What an exciting topic to think about. First, an update about my life in the last 2 weeks since our last blog assignment: my husband and I found out we are expecting our first child! So in light of this update, my supports have taken on a whole new meaning. I could not imagine my life without my husband. I have posted on several previous blogs all kinds of information about him, but he is my best friend and my rock. There is nothing we keep from each other: good, bad or indifferent. We talk about everything. If I would have never met him, my life would be completely different. If I were to ever lose him, I do not know how my life would look...especially now with a baby on the way. I also have an amazing support system with my family. And this support has only strengthened in the short time they have known about their first grandchild.
I was really interested to explore the idea of practical supports. I have a job that provides monetary support; as well as, my husband has a steady paycheck from the Marine Corps. I have a cell phone, ipad, several computers and other elements of technology that support daily routines. I have a security system to keep my home safe. I have a vet for my dog, a doctor for myself, and I will be finding another doctor for my baby. I have mentors at work. I have abilities to do things for myself and for others. If I need help around the house, I can ask my husband or use a stepstool, for example. If we cannot complete a task, we can ask for help from our neighbors/friends.
It is so hard to think of how I could function normally in my life with a challenge...in fact, I asked my husband, "If I had a challenge, what would it be? Give me a challenge." He told me to imagine I was blind. If I was born blind, I would have adapted to that lifestyle and would never know what it was like to see; however, if I were to go blind now, my life would change drastically, I do not know how I would recover from it. In order to function, I would need a physical change in my home: to better accomodate getting around; I would not be able to drive, nor would I be able to teach in child care without other staff members in the room to be my eyes. I would never see my baby. Given that I imagine my life without ever having a sense of sight, I would have learned very differently through school. Reading would have been different, as well as homework throughout the school years. I would not be able to live alone. My supports would look very different; however, they would still be beneficial to me to allow me to feel included in society.
My physical supports would be my house and my parents' house set up differently to accomodate me moving around more without bumping or tripping. My emotional supports would still include my husband and my family (although if I was born this way, I do not think my husband would be who it is now, if I were to even have one). It would also include therapists to support my emotional state of not being able to see. Practical supports would be very different, too. As I already mentioned, I would not drive, teach, or do many of the things I can do independently. Life would be so very different.
In reflection of thinking of such a lifestyle, it is enlightening to reconsider how I see inclusion for children. I want to provide supports for children with challenges....
Saturday, April 7, 2012
Saturday, March 24, 2012
My Connections to Play
I cannot put an age in years to what I remember as a child. This week I have been thinking back to my childhood, and I remember certain playtimes like it was yesterday! As a young child, when we visited my grandparents house, I was the happiest in an area outside the shed, like it was a sandbox. My grandmother sent with me a few pots, pans and old kitchen utensils. I would go to the water pump (the old ones where you have to pump the water up from the handle), fill up some pans with water and make mud with all the sand. My cousins and I made mud pies like nobody's business! Plus, my grandparents owned a lot of land, and my cousins and I would go exploring the woods and down the hills to the creek to skip rocks and what not. Nowadays, this type of unsupervised play is unheard of because of the number of children's death around water. In another context, as a younger child, I went to an family care setting. I remember being the most content outside under the huge tree in the back yard with plates and buckets full of grass, dirt, flowers from the trees that had fallen, and little tiny pieces (of what I think was from the roof) that looked like pepper! Years later, when I was about 9 or 10, I remember riding my bike with my best friends all over our neighborhood and the neighborhood behind ours. There was a cut through track through my friend's back yard that we always used so we stayed off the main roads. In that neighborhood, there was what we called the "Rock Lot" with these smooth boulders. We named them! There was flatrock, the hottub rocks, and the big one. There was also access to the huge lake. The city put in paved sidewalks and bike tracks from that neighborhood, around the lake to another neighborhood. We used to explore the lake, the dam, and we'd follow the water till it became a creek. That was where the teenagers hung out becuase it was so private...it took awhile before I understood what they were really doing back there (i.e. smoking and drinking). I just think back to all those times where we were independent and as long as we stayed together and came home when it started getting dark, we were ok.
I wish I had pictures of my grandparents' land. The pictures I do have are all stored at home with my parents. But this is an example of the woods and the creek I used to explore at my grandparents and the neighborhood behind my house.
When stuck inside, I also loved Barbies! My sister (8 years older), also had a collection of them, and I got her collection slowly through the years. I find it interesting how Barbie has evolved over the years, too. So much emphasis is put on body image nowadays...Barbie to me was dolls to play with, like puppets. They were never anything I compared myself to.
Another childhood favorite was the skip-it! My best friends and I all had the same outdoor toys, like bikes and skip-its (just different colors). I remember having a boombox out in the cul-de-sac with us, blaring Martina McBride and Tracy Lawrence, while we competed with our skip-its. Until the sun started setting and it was time to go home!
In reflecting on how play is different today, I was reminded of an article from the last class. Warner (2008) wrote an article about why children play. She shared a few experiences that demonstrate the shift from when she was a child to what children do nowadays. Common themes included independence, creativity and lack of supervision by adults (Warner, 2008). Today, most games are technology based, whether battery operated with lights and sounds, or a video game or form of media. The problem has become that children no longer have to think and process what is happening or decide what to do next; responses are automatic (Warner, 2008). Today, there are less neighborhoods and safe environments for children to explore independently. They may not be allowed to leave the front yard! Play has become less creative and self-initiated. Gone are the days families tell their children, "don't come home till it's dark outside and dinnertime!"
I hope I can expose my children to the types of experiences I had growing up. I wish we could feel safer in our environments to encourage more exploring. Fortunately, the land my grandparents live on is still owned by them. It may have become smaller, but all the parts I explored are still family-owned.
I am also reminded of something we read this week from Rivera (2009). When it comes to play, not only do I have the opportunity to encourage play in my classroom, I am also paid to play! She writes, "Fortunate are those whose career is a form of play - mastery and continued building of competence - for which one gets paid!" (Rivera, 2009)
References:
Rivera, M. (2009). The powerful effect of play in a child’s education. Education Digest, 75(2), 50–52.
Warner, L. (2008). "You're it!": Thoughts on play and learning in schools. Horace, 24(2),1-6. (EJ849821). Retrieved from ERIC database.
In reflecting on how play is different today, I was reminded of an article from the last class. Warner (2008) wrote an article about why children play. She shared a few experiences that demonstrate the shift from when she was a child to what children do nowadays. Common themes included independence, creativity and lack of supervision by adults (Warner, 2008). Today, most games are technology based, whether battery operated with lights and sounds, or a video game or form of media. The problem has become that children no longer have to think and process what is happening or decide what to do next; responses are automatic (Warner, 2008). Today, there are less neighborhoods and safe environments for children to explore independently. They may not be allowed to leave the front yard! Play has become less creative and self-initiated. Gone are the days families tell their children, "don't come home till it's dark outside and dinnertime!"
I hope I can expose my children to the types of experiences I had growing up. I wish we could feel safer in our environments to encourage more exploring. Fortunately, the land my grandparents live on is still owned by them. It may have become smaller, but all the parts I explored are still family-owned.
