Page 42 - Demo

Why does a teacher need to be so thoughtful? Have you ever bought one of those big metal shelf units that comes in a box with a hundred pieces? Sometimes the directions don%u2019t tell you enough for you to get the job done%u2026 ugh%u2026 frustration! Sometimes the directions go into such teeny tiny detail that%u2026 ugh%u2026 you think you%u2019ll go crazy! That%u2019s our point with teacher interaction. When a teacher offers a child less information and support than is necessary, the student doesn%u2019t know what to do. A child in this situation thinks to himself, %u201dI am afraid and sad because I don%u2019t understand what to do.%u201d If the teacher offers more support and information than necessary, she forces her knowledge on the child, and squashes his creativity and zest for learning. A child in this situation might not show any interest in the topic being introduced. Through that action he is saying, %u201cI already know all about that because the teacher told me. I want to do something that I can explore on my own!%u201dWant research to back it up? The importance of children making strong attachments to adults is well known. Research tells us that %u2018adult sensitivity%u2019 (that is caregivers%u2019 awareness of, and reaction to, children%u2019s spoken and unspoken signals) is a predictor of how well children will interact with others later in life. While parents%u2019 actions are an important influence on a child, the interaction of childcare providers and teachers has been shown to be equally important!IDEA742