For the few of you that religiously read my scattered blog posts, I apologize. Honestly, I've been so busy this semester that I haven't had much time to sit down and blog. Also, the one thing that has been constantly inspiring me this semester can all be summed up into one word (and I'm sure it will surprise you;)): CHILDREN.
I have been blessed with the opportunity to be in a second grade classroom all semester with 40 2nd graders and 2 beyond incredible teachers. I have also been able to continue teaching dance to beautiful little girls who bring me to tears every time they perform. So here it is: my attempt to somehow explain what I have learned over these past 14 weeks and how it has forever changed me as a person.
Praise loudly and correct quietly. Children need constant positive affirmation, as I believe most adults also need. It is so easy to get frustrated with a child especially if you have tried to teach them something for a while and it just isn't connecting. You HAVE to find the good in the situation and the good in them. You HAVE to pull out something they are doing right and literally praise the crap out of them for it. The joy that I see in a child's face when I light up and almost scream "Good job sweetheart; I am so proud of you!!!" is immeasurable and amazing. This isn't to say kids don't need to be corrected; they absolutely do. But when you need to do so, do it in the most loving way, and start with the good first, always.
NEVER give up on a child. The improvements that I have seen in behavior and in learning this year in many kids that had huge difficulties was wonderful. Once kids are able to take pride and responsibility in their work and life, things will change. They will be able to pay attention and learn and they will appreciate those who helped them get there.
I fell in love with a child this year who truly needed all that love he/she could receive. Before Thanksgiving, we asked the children to write ten things they were thankful for. This child proceeded to come up to me and read how thankful he/she was for family, friends, teachers, and even myself. This enough made my heart full, for we had worked so hard with this child who was so very behind, and that child had noticed that. But first on this child's list, "I am thankful for God because he created me and this Earth".
See, this is a child who others may have given up on. They may have taken one look at that child and said that he/she was too behind and couldn't improve because of his/her past circumstances. My teachers and I fought, though. We fought hard to love the heck out of this child and teach the child all that we possibly could. He/she noticed that. The child also brought us all to tears, for no matter how difficult it was for him/her to learn, that child knew that he/she was a product of our heavenly father.
So lastly, children are perfect. They are innocent and holy and wonderful and everything that is good in this world. Many of them have faith that greatly abounds those of the adults we encounter everyday. Children love in a way that is so beautiful it is almost hard to comprehend. They will love you regardless of your mistakes and failures. You have to love them back. You have to believe in them. You have to push them to their highest potential and praise every little stepping stone they reach along the way. At the end of the day, I promise that you will learn way more from them than they will learn from you. And when you truly fall in love with children, as I have, your life will be way more beautiful and worth so much more than before.
Beautiful, love!
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