When working in early childhood, kids come to you at the beginning of the year mostly focused on themselves. This is frustrating, but very normal, and also very okay. It's part of their neuro-development that comes once they feel safe and connected to others.
As educators, we try to teach empathy and cognisance and other executive functions, but it can be hard to see where or if we're making progress. Things to watch for that tell you you're headed in the right direction are:
Kids complimenting each other on ideas
"We're a group, not a competition"
Offering to share, even with prompting
Saying "please" and "thank you" in class time
Thanking students who perform a service like holding doors or passing out sanitizer
Offering to help one another with tasks like tying shoes
Thanking adults without prompting
Apologizing to adults without prompting
Casual positive contact like holding hands and hugging
Kids "splitting chores" when putting things away
"You take this side, I'll take this side" mentality
Gift giving, like cards and flowers
Offering solutions to problems
"Em, this all sounds fantastic," you say, "but how on earth am I supposed to get there?" Well:
Thank children after positive contact, "thank you for the hugs, (name), now you need to be (insert activity)."
Repeat standard rules. ie: Be safe, Be respectful, Be responsible.
Give specific consequences for actions. "If I have to ask you to refocus three times, we stop everything we're doing and you'll have to sit in the safe chair until you can show me you're ready to listen."
Give applicable choices for kids to make. "Where in the room is your Smart Seat?" "Would you like to sit on the blue couch or the yellow couch?"
Process process process. Step by step, every time.
Tie in actions to standard rules. "Was (bad choice) something that was safe? Could it have hurt someone?"
Praise students for ideas.
Build suspense in diadactic reading by asking students to predict.
Pair students off to talk to one another about their ideas.
Narrate through cooperative play.
Ask students what they can do playing together.
Bring students into "peer conflict" problem solving.
Apologize when you make a mistake
Prompt students to apologize to one another and "accept the apology". Hugging it out is always good too.
Don't turn away hugs/latchings. It'll make you bitter.
Gentle redirections and reminders. Kids aren't perfect and they certainly don't remember everything you ask them to do.
Encourage certain sections to clean up as a group.
Put children in charge of "classroom tasks" like passing out sanitizer, moving chairs, line leader, necessities holder, janitor/clean up of cubbies and carpet.
Pass out cards for birthdays and holidays from you the teacher. Write something personal for every student.
Show positive interactions with other adults in your building.
Show positive interactions with students not in your class.
These are just some brainstorm ideas, so if you'd like to share something, please feel free!!
