Saturday, October 10, 2009

Coaching from the kids

After an exhausting week, unfortunately, Thursday and Friday are my longest days with no specialists, I was at a loss, as most transitions turn into a frenzy of running around the classroom, climbing and jumping off bookshelf. All be it, only a few kids do it, but it feels like chaos.

After the kids were finally settled, I asked them what their ideas were about how to make it go better. There were the usual suggestions of punishment (send them to the principal's office or put them in time out). The kids haven't yet noticed that I don't use time out, it has been so much a part of their experience to date. And then I called on Alexis, who is wise beyond his years. And he gave me a suggestion that I have often given teachers--rearrange the room to block the running area. Duh! Why couldn't I remember that.

I am now working on how I will rearrange the room. By the way, the first early childhood assembly--on the first Friday of the month--each teacher gets to nominate one or two children for recognition. Most kids got awards for academic success or being good--Alexis got an award for being a good problem solver--and I gave an example of how he helped other children solve problems. Next he should get an award for coaching his teacher!

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