I observed a teacher at the child care center that I work communicating with a five-years old boy. This observation was done during outdoor time or recess. The teacher claimed that she saw the little boy pushed his classmate on the playground. What I've noticed about the conservation was the teacher was kind of screaming at the child and wasn't really trying to listen to what the child was saying. After she screamed at the child, she told him to go and sit in time-out and not to get up until she told him to. While the child was walking to go and have a seat he was crying so bad. I felt so bad for him. So, I goes over and sit with him. First, I tried to calm him down. I gave him a hug and rubbed on his back and told him to breathe in and out slowly. After the little boy calmed down, I begin to ask him questions about what happened on the playground. He told me that he pushed the little boy because the little boy pushed him first. I told him that when situations like that happens, come and say something to the teacher. I also told him that hitting your a classmate is wrong. That's the reason the teacher put you in time-out, but at the same time she should of listened to your part of the story and talked to you and your classmate. Finally, I asked him if something like this happen again, what should you do? He said, not to hit or push my classmate. To come and talk to the teacher about what happen. I gave him another hug and I told him that he can go and play.
Reflecting on what I saw from the multimedia segment which featured Lisa Kolbeck. She mentioned that the teacher need to listen and ask children questions. This was something that I didn't observed the teacher doing when she was speaking to the boy on the playground. I believe what mad the little boy very upset was he wanted to tell the teacher why he pushed the other boy, but the teacher didn't give him that opportunity. Children loves when adults listen to them and ask questions because it make them feel important. As you can see, I took the time to care about the little boy emotions and listened to what he had to say, and by giving him that hug at the end it really made him feel accepted. I pulled the teacher to the side and told her that she didn't handle the situation correctly. You should never scream at a child. That will make them upset! They feed off of adults emotions. Also, you didn't give him a chance to explain his story. You can't go by what you saw him doing and you need to ask questions and accept their emotions. This situation could of been a whole lot better if you would of just listened to him.
Reference
Laureate Education, Inc (2011). Strategies for working with diverse children. Baltimore, MD:
Author
Chris,
ReplyDeleteIt is important that we listen to and ask children questions. Screaming at a child, especially when there are other children present is wrong.That teacher was not respecting the child. As teachers we must” model sensitivity, respect, acceptance, reflective, listening, and providing the space for each child to communicate (Laureate Education, 2011). Sometimes we allow our emotions to get the best of us however it should never be at the expense of a child.
Thanks for posting.
Angela.
Chris,
ReplyDeleteNice post, even though an unfortunate incident for that boy. The positive was that you were there to intervene. So often during recess duty we are trying to keep an eye on many students at once, it is tempting to jump to conclusions based on an incident we only partially witness. This type of incident also lends itself to bias as there are times the child in question may have unequal assumptions made based on race, class, gender, etc. I agree with Angela as well, that sometimes it is an emotional reaction without taking the time to think the situation through. Perspective taking is the hallmark of a quality teacher, and while difficult, is key to communicating effectively with students.
Chris,
ReplyDeleteThe biggest thing that I have gotten out of this week's theme has been to LISTEN. Let the children speak their emotions, their passions. The truth will unfold if we do just that. How can we listen if we are so quick to yell or talk over a child? We say these things to our students but we don't do them ourselves. Let's put on OUR listening ears and give our students a chance. As Stephenson states, it is beneficial to the process and we are then able to take a step back and learn about other perspectives (2009).
Reference
Stephenson, A. (2009). Conversations with a 2-year-old. YC: Young Children, 64(2), 90-95.
Hi Christopher,
ReplyDeleteGreat Post!!! The child shouldn't have been screamed at because that doesn't help the situation it only makes things worst. The teacher should have spoken to the child and helped the child figure out a better way to handle the situation.
Dominique