Joining in again with Miss DeCarbo
I couldn't quite believe my eyes the other week when another creature appeared in the garden - can you spot the odd one out?
Amazingly, although it appeared to be very happy around the cats, they kept away from it as much as possible - leaping on to the outside table and chairs when it got too pesky! But none attacked it - not even a biff on the nose. I couldn't catch it though and it ran off through the hole in the fence into the neighbour's garden and probably beyond.
It made me think a little about how sometimes children can have a problem fitting in and playing with others too. Do you have ways to solve this at your school? How do you ensure children have fun at their breaktimes?
Your long-eared visitor prompted a great question! I have a student now who loves to stand and talk to me at recess and while waiting for his bus. (Instead of talking to the other children, that is.) I usually try to draw other kids into the conversation with us so that he is also interacting with peers. Sometimes, I'll ask children who are playing alone to look around the playground and think of 2 or 3 people or groups they could join. I then prompt them to try it and let me know how it goes later.
ReplyDeleteJan
Laughter and Consistency
Yes both of your ideas are good ones and ones I have used too. I know some teachers who always tell children to just go off and play and sometimes this is just beyond some of them and they do need this extra support to interact with their peers. It is also good to hear what the child wants to say as sometimes this gives an insight into their life and their problems I also find.
DeleteI love the way that front cat is looking round at the rabbit like 'hang on a minute'. Brilliant picture and I love the question it prompted for you.
ReplyDeleteEven as an adult I can feel painfully shy amongst people I don't know so well, I've found little coping strategies as an adult to help me with it though. I can relate well to those children who feel totally alone standing in a room full of people.
You are so right, Click - my cats really could not believe such a pushy creature - however what I noticed was that they seemed to forget about their own differences and as a "group" shunned the poor bunny who obviously was really keen to get close to them. Poor thing :(
DeleteThat is priceless lol Thank you for the smile. It'd be a good photo to show shy kids. Gosh I remember the pain of being afraid to go over to a group .... makes me shiver to think of it.
ReplyDeleteI was glad I had photographic evidence of the event as other teachers questioned my story (they must have thought the stress of my job was causing me to see rabbits!!) however, the children I told all had suggestions about why it might have appeared, where from and why it would like my cats!! Children have such open minds :-)
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