Teachers need to connect with children. That’s a given. The smiles, hugs, and laughing are always the foundation for developing relationships with children.
While these positive interactions are the most common, sometimes unexpected moments – bad moments – can become the greatest connection with children. Really.
It happened like this:
The story begins at lunchtime, when we eat together like a family and talk about everything. The conversation came up about not getting something you wanted. I told the children the same thing happened to me; I desperately wanted a pink Princess Telephone. My friend Becky Evans had one, but I never got one. I had to show children pictures of a pink Princess Telephone on Google. They were fascinated.
After lunch it was clean-up time. Everyone knows I spill everything, knock over everything. That in itself has always been a connection, because to children it makes me ‘real’, just like them. They know I understand.
Children enjoy using the electric floor sweeper. They were finished, and I ‘helped’ to upright the tall arm. It snapped right off. I held up the arm, separated from the machine. You could have heard a pin drop.
I went into my dramatic “Oh no! How did this happen? I didn’t do anything! I’m so sorry!” with a voice, tears, and faces. Foot stomping was there, too. Drama + a scene of broken disaster = a golden opportunity to become one with children. I was in the zone.
My fellow teachers rushed over. I told them it was probably fine, and the arm would snap right back on. Everyone watched. It did not snap back on. It broke off even more parts. I was upset at myself. Children were in shock. My fellow teacher said,
“If you feel you need to roar
take a breath and count to four.”
Everyone watched as I did just that. I felt better. What a great lesson for children. Things were back to normal.
At rest time, the children who don’t sleep often come over for snuggles or conversation. Penny asked to see the Princess Phone image again on my phone. In the quiet dark, I turned on my phone and found the image on Amazon. There were so many Princess Phones! we scrolled through, and other children came over to join us. It was a focused cluster.
Children learned to read the words ‘sold out’, and they learned most were too expensive. They asked for certain colors, so we searched, and again most were sold out or too expensive. Yilong really wanted red. Christian really wanted blue. I really wanted the pink I’d longed for as a child, but it was either too expensive or sold out. Penny must have sensed my disappointment. She said,
“Jennie, if you feel you need to roar
take a breath and count to four.”
I did, and I hugged her. This was real connecting. Real!
We kept looking, and found a phone. It was (sort of) affordable. By now I had at least six children pressed against me, in the dark, hovering over the photos on my phone.
“Penny, look, there’s one we can afford. But, if we get the phone, you’ll have to learn how to use it.” I explained using your finger to dial each number all the way around to the end. I told them it’s called a rotary dial phone.
Blank faces.
“Okay, I have a phone at home with a rotary dial. I’ll bring it to school and everyone can practice. When you learn how to do it we’ll get the Princess Phone.”
The shouts of ‘hooray’ woke up the other children, and everyone smiled. Little do they know using a rotary dial phone is an excellent fine motor skill, and will help develop hand muscles. Perfect for improving writing. Win-Win.
Jennie
A Teacher's Reflections 
I know it is a real thing, but I still find it difficult to wrap my head around the fact that there are people who do NOT understand the concept of a rotary dial phone…
My four step-children range in age from 36-40. None of them have ever used a rotary dial phone, written a cheque, or used a cassette tape. They call all that ‘The old days’. x
that must make me a dinosaur, eh? (lol)
Me too! x
🙂
I know…🙂
❤️❤️
I have said it before, but your teaching skills really do need to be exported world-wide! I think you should start your own You Tube channel. I looked up the Princess Phone, and I can see why a child would want one.
Best wishes, Pete.
That’s so nice, Pete. Thank you! Actually, I started a YouTube channel the day after school closed due to Covid, so I could continue to read aloud to children. Oh, that phone was very popular. Best to you. 🥰
brilliant! and it’s all about connection! and it cn certainly come from unexpected places –
I knew you would immediately relate to this, Beth. Many thanks!
You find teachable moments in every day things. I love that. It’s true, if students find that you are human and make mistakes, they connect with you and learning improves. I found that with the youth at risk I worked with.
Well said, Darlene. Yes, it’s the everyday moments that are most teachable and make connections and learning opportunities.
Many thanks!
❤️❤️
Your classroom sounds like a space where wonder, empathy, and curiosity are nurtured—and that’s such a gift. 💛
Thank you, Hayley. That’s what I do.
Jennie your teaching methods just amazing me …I really wish I had had a teacher like you ! 😔😔
Aww…that’s so nice! Thank you, Willow. 🥰
💜💜💜
I remember those pink princess phones! I never had one either. Sounds like you may get one soon though, after the kids learn how to use it. 🙂
💋❤️
I’m glad you remember and wanted one, too. We mounted the phone on the wall, and children are loving using it. They’re quite good already. It looks like we might get the pink Princess Phone soon. Thank you, Marcia.
I didn’t have a pink Princess phone but I did have a Trimline one. In yellow. With a rotary dial. So much fun to use that phone.
Mine was a trimline in yellow too! It was fun to use and have.
Lucky you, and yes so much fun!
I didn’t get my own phone until I was 14. Well, it wasn’t really my own phone it was an extension to the house phone. Still a very big deal to me. I got the trimline and picked in a sunshine yellow color to match my room’s color theme.
