I want it back.

"A child's smile can light up a day. A child's innocence charms many hearts. That's why it must be protected. Love your child and you will get abundance of love in return."

Hi  there! How are you dear mates? I want to tell you something that happened to me yesterday. In fact, I've thinking about this idea lately and I'm getting more and more certain with the passing of the days.

Yesterday afternoon, I was in the supermarket with my grandma buying some things to accompany the mate.  While we were waiting in the queue, a group of five eleven-year-old girls were walking around the gondola whooping and behaving as if they were alone in this world. I know this is a typical characteristic of pre-adolescents. However, there was something I didn’t expect from them. They said: “Llevamos un Fernet para esta noche?” I repeat: THEY WERE ELEVEN YEARS OLD.

The idea behind this is INNOCENCE. This innocence our children don’t have. They are little by little losing it. What is happening? How is it possible that this group of little girls want to have FERNET?

I see it in my little students who are seven and say or think things they shouldn’t.  I see it in my cousins who are 11 and 13 and they want to behave as adults. They have some attitudes that shock me. I see it in every child. We don’t have any more children in our world. We have little adults. And I don’t think this is ok

.

I remember my pre-adolescence. I wanted to be an adult as well. I wanted to act independently. I believed I was the queen of the world and I could do whatever I wanted. I WANTED TO. Today’s children and adolescents ARE and BEHAVE as adults. It’s not a wish for them. It’s a reality.

The worst thing here is that it seems that REAL ADULTS allow this. Their parents, their teachers or whoever is in charge laugh at this situation. I don’t think it’s funny. First, it’s not funny because children end up believing they have some rights they don’t really should be having. They are authoritarian and bad-tempered. Second, because they HAVE TO enjoy this stage in their lives. INNOCENCE. They should be willing to play in the parks, to have dolls and little cars, to enjoy the fact of not having responsibilities.

I’m worried. I’ve been thinking about this a lot. It seems there’s nothing we can do about it. THERE IS.

I’m not a mother and I don’t know what I am going to do by then. However, I think LIMITS and RULES are really important and LEADING BY THE EXAMPLE is absolutely necessary.

Well girls, I shared my thought about this new trend our children and adolescents are following. I just want to know whether I’m the only one worrying about this and noticing these changes or not.

See you soon. Have a nice day!

Por cuatro esquinitas de nada

Hi there! How are you? Happy Monday! I know I should have posted this on Friday but I couldn't make time. Better late than never! Here it is.

Last Friday, my partners and I had the opportunity to listen to an English teacher, Susana, who works in a school for students with special needs. It was great to know the dynamics of those schools. She explained to us how the different levels are reached and the varied strategies they have to use. This teacher put emphasis on how hard it is to find material to be used in those cases. It is difficult but not impossible. Susana showed us some authentic and home-made videos in order to get us closer to their reality.  It was very clear that working for those students means hard work. Nonetheless, with a huge smile in her face, she made us feel how gratifying her job is. Everything was new to me. I knew these people (I don’t say children because there are many adults as well) were educated in a different establishment. But I didn’t know how they did it.

It was Friday afternoon and it was almost the end of a long long week and I just wanted to get home. However, I learnt a lot and I enjoyed this talk pretty much.

But it was the way in which Susana gave a closure to the talk what I liked the most: she showed us a video which told a story about Cuadradito y Redonditos. I really want you to see it.

 

My reflection: Again, I have mixed feelings towards this topic.

On the one hand, I think it is ok they have a specific school where trained people take care of their individual needs and use the means these students really need in order to educate them. On the other hand, it is a way of differentiating them and excluding them and that's not the idea.  In addition to this, in these schools, teachers have few students and it is possible, though hard, to pay attention to each of them. In ordinary schools, there are 30 students in a classroom and it’s really difficult to pay attention to and take control of all of them, even when these children don’t have special needs.

The story of Cuadradito and Redonditos is really touching. It got me thinking all the weekend long. And, once again, I don’t know what to think. 

Best day of their lives.

Today I want to share with you two experiences. Last Friday, I went to work and I experienced to different situations. I don’t know what shape I can give to this writing. I will just write and describe the moments.