"It is a happy talent to know how to play." --Ralph Waldo Emerson
"Children learn as they play. Most importantly, in play children learn how to learn." --O. Fred Donaldson
I am also reminded of something we read this week from Rivera (2009). When it comes to play, not only do I have the opportunity to encourage play in my classroom, I am also paid to play! She writes, "Fortunate are those whose career is a form of play - mastery and continued building of competence - for which one gets paid!" (Rivera, 2009)
References:
Rivera, M. (2009). The powerful effect of play in a child’s education. Education Digest, 75(2), 50–52.
Warner, L. (2008). "You're it!": Thoughts on play and learning in schools. Horace, 24(2),1-6. (EJ849821). Retrieved from ERIC database.
Saturday, March 10, 2012
Relationship Reflection
How do start a thought process about relationships? They are all around me. This is going to be a very personal blog post. First, it is fitting to share a quote that my dad has said over and over through the years: "Communication is key to any relationship." This extends beyond personal relationships, but also professional ones, too. I have received that statement from him too many times to count! Now, I say it to my husband all the time, too! We have now read the research supporting that statement, and we can all agree, it is true. Now, onto my relationships....why are they important to me? Without them, I would feel like nothing. In my friendships and relationships, I have someone to talk to, to listen to me, to help, support and encourage me whenever I need to talk. I am also all of that to someone, when they need to talk. There are so many people I would like to talk about and share our experiences with you...I will try to keep it short....
These are my parents on my wedding day. My parents were my first relationships, but I did not know how much value they truly possessed in my life until after this day, once I got married and moved across the US. In the last four years of marriage, I have developed a new relationship with them, and they are so special to me. My dad is a great listener and has lived through a lot. He has always been able to share some of his experiences when I need to hear another perspective. He has helped my husband and I with money (both managing our own and having to borrow some), he has advised my husband on professional abilities (such as selling skills), and he always gets so excited when I call. He tells me he knows by the sound of my voice as soon as he answers the phone whether I am calling just to chat, or if I have something on my mind. Being in any relationships means both players involved know each other; they know what's normal and when something is off, and they are willing to listen and try to fix what is wrong (even if they can't, they want to). My mother is just as great. Woman to woman, we were not that close prior to me being married. My relationship with my parents before was very much "don't ask, don't tell." In fact, even some of those not-so-put-together-moments that I have had, goes to show I am exactly my parents' child. I have learned so much about them since I turned 21, that I never had any idea about...like my dad in college (lol). Now, my mother and I can talk about anything; I am not as scared approaching topics like sex and birth control (maybe because I am married now, and that's the biggest part of it) like I used to be. They are pretty intimidating people, but once you get to know them, you will understand they value their relationships, and that value has been passed to me. Before my father gave me away to my husband (Joe, far right in photo), he had very serious talks with me and Joe separately about what we were getting ourselves into. Joe has been married before. We met in June of 2007 and married in May 2008, a week before I graduated college, because he had orders to recruit in Missouri and I didn't want to lose him. Thanks to my parents' bond, I was able to cross all those bridges with Joe before we married. For the first few months knowing Joe, as just friends, we talked so much! Up all night, everyday, just talking! I was honest with him from day one about how I felt about relationships and communication. Joe was ready for it when my dad approached it!
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Joe is my best friend and my partner. We can talk about any little thing, good or bad, and learn from each other. Communication has been the key for our relationship. I set up the stage that there were to be no secrets, nothing held back, and we have had good times and bad, but we are always able to sit and talk through our problems. We don't let things build up over time, we share them even when they feel insignificant or superficial. Many times, the other person has not even realized anything of it, and then we change or explain why it is what it is. Funny tidbit, my husband is sitting on the couch behind me playing a video game, and he asked why I was posting pictures of us in this blog. I explained to him this assignment and we both laughed at how hard this is for me because of how strongly I feel about communication and relationships. As I mentioned before, this blog is going to be very personal...and deep (and probably long) because I have had so many experiences that further deepen how strongly I feel about relationships. Anyways, our relationship is positive because we build each other up, we tell each other how proud we are, and we appreciate the little things in life. We are always developing and maintaining our relationship. Currently, we still struggle sometimes with house work because we both work long hours and come home exhausted. I have schoolwork to do, so I want him to help more around the house; and he sees it as he will get to it tomorrow. Frankly, if the worst thing we have to argue about is the work around the house, I think we are doing ok! It has been four years now, three states, numerous jobs for me, packing and unpacking, etc; we will always develop more perspectives on our relationship, but we are able to sit and communicate every emotion involved with them. Oh, as for what started our relationship, we met in a bar, one night I got stood up. And although I was kind of seeing someone else, Joe was very persistent after what he wanted. We started as friends, for about six months (while I was still technically trying to see someone else--Joe knew about this), but then I just started realizing I could not imagine my life without him there. So then, five months after that, we got married and moved to Missouri in 2 weeks! We laid the foundation as friends first, even in our marriage, it's not about the sex and all that romantic stuff, it's starts with our friendship and communication.
This is Jocelyn. We talk about everything. Anything that you may think you would never tell another living soul, we have talked about..or we could talk about if we needed to. Today, we are separated by 3 states and we may only talk on the phone once a month. When we do, it's like it was yesterday and we just pick up where we left off. That is a strong relationship. No matter what, if something huge happened in either of our lives, we would be there as fast as we could. Regardless of how long it had been since we last talked. It is hard to maintain friendships when you are geographically separated. Human beings need physical contact with one another, and sometimes you naturally get closest to those closest to you. In my shoes, as a military wife, I can't do that. Not from everything I have experienced, I could not imagine just finding these types of friends anywhere I go. I need those people that have been through things with me, or at least know enough about an experience that they can be supportive. I still remain in contact with my closest high school girlfriends, all of whom were at my house and lived with me for a week after my boyfriend died. We all plan time to meet up around holidays when we all travel home again. Then, there are my college roommates, who each come from similar backgrounds to each other, but really different than my own. Specifically my roommate I was randomly assigned to Freshman year, we hit it off and lived together all four years of undergrad. We are very different, but those differences contribute to our relationship in that we can always count on a perspective we may not have otherwise considered. Relationships can define who we are as people. I could not imagine my life without my relationships.
Joe is my best friend and my partner. We can talk about any little thing, good or bad, and learn from each other. Communication has been the key for our relationship. I set up the stage that there were to be no secrets, nothing held back, and we have had good times and bad, but we are always able to sit and talk through our problems. We don't let things build up over time, we share them even when they feel insignificant or superficial. Many times, the other person has not even realized anything of it, and then we change or explain why it is what it is. Funny tidbit, my husband is sitting on the couch behind me playing a video game, and he asked why I was posting pictures of us in this blog. I explained to him this assignment and we both laughed at how hard this is for me because of how strongly I feel about communication and relationships. As I mentioned before, this blog is going to be very personal...and deep (and probably long) because I have had so many experiences that further deepen how strongly I feel about relationships. Anyways, our relationship is positive because we build each other up, we tell each other how proud we are, and we appreciate the little things in life. We are always developing and maintaining our relationship. Currently, we still struggle sometimes with house work because we both work long hours and come home exhausted. I have schoolwork to do, so I want him to help more around the house; and he sees it as he will get to it tomorrow. Frankly, if the worst thing we have to argue about is the work around the house, I think we are doing ok! It has been four years now, three states, numerous jobs for me, packing and unpacking, etc; we will always develop more perspectives on our relationship, but we are able to sit and communicate every emotion involved with them. Oh, as for what started our relationship, we met in a bar, one night I got stood up. And although I was kind of seeing someone else, Joe was very persistent after what he wanted. We started as friends, for about six months (while I was still technically trying to see someone else--Joe knew about this), but then I just started realizing I could not imagine my life without him there. So then, five months after that, we got married and moved to Missouri in 2 weeks! We laid the foundation as friends first, even in our marriage, it's not about the sex and all that romantic stuff, it's starts with our friendship and communication.
