Can you Tell I'm a Teacher?
Eamon's in a contradict-everything-I-say-in-a-high-pitched-voice phase, and it's extremely tedious. During one loud episode, during which I childishly held up a "What do we want? COOPERATION! When do we want it? NOW!" strike sign, Eamon yelled, "What do you mean by cooperation???!!!"
Ah, yes. I guess it would be a good idea to clarify that, wouldn't it?
The teacher in me took over and I grabbed a piece of chart paper to begin my mini-lesson on cooperation. At the top I wrote, "COOPERATION" and underlined it. Below that I made two columns, one headed with a drawing of an eye an the words "Looks like" and the other with a drawing of an ear and the words "Sounds like." As an afterthought, I inserted the word "Family" before the "Cooperation" title. This chart is a trick I learned in my GLAD training, an I do it every year with my students. I'm not sure why I didn't think to do it with my kids. Chart prepared, the four of us sat around the table and began brainstorming what cooperation in a family looks like and sounds like. These are the things we came up with: using kind words, asking "How can I help?," teamwork, and encouraging each other. Another interesting idea that came up, which wouldn't have occurred to me, is "Walking together." When we are out in public, Vika generally walks far behind us and Eamon walks far ahead. The kids and Jeff noted that when we all walk together, we are cooperating and being more of a family.
It was a good lesson, and I think the kids have a better understanding what we mean by cooperation in a family. I've spotted both kids standing in front of the chart (which we've hung by the kitchen), reading over the bullet points on their own. We are also able to refer to the chart when someone needs a reminder about cooperation. This worked against me the other day, when I was feeling irritable and Vika pointed to the chart with the reminder, "Is that a kind voice, Mama?" Oh brother.
Things have been a little tough here lately, and it seems that Jeff and I are making far more negative comments to our kids than positive. It must be a burden on their self-esteem, so we took a step back and did another activity to remind everyone of the good things we see in each other. I took some photos of the kids' faces and put them in the middle of a square piece of paper. One page was for Eamon and the other was for Vika. Around their picture, we wrote the good qualities and things we love about each child. Eamon's page says things like: loving, caring, funny, affectionate. Vika's says words like: determined, helpful, adventurous and loving. The kids ate this activity up. It was good for them to hear the things we love about them, and to remind them that despite the rough patch we're going through, they are great kids and we feel lucky to have them in our lives. These pages have an added benefit for Jeff and I as well. When the kids are driving us nuts and we're reaching our breaking point, we can look at the page and remind ourselves of the good things about each child. It kind of helps put things in perspective and helps us focus on the child as a whole, not just the bad behavior he or she is currently displaying.
Ah, yes. I guess it would be a good idea to clarify that, wouldn't it?
The teacher in me took over and I grabbed a piece of chart paper to begin my mini-lesson on cooperation. At the top I wrote, "COOPERATION" and underlined it. Below that I made two columns, one headed with a drawing of an eye an the words "Looks like" and the other with a drawing of an ear and the words "Sounds like." As an afterthought, I inserted the word "Family" before the "Cooperation" title. This chart is a trick I learned in my GLAD training, an I do it every year with my students. I'm not sure why I didn't think to do it with my kids. Chart prepared, the four of us sat around the table and began brainstorming what cooperation in a family looks like and sounds like. These are the things we came up with: using kind words, asking "How can I help?," teamwork, and encouraging each other. Another interesting idea that came up, which wouldn't have occurred to me, is "Walking together." When we are out in public, Vika generally walks far behind us and Eamon walks far ahead. The kids and Jeff noted that when we all walk together, we are cooperating and being more of a family.
It was a good lesson, and I think the kids have a better understanding what we mean by cooperation in a family. I've spotted both kids standing in front of the chart (which we've hung by the kitchen), reading over the bullet points on their own. We are also able to refer to the chart when someone needs a reminder about cooperation. This worked against me the other day, when I was feeling irritable and Vika pointed to the chart with the reminder, "Is that a kind voice, Mama?" Oh brother.
Things have been a little tough here lately, and it seems that Jeff and I are making far more negative comments to our kids than positive. It must be a burden on their self-esteem, so we took a step back and did another activity to remind everyone of the good things we see in each other. I took some photos of the kids' faces and put them in the middle of a square piece of paper. One page was for Eamon and the other was for Vika. Around their picture, we wrote the good qualities and things we love about each child. Eamon's page says things like: loving, caring, funny, affectionate. Vika's says words like: determined, helpful, adventurous and loving. The kids ate this activity up. It was good for them to hear the things we love about them, and to remind them that despite the rough patch we're going through, they are great kids and we feel lucky to have them in our lives. These pages have an added benefit for Jeff and I as well. When the kids are driving us nuts and we're reaching our breaking point, we can look at the page and remind ourselves of the good things about each child. It kind of helps put things in perspective and helps us focus on the child as a whole, not just the bad behavior he or she is currently displaying.
The kids' pages.
Eamon reading his "What I like about you" page.
Jenni, those are both AWESOME ideas! (I'd have pegged ya more for a kiddie shrink here than a teacher). :-)
I also hate sounding too negative, and the Monkey's really into learning to read, so I think that face chart could be great for us.
(Don't get me started on cooperation - oy! - but I think that 'looks like/sounds like' chart may have a place with us eventually, too!)
Thanks mucho for sharing these ideas. I'm so glad they seem to be working out well for V&E (and you and Jeff!).
I get such good ideas from you. These are great. I too have to learn to take a step back sometimes - some days it feels like all I do is yell!
I like the face pages a lot, another great idea to borrow. Thank you! And good luck. :)
Great ideas!! I love the face chart, I am totally using that one!
Their day care just did the what I like about you thing with buckets. The kids all made buckets and then put notes in each others buckets, teachers included. Such a great idea and one we have continued at home.
thanks for the great tips!!
Well done, Mama!
It reminded me of this (which is more classroom than family, but you have one of those, too.): One year my class had a "Caught Being Kind" box. Anyone could drop in a note anonymously when they saw someone being kind.
It quickly morphed into everyone pulling a clip to see who they would be watching that day, ready to catch them being kind. That way EVERYONE got strokes at the end of the week. Some were very insightful! And, they really strove to be kind so that they could be caught.
Great ideas! I love it! I'm going to try them.
you should frame them and put them behind your bed on either side of that wall hanging. love it and may copy it
the face pictures that is