My Supports

My first and most important aspect of support is my husband.  I cannot imagine what life would be like without him.  He is my backbone and my source of motivation.  He helps me find resolution when I feel like I have hit a wall.  He has dedicated his life to servicing the special needs community.  His work in Behavioral science and working with Department of Family and Children Services as a Child Protective Service worker gives me an inside advantage into creating an environment that is both developmentally sound and safe for all children. His input and professional guidance is appreciated and it makes my day go by smoothly.  He is there for me when I need him the most and even in the least of my need.  He steps up and makes an effort to get to know the children and their parents.  He offers advice when sought after and he is a waiting helping hand when needed.  Life would suck without him.

If I had to mention things or people that are supportive to me on a daily basis.  I would mention my students.  They are the most compassionate and helpful little people I could ever know.  They are always brightening my day with smiles and hugs.  I couldn't imagine a day without them.  Second would be their families. My parents are awesome.  They are cooperative and endearing.  They care for all of the children like they are family.  I could not imagine my day without them.  They volunteer often and step in when the center is at need.  For example, recently I have been sick. Really sick.  My parents noticed and immediately stepped in and took over the center.  They ran it like they were me and allowed get some rest. 

In my career I have built a supportive network of professionals that I can turn to for guidance and collaboration.  These relationship have proven to be extremely beneficial in helping learn more about providing care for children and developing a curriculum that fosters healthy development.  They are trainers, behavior specialists, speech therapists, reading specialists, social workers and curriculum specialists.  These professionals are my professional family.  We support one another and bounce ideas between us.  Their professional experiences help me to be the best teacher and administrator.  They offer great ideas and situational support.  I could not imagine not having them as a part of my circle.

Not having these supportive entities would make my life bland, boring, and honestly mediocre.  These people make me better. They make me strive for better and create the best. 
I think about what would happen to my curriculum.  When I work on the curriculum I take into consideration the children who will participate, the teachers and how it will affect them.  When designing an activity, I seek the advice of a reading specialist.  I confer with with the curriculum specialists.  They provide information that I believe set my center aside from others.  It is what makes an educationally challenging curriculum fun and enjoyable for all involved.  If I did not have access to the professionals and their expertise, my entire center would suffer.  I am sure that I would find a way to move on but there would be a learning curve that could impact my students. 

Some of my parents have become my very best friends.  My professional colleagues are not only my professional equal but they are shining beacons in my life.  I respect their opinions professionally and personally.  Like me, they have dedicated their lives for the betterment of children.  Together we make an awesome team.

Childhood Connections to Play

From as far as I can remember, I can hear my mother saying to me If at first you don't succeed, try, try again.  She emphasized for me to never give up.  When I lost at a game, she encouraged me to try again.  Don't get mad learn from it.  Try again.  We played many board games in my family.  I remember losing at Sorry every time I played.  I would get so upset it just seemed I would never win.  My mother said Sorry is all about your decisions.  Pay attention to your decisions.  That is what I did.  I watched the decisions of the other players, what pieces they moved and when they decided to split a number and I started making better decisions and eventually won.  I was so excited you would have thought I won the lotto.  But for me it was the lotto.  I learned how to think and apply logic in a fun game of Sorry.

 The same when we would play Guess Who.  I learned to ask very specific but unique questions.  Most of the time my older cousins would win but I would play them over and over until I won.  Each time learning something new or trying a different method.  I am that way now.  If my first attempt is unsuccessful, I am ready to try again.  Learning along the way.  That is what I remember about playing as a child.

  The difference between now and when i was a child is that there was no alternative or child-centered curriculum.  The school was a strict and structured environment.  The time to play was a recess.  Even physical education was structured.  There was some fun but teachers did not embrace play as a method in which children could learn.  I am glad to see how times have changed.  For me, watching my students play is as important as watching them grow.  I see the wheels in their brains turning.  I encourage their exploration.  I love watching kids be kids.  There is plenty of time to be serious..  That is called ADULTHOOD.

I subscribe to Lev Vygotsky's method of teaching.  I believe in the importance of play and peer interaction when a child is learning.  My approach to teaching is one of a support.  I wholeheartedly believe in scaffolding and the Zone of Proximal
Development.  The zone of proximal development (sometimes abbreviated ZPD), is the difference between what a learner can do without help and what he or she can do with help.  However the help will come in the form of his or her peer while the teacher oversees and may offer minimal support.  They learn on their own with their own thoughts and ideas not the ones I have placed in their mind.