I consider myself to have the best job in the entire school. I have the privilege of talking to so many students, parents and colleagues. These are most definitely challenging times. As I wrote about in my last blog – we are not all in the same boat and we are not experiencing the same challenges. For some folks I have spoken with they are truly loving the time with their families. For other families the uncertainty of employment or the health of their loved ones has really burdened them. Add to all this…being a teacher to you children.
I want to remind you that you are your child’s greatest teacher but you are not their school teacher. Does that make sense? I believe that your children are watching you and mimicking you more than you realize. I have talked with many parents and there is a common theme to each conversation and it goes like this…”I am just so tired of fighting with them to do their work.”
Does that resonate with any of you? Tired of the constant fight to get your kids to sit down and get work done and then after that battle…try and upload it and submit it? If this does not resonate with you – awesome – just keep on keeping on. However, if this does resonate with you then maybe you need to rethink how you are doing things. I believe that the parent child relationship is the most important relationship for a child. And, that relationship is so worth preserving.
So, stop fighting with them. Mix it up…bake together and that can count as Science and Math. Go for a nature walk and observe people social distancing…or not social distancing – this will spark interesting conversations…and yes, learning. Is it exactly what they have been asked to do? Maybe not, but they are learning and you are strengthening your relationship with them. From my standpoint that is a huge win. Remember – we are in the middle of a world-wide pandemic and that calls for extreme measures. Maybe even as extreme as throwing out the curriculum and learning together…growing together…finding peace together or simply being together.
Remember…you are the parent.