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Just
Playing
When I'm building in the block room,
Please don't say I'm "Just Playing."
For, you see, I'm learning as I play;
About balance and shapes.
When I'm getting all dressed
up,
Setting the table, caring for the babies,
Don't get the idea I'm "Just
Playing."
For, you see, I'm learning as I play;
I may be a mother or a
father someday.
When you see me up to my elbows in paint,
Or standing
at an easel, or molding and shaping clay,
Please don't let me hear you say,
"He is Just Playing."
For, you see, I'm learning as I play.
I'm expressing
myself and being creative.
I may be an artist or an inventor someday. When
you see me sitting in a chair
"Reading" to an imaginary audience,
Please
don't laugh and think I'm "Just Playing."
For, you see, I'm learning as I
play.
I may be a teacher someday. When you see me combing
the bushes for bugs,
Or packing my pockets with choice things I find,
Don't
pass it off as "Just Play."
For, you see, I'm learning as I play.
I may
be a scientist someday. When you see me engrossed in a puzzle,
Or some 'plaything' at my school,
Please don't feel the time is wasted
in "Play."
For, you see, I'm learning as I play.
I'm learning to solve
problems and concentrate.
I may be in business someday. When
you see me cooking or tasting foods,
Please don't think that because I enjoy
it, it is "Just Play."
I'm learning to follow directions and see differences.
I may be a chef someday.
When you see me learning
to skip, hop, run, and move my body,
Please don't say I'm "Just Playing."
For,
you see, I'm learning as I play.
I'm learning how my body works.
I may
be a doctor, nurse or athlete someday. When you ask me what
I've done at school today,
And I say, "I Just Played."
Please don't misunderstand
me.
For, you see, I'm learning as I play.
I'm learning to enjoy and be
successful in my work.
I'm preparing for tomorrow.
Today, I'm a child
and my Work is play.
What
Did You Teach Today?
My walk this morning
seemed like it was over before it had begun. After turning the corner that began
my uphill stretch, I don't remember seeing anything. I don't remember hearing
anything. I don't remember feeling anything. I was deep inside myself, really
deep, enveloped by what you might call a profound and serene curtain of purpose.
I'm not embarrassed to say that I have been very emotional since yesterday when
one my freshmen history classes met for the last time. Several triads had just
completed their final exam presentations and we were about to scamper out of class
when Melinda excitedly stood up. With a broad, confidant smile sweeping across
her face and a brightness shining in her eyes, she said, "Before we leave I want
to read my class evaluation. I know Dr. Schmier said he would treat them confidentially
if we wanted, but I don't want to."
As Hope, an African-American young lady
who was a member of Melinda's triad, sat to her right with a quiet, supportive
smile on her face, Melinda continued. "I want you all to hear how important this
class was for me and Hope."
"On day one..." she hesitated, got teary-eyed,
and choked up. As she struggled to regain her composure, an image flashed across
my mind. This was Melinda, a member of what I labeled by the second week into
the quarter, "my hateful triad" of Melinda, Hope and Eric. Three separated students
with stern and unapproving looks on their faces, sitting stiffly apart, circling
their chairs reluctantly only after my daily "urging," staring ahead with blank
faces and looking passed each other, refusing to converse at the beginning of
class, surrounded by a heavy cloud of cold, silent animosity. As Melinda struggled,
Hope quietly leaned over, softly and caringly put her hand on Melinda's arm. And
Melinda read: On day one, I was excited and terrified at the same time. You seemed
funny and humorous and interesting, but rumor had you as 'evil.' Then came your
syllabus. It was a book. I had to set my mind for a challenge. I was thinking
that ten weeks of you and I would be drained. But, the opposite happened. I was
"filled." I learned more history than I could have imagined, but you took history
and made it a part of my world. When I came to this class I had my box and my
boundaries. I was prejudiced towards blacks and could care less to carry on any
kind of conversation much less have an in-depth relationship with one. How have
my views changed. I was skeptical at first to open up to Hope and work with her
in class. But mysterious things took place in the triad that I can't describe.
Maybe it was the honest class discussions about race, or your conversations with
each of us, or simply that you gave us no choice but to work together. But my
hatred and Hope's and Eric's began to disappear. The barriers began to break down.
Now Hope knows some of my deepest secrets and I know that I can confide in her.
