When I Think of Child Development

When I think about children, 

I think about how important they are to our future. 

I think about what it was like 

when I was a child.  I think about running, 

playing with friends. 

 Laughing loud and being silly.  

I think about playing tag, and pretending to cook. 

 I remember taking care of my baby (doll). 

I think about eating ice cream cones and

 letting it drip down my arm.

I remember the excitement of 

going to Grandma's house.

Roller skating and going to the park.

I remember swinging so high

 I felt like I was flying.

I remember falling down 

 and getting back up.

We as childcare professionals, administrators, 

parents, extended family or friends

have been tasked with a very important role.  

We are to help them through their development. 

 This does not happen by force or abrasiveness or

 even comparing one child to the next. 

 It happens with patience, kindness, compassion, love,

 dedication and allowing children to grow,

 learn and develop at their own pace.  

If we take the time to think about it.  

Children are only children for a

 very short time in the

 grand scheme of things. 

 If we rush them through their development, 

we run the risk of robbing them of the 

opportunity to make wonderful childhood memories. 

 Life will be there.  There is always time to learn something.  

Have you ever just sat and watched children have fun.  

When is the last time you had a throw your head 

back good time like that? 

 Lets not take their time to throw their head

 back and have a good time.  

I would like to take this opportunity to recognize and thank my classmates Sharni-Gaye Campbell-Sargeant Anuoluwapo Akinola and Sophia Chang  for their support and encouragement throughout the duration of this course.  Although we were assigned to one another, I have valued your opinions and points of view.  I have enjoyed each of your child development blogs as they are each unique and have been very informative.  I enjoyed reading about your personal stories as well as learning about topics you find intriguing.  As we continue this educational journey, I wish you all the best of luck in your future endeavors.  Thank you all very much. 

Testing for Intelligence?

     When I think about intelligence testing, I have questions?  What are we testing? What does the results of the tests prove?  How does the process of testing or the results affect the child?  I may not have all the answers but, I am going to strive to find the answers.  "In theory, aptitude is the potential to master a specific skill or to learn a certain body of knowledge" (Berger, 04/2015, p. 358).  Measuring a child's intelligence is can be tricky.  In my opinion, what we should concentrate on is a child's individual potential.  Their aptitude instead of their achievement or intelligence.  We should measure their personal progression.  Instead of putting them on a chart that compares them to other children their age.  We should measure where they were in their development and learning to where they are in the present.  Chart that and measure that improvement.  If teachers and parents focused on caring for the whole child and providing them with the information necessary to thrive, their ability to learn would come naturally.  Instead we force feed them information that needs to be remembered in order to pass academic and achievement tests.  "Some scientists doubt whether any single test can measure the complexities of the human brain, especially if the test is designed to measure g, one general aptitude (Berger, 04/2015, p. 359).  I agree with "some scientists". I find that because children change and their brains change, it must be difficult to measure their intelligence or aptitude.  I understand the intent.  I am not sure if it is entirely effective.  It is important that whatever the result of these tests we are available to support them in their development.  

     General classroom practices in Finland may be unfamiliar to teachers in the United States. At age 6, children have the option of attending one year of government-provided pre-primary school, and 96% of students attend. Class sizes are limited to 20 and recommended to have no more than 12 students. At age seven, all students begin nine years of mandatory basic education before
entering upper secondary school for three years of either vocational or general education. A school-leaving certificate, awarded after the successful completion of basic education, allows students to enter upper secondary school.  Normative assessment takes place in early comprehensive school to identify students with possible learning disabilities and need for special education support.  Students are not placed in different classes by ability level; instead, all students are in the same classroom and an additional teacher is present in the classroom to assist struggling students. The assessment system of Finland is based around improving instruction, and the majority of the assessment is formative, or used to improve instruction and learning. Student assessment in Finland takes place in three arenas: within classroom practices, as the final comprehensive assessment of student progress at the culmination of basic education, and during the matriculation examination to serve as a criterion for college admission. Further, the national curriculum is evaluated through the help of an external evaluator and using data from a national standardized assessment, and teachers and schools use self-evaluation to improve education locally.

