I always find myself freezing in my mentor teacher's classroom. I was rubbing my arms trying to keep warm when one of our 3rd graders, Dawt, asked, "Miss Hall are you cold?" I responded that Miss Hall is always cold. She then stole my heart by asking, "Would you like to share my jacket?" I told her that I'd be okay but she insisted and put the jacket around my shoulders and saying, "I make it pretty for you." I thanked her and pretended to model it. I even let her snap a silly picture of me. This is the pic and even though it isn't the greatest picture of my, I love it because it reminds me of the generosity of my sweet little learners. I wore her jacket around my shoulders the rest of the afternoon and she was so proud that the teacher was wearing something that was HERS. Sometimes we don't realize how exciting and wonderful it is for children to feel like they are needed and helping adults. I know it makes me feel good to help them and be needed by them but I don't always give them the chance to feel the same way. I too often say, "no thank you" or "I'm okay" like I did when Dawt first offered me her jacket. Just one more thing to think about for when I am dealing with my future students in my own classroom.
Thank you both! Kim, yes, definitely something to think about with all the kids in ours lives. We are so used to being care takers that we forget that it is okay to let them take care of us sometimes so they feel needed and important. I found that goes for big people in my life too. I have been on my own for so long, taking care of myself that I forget to ask other people for help or accept help when they offer.
