05/04/12
Friday
Excitement and happiness filled my daughter's face when she ran into the room holding four small balloons in her hands. After a tired day of work, I thought this would be a great teachable moment to teach her how to count using balloons. So, I asked her to lay them on the bed and modeled how to count from one to four in Vietnamese as I pointed to each balloon. She followed my lead as she counted and pointed at each of them. Then, I asked her to start counting by herself. After 20 minutes went by, my frustration started to build up as I realized my tone is getting higher and higher. I could tell she was getting upset too because she started crying when I start losing my patience. When I saw the tears rolled down that little small face, I realized I am not teaching her as a role of a teacher, but more of a mother. I was more disappointed at myself than of her because I now understand what it means when people say it is so much easier to teach other people's kid than of your own.
I get frustrated, too. I think it happens when I'm tired. The good thing is you (and I) are able to step back and say "okay, it doesn't help anyone when I get frustrated and I want to do it differently next time". I think that's all we can do!
ReplyDeleteWhen I helped my son to do his homework, I sometimes got lost my patient too. One day my husband told me that "Ok. I see how you teach your lesson in your class" as he saw while I was loosing my patient and raising up my voice to my son.It is true that it is much easier teach other kids than of your own.
ReplyDeleteMy mom has been a kindergarden teacher for many years, and she is always warm and nice to the children she teaches but is impatient with me.
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