On a deeper note, I have mentioned I feel very strongly about relationships and communication. This is partly because my parents instilled the wisdom in me all my life, but also because in 2003, when I was 17, my boyfriend passed away on his way to come pick me up to spend the day together. Everything happened in an instance, and we will never know what exactly caused him to run off the road, but one thing is certain, life is too short to not value what you have with people. It was a sunny Thursday morning, about 10am, and we had plans to celebrate Valentine's Day and our year-anniversary. True friendships get tested in those horrific curve balls life throws at you sometimes. The first people to know about the accident involving my boyfriend were his old best friends, they had had some stupid falling out over high school drama, we were only 17. But those guys were at my house waiting with me and were there when I got the call. They have never felt so much regret for the stupid things they had said to him. Other people that I had had falling outs with called or came over to show their support for me. I am still close friends of several of these people, and we will forever be connected by that experience. It takes a lot for me to let people in certain levels of my life. I have had acquaintances that I thought were more like friends, but then they weren't. True friendships/relationships are those that do not let petty little things come between them. Relationships need communication and they need to be continuously maintenanced. It has to be 50/50, a two-way street, each person must give a little to get a little. You have to pick your battles, but not sweep too much under the rug. It's about honesty and trust. My husband thought of a funny quote years ago, before we were married, and he sent it to me and my 2 closest girlfriends at the time. He said (now this is more known, but to me, he always said it first) "friends are like buttcheeks. no matter how much sh** comes between them, they always stick together." Now, I would like to introduce you to my buttcheek:
This is Jocelyn. We talk about everything. Anything that you may think you would never tell another living soul, we have talked about..or we could talk about if we needed to. Today, we are separated by 3 states and we may only talk on the phone once a month. When we do, it's like it was yesterday and we just pick up where we left off. That is a strong relationship. No matter what, if something huge happened in either of our lives, we would be there as fast as we could. Regardless of how long it had been since we last talked. It is hard to maintain friendships when you are geographically separated. Human beings need physical contact with one another, and sometimes you naturally get closest to those closest to you. In my shoes, as a military wife, I can't do that. Not from everything I have experienced, I could not imagine just finding these types of friends anywhere I go. I need those people that have been through things with me, or at least know enough about an experience that they can be supportive. I still remain in contact with my closest high school girlfriends, all of whom were at my house and lived with me for a week after my boyfriend died. We all plan time to meet up around holidays when we all travel home again. Then, there are my college roommates, who each come from similar backgrounds to each other, but really different than my own. Specifically my roommate I was randomly assigned to Freshman year, we hit it off and lived together all four years of undergrad. We are very different, but those differences contribute to our relationship in that we can always count on a perspective we may not have otherwise considered. Relationships can define who we are as people. I could not imagine my life without my relationships.
In the context of early childhood, I value my relationships with my families and children. I try to get to know my families personally and celebrate milestones with them. I keep open communication with them and I have noticed the more I tell them funny stories about their child, for example, the more they tell me about home life, and they are more likely to come to me with little issues before taking them to managers. Having left my families in Missouri, I keep in touch with them and the children still ask about me. I cannot wait to visit and see them again. Relationships are about sharing, communicating, trusting, supporting and encouraging. I think we can all use this in our work in the field of early childhood!
Saturday, February 25, 2012
Another quote I found that touched me was:
"While we try to teach our children all about life,
Our children teach us what life is all about."
~Angela Schwindt
I am much more excited today, this excitement has grown over the last eight weeks, that my husband and I have decided to start trying for a family. I have gained so much new insights to early childhood, I see my career as a teacher differently, and I look forward to future endeavors in this field.
Saturday, February 11, 2012
Standardized testing and school-age assessments
I ‘googled’ school age assessment around the world and found a website about European countries putting the most pressure on children in school (Cassidy, 2008). Even the parents are pressured to pick schools for their children based on previous test scores! (Cassidy, 2008) Children in this age range are being prepped for their SATs! (Cassidy, 2008) In Turkey, children are tested for future school purposes, like high schools (Rotberg, 2006). Also in Japan, children in this age range are not evaluated by achievement tests until they are of age for upper secondary school (Rotberg, 2006). I share information about several countries because I do not have a personal affinity to any specific one, I was curious to know more about all that was happening in the great big world.
I also came across a summary from UNICEF on the child well-being. In 21 nations, six dimensions were studied and reported to compare children: material well-being, health and safety, educational well-being, behaviors and risks, and subjective well-being (UNICEF, 2007). This, is what we should be more focused on than standardized tests. In order to focus on the whole child, we need to look at cognitive ability with social relationships and problem-solving. Berger (2009) lists criticisms of IQ testing and states that humans have multiple intelligences (including academic, creative, practical, and emotional). Howard Gardner also described nine intelligences in his research (Berger, 2009). We need to be focused on this idea of multiple intelligences--NOT just cognitive abilities. I have no explanation on how to do all of this, but I feel that the most effective testing would include social settings, culture, logic, and creativity.
Honestly, I can see pros and cons for intelligence testing, like standardized tests. Assessing through tests can keep teachers accountable for what they are spending their time doing in the classrooms. However, it puts huge pressure on those students to not only learn the material, but to reflect it in a test that was made by complete strangers who know nothing about daily discussions in the classroom or students’ interests. Testing is a way to find strengths and weaknesses in children’s cognitive abilities; therefore, professionals can work with these students to strengthen their abilities. However, how much do those children use from all that knowledge taken in for testing later on in life? I am not interested in history. It has always been my weakest subject. It was also my lowest scores on standardized testing. But what do I do with any of those facts and timelines now? Nothing really. Children learn best about things they are interested in. High quality teachers know how to make some subjects interesting to learn about to keep their students’ interests. But standardized testing is standard, the same across the board. I also naturally have anxiety when it comes to testing and being evaluated…what if students just have a rough morning and do not do well on these tests? Plus, how can there be truly standardized testing across the nationalities when language and culture differ so much?
Additionally, I came across what looks similar to a blog, but it is about the pros and cons to standardized testing. Margie (2011) lists out different advantages and disadvantages to these tests. Some advantages include: tracking results over years (to see how much more children are learning), being able to compare children across areas (although it mentions across cultures and I do not think this is a positive note because we have seen such different cultural values in our text!), and it helps keep teachers on track (which is then two-fold). Some disadvantages include the teachers teaching by the test instead of truly teaching; and the pressure put on schools, districts, teachers, students and parents. (Margie, 2007)
Berger, K. S. (2009). The developing person through childhood (5th ed.). New York, NY: Worth Publishers.
