Expanding Connections and Resources

I am very excited for this blog assignment this course.  I believe that being able to build relationships and build each blog assignment on the next will really help to develop the connections that we are striving for.  I have contacted two early childhood professionals one from Macedonia and one from the netherlands. 

I reviewed the Global Alliance for Early Childhood Education through NAEYC to find these great contacts!  I am a huge fan of NAEYC and think that they are at the top of their class for advocacy and creating world wide contacts.  One of the contacts that I chose works for The Foundation for Educational and Cultural Initiatives of Macedonia, this is a program that is striving for education for all!  Additionally, this program is affiliated with the International Step by Step Association with similar goals and missions.  This is where I contacted the second early childhood professional.  I have reached out to both of them via email and hope to hear from them soon.

Additionally, I have chosen to study The Division for Early Childhood.  In particular, this program is right in my neighborhood!!  I live only about three hours away from the primary office of this organization and have had the opportunity to take some amazing trainings from a few of the great advocates who work there.  I am excited to learn more about their work, their work in progress and their goals for the future based on issues and trends that effect us here at home!

I look forward to learning with all of my classmates and can't wait to hear about all the amazing connections we will make!

My Supports

There are so many supports and different types of supports it is hard to think of them all and narrow down just a few of the important ones.  The biggest support I have is my family!  My mother, father and sister are always there for me and help me in all of my endeavors, even if they aren't usually the best and they can see that from the start.  I also receive a ton of support from my cat Lovey - Yeah, I am the single cat lady!  But, her and I are two peas in a pod.  She lets me cry and whine to her all the time and she always knows when I need a little extra love and attention and without her there are some days that would just be to difficult to deal with.

Additionally I have support from friends and co-workers.  Currently, I have an amazing boss whom I admire and look up to as a role model.  She encourages me to act on my own, provides support and constructive feedback and always challenges me to learn more about my job and more about myself so that I am always growing!  The job that we have is quite difficult at times and without good support would almost be to much to take on alone!

The challenge I chose to imagine really isn't imaginary but is very real to me and something I must think about (imagine) and prepare for quite frequently.  I have very recently been diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis!  The pain and sickness that I felt just trying to find a diagnosis was overwhelming and now I have just started to learn to deal with this disease and all of the ramifications that come with it.  Factors that are and will be supportive to me are knowledge, medical teams, preparation, assistant devices, and supportive of family and friends.  I currently have a great doctor who is well known in our community and fully experienced with RA he is, and will continue to be, a great support in identifying my individual RA needs, my medication will always need to be adjusted slightly especially because there is no cure.  Therefore, his knowledge of medication and resources (including ways to help pay for these very expensive medications) are extremely beneficial and a support I will most definitely continue to need.

I also need to be knowledgeable and prepared for understanding RA.  Because my diagnosis is new I am soaking up all the resources about RA that I can get my hands onto!  There is no cure for RA and treatments, suggestions, diets, exercise are all very (often) individual so it is also important that I prepare myself for the disease and its impact on me.  Supports in this manner include daily journaling about food, weather, exercise, etc. to see what is most untactful.  That having been said, it is also important for me not to be afraid to ask for help.

I will need the support of assistive devices.  Already, I have an amazing tool that opens all sizes of lids and jars for me, including pealing of foil seals to items that also have caps!  Without this tool, I simply cannot open some items.  I realize that later on down the road I will most likely need this and possibly more to help relieve the pain of the RA and make everyday tasks easier.  Their are a multitude of kitchen aids, body support aids and daily grooming aids to help out that may be of use to me in the future.

And of course I will always need the support of family and friends - I am no one and no where without them:)  I love my family and friends and I am unbelievably blessed to have such an amazing support group!!

My Connections to Play

 

“Go Outside and get the ‘stink’ blown off of you!”  ~ Cheryl Sawyer

I loved reminiscing on this blog!  It brought back a flood of memories about playing in the very small town I grew up in and out on our family’s farm.  Play in my childhood was expected of me.  I am in my early thirties and way back when…. There really still wasn’t much for video games, t.v., movies, etc.  My parents were also very had working individuals; as I mentioned above we had a family farm and work for my parents never stopped.  Therefore, we were expected to entertain ourselves (if we weren’t working or helping out as well).  The quote above by Cheryl Sawyer is actually my mother, I distinctly remembering her telling this to us often!  Play was encouraged and outdoor play, exploring nature, climbing trees, digging in mud puddles was strongly encouraged.

My parents were very supportive of exploration.  They of course were always nearby to help out but they felt that our outdoor play/exploration was a way for us to learn important lessons for ourselves about health and safety.  For example; the following quote makes me think about how my parents allowed me to explore and learn from

my own consequences:

“I'll play with it first and tell you what it is later.”  ~ Bette Davis

Specifically, I remember a time when I loved to play out in our large back yard in my bare feet!!  My mother consistently warned me however, that it was not a good idea, that it was not safe and that I could get hurt.  But, I loved the feel of the cool grass tickling and tingling on my feet; the wet dew that made loose blades of grass stick between my toes; the softness of the grass and earth molding to the bottoms of my feet – how could you resist that!  Until, of course, I stepped on a bee! And my mother, of course, was right!  As I hobbled on one foot for about a week my mother would just smile at me and chuckle but, never once told me; “I told you so.” 

