Teaching with humor
I had always wanted to be a teacher, but I never thought about teaching preschoolers. Once I began working with the children however, I began to love them. Discipline is hard, but when you have a sense of humor, it becomes easy. I am always happy with my preschoolers.
There was one boy who used to bite others and throw tantrums. One day while we were making classroom decorations and I was cutting out pictures of the children, I said to him, “I don’t have your picture.” Looking through the pile again, I did find one. He said, “Oh, that’s good Sister. I look good there.” “Yes, you look good here,” I affirmed. As he went out to play, I cut out his face to insert in the decoration. When he came back, he hollered, “Guys! Who cut this picture?!” I was surprised. He was really mad and began to throw a tantrum. I said, “Brother, brother, I cut it. I am sorry I did not tell you.” Immediately, his attitude changed and he said, “Oh, that’s okay, Sister.”
Oftentimes I need to hide my laughter at these quick changes and other surprises that come out of the children’s mouths. Because if they see me laughing, they will ask, “Why are you laughing, Sister?” One little girl said, “Sister Olive, when I grow up, I am going to be a teacher like you.” I asked her why she wanted to do that. She said “I am going to take care of children.” I asked her “How?” She said, “I am going to teach them.” During nap time as her classmates began to settle, she yelled out: “Okay, everybody SLEEP!” I called her by name and gently told her that if she wants to be a teacher, she shouldn’t scream like that. She said, “Sorry.”
Daily I come across children that say, “She is not my friend.” Or, “He is not my friend.” Or, “Sister Olive, he is being mean to me.” You can see them sitting by themselves. Actually, however, his friend is playing with another friend. I tell them to talk it out. I also encourage them to make other friends.
When it comes to disciplining the children, I don’t hold expectations of them. Instead of being upset, I respond to them with humor. I tell them some funny stories to make them laugh. I call them by different titles, such as “brother,” to make them laugh. One thing that I learned from the PACE Early Childhood Education program, is that teachers should always have a sense of humor. When I see a child with a serious face, I know that he or she is running away from me. So, I deal with him or her in a light-hearted way.
Besides our evening prayers in common, I love to say the rosary on my own. When I am too tired, I play a tape of the rosary. I also have a book of the psalms which I read over and over. When I am really tired and simply feel exhausted, I recall the funny memories of the children which bring me joy.
Sister Oliva Fuentes is a Dominican Sister of the Most Holy Rosary of the Philippines. Professed for 17 years, she instructs the age 4 class at Rosary Preschool in Waipio. She lives at the Dominican Center Hawaii in Waipio.