Cassidy, S. (2008). Our children tested to destruction. Retrieved from http://www.independent.co.uk/news/education/education-news/our-children-tested-to-destruction-779790.html
Margie. (2011). Pros and cons of standardized testing. Retrieved from http://www.brighthub.com/education/k-12/articles/16137.aspx
Rotberg, I. (2006) Assessment around the world. Retrieved from http://www.csun.edu/~krowlands/Content/SED610/Leadership/Leadership%20Reader/Assessment%20Around%20the%20World.pdf
UNICEF. (2007). An overview of child well-being in rich countries: A comprehensive assessment of the lives and well-being of children and adolescents in the economically advanced nations. Retrieved from http://www.unicef-irc.org/publications/pdf/rc7_eng.pdf
I also came across a summary from UNICEF on the child well-being. In 21 nations, six dimensions were studied and reported to compare children: material well-being, health and safety, educational well-being, behaviors and risks, and subjective well-being (UNICEF, 2007). This, is what we should be more focused on than standardized tests. In order to focus on the whole child, we need to look at cognitive ability with social relationships and problem-solving. Berger (2009) lists criticisms of IQ testing and states that humans have multiple intelligences (including academic, creative, practical, and emotional). Howard Gardner also described nine intelligences in his research (Berger, 2009). We need to be focused on this idea of multiple intelligences--NOT just cognitive abilities. I have no explanation on how to do all of this, but I feel that the most effective testing would include social settings, culture, logic, and creativity.
Honestly, I can see pros and cons for intelligence testing, like standardized tests. Assessing through tests can keep teachers accountable for what they are spending their time doing in the classrooms. However, it puts huge pressure on those students to not only learn the material, but to reflect it in a test that was made by complete strangers who know nothing about daily discussions in the classroom or students’ interests. Testing is a way to find strengths and weaknesses in children’s cognitive abilities; therefore, professionals can work with these students to strengthen their abilities. However, how much do those children use from all that knowledge taken in for testing later on in life? I am not interested in history. It has always been my weakest subject. It was also my lowest scores on standardized testing. But what do I do with any of those facts and timelines now? Nothing really. Children learn best about things they are interested in. High quality teachers know how to make some subjects interesting to learn about to keep their students’ interests. But standardized testing is standard, the same across the board. I also naturally have anxiety when it comes to testing and being evaluated…what if students just have a rough morning and do not do well on these tests? Plus, how can there be truly standardized testing across the nationalities when language and culture differ so much?
Additionally, I came across what looks similar to a blog, but it is about the pros and cons to standardized testing. Margie (2011) lists out different advantages and disadvantages to these tests. Some advantages include: tracking results over years (to see how much more children are learning), being able to compare children across areas (although it mentions across cultures and I do not think this is a positive note because we have seen such different cultural values in our text!), and it helps keep teachers on track (which is then two-fold). Some disadvantages include the teachers teaching by the test instead of truly teaching; and the pressure put on schools, districts, teachers, students and parents. (Margie, 2007)
Berger, K. S. (2009). The developing person through childhood (5th ed.). New York, NY: Worth Publishers.
Cassidy, S. (2008). Our children tested to destruction. Retrieved from http://www.independent.co.uk/news/education/education-news/our-children-tested-to-destruction-779790.html
Margie. (2011). Pros and cons of standardized testing. Retrieved from http://www.brighthub.com/education/k-12/articles/16137.aspx
Rotberg, I. (2006) Assessment around the world. Retrieved from http://www.csun.edu/~krowlands/Content/SED610/Leadership/Leadership%20Reader/Assessment%20Around%20the%20World.pdf
UNICEF. (2007). An overview of child well-being in rich countries: A comprehensive assessment of the lives and well-being of children and adolescents in the economically advanced nations. Retrieved from http://www.unicef-irc.org/publications/pdf/rc7_eng.pdf
Saturday, January 28, 2012
Stressors on child development--War
I have been thinking about this assignment all week, and I truly cannot think of any stressors I experienced personally. I feel very connected to a family I knew in Missouri who were foster parents to 2 siblings, Mariah and Taven. I was Mariah's teacher when she was 2, 3, and 5; and I also taught Taven when he was 3. I watched their development for three years. Their mother was given two specific chances to have them back while I was there, and honestly, it broke my heart because they were no longer in my care. I could not provide the consistent care they needed during those times of transition. They had a special bond because they had to stick together while their lives were in chaos. A couple times, I heard stories about mom or dad that I had to report. Social Services sent people out to investigate, but those two never said what they said to me those times. Emotionally and socially, I noticed certain behaviors that were cause for concern on their development, but it all factored into what was happening in their lives. The foster parents that had them all those times they were taken from mom were such great people. They also legally adopted another boy that had been in their foster care for 2 years. I can see things differently now after reading the text this week. They did have a delayed development in speech and social skills.
Another thing that I started thinking about, due to my own situation, was the stress of war on families. I am married to a Marine, and although we do not have children yet, when we do, how much will be around for? What will our future children experience in their development if their father is not around that much, and it's out of his control? I know 2 families going through this right now. One family, the mother is a Marine and deployed, while the father raises their 3 children, aged 1, 2, and 4. Isn't it harder for the father to play both roles as mother and father, than it would be for a mother? The other family is one of my friends whose husband is Air Force, stationed in Georgia now, but they have 2 kids, aged 3 and 6. The 3 years in Missouri, I met him twice. When they first came to my daycare, the youngest was 1 and the oldest was 3...dad has been away for a long time. Those two are growing up with a fantastic family of a mom, grandma, aunt, and greatgrandma living very close, but what is happening in their development without a male figure? I have never noticed anything stressful with their situation, except what it does to mom who also plays both roles of mother and father, and does not have the day to day support from her husband. What I gained in this reflection is that these children are doing okay considering they have a network of support from family. There will be challenges arise that would be easier faced with both parents, but for the most part, they are doing just fine with consistent care in their school and daycare, and with secure attachment to their family.
Along the lines of armed services, I chose to look further into the role of war in child development. I found a website that covers this type of stress, from an organization working to provide support for families. In Uganda, there has been a very long war between Uganda and the Lord's Resistance Army. This army would emprison children in order to force them to fight and mold them into the soldiers they want for their army. Women and children were being abandoned, either by death from the war or from the fathers leaving due to the stress. Mothers became very depressed and stressed; therefore, not providing adaquate care or nutrition to their children. Women were also forced into marriages with soldiers, and they became pregnant often and close together. These women would abort or abandon many of these children. The number of orphaned and abandoned children has vastly increased due to this war. The SOS Children organization is helping these orphans cope with life in Uganda. They opened a SOS Social Centre to support the mothers and children abandoned, as well as the abandoned children. The website says this: "Education, health care and employment are human rights. Due to poverty, illness and the political unrest in the area, the number of children without the support of their natural family is increasing steadily and SOS Children is constantly developing its approach to child care in order to meet these changing needs.The aim of our “Family Strengthening Programmes” and SOS Social Centres is to respond realistically and effectively to the situation of orphans, vulnerable children and their families and to prevent child abandonment. Through skills training, literacy classes, education, counseling and improved nutrition the families know they can become independent, self-reliant and confident in their own ability to provide for the children in their care. Ultimately the communities want to care for their children." (SOS Children, n.d.)
