 Re: Keeping your distance...
Where are you teaching? The culture is different from back home, so perceptions may be different. How familiar are you with the culture there? How familiar are you with the education system there?
As a manager / trainer of teachers, I would consider the advice pretty good... at least at this point. If you're new to that school and that age group, it may be a good idea to first figure out the boundaries. If you regularly go beyond these boundaries now, it may be harder to make a needed change later. It's better to err on the side of caution at this point, I think.
You can also look at it this way. The kids won't be able to understand the sudden change if you play with them for weeks and weeks, then stop. However, if you suddenly started playing with them (because you learned the boundaries), will they really care that you didn't play with them before? My guess is no, because they'll be having too much fun with you to care.
That's my two cents... which may not be worth too much in today's economy. |