I am very excited about my new class, Issues and Trends in Early Childhood. I am amazed at all of the information that is available about early childhood around the globe. I can't wait to hear from other early childhood educators and learn about the issues and trends in their areas.
I have contacted early childhood professionals in El Salvador, the Netherlands, Spain, and Germany and I hope to hear from some of them very soon. I am excited about the potential learning opportunities that may occur through networking with these professionals around the world.
In addition, I am researching the National Association of Early Childhood Teacher Educators. Since I aspire to be an early childhood teacher at the community college level upon completion of my studies, I thought this was the perfect fit. So far I have read their mission statement (Our Purpose), read about their officers, and learned about their annual conferences. I look forward to learning about all of the resources that they have available.
Friday, March 8, 2013
Saturday, February 16, 2013
My Supports
I have so many supports in my life. The three most important would have to be my family, my friends, and my faith. Without these supports I would be so very lost!
My family supports me through the good times and the bad. My husband is such a hard worker and always puts our family's needs before his own. He works long hours and then after a hard day at work he comes home to tend our little farm and livestock. He always has a project going to make our life a little better.
My children, although grown, are a huge support system. They all live near me and we spend a lot of time together. Every Sunday night we have what we call "Sunday Supper". All of their families come to my house and we share a meal. We all pitch in with the food and the cleaning up afterwards. I look forward to this meal all week and it really rejuvenates me for Monday's busy obligations. We not only share food but love and fellowship.
My mom, sisters, and brother are a huge support for me too. We talk most everyday and my sisters are partners with me in my childcare center. My family, although far from perfect, is a wonderful reminder of what is right in this crazy world we live in.
My friends, both at work and outside of work, are always there for me. Whether it's lending a helping hand, letting me cry on their shoulder, or offering some much needed advice, I can always count on them at the drop of a hat. I would not like to know what it would be like to go through my life without their love and support.
My faith is what keeps me sane when all else fails. I look to the Lord for guidance, salvation, and grace, even when I don't deserve it. When the sky is falling down on me, I only need to read my Bible, listen to a favorite hymn, or look at one of His wonderful creations, to regain my perspective. Without my faith, all else would be for naught.
When thinking about a challenge, I immediately though of losing my hearing because I currently have some issues with mild hearing loss. One of my biggest fears is losing all of my hearing someday. I would not be able to hear my husband's voice, my grandchildren say they love me, favorite hymns, or my son's melodious guitar. I can't imagine not being able to hear and miss out on the give and take of conversations. I would need to depend on those around me to help me learn how to communicate without hearing and I am sure that would be very difficult. I pray that I never have to find out how it feels to lose one's hearing.
My family supports me through the good times and the bad. My husband is such a hard worker and always puts our family's needs before his own. He works long hours and then after a hard day at work he comes home to tend our little farm and livestock. He always has a project going to make our life a little better.
My children, although grown, are a huge support system. They all live near me and we spend a lot of time together. Every Sunday night we have what we call "Sunday Supper". All of their families come to my house and we share a meal. We all pitch in with the food and the cleaning up afterwards. I look forward to this meal all week and it really rejuvenates me for Monday's busy obligations. We not only share food but love and fellowship.
My mom, sisters, and brother are a huge support for me too. We talk most everyday and my sisters are partners with me in my childcare center. My family, although far from perfect, is a wonderful reminder of what is right in this crazy world we live in.
My friends, both at work and outside of work, are always there for me. Whether it's lending a helping hand, letting me cry on their shoulder, or offering some much needed advice, I can always count on them at the drop of a hat. I would not like to know what it would be like to go through my life without their love and support.
My faith is what keeps me sane when all else fails. I look to the Lord for guidance, salvation, and grace, even when I don't deserve it. When the sky is falling down on me, I only need to read my Bible, listen to a favorite hymn, or look at one of His wonderful creations, to regain my perspective. Without my faith, all else would be for naught.
When thinking about a challenge, I immediately though of losing my hearing because I currently have some issues with mild hearing loss. One of my biggest fears is losing all of my hearing someday. I would not be able to hear my husband's voice, my grandchildren say they love me, favorite hymns, or my son's melodious guitar. I can't imagine not being able to hear and miss out on the give and take of conversations. I would need to depend on those around me to help me learn how to communicate without hearing and I am sure that would be very difficult. I pray that I never have to find out how it feels to lose one's hearing.
Saturday, February 2, 2013
"My Connections to Play"
"Children's games are hardly games. Children are never more serious than when they play."
MONTAIGNE, Essays"Play is our brain's favorite way of learning."