SOS Children. (n.d.) Child soldiers in Uganda. Retrieved from http://www.child-soldier.org/children-in-conflict-child-soldiers-in-uganda
Another thing that I started thinking about, due to my own situation, was the stress of war on families. I am married to a Marine, and although we do not have children yet, when we do, how much will be around for? What will our future children experience in their development if their father is not around that much, and it's out of his control? I know 2 families going through this right now. One family, the mother is a Marine and deployed, while the father raises their 3 children, aged 1, 2, and 4. Isn't it harder for the father to play both roles as mother and father, than it would be for a mother? The other family is one of my friends whose husband is Air Force, stationed in Georgia now, but they have 2 kids, aged 3 and 6. The 3 years in Missouri, I met him twice. When they first came to my daycare, the youngest was 1 and the oldest was 3...dad has been away for a long time. Those two are growing up with a fantastic family of a mom, grandma, aunt, and greatgrandma living very close, but what is happening in their development without a male figure? I have never noticed anything stressful with their situation, except what it does to mom who also plays both roles of mother and father, and does not have the day to day support from her husband. What I gained in this reflection is that these children are doing okay considering they have a network of support from family. There will be challenges arise that would be easier faced with both parents, but for the most part, they are doing just fine with consistent care in their school and daycare, and with secure attachment to their family.
Along the lines of armed services, I chose to look further into the role of war in child development. I found a website that covers this type of stress, from an organization working to provide support for families. In Uganda, there has been a very long war between Uganda and the Lord's Resistance Army. This army would emprison children in order to force them to fight and mold them into the soldiers they want for their army. Women and children were being abandoned, either by death from the war or from the fathers leaving due to the stress. Mothers became very depressed and stressed; therefore, not providing adaquate care or nutrition to their children. Women were also forced into marriages with soldiers, and they became pregnant often and close together. These women would abort or abandon many of these children. The number of orphaned and abandoned children has vastly increased due to this war. The SOS Children organization is helping these orphans cope with life in Uganda. They opened a SOS Social Centre to support the mothers and children abandoned, as well as the abandoned children. The website says this: "Education, health care and employment are human rights. Due to poverty, illness and the political unrest in the area, the number of children without the support of their natural family is increasing steadily and SOS Children is constantly developing its approach to child care in order to meet these changing needs.The aim of our “Family Strengthening Programmes” and SOS Social Centres is to respond realistically and effectively to the situation of orphans, vulnerable children and their families and to prevent child abandonment. Through skills training, literacy classes, education, counseling and improved nutrition the families know they can become independent, self-reliant and confident in their own ability to provide for the children in their care. Ultimately the communities want to care for their children." (SOS Children, n.d.)
SOS Children. (n.d.) Child soldiers in Uganda. Retrieved from http://www.child-soldier.org/children-in-conflict-child-soldiers-in-uganda
Saturday, January 14, 2012
Breastfeeding
I wanted to look more into breastfeeding around the world because I have heard so much stigma attached to seeing women breastfeed, and especially being in child care, teachers have had some negative opinions on feeding infants their mother's milk or seeing mothers' boobs who come to the center to breastfeed. These opinions bother me because I have always wanted to breastfeed. I have not had children yet, but I when the day comes, I want to breastfeed. It saves money on top of all the amazing benefits listed in our text. I had not considered all the long-term benefits of breastfeeding before. Reading about breast-fed babies having higher IQ's, being more likely to attend college, later puberty which affects the numbers of teen pregnancy, and being less likely to become obese or hypertensive by age 12 was all new facts to me (Berger, 2009). I was aware of all the childhood benefits such as less sickness, infections, and better bonding situations which leads to stronger emotional development, and I was also aware of the benefits for the mother, another reason why I want to breastfeed.
I found this awesome website called Breastfeeding in Public Around the World (n.d.), and it is a place where women, and men, can comment on what they have experienced when it comes to breastfeeding. I was shocked to see so much stigma attached to breastfeeding in our very own country! Many of the women posted about feeling anxious about doing such and always trying to find a private corner or asking first if it was ok or if there was a better place to do so.
Interesting points from the website from other countries:
After I wrote that, I googled state legislation for breastfeeding in public and found this website that lists all states, including Puerto Rico and D.C., and what laws are in place. I was astonished that we have so much protection for breastfeeding! Here's the website: http://www.ncsl.org/default.aspx?tabid=14389
It was very interesting to see the three states that I have lived in; they have several different laws!
Berger, K. S. (2009). The developing person through childhood (5th ed.). New York, NY: Worth Publishers.
Breastfeeding in public around the world. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.007b.com/public-breastfeeding-world.php
I found this awesome website called Breastfeeding in Public Around the World (n.d.), and it is a place where women, and men, can comment on what they have experienced when it comes to breastfeeding. I was shocked to see so much stigma attached to breastfeeding in our very own country! Many of the women posted about feeling anxious about doing such and always trying to find a private corner or asking first if it was ok or if there was a better place to do so.
Interesting points from the website from other countries:
- In Egypt, it is against their religion to breastfeed in public.
- In Ghana and Kenya, a woman is looked at negatively if she does not breastfeed as soon as her baby cries out for it; it is nothing out of the ordinary to see women breastfeeding.
- In Nigeria, it is highly recommended for the first two years; even on the farms, women have figured out how to keep on working while feeding their infants strapped to their backs.
- In India, there were differing views on what was normal; however, there is a general trend that the more educated women do NOT breastfeed in public, it is only in the rural areas where breastfeeding is commonplace.
- In Taiwan, it is not common to breastfeed infants in public, if at all.
- In Australia, not only is breastfeeding acceptable anywhere a mother is, but they are also protected under law to breastfeed their infants.
After I wrote that, I googled state legislation for breastfeeding in public and found this website that lists all states, including Puerto Rico and D.C., and what laws are in place. I was astonished that we have so much protection for breastfeeding! Here's the website: http://www.ncsl.org/default.aspx?tabid=14389
It was very interesting to see the three states that I have lived in; they have several different laws!
Berger, K. S. (2009). The developing person through childhood (5th ed.). New York, NY: Worth Publishers.
Breastfeeding in public around the world. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.007b.com/public-breastfeeding-world.php
Saturday, January 7, 2012
- Write about a personal birthing experience. It can be your own birth, your child’s birth, or one you took part in. What do you remember about the event? Why did you choose this example? What are your thoughts regarding birth and its impact on child development?
I chose this story specifically from when I researched other countries' and cultures' ways of giving birth.
- Choose a region of the world or a country, other than the U.S., and find out how births happen there. Write about what you learned, and the differences and similarities with your experience (in the personal example you provided). What additional insights, if any, about the impact of the birthing experience on development, did you gain from this comparison?
In Japan, most women go through childbirth with no painkillers. This is rooted in Buddhist tradition that said labor pains are a test for mothers with what is to come in motherhood. Fathers are not allowed to be in the delivery room unless they have taken a prenatal class, as well. What I really found interesting is that women usually stay in the hospital for five days with a vaginal birth, or ten or more days with a C-section. Then, the family lives with the mother's parents for about a month, and the mother stays in bed with the baby for 21 days. If my friend had stayed in the hospital for at least five days, they would have caught on to the problem before she had to go to the ER. I think the mother-baby bonding time after birth is very important, even if research is showing it is beneficial, but not necessarily imperative to a healthy development. Development does not start at birth, it starts during pregnancy. I read about several different countries' traditions with birth, with and without doctors or midwives, and I think culture and tradition plays a huge role in delivery. As we have read this week too, I think development has to be defined by having history and culture in mind.
