Learning Experiences
From the desk of Carol C…
Maybe it was because I didn’t have younger siblings to show me the way. Maybe it was because I was shortsighted. Maybe…well the maybes don’t matter. The bottom line is that when I first started teaching, I didn’t understand what went on in the minds of children.
One of my first years as a teacher I taught second grade. Priding myself on always being on top of things, I noticed that two boys were not getting started on their morning activities. Thinking they were pointing at me and laughing, I called the boys over and sternly asked, “What are you two boys laughing at?” They continued to laugh. “Boys did you not hear me?” Answer: “We both have the same lunchbox!” What? Are you kidding me? You’re laughing at having the same lunchbox? Out of the corner of my eye sure enough there they were…two identical lunchboxes in the boys’ coat closet. “Oh, how funny,” I managed to say to the boys.
What did I learn? Children find many things funny that adults think are silly…or that I thought were silly. Give children their moments to share something funny/silly with a friend.
My next learning opportunity presented itself near the beginning of the school year before I knew the children well. It was almost the end of the day, and I was finishing up a lesson. I noticed one of my girls kept turning around and looking at the clock. Finally, I had had enough of it. She needed to pay attention. What I was saying could change her life. “Tammy, we have five minutes of class left. You are to sit here, listen, and quit looking at that clock. You may be bored but it’s still school time, not go home time.” She just stared at me saying nothing. (In her position I wouldn’t have either.) A few minutes later as the kids were getting ready to go home, I called Tammy over and asked her why she kept looking at the clock. Her eyes became wet. Tammy said tearfully, “I’ve never been a brownie scout before, and today is my first meeting. I get to go right after school.” How to feel like a dog? Find yourself in that situation. There was only one thing I could say, “Oh Tammy. I’m sorry. I thought you were bored and didn’t want to learn. You need to pay attention in class, but I should have asked you what you were doing first.”
What did I learn? I learned to ask first; reprimand later if necessary. Give children their moments to be excited about a new experience.
This last episode happened on field day. The temperature was predicted to be scorching. Great. I knew in order not to avoid having a heat stroke I had to wear shorts to school for the first time. I couldn’t stand the thought of it. The morning of field day as my kids came into the classroom, I became extra self-conscious. At some point I looked up and saw two girls looking at my legs and laughing. “Girls, what’s up?” I asked with trepidation. “We’ve never seen you in…tennis shoes before. They’re cool.” Then the girls turned and walked away comparing the number of drinks they had brought for field day.
What did I learn? Give children a chance to prove themselves. They don’t spend their days analyzing adults. Expect the best from them and let yourself be shocked when it doesn’t come rather than expect the worst and be shocked when you experience the best.
What is the most valuable lesson I learned through my learning experiences? Author Emma Goldman says it best:
“No one has yet fully realized the wealth of sympathy, kindness and generosity hidden in the soul of a child. The effort of every true education should be to unlock that treasure.”