Melissa Alto

CHD 265

3/11/20

Standard #4: Written Competency Reflection

There are many different approaches or strategies that can be used to connect with children in
the classroom. I feel that acknowledging the children is a great approach to use in the classroom.
Encouraging persistence and effort of the children is important as well. As a teacher I also feel a great
approach is to model the behavior that is expected in the classroom.

It is important for children to feel acknowledgement and as a teacher it is my job to do that.

Children should feel like their emotions are acknowledged and are valid. By doing this I am creating a
safe and emotionally comfortable classroom for the children in my classroom. For example, if I see that
little Sue is upset by something, I would calmly walk over to her and get down to her level. In a calm
tone I would say “I see that you are upset Sue. How can I help you?” by doing this I acknowledge her
feelings and let her know that I am here to help her.

I feel like everyone should encourage children daily. When we encourage children it’s important
to remember to encourage the persistence verse the outcome. I would encourage children to do their
very best every day. When children get stuck on something in the classroom, I would encourage them to
keep on trying. Also, I like to encourage positive behavior in the classroom by acknowledging what the
children are doing in the classroom. By encourage the children in the classroom to be leaders this helps
promote positive behaviors by giving them a sense of responsibility.

Children are constantly watching the adults in their life. They learn from the adult’s behavior
and tone in their voice. Keeping that in mind when I walk into any setting involving children, I always put
my best foot forward. If I except the children in my classroom to follow classroom rule than I should
follow those rules to. For example, if have a classroom rule about walking in the classroom, then I would
avoid running the classroom. I am also able to model being respectful to others by how I talk with the
children or the other adults. Using a calm voice when talking with the children and adult help create a
positive environment.

When working with children there are many different typesof strategies or approaches to
learning. I feel that acknowledging, encouraging and modeling is something that should be used in every
classroom. Acknowledging and encouraging should go hand in hand because I acknowledge what the
children are doing and then encourage them to keep going. As a teacher it is my job to be a constant
role model for the students n my classroom and I will continue to be a role model in the classroom.