Schalken, L. (n.d.). Birth Customs Around the World. Retrieved January 7, 2012 from: http://www.parents.com/pregnancy/giving-birth/vaginal/birth-customs-around-the-world/
Saturday, December 17, 2011
Ethics
According to NAEYC's code of ethical conduct, ethics is defined as "the study of right and wrong, or duty and obligation, that involves critical reflection on morality and the ability to make choices between values and the examination of the moral dimensions of relationships." As a professional in the early childhood field, I could face ethical dilemmas...and maybe I already have....
the ideals meaningful to me:
I-1.1: to be familiar with the knowledge base of early childhood care and education and to stay informed through continuing education and training.
--in order to be effective in any job, an individual must know about and have experience with that job; things change and we must stay up to date with what is happening; it is important to always learn and develop as a professional through more education and training
I-1.5: to create and maintain safe and healthy settings that foster children's social, emotional, cognitive, and physical development and that respect their dignity and their contributions.
--we have learned that children have voices and have the right to be heard; this is meaningful to me in that I need to listen to those voices and facilitate to what they need and want; above all, we will not harm children in any way, we HAVE to provide them safe, healthy, and stimulating environments for them to learn and develop
I-2.3: to welcome all family members and encourage them to participate in the program
--we need to close the gap between home and school; learning will only be as effective as those that encourage it; communication is everything! for all those children that have a hard time transitioning into a childcare setting, if parents would visit more and talk more about school at home, it would be easier for their children; word of mouth spreads the fastest, so from a business perspective, we can spread high-quality care through this ideal as parents actively participate and tell their friends how well that program is...
I-3B.2: to do nothing that diminishes the reputation of the program in which we work unless it is violating laws and regulations designed to protect children or is violating the provisions of his Code
--this ideal brings to mind those individuals who wear their program's uniforms wherever they go, including a bar-scene; we represent this field and our companies wherever we go, whatever we are doing should NOT reflect negatively on the company; this includes, to me, keeping thoughts about co-workers to yourself instead of sharing them with a parent standing in your classroom dropping off her child to your care...
I-3C.1: to promote safe and healthy working conditions and policies that foster mutual repect, cooperation, collaboration, competence, well-being, confidentiality, and self-esteem in staff members.
--I really want to post this ideal on a former employer's office door! If you are going to be in a management position, then be a manager. Be involved. Be present. do NOT hide under a stack of paper!
All of these ideals came from NAEYC's Code of Ethical Conduct and Statement of Commitment:
NAEYC. (2005, April). Code of ethical conduct and statement of commitment. Retrieved December 17, 2011, fromhttp://www.naeyc.org/files/naeyc/file/positions/PSETH05.pdf
**I think so many things are worth remembering from this class...good thing I printed out all the resources we had to read, so I can always refer back to them in the future....:)**
the ideals meaningful to me:
I-1.1: to be familiar with the knowledge base of early childhood care and education and to stay informed through continuing education and training.
--in order to be effective in any job, an individual must know about and have experience with that job; things change and we must stay up to date with what is happening; it is important to always learn and develop as a professional through more education and training
I-1.5: to create and maintain safe and healthy settings that foster children's social, emotional, cognitive, and physical development and that respect their dignity and their contributions.
--we have learned that children have voices and have the right to be heard; this is meaningful to me in that I need to listen to those voices and facilitate to what they need and want; above all, we will not harm children in any way, we HAVE to provide them safe, healthy, and stimulating environments for them to learn and develop
I-2.3: to welcome all family members and encourage them to participate in the program
--we need to close the gap between home and school; learning will only be as effective as those that encourage it; communication is everything! for all those children that have a hard time transitioning into a childcare setting, if parents would visit more and talk more about school at home, it would be easier for their children; word of mouth spreads the fastest, so from a business perspective, we can spread high-quality care through this ideal as parents actively participate and tell their friends how well that program is...
I-3B.2: to do nothing that diminishes the reputation of the program in which we work unless it is violating laws and regulations designed to protect children or is violating the provisions of his Code
--this ideal brings to mind those individuals who wear their program's uniforms wherever they go, including a bar-scene; we represent this field and our companies wherever we go, whatever we are doing should NOT reflect negatively on the company; this includes, to me, keeping thoughts about co-workers to yourself instead of sharing them with a parent standing in your classroom dropping off her child to your care...
I-3C.1: to promote safe and healthy working conditions and policies that foster mutual repect, cooperation, collaboration, competence, well-being, confidentiality, and self-esteem in staff members.
--I really want to post this ideal on a former employer's office door! If you are going to be in a management position, then be a manager. Be involved. Be present. do NOT hide under a stack of paper!
All of these ideals came from NAEYC's Code of Ethical Conduct and Statement of Commitment:
NAEYC. (2005, April). Code of ethical conduct and statement of commitment. Retrieved December 17, 2011, fromhttp://www.naeyc.org/files/naeyc/file/positions/PSETH05.pdf
**I think so many things are worth remembering from this class...good thing I printed out all the resources we had to read, so I can always refer back to them in the future....:)**
Saturday, December 3, 2011
Course Resources
http://www.naeyc.org/
http://www.dec-sped.org/
http://www.zerotothree.org/
http://www.wested.org/cs/we/print/docs/we/home.htm
http://www.hepg.org/hel/topic/85
http://www.fpg.unc.edu/main/about.cfm
http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/opre/hsrc/
http://www.highscope.org/
http://www.childrensdefense.org/
http://www.ccw.org/
http://www.cec.sped.org//AM/Template.cfm?Section=Home
http://www.iwpr.org/index.cfm
http://www.ncrece.org/wordpress/
http://www.nccanet.org/
http://nieer.org/
http://www.preknow.org/
http://www.voices.org/
http://www.erikson.edu/
- World Forum Foundation
http://worldforumfoundation.org/wf/wp/about-us
- World Organization for Early Childhood Education
http://www.omep-usnc.org/
- Association for Childhood Education International
http://acei.org/about/
- Phelan, T.W. (2003). 1-2-3 Magic: Effective discipline for children 2-12.Glen Ellyn, IL:Child Managment, Inc.
- Davis, L. & Keyser, J. (1997). Becoming the parent you want to be: A sourcebook of strategies for the first five years. New York, NY: Broadway Books.
- Shelov, S.P., Altmann, T.R., Hannemann, R.E. & Trubo, R. (2009). The Complete and Authoritative Guide: Caring for your baby and young child, Birth to age 5. USA: Bantam Books. (Original work published 1991)
Saturday, November 26, 2011
Words of Inspiration and Motivation
Janet Gonzalez-Mena's research focuses on the role of diversity and cultural differences in the early childhood field. In her article "Cultural responsiveness and routines: When center and home don't match," she writes an example about time. It is a cultural concept.
