I decided to leave our Christmas decorations up until January 28th as I LOVE them and I figure I was away for a bit of December and this month so deserve a bit more!
I have not had enough of my “dreaming under the Christmas tree” time and my looking into the lit tree and imagining other worlds.
I want this year to be a year of going slowly enough to really notice what is happening- really deeply in all ways.
I have been kid-watching and teacher-watching this month and reflecting deeply on the REAL needs of kids. (And teachers!)
As I watched our teachers run EQ4KIDZ, BOOST, ART FROM THE HEART and YOUNG SCIENTISTS I noticed common threads.
It was all about CONNECTIONS and RELATIONSHIPS. As the kids bonded with teachers work improved. As teachers got to know their students their teaching methods became more precise, levels of humour increased and lesson enjoyment for both pupils and teachers increased!
As we begin our academic year and have our first staff meeting I want to posit that RELATIONSHIPS and love of children must come first.
TEACH ONLY WITH LOVE will be our mantra this year.
Love comes before the worksheets, teaching techniques, expensive resources. Teaching delivered with love is the way.
Teachers will never be replaced by machines. Teachers can love and love will always lead to higher results.
I declare this to be a year of unhurried, deep, effective teaching and lots of extended celebrations!