Teaching Children The Power of “YET”
I can’t tie my shoelaces. I can’t ride a bike. I can’t read.
Have you heard these words, or something similar?
It can be heartbreaking to hear your child say these words. And it’s almost guaranteed that they are feeling frustrated, sad and hopeless when they say them. Why not next time you hear such words, you ask your child to add on the word ‘YET’ to the end of their sentence.
Christine Hawkins
Owner KMEC Hunter
I can’t tie my shoelaces YET. I can’t ride a bike YET. I can’t read YET.
Talk to them about how the word ‘yet’ assumes that it WILL happen. Helping children rediscover this “I CAN” attitude is very important to use here at Kip McGrath. All that we do works towards helping each student regain their belief that they can achieve success with their learning given the right support.
There is a great storybook, by Valerie Coulman, which helps teach this concept; it is called ‘When Pigs Fly’.
The story is about a cow named Ralph who wants his dad to buy him a bike. His dad tells him that he’ll buy him a bike when pigs fly. From then on, Ralph does whatever it takes to find a way to help pigs fly. Along the way, he models the power of YET and shows that with a little creative thinking, and a lot of persistence, any obstacle can be overcome. I think this is a valuable lesson for children to learn.
If you have trouble finding the book, you can watch a video of a mum reading it here.
Teacher’s Tips
Monthly Joke
Q: What do you call a fly with no wings?
A: A walk
Q: What do you call a teacher with no arms, no legs, and no body?
A: The Head…
Q: What do you call a donkey with 3 legs?
A: A Wonky
This Month
Puzzle
Student of the Month
Award for Outstanding
Improvement in Reading
Since I’ve been coming to Kip McGrath,
I feel a lot more confident with my school work and I’ve improved so much.
I really like all of the teachers and the way that they explain things so that I can understand.
I never thought that I would enjoy learning but now I do.
Hot School Lunch Ideas for Kids
With the days becoming cooler, send the kids to school with a hot lunch.
1 .Warm up a thermos by filling it with boiling water and let it sit for a few minutes
2. Empty the water and fill with hot contents (eg: noodles, dinner leftovers)
3. Secure the lid tightly and remember to include a spoon or fork.
4. In a separate container pack some snacks.