     Formative assessment within the classroom encourages student growth and self-assessment. The national curriculum specifies the criteria for classroom assessment during the course, and it is the teacher’s responsibility to carry out assessment of students’ conduct and schoolwork along this national criteria. Yearly assessment, based on a variety of student work, provides feedback to students about progress in learning and suggestions for improvement. The high-stakes final assessment of basic education, contained in the National Curriculum, requires student work samples from 2 years and is conducted by the subject teacher. A final type of assessment that is not included in the National Curriculum is the matriculation examination, the only high-stakes standardized test taken by students. The matriculation examination is administered upon completion of upper secondary school if the student intends to complete further education. In sum, Finland’s assessment practices result in
fewer formal assessments and fewer pressures for teachers merely to prepare students for a narrow examination. 

     With the attention the United States has directed at international assessments, some consideration should be paid to the policies of high scoring nations. Although the United States should not leap into educational policies mirroring those of Finland, the differences in the countries’ policies are
dramatic.  On the other hand, teachers in the United States are subject to stringent requirements regarding curriculum and assessment.  Policymakers in the United States might benefit from a consideration of the policy differences in Finland and the effect these policies may have on student performance. After all, if Finland is able to score so highly on international assessments with their hands-off policies, what does that mean for the rigid policies and high-stakes testing in the United States?  Maybe adopting some of their policies about assessment and education could benefit the children of the United States. 

References

Bergen, K. S. (2015). Developing Person Through Childhood, 7th Edition. New York, NY: Worth Publishers.

Hendrickson, K. (2013). Assessment in Finland: A Scholarly Reflection on One Country’s Use of Formative, Summative, and Evaluative Practices . Mid-Western Educational Researcher, 33-43.

Consequences of Stress on Children's Development

          I remember when I was a little girl living in Virginia.  I lived in a middle class neighborhood that was filled with many different families of different backgrounds.  My best friend was Regina.  She lived down the hill.  She was a white family.  It never crossed my mind that we were different.  We were inseparable.  We spent countless nights in each other's homes and we loved each other.  One evening while playing outside of her house her older brother who isn't but a few years older than us spit in my face and called me a nigger.  I had no clue that what he did was racist. I knew that it was mean and wrong.  When I went home and told my parents they were furious.  They did not allow me to play with my best friend any more.  I was no longer allowed to go to her home and she was banned from my house.  My parents explained to me that what nigger was and why people use it.  They explained to me that some people hate black people because of the color of our skin.  That my friend's brother had been taught that kind of hate.  My mother explained to a tear filled 7 year old that I could not play with Regina any longer.  I could not imagine that the family I spent so much time with could hate me.  My feelings were shattered.  That halloween, my other friends and I set out to go trick or treating and several of the white families did not open their doors to us.  However, we watched them open for the white children.  Their hatred taught me a lesson.  It created a memory.  It birthed a bias.  It was a lesson that I hate that I learned so early.  It was an experience I wish I never had.  I always kept that experience in the back of my mind.  My mother always kept us in neighborhoods that were diverse and I had friends from many different backgrounds.  However, I always believed that the families of my white friends hated me.  I had a distrust of white people.  " Racial bias can be internalized as early as age 2. By age 12, many children become set in their beliefs"(Knopf, 2017).  As I matured, I chose to investigate this distrust and traced it back to these incidents from my childhood.  It makes me think about the impact that racism can have on children in our society.  I think about the impact that racism had on me as a child.  I have worked diligently to silence the distrust that the 7 year old Hope had created.  

         I find it compelling when I read about life in Africa.  Especially for the life of little girls in parts of Africa.  The African girl can find themselves at a crossroads between cultural norms that work against them and the demand to survive in the patriarchal war torn communities, which forces girls to enter a "formal work place" which also can include prostitution at a very early age.  This happens as a result of poverty amongst other things.  Girls tend to face severe challenges and difficulties at a very young age.  In addition, poverty in Africa represents a generational discrimination passed on from mother o daughter; and this long term impact of economic devastation is felt by a generation of children who have had little, or no education.  "While the situation varies from country to country and between rural and urban areas, overall 56% of the out-of-school children are girls" (Kuwonu, 2015).  This has greatly create an implication on the life of the female children and as females these girls are culturally socialized to be submissive from childhood.  
   
