It took everything I had not to get up and start running the program myself. I guess we teachers take it for granted that we can work with a group of children like it's a hard habit to break. This lady, bless her heart (I've learned living in the South that you can say whatever you want to about someone as long as you precede your statement with those words.) seemed like she had never prepared for, worked with, or led a group of children to do anything. She didn't know how to manage them or get their attention. She didn't know how to pick age appropriate topics or books to read. She didn't know how to engage them in the story. She didn't do any fingerplays or songs. It was driving the teacher in me BONKERS!
And you know me...I piped up after awhile. I kindly suggested a song. Translation: You can't expect 0-4 year olds to sit through a 45 minute lecture on photosynthesis and threatening their treasure box toy or no story won't get them to settle down! Give them a break and get them up and moving and then refocus them! Anyway, she sang.
On the final day that we attended, she wasn't prepared which wasn't a surprise...and she asked me to lead the kids in a song about anything. I proceeded to sing three or four songs with them and do one fingerplay. We talked about the weather and made it sound like rain inside too. That is how long it took her to get her things together. Again, the lack in preparation drove the teacher in me CRAZY!
But...because I think it's important for Fletcher to experience different environments and of course have exposure to books...I bit the bullet each week and bit my tongue for an hour each Tuesday morning, so he could go sit and enjoy a story and activity at the local library. Translation: I tried to keep my mouth shut and provide positive reinforcement to all the kids that were put out of their developmentally appropriate expectations while trying to reign in my own two-year-old whose focus went in and out over the course of the hour while attempting to keep Holden happy and quiet!
Yay for summer reading! :) Yay for the one day I brought my camera. You'll see how happy Holden was when he thought I was going to put him in his car seat again. You'll see Fletcher during one of the activities...puppet making. At least HE seemed to enjoy it each week and I didn't pay a cent! (I will say that the summer reading incentives appeared to be much better in Boston, as my friend Robyn has shared, but Fletcher did get many prizes for reading 50 books and he got something from the treasure box at the end of each visit.)
1 comment:
That's so funny, isn't it hard! We went to 3 story times at different locations before I found a lady that was awesome. My favorite was one lady finished her story time (again no clue about age appropriate activities) by ending with bubbles. I thought great my child finally has permission to stand up and have fun, nope! The rule was you had to sit on your bottom and watch her blow bubbles. I guess if one happened to float your way you were allowed to pop it, seriously! The toddler brain time class I went to with Leia was amazing, more just because I was so thankful there are organizations out there that teach parents and others what really matters:) anyway your little ones are so cute and so big! Hopefully you'll be out here soon!
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