Article Link: http://exchangepress.com/article/the-inner-voice-of-the-teacher-the-compass-for-quality/5025368/
*Figures can be found in the pdf version of this article.
“Our school is going through a change process, and is about to become an inclusive preschool.” This was the statement with which my director opened our meeting. She continued by saying, “Your class was chosen to be in the pilot for this coming year.” As she was talking, my mind wandered back to the day when I learned what a real meeting is.
It all started as I heard two loud voices saying to each other, “But I was here first.” I approached and saw two boys fighting over a block in the construction area.
I first said, “Use your words,” and then I asked, “How do we play in the construction area?”
I then fell into, “You cannot continue to play if you can’t find a solution.” What accompanied all of the above was a deep feeling of discomfort from the realization that instead of creating a dialogue among the three of us, I was causing us to drift apart.
What I have just described is a well-known moment in the life of every educator. It is the moment when we realize that the meeting we are having with the children cannot be ...