On Friday morning, I entered the school where I work and I ran into the headmistress. She told me that my students, first graders, had just arrived from Casa De Gobierno. They went there to get their netbooks. 

First experience. 

When I entered the classroom, students were all sitting down, in silence and looking straight to the small screens of their new netbooks. The teacher in charge of the course, la seño, asked me to teach them how to turn the computer on and off correctly and to show them how to get an internet connection. She also recommended me to forget about the class I had planned and let them play and use the computer. It was the first time my students were quiet and paying attention to something for more than an hour. While I was helping them to manipulate the computer, Vitto, a really naughty student, approached me and told me "Teacher, today is the best day of my life". I couldn't answer. I just thought about what he said and the quote kept resounding in my mind over and over. It seems something stupid, but what he told me really shocked me. I know he didn't mean it, he is just a child and everything is new for him. I think that they have many best days of their lives. At least, that's what I want to believe. But, how is it possible that the fact of getting their netbooks made their day?   

My students were so excited; they wanted me to teach them everything. And that's what I did. I had no option.

Normally, whenever the bell rings, they go out running and smiling, they want to enjoy their break, they are eager to play and to run all over the playground. On Friday, the bell rang, and they didn't move a muscle. "Ok, children, the bell rang, you have to go out" That’s what I said. So, I made them put the computers in the boxes and only 5 students ran to the door and went out. "Teacher, we don't want to go out, we want to keep on playing" said the rest. Of course I didn't let them. I told them they HAD to go out and with the saddest faces ever, they finally went to the playground. 

While walking to the teacher’s room I thought: do this children really need a computer? They don't know how to write and read. Maybe in four years it is useful for them, but not now. What do you think? I am not against technology in education at all. I strongly believe it's necessary and useful. But they are seven.

I will be looking forward your opinions. 

Now, second experience. Same day, another course, first graders too. 

They had already used the computers in the previous hour, they had been taught everything they needed to know. However, they asked me to use it and I improvised something and said YES. I asked them to open PAINT. Aahh? /peint/? what's that??. They know the program as Paint as it sounds. At least I could teach something in English, ha ha. I asked them to draw their favorite Wild Animal because that’s the topic we’re dealing with. They were all doing it, very enthusiastically.

In this course, there is a student who presents some sings of autism. He is a beautiful and sweet boy, but he is always flying. He lives in his own world. So, all my students were using the computer, drawing and painting. But Bauti wasn't. I asked him to turn his computer on, I opened Paint for him and I asked him to draw whatever he wanted to. He didn't know how to use it, so I taught him. When he saw the first color line I drew, his eyes were bright and his mouth was opened. He looked at me, and gave me a strong hug and he said GRACIAS SEÑO. And he kept on drawing. I was shocked again. He called me several times to show me what he was doing. He was so happy I couldn't believe it.

That day, I couldn’t help thinking about the computers and the different reactions students had. Probably, this is nothing new and this is children’s reality today. But it’s difficult for me to get the idea. They should be playing in the playground but, on the contrary, they are playing computer games.

I don’t know what to think.

Something different

Hello there!! 

I've been writing many philosophical things since our teacher gave us the writing freedom we needed. But today, I'm not thinking of anything. I'm not evaluating anything. Today, I JUST WANNA HAVE FUN ♪♪

I wanted to share with you a video my boyfriend showed me last night. This is the type of video we watch when we don't feel like watching a whole film. 

Yesterday at 8 pm, I finally got home after a looooooong and crazy Friday and he was there waiting for me. After a few words, he asked me: "Have you seen the video about the little boy who eats...?” 

I don't want to give you so many details. I want you to WATCH IT. It's hilarious! Enjoy it!

Omg! He's so cute. His expressions are so funny! This little boy keeps on eating the onion even when it should have an awful taste!

After watching the video I thought: "I'll be a really mean mom!" I will do this to my child for sure, with onions and lemons, ha ha ! 

This video was the daily dose of laughter I needed!

Ok girls, that’s all for today. 

Enjoy your weekend and keep on watching videos like this one.