As teachers, we measure our years not from the beginning of January, but from the start of a new school year in September. We make our plans, and ready ourselves for that all important first day. In fact, we do this ‘first day’ so often in our careers that sometimes we need to stop, and think about what a ‘first day’ really means for our children.
We will teach our grades and subjects many times in a long career, but you know what? Our children only pass by one time. They are only 6 years old once. They are only in 4th Grade once. They only have one shot at being 8th Graders.
It is a pleasure and a privilege to be a part of all of those ‘first times’, and the challenge for us is to keep fresh, keep learning and keep loving our wonderful job. As a parent as well as a teacher, I feel that it is vitally important for us all to work together for the best outcomes for the children in our care.
I came across a great book recently, which those of you with younger children might like to take a look at. It is called “Einstein never used flashcards” (Einstein Never Used Flashcards: How Our Children Really Learn – and Why They Need to Play More and Memorize Less by Kathy Hirsh-Pasek, Ph.D. & Roberta Michnick Golinkoff, Ph.D.)
The reason I recommend this book is because it emphasizes the importance of PLAY! This book will help you realize what is truly important: children do not learn from boring drill-and-kill experiences. They learn from play and enjoyable reading. On that note, there are some fabulous children’s’ books out there, and our Scholastic Bookclub is a great place to start with enjoyable reading.
I would love to advise you about book choices, but there really are just so many books out there that it is hard to choose. Next time, we’ll delve into the wonderful world of children’s literature.
