tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15932919.post8244965018852928379..comments2024-03-15T23:26:26.319-07:00Comments on Teacher Tom: Everything I Need To SayTeacher Tomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14606781724784785338noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15932919.post-90024801368996926082016-06-06T05:23:26.589-07:002016-06-06T05:23:26.589-07:00Hi Tom,
Thank you for your respectful and thought...Hi Tom,<br /><br />Thank you for your respectful and thoughtful responseto my advocacy of 'challenging'. <br /><br />No matter how much grammarnazis like me protest, words get humptydumptied all the time. (One that really grinds my gears, for example, is 'I could care less' when the meaning being conveyed is the exact opposite: 'I couldn't care less'. Ugh.) <br /><br />You've reminded me that the debate is finely balanced. Observers might wonder why we are debating it all: risky or challenging, we're both advocating the same thing aren't we? YES, WE ARE.<br /><br />And newsflash, I've changed my mind! I wasn't aware that the 'the corporate education reformers' had hijacked 'challenging'. I loathe them, so if they’ve grabbed it, I've dropped it. <br /><br />That said, I'm happy to leave the last word to your veteran parent: well said, sir.Arthur Battramhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01447923181344013487noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15932919.post-11749605914964965012016-06-05T06:30:23.413-07:002016-06-05T06:30:23.413-07:00Hi Tom,
Thanks for sharing this post. I currently ...Hi Tom,<br />Thanks for sharing this post. I currently deliver a forest and nature school program for children ages 2.5 to 4 years old. The affordances of the forest provide opportunities for children to take risks at a variety of levels. When I use the term risk, the children are challenging themselves to go beyond their level of comfort with support from others around them(both adults and peers). When I first implemented this program, the educators were hyper vigilant in using the phrase ” be careful”, for everything the children were doing. The educators appeared to be influencing the children’s ability to make decisions based on their own personal fears. I banned the phrase with some success. What emerged as a replacement was ”do you need help” before the child requested help. This need to protect the children from any harm is deeply rooted in our philosophy as educators. I began to take the approach of voicing my own concern of what made ME uncomfortable, as suggested by a parent within your cooperative. The children understand my concerns then evaluate whether or not changes are required. It is a wonderful respected reciprocal relationship that strengths our trust with each other and themselves.<br />Fran <br />Franhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05336136233531644446noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15932919.post-23785475427055698482016-06-04T07:20:49.882-07:002016-06-04T07:20:49.882-07:00I'm glad you chose to stick with "risky.&...I'm glad you chose to stick with "risky." After all, that describes the experience of the kids. They feel that they are taking risks. <br /><br />And they like it. <br /><br />That edge where it is scary but I'm going to do it anyway is a tremendous booster of confidence. Like my girl jumping out of a tree on a hay bale. It was scary, but she was exhilarated after she had done it. <br /><br />And I like the story of the veteran parent. To use the word "risky" also posed the challenge to him. Am I going to let fear drive me, or shall I let my kids decide? It's a real challenge for parents, an honest one, one that we face day in day out. <br /><br />Thank you for al this.<br /><br />NielsAnonymousnoreply@blogger.com