Making a Difference in Early Childhood

"When two groups or two people have different ways of guiding children's behavior, instead of judging right or wrong, both sides must first try to understand those differences and where they come from.  Are they cultural, familial, individual or do they come from something else?"  Janet Gonzales-Mena from an article titled "Diversity and Discipline" 2009, November

This quote is important to me because where I work, there is wide diversity in cultures and ethnicity.  Taking the time to listen to the other people's perspective helps me to widen my view of the world and how what we do and say is perceived.  In order to help children achieve success, we have to be willing to see ideas from different angles.

"I always wanted to be a teacher.  ...  I had a passion to fix injustices in the world. ...I love children."  Louise Derman-Sparks (Laureate Education, 2010)

I can relate so well to Ms. Derman-Sparks comment about always wanting to be a teacher.  I am attracted to children, and they are equally attracted to me.  I'm not sure why, but I knew that I needed to work with children from a very early age.  My brother was not treated very well in the school division in which we grew up.  It has taken him a long time to grow his self-confidence.  It wasn't until he was about 40 that he came into his own because of things that were said to him as a child by his teachers.  At 55, he has begun to share more and more about the injustices he perceived as he went through the school system.

"As an administrator, I cam make a bigger impact for change by shaping programs that will benefit children."  Raymond Hernandez (Laureate Education, 2010)

Now I am an administrator.  I don't get as much direct contact with the children as I did when I was teaching.  I do, however, see the impact that I make on our program as together we discuss changes that we need to make to improve a really good program.  I am glad that I have that opportunity now.

Personal Childhood Web

Personal Childhood Web

My mom has been the number one influence in my life.  I think that it is because we are very much alike.  We both love music.  We play piano and sing.  I have also learned to play the guitar and the mountain dulcimer.  I joined a choir when I was 5 and have been singing ever since.  We also have a love of needlework-knitting and counted cross stitch.  She instilled in me a love for cooking; although, the only cooking I did with her growing up was cookies at Christmas time.  In fact, she and my dad thought I would starve when I moved out on my own because I had not done much cooking at home.  She and I also have the love of gardening.  It has not been until the past couple of years that I have begun to learn about flower gardening.  Now we go plant shopping together.My mom also taught me tolerance of other people who are not like myself.  I very much appreciate that about her.  The most important gift my mom has given me is my faith.  It has brought me through some very difficult times.  In fact, it was because of my faith that I met my husband, who became a minister.  Because my parents only completed high school, they impressed upon me the importance of higher education.  My mom was determined that I go to college because she was not afforded that opportunity.  She has also modeled for me the importance of doing for others.  My mom has a great sense of humor.  She is a very strong woman and is a leader in many areas of her life.  I can't believe all that she does considering how old she is!!!  I only hope that I can live up to the woman that she is.

My dad was also a great influence on my life.  He and I did a lot of things together.  We both have a love for the water.  He made me take swimming lessons from a very early age because we spent every summer either on the Rappahannock River in Virginia or in St. Petersburg, Florida.  We swam, looked for shells, went for long walks on the beach.  He also taught me how to cut grass and tend a vegetable garden.  He taught me about giving to others through the vegetable garden.  We had such a large garden that we gave vegetables to all the neighbors and still had enough to put up vegetables for ourselves.   Int the summer we would go out in the ski boat.  When I was older, he taught me how to sail.  My dad didn't talk much with me and didn't express his emotions much.  When he did talk to me about something, I knew it was important.  My dad had a strong sense of family.  He worked three jobs so my mom could stay home with my brother and me.  I grew to appreciate that about him when I was an adult.  My dad was a very quiet man.  I learned that you don't have to get recognition for everything you do.  Just do the right thing and it will all work out.

My dad's mom was also very special to me.  I don't know whether it was that I was the first grandchild or another reason, but she always took a special interest in me.  Even though we only saw my grandparents once a year, she made a point to speak with me whenever she would call my parents.  As I moved into elementary school, she became a pen pal.  As a child I remember her washing machine with a wringer.  I loved taking the clothes out of the washtub, and putting them through the wringer.  Then together we would hang them on the clothesline.  She knew a lot about shells because my grandfather worked in a shell shop.  We would walk along the beach for what seemed like hours looking for just the right shells.  As we picked them up, she would tell me about what kind they were and what was special about them.  We collected sand dollars, sea stars, I even caught a sea horse once.  I put it back in the water though.  My grandmother also taught me how to knit and crochet because my mom was left handed so it was hard for her to teach me.  My grandmother had a lot to do with my own self-worth.  I will always love her for that.

Quotes and Books for Early Childhood

Below are four quotes that are important to me:

One test of the correctness of educational procedure is the happiness of the child.  Maria Montessori

85% of the foundation for a child’s intellect, personality and skills is formed by age 5. Children are born ready to learn. (Source: Brain Initiative, Wisconsin Council on Children and Families, 2006)

Studies have found that by age 3, the observed cumulative vocabulary for children in professional families was 1,116, for working class families it was about 740, and for welfare families it was 525. (Source: Hart & Risley, Meaningful Differences in the Everyday Experience of Young American Children, 1995)

Play is often talked about as if it were a relief from serious learning.  But for children play is serious learning.  Play is really the work of childhood.  Fred Rogers

One of the many favorite children's books I love are Dylan's Day Out by Peter Catalonotto.  This is a favorite book because it combines fiction and non-fiction in a tale about a dog that plays soccer with penguins.  I also like his use of color and black and white photos.  Great discussion starter.  Peter has also visited our program for the past 3 years and read to our students.  He also has shown them (and me) some techniques when drawing.

Welcome

Welcome to my blog page.  I am looking forward to my time as a student at Walden University.  It will be a time to learn new things and make new friends.  I hope to grow a great deal professionally as well.