Diane Ackerman
Contemporary American author
Contemporary American author
"If you want to be creative, stay in part a child, with the creativity and invention that characterizes children before they are deformed by adult society."
Jean Piaget
Swiss philosopher
Swiss philosopher
"Children need the freedom and time to play.
Play is not a luxury. Play is a necessity."
Kay Redfield Jamison, American Professor of psychiatry1896–1980
I love to play! I have always loved to play and I hope that I never lose my desire to play! Essential play items for me include: sand and water, something to make music with, some type of swing, and a friend or two!
As a young child I spent many long hours involved in play. My favorite thing to do was to be outside, wondering around our backyard and woods and finding new things to use in my play. My parents always encouraged me to play, especially outside. My siblings and I would spend our summer days riding bikes, tromping through the woods, and making forts and houses out of anything that we could stack together. As I grew older and had the responsibility of babysitting my youngest siblings, I still reverted to play to get me through the day. When I had to feed them lunch, we pretended we were at a restaurant and they ordered their food. When it was time for their nap, we pretended we were camping and sleeping under the stars. Bath time included many adventures in our "boat on the high seas".
Play has always been an escape for me. I still find it very easy to sneak off and play although my play props now are much different than when I was a child. My adult play also often includes a grandchild or two. I try to show my grandchildren the importance of playing, imagining, and creating. At my house we don't get lost in mindless television and computers or gaming systems are not our focus. We paint, plant flowers, bake a cake, run around in the rain, race matchbox cars, read a book, or countless other activities that actively engage their growing minds.
I want my grandchildren and other children in my life to know the joys of catching fireflies, sledding backwards down a hill, and riding a horse. I want them to understand that true joy comes not from all of today's gizmos and gadgets, but from simple things shared with those that you love.
Saturday, January 19, 2013
Relationship Reflection
I have a lot of different types of relationships in my life and they are all very important to me and make me the person that I am.
My family relationships are the most important to me. I value these relationships above all others. These are the people that know me, the real me, and love me anyway.
I have the longest term relationship with my mother and even though it has been rocky at times, it has taught me so much about life and unconditional love. My mom lost her mom when she was 13 and she had me when she was 18. She and I grew up together and have had to really work at sustaining our relationship. I am glad that we stuck through the rough times and that we are at a time in our lives where we truly enjoy each other's company.
My sisters are brother are the people that have known me almost as long as my mother. My relationships with them are as essential as the air that I breathe and I can't imagine my life without them. They have been my playmates, my enemies, my partners in crime, and my best friends. Almost every important memory of my life includes at least one or more of them.
My sons are 29 and 26 (twins) and my relationships with them are the ones that still give me pause for thankfulness and gratefulness each and every day of my life. I have never loved anyone else the way that I love my children. They have taught me how to have fun, how to be honest about my feelings (even when it hurts), patience, open-mindedness, and the importance of living each day fully. The last 29 years have been full of ups and downs, tears and laughter, anger and happiness, seriousness and silliness. They are 3 of the sweetest, smartest, coolest, young men that I know and I am glad that they finally have reached the age where our relationships can be more friend-like instead of parent/child like.
My husband and I have been together for 10 years. We both had previous marriages and our relationship is one of pure joy. We appreciate each other and understand how fragile a marriage can be. I wish I had met him much earlier in life but then again, we would be different people and it may have worked out differently. He understands me and appreciates me and loves me for me and that is not always easy to find in this world. I can't wait to see what the next 10 years hold for us!
I believe that I am a happier and more positive person due to the relationships in my life. When I have a bad day or situation, there is always someone that I can talk to who cares about me and helps me get through the moment. Having positive relationships helps my stress level which in turn helps me be a better teacher, worker, boss, etc. I believe that my life experiences and relationships help me value children and their families and the relationships that they have. It is impossible to not be in some type of relationship with others, be it good or bad. I am very thankful that most of my relationships are long-term and positive.
I have a lot of different types of relationships in my life and they are all very important to me and make me the person that I am.
My family relationships are the most important to me. I value these relationships above all others. These are the people that know me, the real me, and love me anyway.
I have the longest term relationship with my mother and even though it has been rocky at times, it has taught me so much about life and unconditional love. My mom lost her mom when she was 13 and she had me when she was 18. She and I grew up together and have had to really work at sustaining our relationship. I am glad that we stuck through the rough times and that we are at a time in our lives where we truly enjoy each other's company.
My sisters are brother are the people that have known me almost as long as my mother. My relationships with them are as essential as the air that I breathe and I can't imagine my life without them. They have been my playmates, my enemies, my partners in crime, and my best friends. Almost every important memory of my life includes at least one or more of them.
