‘As the beginnings, so is everything’ (J.A . Komeński)

Between 23 and 26 September, 2013 headmasters and pre-school teachers from the Vilnius Region, including I.M. Matwiejko from the nursery and kindergarten in Mejszagoła, W. Jaglińska from the school and kindergarten in Glinciszki, I. Bylinska from the nursery and kindergarten in Rudamina, Cz. Bałajszenie from the school and kindergarten in Skojdziszki, from Vilnius : W. Uczkuronis from the nursery and kindergarten ‘Jutrzenka’, D. Michno from the nursery and kindergarten ‘Kluczyk’, L. Siemaszko from the school and kindergarten ‘Wilia’, from the Soleczniki District : R. Rynkiewicz, I. Grudinskaja, R. Ignatowskaja from the nursery and kindergarten ‘Bajka’ and from Ejszyszki : H. Antropik, L. Bielawska, H. Buczynskaja from the nursery and kindergarten ‘Płomyczek’, took part in a professional series of workshops ‘The Child’s Three Steps into the Future’, led by the Comenius Foundation for Child Development (Polish : Fundacja Rozwoju Dzieci im. Jana Amosa Komeńskiego) at the Training and Recreational Centre ‘Kwaskowa’ in Kazimierz Dolny.

The course was divided into two parts, mainly ‘I am creative’ and ‘I know my self-esteem’. The first workshop proved that the creative attitude can be developed and everybody has the ability to create – all he or she needs is just some inspiration.

The teachers learned about the techniques that help to inspire children’s creative abilities. The second workshop prepared the teachers for developing children’s self-esteem and building their positive self-assessment. At the same time the workshop made the teachers think over the issue of their own self-development in this field. Mrs Maria Cieślak prepared special educational materials which, apart from the theory, contained some practical help, such as scripts of the trainings with children and tips for cooperating with parents.

The teachers visited the kindergarten in Żyrzyn where they watched the activities with children. After the training teachers will certainly be teaching less but encouraging children to greater activity more. They will let the children take their time to think things over, plan and experiment, they will be more receptive to children’s ideas and let them make mistakes. Teachers will be able to see, understand and suitably react to children’s feelings, they will be ready to analyse and interpret children’s behaviour without judging them.

Every training’s day ended nicely either with a movie evening – movie from the ‘Good practice’ series, or a carriage ride through Kazimierz Dolny and its surroundings, and also a campfire with sausages roasting. During the training and the free time as well, the teachers were in good moods, singing and laughing sincerely.

Source: http://kurierwilenski.lt/2013/10/04/bo-jakie-poczatki-takie-bedzie-wszystko-j-a-komenski/

Tłumaczenie by Elżbieta Szafarz w ramach praktyk w Europejskiej Fundacji Praw Człowieka, www.efhr.eu. Translated by Elżbieta Szafarz within the framework of a traineeship programme of the European Foundation of Human Rights, www.efhr.eu.