"It occured to me that the problem was that my culture puts a strong focus on time-not just on clocks, but on the concept of time as a commodity - as something real that can be lost or saved. I spend time like I spend money. Sometimes I waste it, too. Not everybody in the world looks at time that way."
--sometimes I waste my time too!
I also relate this quote to what I have learned thus far in this program:
"We think our profession as based on research and the basic ideas as universal. We may also consider cultural differences, but we don't think of the whole profession as culturally specific. I've learned to ask the question, who did the research and on whom?"
Passion, Motivation and Wisdom:
"When I think of the word passion and the meaning to the word passion, what comes to mind are what are my values, what are my beliefs, what are the ideas that lead me to action, what do I do so naturally that perhaps seems natural to me but my be challenging to others? What's in my heart?"
--Leticia Lara, LCSW
"Passion comes from wanting to make a difference."
"There's more to life than what's in the neighborhood."
--Raymond Hernandez, MS Ed
"It occured to me that the problem was that my culture puts a strong focus on time-not just on clocks, but on the concept of time as a commodity - as something real that can be lost or saved. I spend time like I spend money. Sometimes I waste it, too. Not everybody in the world looks at time that way."
--sometimes I waste my time too!
I also relate this quote to what I have learned thus far in this program:
"We think our profession as based on research and the basic ideas as universal. We may also consider cultural differences, but we don't think of the whole profession as culturally specific. I've learned to ask the question, who did the research and on whom?"
Passion, Motivation and Wisdom:
"When I think of the word passion and the meaning to the word passion, what comes to mind are what are my values, what are my beliefs, what are the ideas that lead me to action, what do I do so naturally that perhaps seems natural to me but my be challenging to others? What's in my heart?"
--Leticia Lara, LCSW
"Passion comes from wanting to make a difference."
"There's more to life than what's in the neighborhood."
--Raymond Hernandez, MS Ed
Friday, November 18, 2011
Personal Childhood Web
My father, Barry Riggs: I am his only biological daughter. He has always taught me the importance of communication and perception; the quotes I always use from him are "Communication is everything" and "perception is reality." My husband has heard these statements so many times. He tells me how proud he is of me for graduating college, getting married (in the opposite order), and uprooting from my family and my comfort zone to succeed in a state halfway across the country. He has supported every decision I have made, and when I ask him for advice, he tries to see every angle and help me see it as well. He taught me how to look at things objectively and from all sides and to weigh both sides of the coin. Today, I live closer to him and he looks forward to our weekly conversations and my weekend visits home. I will teach my children the same lessons about communication and perception, as they still influence my daily work ethic of remembering to always consider how a situation looks from the outside.
My father's high school, senior pic (a more recent one is posted on a previous blog)
My mother, Cathy Riggs: I am her baby. I got to do things sooner in my life than my sister was allowed in hers (my sister and I are 8 years a part). I still sit on my momma's lap sometimes because I will always be her baby! She has helped me financially over the last few years, and it took a lot of courage for me to ask for help. She is always been willing to help however necessary! Every night, growing up, mom would tuck me in bed when I was going to bed. We are talking about through high school, she would pass by and hug me goodnight. But I just remember even in middle school, if I went to bed before she did, I always went to her office and asked her to come tuck me in, and she did. As a married woman, my relationship with her has grown tremendously and we are able to talk about things we have never talked about before. Although, some of her approaches I wish not to repeat, (like don't ask, don't tell type things with alcohol, smoking and sex) I value those small times of her tucking me in at night, and our humorous times, like the first time I peeled potatoes. She comes from a farming background and she always has an answer for me about cooking/kitchen things. She also was a Mr. Fix it tomboy, so she is the first person I call when I have any type of maintenance issues around the house or with technology.
My sister, Shannon Ellis: I was the spoiled one. She is eight years older than me, and we are so very different. My parents had to learn real quick that what worked with her may not work with me, and just because she was the quiet, studious type, I was NOT! We have had our share of resentment issues over the years, but Sissy has always been willing to listen to my troubles and offer advice. Especially when I have had issues with my parents, she always had a little insight to share about something I never knew about them. Over the last few years, I have learned so much more about my parents that I had NO CLUE about. I am my parent's child--that's all I can say. My sister is single and she is looking forward to my husband and I having our first child so she can spoil him/her as a fantastic aunt. We are still very different people, but we have a special bond that no matter how much time has gone past, I can always call on her to help in any situation.
me, my mom and sister
Debbie Martin, my babysitter: I went to Debbie's from when I was 6wks old till I was 12. From about 6:30/7ish each morning till 5:15 each evening, and then various days when we were out of school until I was about 15. She had an in-home child care, and she lived around the corner from the house my parents moved from shortly after I was 6wks old. I grew up with the same kids there for years. She instilled a sense of discipline in me. She practiced time out, and she had 2 small carpets for such. One was in front of the sink and the other in front of the back door. I think it took one time sitting on a carpet that I knew I didn't want to be there again. Over the 12 years I was there, I learned some tricks of the trade with having small children in the house. She kept snacks and cereal in the cabinet under the sink and all the cleaning products above. We were only allowed to watch tv in the evenings, and on special days (once I was older), I was allowed to play on the computer, or ride my bike up and down the street while the little kids slept, or play pinball. On even more special days, I got to ride in her husband's, Herb, classic car he kept in the garage. It was so loud! I cannot tell you any more information about it, that's all I remember and know. I learned the importance of daily routines, expectations, and rewards while at Debbie's house. She practically raised me when you add up all that time I spent there. Today, we still keep in touch. She is no longer in child care, as she is older, but she is a grandmother, so that still counts too! Around the holidays, we send each other Christmas cards and write about the updates. I sent her pictures from my wedding, and she keeps me posted on the people I grew up with while in her care. She fostered my desire to work with children, she'd let me help out with those smaller and younger...she really got me started on my life course!
Katherine Peters, my friend: Katherine and I lived 2 houses apart from when I was 6mos old till she moved when we were 12. She was my first best friend. We grew up together. We got the same bikes, we played together in the cul de sac every weekend, we slept over each other's house...we did it all together. We had a huge falling out in the pre-teen year...the pre-puberty time. Middle school drama. Whenever I think about my childhood, I always think of her. She taught me friendship. One time, we played hair cuttery. I cut hers first, made her bob lobsided. Then, she took a HUGE chunk from the back part of my head off, and tried to cover it up with the other hair. Her mom was so mad at me for cutting hers, and my mother was so mad at them for being mad at me when she had taken such a chunk off mine...it was a lot harder to fix than getting a trim professionally done on the other side. We reconnected during college, and it's nice to know we had such an important relationship back then, that we are still connected today. We keep up through facebook and laugh about all our funny childhood stories. She is the reason I value my close friendships so much, I guess. The good ones are scarse, so when you find one, keep it.
