Every Week can be Teacher Appreciation Week
This week is Teacher Appreciation Week and we want to express a very special thanks to teachers for their continued dedication to teaching our kids through this school year.
Acknowledging Teachers
A very important way to support your kids’ teachers is to do everything you can to uphold teachers in the eyes of your kids. This is an investment you can’t afford to pass up. One way you can do this is by making sure that your kids overhear you saying positive things about their school and their teachers.
I know too many kids who go to school believing, “I’ll be lucky if I learn anything in this lousy school.” These are the kids who frequently hear critical remarks about education, schools, and teachers. Unfortunately, kids take on the beliefs of their parents.
Don’t voice your concerns in front of your kids. Deal directly with the school or with the teacher. You’ll be glad you did.
When Kids Complain About Their Teachers
Even if you always say positive things about schools and teachers in front of their kids, they might still come home with complaints about their teachers. How do wise parents respond when their youngster says, “My teacher is mean!”? Because we care deeply for our kids, there are two traps that are far too easy to slip into. Here are two examples of these traps.
Trap #1: When Mary complains about her teacher being unreasonable, her well-meaning mom says, “Don’t worry, honey, I’ll give her a call and get this straightened out.” Is Mary learning how to solve her own problems? No!
Trap #2: When Freddy complains that his teacher keeps asking him about his homework, his well-meaning dad says, “Well, if you would just work a little harder on your homework, I’m sure that she would get off of your case.” Uh, oh! What are the chances that Freddy’s dad might end up in a run-down nursing home some day?
Parents who use Love and Logic can avoid these traps. These parents know that empathy is the most important skill. They also know that kids need to learn how to succeed with nice teachers as well as demanding ones. These parents respond, “That’s got to be rough. Would you like to hear how some kids get along with tough teachers?” Kids can learn to solve their own problems and be responsible when we resist the urge to rescue or lecture.
Instilling the love of learning in our kids is another way to support teachers. Every teacher loves to teach kids who love to learn.
This was taken from Love and Logic Insider’s Club by Dr. Charles Fay. To learn more about how to support your child’s learning, email me at michellegerlach@goodshepherdwi.org for more information.
