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Children Learn to Smile
Who teaches a child how to smile? Shinichi Suzuki, creator of the Suzuki Violin Method, made many observations as to how and what children learn. He noticed that “children learn to smile from their parents.” He observed that they learn naturally the mother-tongue language of their parents. He also noticed that children learn mannerisms from those they are around and their personalities are shaped by their parents and family members. Who is the teacher? When Dr. Suzuki said that “children learn to smile from their parents,” it implies that smiling isn’t the only thing they are learning. Dictionary.com defines smile as to “form one’s features into a pleased, kind or…
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Listen
“Above all, listen.” Here at the beginning of another year of teaching, I’m rereading Dr. Suzuki’s book Nurtured by Love. I’ve been reminded of the value of each child. Also, I was again challenged to listen carefully. It’s one of the ways we can communicate care. Stephen Covey a modern time management coach says it this way, “Seek to understand, then to be understood.” –Stephen Covey As we begin a new year of teaching, may we strive to be good listeners, and to encourage our students to listen.