        The Universal Declaration of Human Rights came into place 67 years ago emphasizing a right to education.  Many African countries apply this movement to their male children and not the female.  Female children, long before they are adults have lived through numerous sufferings and burdened with many responsibilities.  While the African Charter on the Rights of Welfare of the child act discusses non-discrimination, societal practice continues to discriminate, harass and undermine the female children of this continent.  

    The breakdown of traditional customs that protected children and adolescents has given rise to these gender inequalities among the children and raising the number of child abuse events.  The increase in alcohol consumption among men and boys have furthered increased sexual violence and abuse where the female child mostly become victims, creating a scar in their lives and affecting their social lives and development.   53 countries in Africa have chosen to ratify the Charter on the Rights of Welfare of the Child Act in order to protect female children from being discriminated against and receive an education as well as punish those who inflict harm upon them.  "A Global Campaign for Education sponsored by the UK charity, Oxfam, previewed these remarks: “Schools should be free and safe for girls. This will ensure that girls have the opportunity to stay and learn in school up to primary completion and progress to secondary and tertiary levels"(Kuwonu, 2015).

References

Knopf, A. (2017). Talking to children about racial bias. Brown University Child & Adolescent Behavior Letter, 1-2.

Kuwonu, F. (2015, April). Millions of girls remain out of school. Retrieved from African Renewal: http://www.un.org/africarenewal/magazine/april-2015/millions-girls-remain-out-school

  

Child Development and Public Health

      As early childhood educators the topic of immunizations is a constant debate.  Some believe that immunizations are necessary while other people would argue that immunizations lead to other major developmental disabilities.  I am an advocate for immunizations.  I personally believe that immunizations are the reason that many deadly communicable diseases have been eradicated.  I choose to believe that immunizations keep children safe from possible deadly diseases.  

      Immunizations can save your child’s life. Because of advances in medical science, your child can be protected against more diseases than ever before. Some diseases that once injured or killed thousands of children, have been eliminated completely and others are close to extinction– primarily due to safe and effective vaccines. Polio is one example of the great impact that vaccines had have in the United States. Polio was once America’s most-feared disease, causing death and paralysis across the country, but today, thanks to vaccination, there are no reports of polio in the United States. 

       Vaccines are only given to children after a long and careful review by scientists, doctors, and healthcare professionals. Vaccines will involve some discomfort and may cause pain, redness, or tenderness at the site of injection but this is minimal compared to the pain, discomfort, and trauma of the diseases these vaccines prevent. 
Immunization protects others you care about.  Children in the U.S. still get vaccine-preventable diseases. In fact, we have seen resurgences of measles and whooping cough (pertussis) over the past few years. Since 2010, there have been between 10,000 and 50,000 cases of whooping cough each year in the United States and about 10 to 20 babies, many of which were too young to be fully vaccinated, died each year. While some babies are too young to be protected by vaccination, others may not be able to receive certain vaccinations due to severe allergies, weakened immune systems from conditions like leukemia, or other reasons.

     Immunization protects future generations. Vaccines have reduced and, in some cases, eliminated many diseases that killed or severely disabled people just a few generations ago. For example, smallpox vaccination eradicated that disease worldwide. Your children don’t have to get smallpox shots any more because the disease no longer exists. By vaccinating children against rubella (German measles), the risk that pregnant women will pass this virus on to their fetus or newborn has been dramatically decreased, and birth defects associated with that virus no longer are seen in the United States.

      As it stands, whether you choose to vaccinate your children is a personal decision and no one can make you do it.  There are benefits to immunizations.  But like every great debate there are pros and cons of everything.  

       Germany is a country that has recently mandated that all families vaccinate their children.  Every family must show proof of immunizations before entering Kindergarten.  This is German law.  The reason..  From the beginning of 2017 to May 7, Germany has reported 634 cases of measles, compared with just 62 cases over the same period in 2016, according to a report from the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control.  

Maybe the law is necessary.  Maybe this law prevents the further spread of measles.   Maybe not.  In my opinion it is better to be safe than sorry.  It is YOUR choice to make.

