In the first part of this two-part blog, I discussed two reasons why teachers are so important to your child. I spoke about teachers being able to provide parents with feedback about their child being in a different context. I also spoke about how teachers can support the parents with teaching the child to have a healthy view of themselves, a healthy self-esteem. This blog is a continuation of 5 reasons why teachers are so important to your kid.
- Teachers can impact greatly how your child feels about education and learning
I think that most of us can look back at the different teachers that we experienced and identify the teacher that made learning easier and more exciting for us. Learning (both the formal learning through lessons and studying, as well as informal learning through interaction and experiencing life) is an important part of your child’s life. Your child’s teacher can instill curiosity in your child, and provide your child the space, safety and permission to question, make mistakes, challenge, discuss and explore. All of this can make a difference not only to how your child feels about going to school, but also to how interested and excited your child is to learn and experience life.
2. Teachers can support your child’s learning about difference
The classroom is a place where your child will encounter other children that have different backgrounds to their own, different abilities to theirs, different ways of doing things, expressing themselves, learning and interacting. Your child’s teacher can give your child very important messages on how the world is full of differences and about how these can add resources that we would never have if we were all the same. Gay (2010) explains how teachers that are culturally responsive play an important role in cultivating cooperation, collaboration and reciprocity.
3. Teachers can help your child learn about being responsible
Through responsibilities such as having their own classroom tasks, working to keep the classroom clean and submitting their homework in time, amongst others, children learn the value of being responsible. Teachers can create the safety for the child to also admit having made a mistake or for a child to explain to the teacher when the child would not have honored their responsibilities. For instance, the teacher can help the child with being truthful about not having done their homework, instead of the child making up a story about their pet tearing up their work. This teaches the child the importance of honoring responsibilities and of also being honest and owning up to situations where the child does not.
Rebecca Cassar is a Family Therapist practicing the Systemic Approach. She specializes in offering therapy to families, couples and individuals who are experiencing distress in their relationships. She can be contacted on rebecca@willingness.com.mt or call us on 79291817.