situation, it can feel degrading.
However..
We have been told we're fun because we like to play and listen to them. We get hugs good-bye at the end of the day because we actually spend time with them. We keep good secrets and bad secrets. We wipe away the tears, give a little tender loving care, and send them back on their way. We are their friend who they can always rely on, even if we're over the age of five. We smile, do a happy-dance, or give a high-five when a child has learned a new skill and it's all because we taught it to them. We are their advocate when they need us most. And we know we are appreciated when we receive ample amounts of Christmas Starbuck gift cards, Valentines, and 'Thank You' cards with bouquets in June. We get compliments that pertain to 'knowing what you're doing' and being speechless when asked "how did you get them to clean-up?". There are individuals who respect us and what we choose for a living. We get told "Thank You" by those who we want to hear it from most.
It's all those things that will determine a good day from a bad day.
Remember ladies, and gents, who work as a childcare worker, preschool teacher, nanny, babysitter, or any other kid-based paid position: YOU are good at what you do. YOU know what you're talking about. YOU are who they depend on. YOU will be remembered. YOU do make a difference. YOU were meant to do this job.
Tricker Treaters do NOT like touching pumpkin guts
Oct. 31.2011
Seriously. The above title is total truth. At least with the preschoolers I work with.
I remember as a kid this was the one major thing I loved about Halloween - carving a pumpkin and all the steps involved from beginning to end; including eat those seeds as soon as they were out of the oven.
Today, I find for the second year running, kids only seem to care enough about how "scary" it looks and even then! I got a lot of "he needs to be scaryyyy...witha happy face!" from those who chose to at least be a bystander while I enjoyed the stringyness run through my fingers. Despite the comments from the peanut gallery, I did have one who enjoys the same Halloweeny tradition I do.
Seriously. The above title is total truth. At least with the preschoolers I work with.
I remember as a kid this was the one major thing I loved about Halloween - carving a pumpkin and all the steps involved from beginning to end; including eat those seeds as soon as they were out of the oven.
Today, I find for the second year running, kids only seem to care enough about how "scary" it looks and even then! I got a lot of "he needs to be scaryyyy...witha happy face!" from those who chose to at least be a bystander while I enjoyed the stringyness run through my fingers. Despite the comments from the peanut gallery, I did have one who enjoys the same Halloweeny tradition I do.
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