Your Image Of The Child, Where Teaching Begins

Question 1

The image of the child

Answer 1

• every educator has an internal image of a child that shapes their interactions and teaching
• this image influences the classroom environment, relationships, and expectations
• children are sensitive to adult interactions and recognize collaboration or division among them

Question 2

Importance of dialogue and expectations

Answer 2

• Both adults and children ask questions of each other forming a continuous dialogue
• Families should also engage in questioning and understanding their child’s experiences in school

Question 3

Recognizing each child’s and teachers reality

Answer 3

Children and teachers enter school with personal experiences, emotions, and relationships, these are not isolated when we walk into a school building, but shape our environment around us

Question 4

Embracing the unpredictability of learning

Answer 4

• Learning is not linear, schools should not function like a predictable system
• teachers should be open to spontaneous environments, adapting lessons based on children’s ideas and curiosity

Question 5

The role of relationships in learning

Answer 5

• enjoyment of relationships is essential for both children and educators
• children need to feel valued and recognized for their efforts, not just outcomes (think of the water bucket example)
• Over involvement from teachers can hinder a child’s independent learning

Question 6

Learning as a journey (the forest metaphor)

Answer 6

• education is like navigating a forest, uncertain, collaborative, and ever-changing
• sometimes we are together and sometimes we are separated
• We start off with no paths and create them together or by ourselves
• Schools should not only focus on education, but also the children’s health and happiness

Question 7

The power of observation

Answer 7

• teachers must become skilled observers, understanding each child’s strengths and state of mind
• children value being observed while engaged in their learning process rather than just the final product

Question 8

Redefining the teacher’s role

Answer 8

• teachers are not just transmitters of knowledge, but creators of relationships between thoughts, people, and environments
• they must play multiple roles:researcher, guide, author, playwright, actor, set designer, and audience (think of it as everyone in a theatre)

Question 9

The importance of family involvement

Answer 9

• Schools must build strong relationships with families, convincing them of the value of progressive education.
• Parents should understand the importance of exploration and new perspectives in learning.

Question 10

Upholding the rights of the child

Answer 10

• All children deserve a high-quality education, supportive teachers, and the freedom to imagine
• Educators should see children as intelligent, capable, and strong, not fragile or incompetent
• the focus shift from merely protecting to recognizing the rights and strengths of children