As a veteran in the early childhood field, I continually hear teachers using the phrase" No, thank you", as the child is playing in a sink, playing with their food at the table, or even touching the handle on the door. I personally could never understand where this phrase came from or why teachers are using it.
I encourage teachers to tell the child what you want them to do, as mentioned in many of the previous comments. My example is this, a two year old child was holding a piece of bread in his hand over the edge of the table. The teacher said" watch out that bread will end up in the garbage" the child got up and threw his piece of bread in the garbage. Again they hear just the end of the sentence.
We also encourage and implement
Conscious Discipline in the classrooms, which again is a different way to communicate to young children, but it is successful. The use of the words "Good Job" has not been heard, for teachers have learned to identify and acknowledge the actions of the child and celebrate those small successes.
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Janet Mincks
Training and Program Support Coordinator
Encompass Early Education and Care
Green Bay WI
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Original Message:
Sent: 10-31-2018 04:12 AM
From: Paula Hance
Subject: Words/phrases you avoid in the classroom
Thanks again for all these responses. We had an interesting discussion at the staff meeting, where I presented a chart with 3 columns- phrases to avoid, why, and appropriate replacements. Staff didn't really agree with *I need you to...". But I was glad to hear the discussion and hopefully create some mindfulness in the teachers choice of words.
Another once I brought up was, "I told you [yesterday] not to do that", as if we never have to teach there children something again after we told them. As if we adults never need reminders...
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Paula Hance
Zion Early Childhood Center
Hopkins MN
Original Message:
Sent: 09-26-2018 08:48 AM
From: Paula Hance
Subject: Words/phrases you avoid in the classroom
Besides the "You guys...", what are some phrases you avoid? I had a great collection of these from a conference and now can not find the paper.
Another is, "I need you to...", as this is not about your needs and the sentence can be started another way to get the same message across to the children.
Trying to get some thoughts gathered for a staff meeting.
Thanks!
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Paula Hance
Zion Early Childhood Center
Hopkins MN
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