.My farewell piece for the magazine 2009
All pre primary teaching and learning involves using one or more of the 5 senses.
In my 15 years at ………….. and throughout my 28 year teaching career I have:
Seen:
· Thousands of children, their parents, grandparents, care-givers and pets come and go
· The monkey bars being mastered for the first time
· The excitement as the first tooth is lost and the visit of the tooth fairy becomes a reality
· Children growing out of a pair of pants, jacket or shoes in one season
· Many hasty replacements of group pets
Heard:
· Singing, laughter, gaiety, concern, kindness, compassion, love,
· Soft cry of a child in need
· Loud scream of a “cry wolf”
· Instruments, music, whistles, sirens, squeaky toys, noisy Sensopathic trays, hammering
Smelled:
· Flowers given with such love and devotion
· Johnson’s baby powder
· Mommy’s perfume or daddy’s aftershave
· Pungent odour coming from an ice cream tub…have to look too!
· The necessity to take someone to the loo
· The sour breath of tonsillitis
Tasted:
· Freshly baked goodies lovingly made by children and parents
· Melted piece of chocolate saved especially for me
· Excellent Epworth lunches, teas and snacks
· Half a cheddar biscuit from an aftercare cooler box
· Success in my role as a teacher and as HOD
Touched:
· Hopefully the hearts and minds of thousands of children and their parents
· A small, gentle hand that is holding my hand and not the other way around
· All creatures great and small at the insistence of the brave 4 year old
· The forehead of a child with a fever
· Glitter, glue and stickers as I have made over 800 birthday crowns
The list does not end here and I know that my colleagues, “parents” and the children I have been in contact with over the years will be able to add much more. Hopefully they will!
It is vital for the preschool teacher to have a 6th sense. This is related to having eyes at the back of your head! It is when you don’t need a thermometer to test for illness, when you know you need to scoop up a child in your loving arms, when words are not necessary, when you know that a check on the bathroom is about due, when you can pre-empt a potential social problem and nip it in the bud.
My 6th sense is telling me that it is the right time to go. Letting go is not giving up. I am definitely not giving up teaching. It will merely be taking another form. My 6th sense is telling me to give back and share my knowledge and expertise and that is what I intend to do in 2010 and beyond.
I thank God each and every day as I drive into school for showering me with blessings and for the honour and privilege to be a part of this amazing family.
All pre primary teaching and learning involves using one or more of the 5 senses.
In my 15 years at ………….. and throughout my 28 year teaching career I have:
Seen:
· Thousands of children, their parents, grandparents, care-givers and pets come and go
· The monkey bars being mastered for the first time
· The excitement as the first tooth is lost and the visit of the tooth fairy becomes a reality
· Children growing out of a pair of pants, jacket or shoes in one season
· Many hasty replacements of group pets
Heard:
· Singing, laughter, gaiety, concern, kindness, compassion, love,
· Soft cry of a child in need
· Loud scream of a “cry wolf”
· Instruments, music, whistles, sirens, squeaky toys, noisy Sensopathic trays, hammering
Smelled:
· Flowers given with such love and devotion
· Johnson’s baby powder
· Mommy’s perfume or daddy’s aftershave
· Pungent odour coming from an ice cream tub…have to look too!
· The necessity to take someone to the loo
· The sour breath of tonsillitis
Tasted:
· Freshly baked goodies lovingly made by children and parents
· Melted piece of chocolate saved especially for me
· Excellent Epworth lunches, teas and snacks
· Half a cheddar biscuit from an aftercare cooler box
· Success in my role as a teacher and as HOD
Touched:
· Hopefully the hearts and minds of thousands of children and their parents
· A small, gentle hand that is holding my hand and not the other way around
· All creatures great and small at the insistence of the brave 4 year old
· The forehead of a child with a fever
· Glitter, glue and stickers as I have made over 800 birthday crowns
The list does not end here and I know that my colleagues, “parents” and the children I have been in contact with over the years will be able to add much more. Hopefully they will!
It is vital for the preschool teacher to have a 6th sense. This is related to having eyes at the back of your head! It is when you don’t need a thermometer to test for illness, when you know you need to scoop up a child in your loving arms, when words are not necessary, when you know that a check on the bathroom is about due, when you can pre-empt a potential social problem and nip it in the bud.
My 6th sense is telling me that it is the right time to go. Letting go is not giving up. I am definitely not giving up teaching. It will merely be taking another form. My 6th sense is telling me to give back and share my knowledge and expertise and that is what I intend to do in 2010 and beyond.
I thank God each and every day as I drive into school for showering me with blessings and for the honour and privilege to be a part of this amazing family.