HHS.gov. (2017). Five Important Reasons to Vaccinate Your Child. Retrieved from Vaccines.gov: https://www.vaccines.gov/more_info/features/five-important-reasons-to-vaccinate-your-child.html

Scutti, S. (2017, June 6). How countries around the world try to encourage vaccination. Retrieved from CNN.com: http://www.cnn.com/2017/06/06/health/vaccine-uptake-incentives/index.html

Childbirth In Your Life and Around the World

We had a birth this weekend.  HOW EXCITING!!!!

        Yesterday a baby boy was born.  We have been waiting on this baby for the longest time.  One of my long time parents had a beautiful baby boy and I was there to witness it.  In the years that Her family have been a part of my center, we have become friends.  In January we celebrated as she married her love and the children received a new father.  Not long after the wedding we found out she was pregnant.  We were overjoyed.  As we mustered through the spring and summer, she finally began showing signs of the end.  She began having Braxton Hicks contractions.  I helped her pack her bag.  Last week the doctor said she was 2 centimeters dialated.  We thought if we walked and kept active we could help her body.  Thursday's appointment the doctor said she was 5 centimeters and she should prepare herself because the big event could be any day.  WELL babies come when they are ready and not a moment before or later.  Early Friday morning she called me and said she was on the way to the hospital.  I jumped out of the bed and ran to the hospital.  She was calm and the contractions were coming non stop.  Shortly after my arrival she had to start pushing.  My job was to keep her focused.  Not to let her go negative.  So I kept telling her she is strong she is a conqueror and a breather of life.  These are the things we discussed while she was pregnant.  She was strong and determined.  And with 7 pushes a most beautiful baby boy took his first breath and let out a scream that could be heard from heaven.  She was in active labor for 2 hours.  It went so quickly.  She and the baby were released and resting home Saturday afternoon.  She had a healthy baby in just over 24 hours.  Isn't that amazing?  Superwoman, Supermom!! 
      I could not fight back the tears as the new father embraced his son and I watched as he tried to contain his tears.  I don't know if any of you have ever witnessed the love a man shows to his wife after she delivers his child.  I could not contain my tears.  I made myself available for another few hours running errands and doing whatever my friend needed.  I left the hospital around Eleven O'clock A.M. and went to the center.  Everyone was waiting on baited breath for the news and details of our new baby.  I said a healthy baby boy 6lbs 8 oz head full of hair and showed the picture with moms permission.  It felt like everyone had a baby.  As community we are excited to be a part of this new baby.  I am excited to love this new life.

      As I was reading about births in other countries I was most intrigued by the birthing experience in The Netherlands.  A preferable birthing plan are home births.  Actually a little more than 20 percent of their births are home births.  It may seem like a low number but it is the highest percentage of home births in the western hemisphere.  The mothers often choose to go to a midwife or a family doctor instead of visiting an Obstetrician for the prenatal needs.  The doctors are in contact only in case of medical emergencies.  Most of the women do not receive epidurals.  Giving birth naturally is prominent choice for the majority of Dutch women.  If a mother gives birth early in the day without complications, she and the baby may go home in as little as two hours. Then the unique Dutch system of kraamhulp (maternity home care) is set into motion. For seven days we had a nurse come to our home, a benefit covered by insurance. Not only did she provide medical care, but she also cleaned our apartment, cooked, and instructed us in basic parenting skills.
      Here in the United States, women are beginning to become more open to other alternatives for their own birth plans.  Many women choose to deliver their babies at home with the aid of a midwife or doula.  Others choose nontraditional birthing center instead of hospitals.  Whatever they choose, having a baby is a blessing and privilege that not all women get to experience.  

A Note of Thanks and Support

This message is for my very supportive classmates and colleagues

Amanda McFadden at

http://theearlyeducationdepot.blogspot.com/

and

Kristiana Reeves at

https://keepingupwitheducation.wordpress.com/

Ladies,

       This is a letter of thanks to the both of you. As you know that we have begun this educational journey together.  We have very similar points of view and goals.  We all passionately love what we do.  It is evident.  I truly appreciate the support and the thoughtful comments on my blog posts.  I am enjoyed reading your blogs as well.  I feel like I have gotten to know who you are and I am incredibly inspired by the women and teachers that you are.  The Early Childhood world has two gems in you to add to the list of compassionate and knowledgeable professionals.  I hope that there will be many more opportunities for us to grow together.  As this course ends, I want to send you both my best wishes in all of your future endeavours.  I look forward to reading your blogs as they develop.