My sons are 29 and 26 (twins) and my relationships with them are the ones that still give me pause for thankfulness and gratefulness each and every day of my life. I have never loved anyone else the way that I love my children. They have taught me how to have fun, how to be honest about my feelings (even when it hurts), patience, open-mindedness, and the importance of living each day fully. The last 29 years have been full of ups and downs, tears and laughter, anger and happiness, seriousness and silliness. They are 3 of the sweetest, smartest, coolest, young men that I know and I am glad that they finally have reached the age where our relationships can be more friend-like instead of parent/child like.
My husband and I have been together for 10 years. We both had previous marriages and our relationship is one of pure joy. We appreciate each other and understand how fragile a marriage can be. I wish I had met him much earlier in life but then again, we would be different people and it may have worked out differently. He understands me and appreciates me and loves me for me and that is not always easy to find in this world. I can't wait to see what the next 10 years hold for us!
I believe that I am a happier and more positive person due to the relationships in my life. When I have a bad day or situation, there is always someone that I can talk to who cares about me and helps me get through the moment. Having positive relationships helps my stress level which in turn helps me be a better teacher, worker, boss, etc. I believe that my life experiences and relationships help me value children and their families and the relationships that they have. It is impossible to not be in some type of relationship with others, be it good or bad. I am very thankful that most of my relationships are long-term and positive.
Saturday, December 22, 2012
A few of my favorite quotes!
If children are not taken care of, whatever else we do won't matter much.
- Hillary Rodham Clinton
Many things we need can wait, the child cannot........
To them we cannot say tomorrow, their name is today.
-Gabriella Marella
When we give unconditional love to children, we give the most valuable gift we have.
- Katherine M. Olson
Childhood is terribly perishable. It is always under siege.
- Jim Greenman
- Hillary Rodham Clinton
Many things we need can wait, the child cannot........
To them we cannot say tomorrow, their name is today.
-Gabriella Marella
When we give unconditional love to children, we give the most valuable gift we have.
- Katherine M. Olson
Childhood is terribly perishable. It is always under siege.
- Jim Greenman
Saturday, December 8, 2012
Testing for intelligence?
I do not believe that we should test children for intelligence. I think that rather than measuring one part of their development we should take a whole child approach in order to track their developmental needs and progress in all domains. As an early childhood educator and childcare center administrator I have made the choice to take the portfolio approach with the children that we serve.
At my center we do the DIAL-4 assessment with children as they turn 3 years old. We use this assessment ONLY as a screening tool to determine if further assessment is needed due to developmental concerns. This tool is not meant to be a pre/post assessment as some early childhood educators are wrongly advocating. It is merely a snapshot in time to help determine if the child needs further evaluation.
Our portfolio collection contains many items. We take regular anecdotal records on each child and plan our learning activities based on their interests and developmental levels. We also include works sample of their writing, art, and other creative activities. We take photos of them as then interact socially with their peers and as they work on projects in centers or within small groups. We also collect answers from a small interest survey with them 3 times during the year and make tape recordings of their language activities and interactions with other. It is delightful to watch the progress that each child makes during the year and have the ability to share the information with their parents. Assessing a child in this manner allows us to create a classroom full of meaningful learning and fun for every child.
I chose to research Finland's approach to assessment because I have a friend who recently moved to Finland as part of a 5-year teaching program. I am most impressed with their approach to assessment and to education in general. Please check out the link below. You will not be disappointed!
http://www.businessinsider.com/finland-education-school-2-11-12?op=1#ixzz2E7RcfvyM
At my center we do the DIAL-4 assessment with children as they turn 3 years old. We use this assessment ONLY as a screening tool to determine if further assessment is needed due to developmental concerns. This tool is not meant to be a pre/post assessment as some early childhood educators are wrongly advocating. It is merely a snapshot in time to help determine if the child needs further evaluation.
Our portfolio collection contains many items. We take regular anecdotal records on each child and plan our learning activities based on their interests and developmental levels. We also include works sample of their writing, art, and other creative activities. We take photos of them as then interact socially with their peers and as they work on projects in centers or within small groups. We also collect answers from a small interest survey with them 3 times during the year and make tape recordings of their language activities and interactions with other. It is delightful to watch the progress that each child makes during the year and have the ability to share the information with their parents. Assessing a child in this manner allows us to create a classroom full of meaningful learning and fun for every child.
I chose to research Finland's approach to assessment because I have a friend who recently moved to Finland as part of a 5-year teaching program. I am most impressed with their approach to assessment and to education in general. Please check out the link below. You will not be disappointed!
http://www.businessinsider.com/finland-education-school-2-11-12?op=1#ixzz2E7RcfvyM
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