I can almost hear the rotary dial running back to the stop! What fun the kids are going to have playing with your old rotary dial phone!
Lucky you, Deborah! Yes, that was a big deal. I love hearing the rotary dial going back to the stop, too. The children are loving this phone, and we mounted it on the wall. It is used all the time.
😊
What a story, and why is this the first time I’m hearing ““If you feel you need to roar, take a breath and count to four.”
Ha!
I’m so glad you liked the story. The quote is one of many mindfull activities we do. Isn’t it wonderful? Thank you, Jacqui.
Wow, a rotary phone. Does that bring back memories of our 3 decker house in Worcester. I wrote about that phone and our first telephone number, 5 numbers only. It’s amazing to see how kids have to open their minds to conjure up such a device. Good lesson, Jennie.
PS. I think I’ll try that old number…
💋❤️💋
I know, the memories come flooding back. Kids actually using the phone is hard for them, yet something we never thought twice about when we were kids. It’s a skill. Thanks for your Worcester memories; we had the same 5 numbers to dial when we moved to Groton. Thanks so much, Steve.
Be still my heart. Thank you for sharing, Jennie. Win-win, indeed! 🥰
💋💋❤️
I love your words, Vicki. Many thanks!
Big hugs, Jennie! 🥰
Beautiful story of connection, Jennie! Love it!
Thank you, Wynne!
And to really amaze them go further back to a phone you told a live operator what number you want. Love your story, Jennie, and your count to four advice.
Yes, that would totally amaze them. I’m so glad you enjoyed the story, especially the counting advice. Thank you, Don.
Terrific Jennie.
Thank you, John.
😊
Great post, Jennie!
Thank you, Cathy!
What a great way to connect with the children, Jennie. You are a princess.
Years ago, I bought my wife a working rotary dial Princess phone (sorry, beige) for Mother’s Day. I actually works, and it works in our house. Our daughter sat next to it. I called our landline from my cell phone. Faith almost knocked herself out when she answered.
That’s so nice, Dan. Thank you! What a great story about your Princess phone. I can picture Faith when the phone rang.
I loved the many lessons learned in this post! You are a wonderful.
I’m so glad, Liz. Many thanks!
You’re welcome, Jennie.
Oh Jennie.. I wish every school in all the world had another Jennie within them… Your teaching methods are just brilliant…. I remember getting a red plastic phone when I was around 8… I think I drove my mother a little crazy as it had a button with a battery that you would press and it would ring…. Needless to say the batteries didn’t get replaced 🙂 lol…
Loved the connections you have with your children in your class Jennie…
Sending you much love for your Easter weekend ❤
Thank you for your kind words, Sue. I love your red phone story! Happy Easter weekend.💕
You too Jennie. 💕✨️💕
Good stuff, Jennie. Anyone can be happy when things are going well. One of the most important lessons for children to learn is how to handle things when they’re not.
I wonder what percentage of children have no idea what a rotary phone is.
You’re right, Pete. If children can see me handle a problem, it’s a great lesson as well as a connector. I bet the number of children who have no idea what a rotary phone is, is the same number who have no clue what a record player is. I’m guessing 75%, maybe more.
Appreciated
This is wonderful. Truly. Learning how to deal with difficult situations is valuable, and I’m still learning that! Yesterday, I spilled tea over the kitchen table and was upset at myself. I could’ve used that roar, count to four rhyme!
Also, I had to chuckle over the kids’ reaction to a rotary phone. My daughters had the same reaction — and when they saw a manual typewriter for the first time. That mind-blowing discovery of technology before computers and smartphones took over! 🌞
Thank you, Dave. Yes, that roar rhyme is terrific. The fact that a child said it to me says a lot about the learning and connecting that was happening. When kids see old technology it is like Star Wars for them. The same thing happened when they saw my record player. 😀
Very good life lessons!
Yes! Thank you, Anneli.
Pos-i-lutely awesome, Jennie. This post is extra full of warm fuzzies. Hugs.
That’s so nice, Teagan. Many thanks! 💕
a wonderful teaching/learning moment!
I wonder if the decline in my penmanship could partially be explained by no longer using a rotary phone!
Good point, and it has some merit!
I’ll take the older days any day. Okay, maybe not the rotary phone, but definitely the push button phones, with a long cord, lol. 🙂 x
Yes! 😀
Jennie you are too good as a teacher and all your children love you. Thanks for the lovely post 😊
🥰
Hi Jennie, what a fun post and exercise with the children. I never had a pink Princess phone either. WP unsubscribed me from your blog somehow. I have resubscribed.
Hi Robbie. It was a great exercise, plenty of fun, and lessons learned. I call this ‘seizing the moment’ in teaching. WP has unsubscribed me before, I hate when that happens. Best to you.
🤗🩵
💝💝💝
😍
I was disappointed by Jim’s voice, though. Too nasal, if I recall correctly. One educator to another, appreciate the posts from the heart. =)
I don’t recall Jim’s voice being nasal. He was a terrific presenter on top of his writing. I’m glad you you appreciate posts from the heart. Thanks!