Examining Codes of Ethics

When we think of Codes of Ethics, we should take into considerations how our choices, actions and speech will affect the children and their families.  Code of Ethics are the guidelines in which childcare professionals must adhere.

We shall demonstrate in our behavior and language respect and appreciation for the unique value and human potential of each child. 
This is meaning for me because children are sponges.  They tend to put out everything that we put in them.  Even the things we dare not have repeated.  Have you ever heard a child sing song lyrics that are adult in content and cringe?  It has happened to me.  Listening to children singing "Said little b**&h, you can't F**k with me If you wanted to".  Who wants to hear children say this?  Is it appropriate?   I try to use my behavior and speech as a model for my students.  I would rather hear them singing the months of the year song or their ABCs.  What we instill in them is what we can expect them to give back. Let's be mindful the things that we teach.


We shall honor and respect the diverse backgrounds of our colleagues including such diverse characteristics as sexual orientation, race, national origin, religious beliefs, or other affiliations
Our wonderful country is a cornucopia of racial backgrounds, cultures, religions, etc.  We have to exhibit tolerance, acceptance and respect to those that are different than ourselves.  We are all born with some kind of exposure to stereotypes.  We can choose to embrace those stereotypes and let them dictate how we treat our brethren, or we can embrace diversity and celebrate the things that make us different.  Teach our children that there is so much to learn and love about their friends that may look or speak differently.  I choose to show children how wonderful it is to be unique.  I hope to be a part of the solution instead of being part of the problem.

We shall provide services and supports to children and families in a fair and equitable manner while respecting families’ culture, race, language, socioeconomic status, marital status, and sexual orientation. 
Every child is deserving of a quality educational environment and experience.  I do not know how much more of an explanation there must be.  Children are innocent and should not have to be on the receiving end of any sort of bias, bigotry, prejudice, racism, classism, sexism, or hatred.  I can remember a time where i succumbed to a divisive thought process.  It is a direct contradiction to my overall passion and  mission in my professional and personal life.


Abiding by a code of ethics will help all childcare professionals clear of legalities as well as support the children and their families.

Collection of Resources

This week I had the pleasure of reading some content resources that focuses on the topic of Children.

The internet is filled with resources that examines the methodologies of childcare.  Resources vary from experts researchers, seasoned teachers, policy makers, philosophers, psychologists, and parents.  Each resource offers insight and guidance when it deals with caring and teaching children.

Some resources will validate your personal philosophies and others will act as a contradictions to your mission and personal belief.  That is the wonders of childcare, there is no one right way.  There is space and room for them all.  As children do not all grow and develop the same or at the same rate, there is a place for the varying resource information.  Here are a few examples of resources that I found interesting.  Enjoy!

Where We Stand On School Readiness

Fact sheet: A summary of the rights under the Convention on the Rights of the Child

Evidence-based practice empowers early childhood professionals and families

Not Separate but Not Equal: Education in the United States. 

Books

Teaching and Learning in a Diverse World Multicultural Education for Young Children

FOURTH EDITION

Patricia G. Ramsey

Assessing and Guiding Young Children’s Development and Learning

Fifth Edition

Oralie McAfee

Deborah J. Leong

Words of Inspiration and Motivation

"The responsibility for educating a young person is not the student's responsibility alone, nor is it the job of the teacher alone, nor is it the obligation of the parents alone. It is a responsibility that belongs to all of us. Because we all reap the benefits when our citizens are well educated."

Opening Session Remarks by Dr. Jill Biden | july 2009

"The true direction of the development of thinking is not from the individual to the social, but from the social to the individual".

Lev S. Vygotsky

"What a child can do today with assistance, she will be able to do by herself tomorrow".

Lev S. Vygotsky

"Take your ego out of and think about what is best for each child".