My father's high school, senior pic (a more recent one is posted on a previous blog)My mother, Cathy Riggs: I am her baby. I got to do things sooner in my life than my sister was allowed in hers (my sister and I are 8 years a part). I still sit on my momma's lap sometimes because I will always be her baby! She has helped me financially over the last few years, and it took a lot of courage for me to ask for help. She is always been willing to help however necessary! Every night, growing up, mom would tuck me in bed when I was going to bed. We are talking about through high school, she would pass by and hug me goodnight. But I just remember even in middle school, if I went to bed before she did, I always went to her office and asked her to come tuck me in, and she did. As a married woman, my relationship with her has grown tremendously and we are able to talk about things we have never talked about before. Although, some of her approaches I wish not to repeat, (like don't ask, don't tell type things with alcohol, smoking and sex) I value those small times of her tucking me in at night, and our humorous times, like the first time I peeled potatoes. She comes from a farming background and she always has an answer for me about cooking/kitchen things. She also was a Mr. Fix it tomboy, so she is the first person I call when I have any type of maintenance issues around the house or with technology.
My sister, Shannon Ellis: I was the spoiled one. She is eight years older than me, and we are so very different. My parents had to learn real quick that what worked with her may not work with me, and just because she was the quiet, studious type, I was NOT! We have had our share of resentment issues over the years, but Sissy has always been willing to listen to my troubles and offer advice. Especially when I have had issues with my parents, she always had a little insight to share about something I never knew about them. Over the last few years, I have learned so much more about my parents that I had NO CLUE about. I am my parent's child--that's all I can say. My sister is single and she is looking forward to my husband and I having our first child so she can spoil him/her as a fantastic aunt. We are still very different people, but we have a special bond that no matter how much time has gone past, I can always call on her to help in any situation.
me, my mom and sisterDebbie Martin, my babysitter: I went to Debbie's from when I was 6wks old till I was 12. From about 6:30/7ish each morning till 5:15 each evening, and then various days when we were out of school until I was about 15. She had an in-home child care, and she lived around the corner from the house my parents moved from shortly after I was 6wks old. I grew up with the same kids there for years. She instilled a sense of discipline in me. She practiced time out, and she had 2 small carpets for such. One was in front of the sink and the other in front of the back door. I think it took one time sitting on a carpet that I knew I didn't want to be there again. Over the 12 years I was there, I learned some tricks of the trade with having small children in the house. She kept snacks and cereal in the cabinet under the sink and all the cleaning products above. We were only allowed to watch tv in the evenings, and on special days (once I was older), I was allowed to play on the computer, or ride my bike up and down the street while the little kids slept, or play pinball. On even more special days, I got to ride in her husband's, Herb, classic car he kept in the garage. It was so loud! I cannot tell you any more information about it, that's all I remember and know. I learned the importance of daily routines, expectations, and rewards while at Debbie's house. She practically raised me when you add up all that time I spent there. Today, we still keep in touch. She is no longer in child care, as she is older, but she is a grandmother, so that still counts too! Around the holidays, we send each other Christmas cards and write about the updates. I sent her pictures from my wedding, and she keeps me posted on the people I grew up with while in her care. She fostered my desire to work with children, she'd let me help out with those smaller and younger...she really got me started on my life course!
Katherine Peters, my friend: Katherine and I lived 2 houses apart from when I was 6mos old till she moved when we were 12. She was my first best friend. We grew up together. We got the same bikes, we played together in the cul de sac every weekend, we slept over each other's house...we did it all together. We had a huge falling out in the pre-teen year...the pre-puberty time. Middle school drama. Whenever I think about my childhood, I always think of her. She taught me friendship. One time, we played hair cuttery. I cut hers first, made her bob lobsided. Then, she took a HUGE chunk from the back part of my head off, and tried to cover it up with the other hair. Her mom was so mad at me for cutting hers, and my mother was so mad at them for being mad at me when she had taken such a chunk off mine...it was a lot harder to fix than getting a trim professionally done on the other side. We reconnected during college, and it's nice to know we had such an important relationship back then, that we are still connected today. We keep up through facebook and laugh about all our funny childhood stories. She is the reason I value my close friendships so much, I guess. The good ones are scarse, so when you find one, keep it.
Saturday, November 12, 2011
A little bit of everything
This may be a long one....A story about a child that touched your heart
An image of a child’s drawing, and why you chose it
Anything else that fuels your passion for the early childhood field
I graduated college May 2008, a week after getting married, and a week before moving to Missouri for three years for my husband's job in the Marine Corps. I had been working part time for KinderCare Learning Center through the last year of college, and I was able to transfer to the only KinderCare within 120miles in Columbia, Missouri. I knew I was only going to be there for three years. I also knew it was my first "real-world" job after graduation. I gave it my all because early childhood education is my passion. The timing worked the way it did that the kids I had first in the two-year old room, I also had at 3 yrs old and in the Pre-K room. It was like a full circle when the last six months came around and I was back with my original babies. The last three months there, I was promoted to 3rd in charge, or Health & Safety Coordinator. Anyway, my families knew I was only there three years, and no matter how much time we had to prepare for the departure, no one was ready when it was time. This picture is of the cards I received from the families alone of my babies, with the exception of the purple-dog one in the back which is signed by each of my coworkers with stories of what they will miss. These babies that I had been around since they were 2, I was around for their parents having babies, those younger babies I had when they were 2 or 3 and my original babies were in Pre-K....I was a part of some amazing times with these families. My babies signed these cards themselves with their names, and I helped teach them how to write. I also worked with the older kids, the schoolagers, during the summer months because I could drive the bus. The card all the way to the right is from one of those girls I had each summer, and whom I picked up from school everyday. She was a foster kid, in a house of three other biologically related siblings also in foster care. I loved spending time with her and talking to her about the things she likes...she even grew her nails out soooo long, I could never imagine having nails that long....and she drew me that whole card. The card all the way to the left, signed by Mariah, Taven and Delshaune.....still tugs my heart strings to this day. Mariah and Taven are biologically related, in foster care in the household where Delshaune, also foster child, was legally adopted by the family. I had Mariah when she was 2, and again when she was 4 and 5; I had Taven when he was 3 and 4; I had Delshaune in the schoolage room during the summers. They have the greatest foster family. My husband and I would babysit the three of them while the parents went to the fostercare meetings and such....the kids LOVED "Mr. Joe's truck." Even weeks later, at KinderCare, they would randomly ask me when I was going to pick them up in Mr. Joe's truck and take them to the park again. You want to hear stories that touch your heart, I have them about those kids...but I don't think you wanna read another 8pgs on them....the "system" was being way too lenient on the birth mother and hurting these kids with the coming and going out of the foster home. Anyway, the card directly under that purple-dog one is from one of the families of a child I was around from before she was 2, till she was 4. In the card, mom writes, "you have truly meant the world to us and have made more of an impact on Ally's life, more than you will ever know." What fuels my passion for early childhood? The fact that I still get facebook messages of stories Ally made up about me passing through KinderCare one day some week. I get calls from my coworkers to tell me about one of my babies asking when I was coming back and they miss me. I get calls from other coworkers telling me how nobody quite does it like I did. They want me back to fix it again. I was there for 3 years. I taught children from 2 years to 5 years old, and they still remember me and events that happened with me. We all knew it was temporary, but yet I am still very much a part of their lives. How important is early childhood? From the ages of 2 to 5, I had a huge impact on children's lives. I cannot wait to go back to visit and see them again, all grown up and going to school. But, I know that I influenced that. I impacted their lives, and they REMEMBER ME. What fuels my passion? The emotional response I feel when I read over these cards and talk to the families through facebook and hear how these babies still ask about me.
Favorite Children's Book(s)
Current Photos
My dramatic ways
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