Personalizing
My Blog
“It
takes a village to raise a child” (African Proverb) This is my
favorite quote regarding children. I believe that it does take a
group of caring individuals to raise a child.
It
is hard for me to talk about just one child that has touched my heart
when there has been so many during my career. When I think back about
all of the children I have taught and taken care of over the years,
the ones that pop up in my head the most are the ones who needed the
most care and special attention. Four years ago I was teaching
Pr-Kindergarten and there was a little girl in our class who did not
talk. She had been enrolled at our pre-school for three months after
transferring from one of our sister schools. She was extremely shy
and would not talk to anyone. She spoke to her parents,not utter a
word to any teacher or student at the pre-school. She was very
particular about things and would cry and refuse to participate in
many daily activities. Other teachers became impatient and frustrated
with her. I remained patient with her, even though it was difficult
figuring out her needs when she refused to speak. After several weeks
of working with this student, she slowly began to participate in the
classroom routine. She also started to talk! She would only whisper
and speak to select individuals, starting with me and then with a few
other students, but this was major progress. This child taught me
that when working with children, it is not how fast they make
progress, but the fact that they are making it that matters and to
never give up on a child.
This is my daughte's art work.This is a recent one that I really like because it intergrates writing and art. It is a character analysis that she did on the main character in a book that she is reading.
My
favorite children's book is “Corduroy”. I love this story,
because it shows that everyone, even the smallest person, needs to be
loved.
I
am not sure that I chose teaching, but more like it chose me. It is
what I was meant to do.
April,
ReplyDeleteIt does take a village to raise a child; however there are so many people who avoid helping others. "Some" people have the mindset of "it is not my business". when will we as a society realize that we should go back to the village. I often feel it is just the culture of Americans...we are an individualistic society.
I remember having a student like the one you describe. She is now a freshman in college. The children did not think she could talk. Finally she opened up to me and I experienced the feeling you get when winning a prize. Patience is a virtue and that is what you have to have when working with children.
I remember reading Corduroy. You brought back one of my childhood memories!
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