Renata M. Cooper

My Childhood Web

I was born into a very large family.  Although in my house it was just the 4 of us my parents, my sister and myself.  Our extended family is just an important part of my childhood as my parents. Both my paternal family and my maternal spent significant time with me nurturing my dreams and encouraging me to be whomever I want to be.

My Mother Marjorie is my biggest influence.  She comes from meager beginnings and worked and struggled to educate herself.  She always encouraged us to try our best in everything I do.  She supported our ambitions and was instrumental in helping me to be the woman I am.  We used to play this game called UpWords.  It is sort of like scrabble but you have to build the words on top of another.  She would beat us everytime showing no mercy.  We would get frustrated but she never allowed us to give up.  "Play Me Again!" She would say sternly.  Don't get mad, get better.  And we did.  We would read everything building an arsenal of words to combat the champion.  And she would still beat us.  Play Me AGAIN...  And we did. We played her until we beat her.  Eventually we beat her and beat her again.  In playing this game my mother taught me perseverance.  Don't give up on something you want.  Nothing is going to come to me easy.  I have to work for it and if it is what I desire, I will want to work for it.  I attribute this lesson to my success in my adult career.  I do not give up on myself or my students.  When things do not align how I would like, I do not get mad I get better.  Thanks MOM

My Maternal Grandma Frances.  We call her Memaw.
From the time I was a 6 month old baby, I spent my summers in North Carolina with my Memaw.  For as far as I can remember, my summer days were spent in her school.  She had founded alongside some members of her church family a private christian academy.  She was the Principle, the secretary, the cook and the kindergarten teacher.  I remember that we would arrive early in the morning to open the building and prepare breakfast and we were the last to leave the building and lock up.  She introduced me the need of exceptional and challenging education for young children.  The Academy enrolled children from 2 years old to 8th grade.  The kids learned everything from Bible to Latin and all in between.  She taught me about dedication.  Honoring our commitments.  She was always there to explain things from a biblical aspect.  She helped mold my moral integrity.  I utilize my integrity and moral aptitude daily.




My Paternal Aunt Mildred,  I affectionately call her my Auntie Twin

She is a retired school teacher.  I spent many weekends with her helping her organize her papers and prepare for projects.  I was something like her guinea pig.  She tried out new methods on me and asked if I like this or how I would feel about that.  She was always interested in my studies and often asked me about my future, what I wanted to be or what college I wanted to attend.  Her influenced allowed me to see myself in the future and focus on what I wanted to be.  I believed what she told me and it came true.  Now she is a major presence in my life.




My Paternal Grandma Queenie
I was her favorite.  That is a fact.  I reminded her of her mother the most.  SO I was a clear favorite of all of my cousins.  What I remember of my Grandma Queenie is that she loved me unconditionally.  She loved me just the way I was.  When my mother thought I was to big she said I was perfect.  When I was in trouble she was stern but loving and encouraged me to look beyond my faults.  She was the glue to our family.  She loved her family and taught me lessons about taking care of others.  Being available to help when needed.  Her lessons of love and family carry me throughout life.  I can remember her enlisting help from us to prepare meals for large family gatherings.  We all were a part of the committee.  Everyone had a job. And to her each job was important.  She made it okay to have original thoughts and reassured me that I was going to be great at whatever I wanted to do.







Recently my family lost my eldest cousin and the first born grandchild to my Paternal grandparents.  Shawn.  My cousin was filled with life.  He loved to laugh and was ready to crack a joke to lighten a mood.  My cousin was the protector.  If anyone had a problem we all ran to Shawn and he was already in protector mode.  He was always wise and prepared to give advice from how to tie my shoes to maneuvering our parents when they were upset.  Its funny that now that he is no longer with us, we all felt like we were the closest to him.  That is what he did.  He made us each feel special and that he is looking out for us.  My cousin taught me how to stand up for myself.  He taught me to protect others and when to stand up for someone else.  I learned about how to live life looking for the silver lining in every dark cloud.  That is what he did.  I cannot remember a time that he wasn't saying something funny and making the entire room feel light.  In my adult life he applauded my stance on education and what I do for the children I serve.  He said that my influence gave him the confidence to go back to school himself.  3 months before he died, he finished his degree in IT.  I can say that he has greatly impacted how I view life.  It's gonna be hard to imagine life without his wisdom.  But I am grateful for the gems he left with me.  

