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Shapers of Young Minds: Teachers of Child Development
from: ParentingKidsToday.comThe school is the second home of the child, the teacher his second parent. Teachers, especially those teaching children in the pre-school years are looked up to as models and thus, should provide good examples to their care.
The teacher is the one the child is in daily contact with, apart from his playmates and his parents. In the school, it's the teacher who is the figure of authority and a playmate of the child as well. More than just the math and the alphabet that you teach these kids, you are also one of the most influential figures in shaping the mind and attitude of the child. You are an essential part of their growth and development.
So what does it take to be a shaper of young minds?
A knowledge of the basics. First and foremost, you are a teacher. You teach them their numbers, their alphabet; you teach them about man and animals and plants. And as their teacher, you must not only teach these things to them, but you need to make them appreciate these things. Cultivate in them a love for numbers, more than just teach them how to count and do arithmetic.
Sensitivity and extra patience. Some kids are special, some require extra attention. A child's development is risky business because kids have different patterns of growth and development. While some are independent at a young age, some require more attention and help from you. Thus, as the teacher, you need to be sensitive to the learning needs of your students and should be ready to respond to these needs. Some kids will try your patience and a teacher should have enough to last a tantrum or two. You will also be dealing with their parents, their guardians and other professionals who may very well have a big impact on the child. As a teacher, you need to know how to deal with the possible impacts and influences of these people on how your student thinks or learns or behaves.
Be creative. Even at an early stage of the child's development, the teacher impacts how the child views learning. It is you who can make the child appreciate school or hate it. As a teacher dealing with growing kids, you must be able to make them appreciate learning. Teach them how to love their numbers, their alphabets, their books. Make your presentations enjoyable and fun through games and colored pictures and easy exercises and activities that will cultivate in their minds an appreciation for learning and school. Tell them stories; use their favorite cartoon characters; make the classroom more of a learning playground with toys. Teach them about the human body through songs and rhymes.
Be firm but don't scare them away. The days of teachers with sticks and wire-rimmed eyeglasses are over. They may need a little scolding at times, but they certainly don't need a hitting on the butt. Instead, you approach them as a friend. Children who are subjected to corporal punishment in the school are more likely to develop an anti-social behavior, a lower self-esteem and a lesser appreciation for learning.
Modern schools of thought see the child, not as mere receivers of information, but as individuals needing the care and the attention of their teachers. It is the teacher who partly shapes these minds and ultimately, their lives.
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