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Each day during March, I am participating in the Two Writing Teachers Slice of Life Story Challenge (SOLSC). All participants are writing about one moment, one part of their day, every day for thirty-one days. My slices will be primarily about teaching preschoolers. Check out the Two Writing Teachers website for lots more reflections on teaching. Thanks especially to Stacey, Tara, Anna, Beth, Dana, and Betsy for hosting this writing challenge.
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How much help or assistance to give a child?
How do you know when you are doing too much?
When do you let a child figure something on their own?
How do we help them feel comfortable about striving, about the struggle?
What does struggle look and feel like, in a child?
Preschoolers beg me each day to hold their hands while they walk along our playground's balance beam. Often, I do, knowing it gives me an opportunity to have a conversation, one-on-one, with a child, an opportunity to build our relationship.
But today I began to wonder if I was 'enabling' them, keeping them dependent on an adult's help on this playground equipment.
I playfully announced - "Hear ye, hear ye! Today is a big day! Everyone gets to do the balance beam on their own! While learning, they may wobble, they may fall onto the mulch, they may struggle - but everyone will have fun, doing it their way! Hear ye! Hear ye!"
They had a blast, falling and trying, trying and falling. Laughing together, lots. And then, simply walking along the beam.
Models, scaffolds and then a release of responsibility. I think I have heard of this before!
ReplyDeleteI woke up thinking about this today...about a fifth grader who really has learned to be helpless well! It's a toughie, but in truth--praise, prompt and leave, and then return to praise in a low-key way has always worked for me. In life, though, I think so many of us adults could use to learn all over again, how to reach out and ask for help when we need it, don't you?
ReplyDeleteSounds like your timing was just right.
ReplyDeleteThe learning comes in the mistakes we make. Your scaffolding, however, gave them the courage to try.
ReplyDeleteGreat thought. Something I definitely need to be more watchful of! I have the cutest mental image of these little off balance toddlers teetering along the edge of their balance beam and being so proud they made it on their own.
ReplyDeleteThis is a wonderful snippet of reflection and precious moments. I wonder this too. My seventh graders tend to be in that odd in between where they are not quite sure of what they are capable of and are afraid to try. If they can get away with it, some will let another do it for them. But I say, no more. I've given them everything they need to be successful without giving them the work.
ReplyDeleteThis is a wonderful snippet of reflection and precious moments. I wonder this too. My seventh graders tend to be in that odd in between where they are not quite sure of what they are capable of and are afraid to try. If they can get away with it, some will let another do it for them. But I say, no more. I've given them everything they need to be successful without giving them the work.
ReplyDeleteI forget where my 3rd graders started from and how much they have learned! Teaching independence is so tricky. I admire preschool teachers. So much patience
ReplyDeleteAnd so time consuming for every task. Thanks for teaching our preschoolers😀
I love your playful announcement.
ReplyDeleteI find this the hardest aspect of teaching to mentor to my new colleagues - that piece of being in relationship but also supporting preschoolers to build confidence in their own ability and to actually surprise themselves. I have been thinking about it often this year because I am working with new and inexperienced aides and it is so hard to whisper to them once in a while "we need to let them struggle sometimes...."
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