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much more than tests and worksheets
Nov. 8th, 2015 11:36 pmSenor Onion has a truly wonderful teacher who thinks he is a great kid. She thinks all of the kids in her class are great, but she is one those special rare teachers. You know that sort that has been teaching for a million years, adores kids for who they are (even if they are considered difficult by other teachers) and genuinely gets excited every year about what the kids will get up to.
She reminds me a bit of Senor Onion's second preschool teacher. (the much beloved Mary-Ellen) His preschool teacher was a short round lady, who had been teaching/working with children for about 30 years, had raised a million children (most through adoption/foster-care) and had the best sense of humor about kids, and saw something original and exciting in each kid she encountered; especially the kids that weren't so well-behaved and easy.
As for Senor Onion's current teacher, she is a slightly short round lady who has kids/grandkids galore, and she really gets my son. I want to grab her and say, "Please be his teacher forever and ever." She sees what makes him great, she encourages his passions, and helps him to be even better, and she figured out quickly that he trusts her. Deeply. When he is worried or upset he knows he can go to her. He also thinks she is funny. He likes funny women.
When he had a bad day, she didn't think he was a bad kid, or go off about how this is an issue and OMG what is wrong with him. She offered total forgiveness and said, "tomorrow is another day, and we will work on this together." And because of this attitude he has had a really positive experience at school. If only they could clone teachers like this. Obviously some of this is born out of experience and learning on her part but oh man... she is a true treasure. I really really wish the government in England would recognize and honor how important teachers like this are.
Recently the kids had an all-day session of forest school. All day out in the nature reserve doing all kinds of learning. Some of it might apply now to the things that the government might expect them to learn. Some of it might come useful to them one day in some random moment in life, but the big thing was that they had a lot of fun out there. They had freedom, and could learn at their own particular pace, and it was a little more organic in terms of how kids learn. The kids are really lucky.
She reminds me a bit of Senor Onion's second preschool teacher. (the much beloved Mary-Ellen) His preschool teacher was a short round lady, who had been teaching/working with children for about 30 years, had raised a million children (most through adoption/foster-care) and had the best sense of humor about kids, and saw something original and exciting in each kid she encountered; especially the kids that weren't so well-behaved and easy.
As for Senor Onion's current teacher, she is a slightly short round lady who has kids/grandkids galore, and she really gets my son. I want to grab her and say, "Please be his teacher forever and ever." She sees what makes him great, she encourages his passions, and helps him to be even better, and she figured out quickly that he trusts her. Deeply. When he is worried or upset he knows he can go to her. He also thinks she is funny. He likes funny women.
When he had a bad day, she didn't think he was a bad kid, or go off about how this is an issue and OMG what is wrong with him. She offered total forgiveness and said, "tomorrow is another day, and we will work on this together." And because of this attitude he has had a really positive experience at school. If only they could clone teachers like this. Obviously some of this is born out of experience and learning on her part but oh man... she is a true treasure. I really really wish the government in England would recognize and honor how important teachers like this are.
Recently the kids had an all-day session of forest school. All day out in the nature reserve doing all kinds of learning. Some of it might apply now to the things that the government might expect them to learn. Some of it might come useful to them one day in some random moment in life, but the big thing was that they had a lot of fun out there. They had freedom, and could learn at their own particular pace, and it was a little more organic in terms of how kids learn. The kids are really lucky.