I was fortunate to have many influential people take time and invest in my development.  I cannot imagine who I would be or what I would be doing had I not been born into the large loving family that I was.  I appreciate and love them each individually.

A Little Piece of Me

My love and dedication to children is my driving force.  In my professional career it seems that I attract the families of children who learn differently or are extremely spirited.  My experience has been with children with special needs or developmental delays.  I remember a few years ago our contracted Speech Therapist spoke to me about accepting a young child that was asked to leave the current childcare facility and their mother was at her wits end.  I scheduled a new parent interview and met with the mother.  She and the therapist painted a picture of a child with extreme aggressive behaviors, violent tantrums, and a speech delay.  The therapist thought that my school would work because of the work that I had done with some of her other clients.  I accepted the family on a trial basis.  One thing about me is that I do not judge children and I allow our relationship to evolve naturally.  I only deal with the behaviors exhibited in my presence.  When the child arrived, they were timid and withdrawn.😢  I could tell that the narrative that had been given to me was illustrated to them.  I showed the child around and allowed them to meet their new classmates.  I observed the child and the child that showed up was not the child that the mother and therapist prepared me to meet.  This child was loving but cautious.  The tantrums were limited and there was only one incident where the child behaved aggressively.  This child was loving but territorial.  However, there was no reason to single them out.  Like with their classmates, they were modeled appropriate behavior, and given the tools to resolve conflict.  They made friends, and became very social and happy.  Eventually, the child began to speak.
Now that the child is older, the behaviors of yesteryear are a blip and something we had to address in the toddler years.  I have watched this child thrive and master many of their fundamental skills and achieve their set goals.  😀 Every morning this child searches the entire building looking for me to greet me with the biggest hug.  And we tell each other that today is going to be a wonderful day.  I am glad that when everyone else saw a problem I saw possibility.   That is my approach.  Let children know they are perfect the way God made them.  Encourage them when everyone else want to be dismissive.  I never give up on children and I will never let them give up on themselves.  Together we will persevere.

Which leads me to my favorite childrens book.

Ever since I can remember, I have always searched for effective ways to communicate with children.  I use stories, poems, and plays to help children understand many different topics.  It was my third year working as the lead teacher in the 3 and 4 year old classroom that I developed a love and appreciation for Dr. Suess books.   I enjoyed how he handled complex ideas in an inadvertent way.  These books tackle typically difficult subjects such as bigotry, tolerance, and positive self image.
The Dr. Suess book that is my favorite of them all is
"Oh The Places You'll Go"

This book is all about encouraging children to push through adversity even when times are dark or they get scared.  This is a book about determination and believing in your abilities.  This is a book about perseverance, facing fears, celebrating accomplishments and accepting defeat.  As educators we have to help children understand that things will not always go their way and in the even it does not, they will be just fine.  If you have not read this book.  Take some time and enjoy!

"But on you will go

though the weather be foul

On you will go

though your enemies prowl

On you will go

though the Hakken-Kraks howl

Onward up many

a frightening creek,

though your arms may get sore

and your sneakers may leak.

On and on you will hike

and I know you'll hike far

and face up to your problems

whatever they are".

This quote by Benjamin Franklin speaks to my approach to teaching young children.  

We all can attest to having to repeat the same things to small children over and over and over again.  It can be extremely frustrating.  But lets think about what it is all about.  Who likes to be talked at?  I sure do not.  Often times adults talk at children and bark orders, or rules at them and expect them to remember.  Of course they don't, who could blame them?  I have learned that let's make them a part of the experience.  When they are an active part of the conversation or the creation of anything, they willing remember even the tiniest of details.  It can make a daunting task so much easier.  This quote speaks to the children being an active participant in their educational journey.  We can make it dreadful or exciting.  

"The most effective, successful professionals are constantly learning, they take the time to apply what they have learned, and they continually work to improve themselves.” 

- Joel Gardner

Walden University Blog post 1

Hello to my Walden University classmates.  I look forward to utilizing this platform to have meaningful and insightful connections with you all.