Hello,
I am Jackie Sankowski and I teach 3 and 4 years old, except I have had a group of two years old join our class from January until the beginning of April.
I definitely agree with your thoughts regarding the children's behaviour now compared to 10 or 15 years ago.
I think that the fact that they are not capable of following even the shortest story or understand the simplest request or rule lies on the fact that nowadays even adults, parents included, cannot really follow or pay attention like parents did 15 years ago.
and it's all because of electronics.
Computers, phones, I-pads are supposed to help us, instead they are very detrimental to a child.
This is what I do in my classroom.
In the morning I put tables activities like stamps, puzzles and colouring with usually crayons and colored pencils.
But I also give about 20 minutes to one of the children to use their electronics.
I give them the choice to decide what to do and of course all 10 of them want to play on the I-pad. (Remember there is only 1 I-pad allowed in my classroom). Well at the end of the 20 minutes electronics goes in their bag and at that point, magically, everyone wants to be engaged in the other activities that I previously laid out on the tables.
I do not require from the whole group to listen to a story at the same time. If I read to a group of 5, my assistant will do a project with the rest of the class or she will do rice table, play dough or bean bags tossing. I look at my class and I firmly believe that anything we do is an opportunity to learn. Either inside while we are reading about rainbows 🌈 or outside while we can actually see one.
Also, the behaviour is strictly connected to how comfortable each child is in class that particular day.
Children model our behaviour and if they see a teacher engaged and interested, they generally will be, also, engaged and
interested. Of course there is always the exception to the rule.
And sometimes that exception requires the undivided attention of one teacher.
------------------------------
Jacqueline Frig Sankowski
Lead teacher
Mendon Child Care Center
Mendon NY
------------------------------
Original Message:
Sent: 04-13-2021 02:19 PM
From: Karen Patton
Subject: Young 3's class
Hello. I teach a older 2/young 3's class. I am finding, more so the last 2 years, the children do not listen AT ALL. I have been teaching this class for 15 years and the difference in the children now from 15 years ago is night and day. I have never had this problem in my classroom before 2 years ago. I have tweaked my classroom routine every year and at this point basically eliminate any large group time as the class cannot, first of all sit, for even a story without moving around or touching friends, and when one child is not following along with the routine and distracted, they all start following along with that child. Well, not all but most and for the 2 or 3 kids listening I feel bad having to stop because I have their undivided attention. When I tell you I do everything I possibly can to keep their interest....read age appropriate short stories with LOTS of enthusiasm and funny voices, sing EVERYTHING, play interactive games....I certainly know I am not going to get a class of "the perfect children" nor would I want that, as I appreciate all the various personalities, but it is literally like talking to 10 walls. I speak to the parents and the response I get is "Yeah, I know, they don't listen to us at home either. Everything is a fight". I use reward systems, extra playground time, etc...as I really don't think time out works for this group, they do like praise, it just doesn't last long. Funny thing is, I needed a story a couple of weeks ago to go along with our theme and I didn't have the book, but there was a reading of it available on YOUTUBE. So, I brought in my computer and played it and let them listen to narration and watch the story come to life with graphics, etc....NOT A PEEP WAS MADE....they sat there mesmerized. Again, something new and of course they all knew YOUTUBE (yes, they are just turning 3...that's a whole other story), but I am not comfortable bringing technology into our classroom all the time (we are only in school 2 half days a week). I feel I want them to be able to give their attention , even for 5 minutes to the teacher. Just venting here, but is anyone else dealing with this? I am thinking it is my routine that I will have to switch around and completely eiliminate large group and just offer centers each morning for them to rotate to. 2 of the centers would be working with the teachers. Thank you for listening to my venting.
Karen
Love 'n' Learn Christian Preschool
Glen Mills, PA 19342
------------------------------
Karen Patton
Owner/Director
Love 'n' Learn Christian Preschool
Garnet Valley PA
------------------------------