I'm an Elementary Education major. As such, I have to spend a lot of time in elementary classrooms. This year, I had the privilege of being in a first-grade classroom during the first week of school, and as I helped the teacher, talked to the kids and listened during the lessons, I found that I was learning more than just education techniques.
Here's what the first week of first grade taught me.
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1. I'm in charge of me.
"Be Proactive" is one of the school's main rules. It means taking initiative, being responsible, doing the right thing without being asked or getting recognition, choosing your own attitudes and actions and blaming no one but yourself for your wrong actions.
On the surface, most of us are "proactive." But how many of us blame the slow driver ahead of us for making us a few minutes late? I know I do, and when the teacher used that very situation as an example to explain this rule, I was squirming in my seat.
2. Begin with the end in mind.
This is another one of the school rules. Over the years, I've gotten better at this. But especially now, in my senior year, I am feeling the effects of those first few years that I acted without thinking about my end goal. Listening to the teacher explain the importance of this just reinforced my determination to be a girl with a plan from here on out.
3. It's okay to ask for help.
One of the sweetest things about young kids is that they aren't embarrassed to ask for help. In the first grade, there is a wide range of skills. Some kids are advanced, others are a little behind. 6-year-olds have no problem admitting that they can't tie their own shoes or don't know how to spell a word. If I was willing to admit when I need help, I could learn from others and move on that much quicker.
4. Be quick to offer help to others.
For every child that didn't know how to tie her shoes, there were two more that offered to tie them for her before the adults could even respond. What would life be like if we all jumped at the chance to help each other?
5. If you think something nice, say it.
"Miss Little, you look so pretty today!" "Miss Little, you smell so good -- like lotion!" "Can you come back tomorrow?" "Miss Little, you're doing a good job with that!"
First grade isn't all smiles and rainbows, but the kids aren't afraid to say what they think. That means that when they have a nice thought, they blurt it out, and it's pretty much the sweetest thing ever. We miss so many smiles and happy moments when we keep kind thoughts to ourselves. What if, like little kids, we tried just blurting out the kindness?
6. Give yourself grace.
Over the course of the week, the teacher and I had to administer quite a few pre-tests and pre-assessments. We repeatedly told the students not to worry if they couldn't understand or didn't know the answers, their best was good enough. Instead of being paralyzed by what we don't know, we can move forward with what we do know and keep learning from there. No one expects me to be an expert my first time out.
When I walked into that classroom on the first day of school, I was expecting to learn how to manage a classroom and teach material. I wasn't expecting to hear life lessons that applied directly to me. Now, one week in, I can't wait to see what else both the teachers and the students of Valley Park Elementary have to teach me during the coming year.
I know I'll be a better person and teacher for the time I'm spending there.
