It is very seldom that children will do what adults say. The majority of the time they will do as you do. Classroom rules say, “Treat others the way you want to be treated.” However, in the same breath we yell at them and use sarcasm. In return that’s the way they behave. We are teachers and sometime that means we have to teach our students how to live so we have to be careful of how we talk to our students. Sometimes I have to apologize to my students because I yelled at them. Just as I yelled, I could see the life drain from them. That’s not teaching! Teaching is inspiring students to live up to their highest potential!
This reminds me of a poem be Dorothy Law Nolte.
CHILDREN LEARN WHAT THEY LIVE
Dorothy Law Nolte
If a child lives with criticism,
he learns to condemn.
If a child lives with hostility,
he learns to fight.
If a child lives with fear,
he learns to be apprehensive.
If a child lives with pity,
he learns to feel sorry for himself.
If a child lives with ridicule,
he learns to be shy.
If a child lives with jealousy,
he learns what envy is.
If a child lives with shame,
he learns to feel guilty.
If a child lives with encouragement,
he learns to be confident.
If a child lives with tolerance,
he learns to be patient.
If a child lives with praise,
he learns to be appreciative.
If a child lives with acceptance,
he learns to love.
If a child lives with approval,
he learns to like himself.
If a child lives with recognition,
he learns that it is good to have a goal.
If a child lives with sharing,
he learns about generosity.
If a child lives with honesty and fairness,
he learns what truth and justice are.
If a child lives with security,
he learns to have faith in himself and in those about him.
If a child lives with friendliness,
he learns that the world is a nice place in which to live.
If you live with serenity,
your child will live with peace of mind.
With what is your child living?
Demby's Playful Parables 