As I finished a lecture on Guidance last week in my Foundations of Child Development class, I closed by telling the students that if they were to walk away that night impacted by only one thing, my wish was that it would be their attitude towards working with children. Attitude is defined as a “mental state involving beliefs and feelings and values and dispositions to act in certain ways.” Teachers’ attitudes SHAPE their classroom. Specifically, if we believe that each child and family is valuable and good; if we believe that every child is in the process of learning appropriate behaviors; if we believe that children deserve acceptance and belonging, we are laying the foundation for growth and development in our classroom.
The National Association for the Education of Young Children’s guideline for “creating a caring community of learners” supports what I am talking about in regards to teachers’ attitudes. Creating a caring community of learners involves developing a positive relationship with each child. It is where teachers accept all children and show all children that they belong. In this community, teachers use guidance techniques—namely viewing children’s conflicts and misbehavior as mistaken.
Some little things every teacher can do to SHOW that you accept all children and that they belong:
· Greet every child as they enter your classroom
· Get down at their level when you talk to them
· Have a space for every child to keep his/her things when at school
· Use inclusive language like “our class, our friends, and we”
· Give children opportunities to interact, play with, and help each other
· Have pictures and posters up in your classroom that are representative of all the children’s lives
· Take time to get to know every child and family
· Listen to what children have to say—value their ideas
· View mistakes and conflicts as opportunities for children to learn
· Model positive relationships