Tag: teaching

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Pequeños consejos para mamás y papás #97. En Español

Spanish Translation

¿Qué se necesita y quién debe ser usted para servir a los niños como su maestro?

Debes tener amor por los niños y una profunda conexión espiritual para quien son como dones a la humanidad

Muchas veces, temo que por mi trabajo con estudiantes de enseñanza para convertirse en maestros, no han hecho el trabajo para encontrar si han sido “llamados” a la profesión, o si simplemente se presentaron porque era un “trabajo real” y necesitaban la estabilidad.  Esto se convirtió en lo primero en mi agenda y en la primera parte de mi plan de estudios para la formación docente.  Creé espacios y tareas a lo largo de su primer semestre que los llamaban a mirarse a sí mismos y responder una serie de preguntas que estaban integradas a propósito en las tareas.  Siempre partía de la pregunta: ¿Quién soy? Esta pregunta implicó escribir la historia de su vida y compartir quiénes son con la clase.  Entonces podrían evaluar qué áreas de su “identidad divina” eran problemas de estas experiencias de vida que crearon su historia de vida hasta ese momento, que necesitaban abordar.

Hablamos de las cargas de adultos que para muchos de nosotros nos fueron sobrantes de nuestra infancia.  Hay una noción que se hizo popular de que “los niños son resilientes y pueden superar cualquier trauma porque sucede y se resuelve solo.  ¡Eso es una locura!  ¡Los niños no olvidan las cosas que la gente les dice y hace!  Lo que no entienden a nivel cognitivo, lo retienen a nivel fisiológico y emocional.  Las experiencias negativas impactan la “expresión de su ser del alma”.  Al mismo tiempo, cuando las personas dicen y hacen cosas por los niños que son amables, amorosas y los hacen sentir seguros, se desarrolla su sentido de bienestar y confianza.  Los maestros son la segunda influencia más prominente en la vida de un niño pequeño, y sus padres ocupan el primer lugar en la vida de un niño.  

Lo que nosotros, como maestros, decimos y hacemos a los niños o para los niños tiene un pacto de por vida para el niño. “No podemos simplemente presentarnos a hacer este “trabajo”, porque la enseñanza no es un “Trabajo”, tiene que ser tu “Trabajo”.

A continuación, les pido que definan e identifiquen -¿Quién soy yo en la vida de los niños pequeños?  Esta es una pregunta de éxito o fracaso cuando se les hace a los estudiantes de magisterio.  Su respuesta es donde hago una evaluación cuidadosa en cuanto a si son o no “llamados” al honor de servir a los niños!!  Tengo la responsabilidad, como su entrenador y mentor, de tener una conversación seria con cada estudiante para asegurarme de que estén alineados con esto, el mayor “Trabajo” que impacta en lo que nuestra humanidad se mostrará ser.  Todos los niños merecen la mejor educación que nuestros países de todo el mundo pueden proporcionar.  Nuestros niños merecen los mejores maestros que la profesión puede proporcionarles.  Es su derecho de nacimiento!!

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Tiny Tips for Moms and Dads #97 What does it take and whom must you be to serve as their teachers?

Children are the greatest gift to humanity.

Today’s Ingredient:

You must have a love for children and a deep spiritual connection to whom they are as gifts to humanity?

So many times, I fear from my working with teaching students to become teachers, they have not done the work to find our if they have been “Called” to the profession, or if they just showed up because it was a “real job” and they needed the stability.  This then became the first thing on my agenda and the first part of my curriculum for teacher training.  I created spaces and assignments throughout their first semester that called them to first look at themselves and answer a series of questions that were purposefully embedded in the assignments.  I always started with the question-Who am I? this question involved writing their life story and sharing who they are with the class.  Then they could evaluate what areas in their “divine identity” were issues form these life experiences that created their life story up to that point, that they needed to address.

We talk about the baggage we carry as adults that for many of us were left over from our childhood.  There is a notion that became popular that “children are resilient and can overcome any trauma because it happens and resolves itself.  That is crazy!  Children do not forget the things people say and do to them!  What they don’t understand on a cognitive level, they retain on a physiological and emotional level.  Negative experiences impact the “expression of their soul being”.  At the same time, when people say and do things for children that are kind, loving, and make them feel safe, it builds their sense of wellbeing and confidence.  Teachers are the second most prominent influence in a young child’s life, with their parent holding first place in a child’s life.   