And I always had trouble talking to my sister about who she dated (an African-American)
and especially about the baby on the way. Well, now that little boy is 5 1/2 weeks
old. He is to me family, and I love him dearly. His skin may be dark, but I am
now proud to openly call him my nephew. Three months ago I barely even acknowledged
that he was soon to be. I wouldn't trade him or my sister now for anything. I
just wish that I could have opened my eyes and heart a little sooner. As I looked
around the class, I could see through my glassy eyes that there literally wasn't
a dry eye in the class. Tears were rolling down Hope's cheeks. Eric's head was
bowed. Melinda read on. Now a little about the triad. I love it. At first I hated
the idea. I prejudged those in my group and pre- decided that I would hate it.
But not only did we learn to study together, we learned to laugh together. We've
cried; we've hurt; we've become friends. As she glanced at both Hope and Eric,
she continued: We call each other family. Thank you for the opportunity. Without
this class I would not know these two wonderful individuals and I also would not
have realized a lot of stuff about myself. You opened the doors and allowed us
to take the steps that we needed to take. Now you--they say that often there's
that one course, that one professor, who enters your life and changes it. You're
that person for me and I know for a lot of others in this class. And are we lucky.
I didn't always agree with your values, but that's ok, and you never held it against
me or anyone else. As a prof and as a friend--yes, a friend--and as a person you
truly are great. I learned a lot of history; I enjoyed doing it--most of the time.
You make history a work of art; you bring it alive for all of us and bring it
into our lives. Yes, a lot of it hurts, but we're better for it. Thank you. Thank
you very much. That, to me, is what teaching is all about. The quarter had come
to an end; the class is over. But, as Melinda reminds us, we teachers leave a
lot of ourselves behind in each student. In that sense, the class is never over.
To the extent that too many educators do not reach for the future beyond the classroom,
do not reach for the stuff of life beyond the subject, are not aware of the students,
are not touched, react rather than respond, do not see and hear others, students
see no reason to reach for themselves beyond the grade or major. And so, the students
too often come away from their college experience with the narrow sense that the
purpose of life is merely to be a doctor, lawyer, an artist, or just a specialist
of this or of that rather than to grow in wisdom and to learn to love better and
be a truer person. Make it a good day.
Copyright © Louis Schmier and
Atwood Publishing.
In
years to come, a child may forget what you taught them.
But will always remember
how you made them feel.
Comment by Steven Krushen
We often forget that the greatest gift we can give a child is a belief
in himself and his own self worth for then all else follows.
Have you ever
noticed how just the words, "You did a good job" can inspire you to do better
and make you feel so good inside? I have seen this happen time and time again,
not only in my own life but in the lives of the teachers and children I have worked
with.
If only we could remember these five little words, the world would be
a better place.
One year I worked as a teacher aide in an elementary classroom.
Fear and anxiety showed in the eyes of each child and I left each day, vowing
not to return the following day. There was nothing concrete to could complain
about, just little things that happened each day to kill the spirit of each child
and to make each one feel small and insignificant. Each morning upon arriving
in the classroom workbooks and papers would be lined up below the blackboard ledge
and above each would be a list: Tommy, 3x Arithmetic, 6x Spelling, 9x Reading
workbook, and so on. The list continued for every child who then was allowed no
recess until all his mistakes were corrected. The teacher, I believe, felt she
was teaching good work habits and perhaps for those children who only had occasional
errors or very few, she was; unfortunately, those whose names were repetitively
on the board each day must have felt so utterly destroyed as they entered the
classroom.
What a wonderful morning greeting....to be told how many mistakes
you had made the day before.
This was a teacher who marked her time and effectiveness
by how correct her students were, not by the values she was teaching them. She
had obviously never heard that praise works wonders and every day I left that
classroom with the same feeling of despair as the seven year olds who understood
less than I did how she was breaking their spirit.
BACK
TO SCHOOL KIT
This Back To School Kit includes necessary items
to guarantee you a terrific school year.
Pipe Cleaner Flexibility is
important for a successful school year.
Rick Rack This year will be
full of ups and downs, but eventually everything will smooth out.
Matches
For those days when you feel you need to light a fire under your teachers.
Wiggly
Eye Keep an eye on our students to discover how best to help them. Or, for
when you wish you had eyes in the back of your head.
Battery Like the
Energizer Bunny, to help you keep going, and going, and going.
Animal Crackers
Eat these when you think your office is a zoo.
Jingle Bell Ring
for help if you need it, we're here to help each other.
Present Remember
our students are a gift to us.
Candy Bar Use this whenever you need
a "Sweet Escape".
Smiley Sticker Try hard to wear a happy face.
Snowflake
When all else fails, pray for a snow day.
Flower Pot We are here to
plant the seeds of knowledge.
Clothespin Hang in there!!
Hole
Reinforcers Don't forget to reinforce the efforts of each other.
Penny
You are a priceless part of -------School.
Orange "Orange" you
glad you are a part of the best school in -----!
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