What we as teachers say and do to or for children has a lifetime compact on a child. “We cannot just show up to do this “work”, because teaching is not a “Job”, it has to be your “Work”.

Next, I ask them to define and identity -Who am I in the Lives of Young Children”?  This is a make it or break it question when asked of student teachers.  Their response is where I take careful evaluation as to if they are or are not “Called” to the honor of serving children!!!  I have the responsibility as their trainer and mentor to have a serious conversation with each student to make sure they are aligned with this- the greatest “Work” that impacts who our humanity will show up to be.  Every child deserves the best education our countries across the globe can provide.  Our children deserve the best teachers the profession can provide them with.  It is their birth right!!!

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Tiny Tips for Moms and Dads #74 The Safety of Our Children in Our Schools-Should Our Teachers be Armed?

Our Children have a birthright to be safe and secure
at home, at school and at play.

Alabama

Alaska

Arizona

Arkansas

Colorado

Connecticut

Delaware

Florida

Georgia

Idaho

Indiana

Iowa

Kansas

Kentucky

Massachusetts

Michigan

Minnesota

Missouri

Montana

Nevada

New Hampshire

New Jersey

Ohio

Oklahoma

Oregon

South Carolina

South Dakota

Tennessee

Texas

Vermont

Wyoming

32 states that have sanctioned teachers bringing guns to school.

It just amazes me to be in this place at this time in my life where now as a professor that has taught “teachers” to be “teachers”, that our country is allowing teachers to bring guns in the classroom.  What is their thinking?  32 states out of our 50 states have children in a classroom where teachers have the responsibility of safeguarding a lethal weapon on top of the responsibility to safeguard the lives of our children.  I can’t imagine taking my child to school and leaving her in the care of a civilian who has a gun.  I might add to my concern that teachers are not law enforcement officers and have not had the training to discern what is an appropriate response in a volatile situation.

As it is, our local police officers need a longer more expansive time and firsthand experiences in their training.  Another thing that concerns me is that teachers-most teachers- get their bachelor’s degree and then do 1 additional year to acquire their teaching credential.  The criteria for becoming a teacher are exams and practice teaching experience.  There is a background check to see if the potential teacher has a criminal record, but there are no psychological test and evaluation that establishes the mental and emotional health of prospective teachers.  This to me this should be a serious consideration before putting a gun in someone’s hands. I can tell you from first-hand experience that there were times I had to gently encourage some students to consider another profession.  

Even with teachers coming into the field that seem to have a sound emotional and mental healthy persona, life happens, circumstances of traumatic events happen, and people have break downs. 

I have witnessed these kinds of events where teachers lose control and have emotional breakdowns in the classroom.  Our teachers in our public schools are under extreme stress just trying to deal with the everyday things they have to overcome and solve to maintain a functioning classroom environment where children can learn. 

We need for our classrooms to be safe, and we are intelligent enough to know how to secure the schools.  Yes, 30 years ago, my brother-in-law, as a principal of a high school, requested that their school board consider installing metal detectors and to check backpacks as a daily procedure.  He made suggestions on procedures and protocols for securing our school facilities. He has even written a book that should be taken seriously if we want to secure our schools.  The whole American cultural is being driven by violence and weapons.  Some are physical weapons and now there are virtual internet communicational weapons as well.  We have to do better!  We have to get a handle on “Gun Control”!  We have to take the safety of our children seriously and demand that our government be called into action against gun lobbyist and gun manufactures.  We need to make sure that guns cannot be sold or made via the internet. 

Right now, with 32 states doing their own thing and there is no consistent, intelligent, attainable, law in place to protect our children, we have to advocate for them.  We have more power than we use, and we have more power than we can imagine.  Contact your representatives and advocate for your children.  Contact your local city councils and educational district boards and voice your concerns and demands.  This is our “Call to Action”!  We are all our children have!