I believe that my parents understood the value of exploration and learning things for yourself, no matter what others tell you.  When you tell a child not to touch something because it is hot, they really don’t KNOW hot until they touch it.  We of course do not want children harmed or injured but play allows us to explore those cautionary tales while under adult supervision.

This story also makes me feel very sad for children today; life is just not simple enough to run around bare foot anymore.  The danger of today’s world makes parents and teachers very cautious about children truly experiencing the outdoors.  For teachers; if we let children run around bare foot and they stub their toe and break it – we can be sued.  For teachers and parents; you must be cautions about what is in your children’s environment.  For example; I went to visit a center in downtown Seattle and they shared a story with me about how their schools outdoor play time had to be cancelled because they had discovered a deceased, homeless person on their playground!  The world is scary; instead of stepping on a bee children could step on a needle, crack pipe, or any other host of very dangerous, life threatening items.  And this of course, only addresses the dilemmas of outdoor play!

“If you must play, decide upon three things at the start: the rules of the game, the stakes, and the quitting time.”  ~ Chinese Proverb

As far as play throughout life; it should never go away!  As the Chinese Proverb above suggests – there is no quitting time for me!  We MUST constantly remind ourselves to play, to go outside, to feel the rain and wind, to laugh and be silly and (especially as adults) laugh at ourselves!  Life is rough and one of the greatest escapes we have is PLAY; children know this and do it naturally, somehow we forget this as we get older.  It is important to remember that, at least, for every serious moment we take at least one play moment; to break away, give ourselves a break and come back to reality.

I have posted a few pictures to the right that were essential to my play as a child - and even today! 

Realtionship Reflection

    Relationships are valuable to me because they encompass who I am, provide support and keep me grounded. My personal mind is very tumultous at times - I suffer from a moderate - to - severe anxiety disorder.  Without a few very close, personal relationships I truly beleive I would not still be where I am.  Through mutual respect and careful boundaries, those I love keep me focused on what matters, rather than overwhelming fears!!

   First and foremost are my parents; they are amazing!!  They have taught me the value of hard work, perseverance, dedication and true love!  Happily married now for nearly 39 years, they have never "sugar-coated" lifes obstacles, which has always kept me grounded, realistic and open-minded

   Second is my sister Jolene.  She is never afraid to tell it like it is!  Having the ability to speak your mind is a true gift and one my sister was blessed with.  She is supportive but to the point and her respectful honesty has helped me through many hurdles in life.

    One of my dear friends Jill; the artistic explorer, is also very important.  I won't lie, I am a homebody, Jill's adventerous spirit helps keep my mind wrapped around all that is possible and potential.  And, our hiking adventures create many memories, smiles and sunburns!

   One big callenge to relationships is time.  There never seems to be enough time, long enough weekends or nice enough weather to spend with those you love.  Therefore, respect is an extremely important aspect of all relationships, especially to me.  Being able to respect each others time and obligations without resentment is essential.  Thankfully, I have that common ground rule with these key relationships.

   I think that respectful boundaries are also very important in the professional realm as well.  It is important to recognize how, what, when and where families want to be communicated with.  For example; I once had a family that I new I could (and best) share information with only in the mornings.  Their evenings were very hectic and busy.  Knowing this allowed us to communicate without headache!

EDUC 6161 Effective Programs and Practices

Yeah, my Third class - I am so excited!!   This sounds like an excellent course also!  I am glad to see familiar faces in my class and hope you are all having a wonderful Spring!

An Important quote

"The conscience of children is formed by the influences that surround them; their notions of good and evil are the result of the moral atmosphere they breathe."
                                            ~ Jean Paul Richter ~

This quote continues to be one of my favorites!  I think that it speaks to what, we as educators, must work to acheive, work with, and deal with on a daily basis.  It reminds me that we must consider the whole child; community, family, environment, etc. to properly care for them - as that is what influences them.

Assessment in young children

Assessment is always a difficult debate.  There is often times, it seems, a disconnect between child development and elementary/middle school philosophies about what children should be ready for and when - therefore, how they should be taught -  taught with a love of learning or taught to the test??

I fully recognize that as children get older there are simply things you must know.  However, when I think of what children should be assessed on, I reflect back to the standardized tests I remember taking - the dreaded Iowa-Basic test days.  And, what I remember is that much of the test was not formatted in a relevant matter, questions did not pertain to our demographic area, scenarios were far fetched and examples were once in a lifetime - not realistic.  I believe that children should be assessed on reading, writing and math.  However, it would be better if the tests were a bit more realistic/real-world.  I also feel that there should be several types of testing - not just pen and paper.  There should be skills/challenges where children perform in groups, hands on tests- like in science for example, and verbal tests where children are given opportunities to explain answers verbally rather than just in writing.  This type of testing would allow us to evaluate children in all modalities of learning styles.

In Japan, it seems, there is a similar process of simply teaching to the test and always preparing for the next step.  The focus there really seems to be on which type of school you are going to attend; university, etc.  These tests are also focused on primary subjects such as math science, humanities, etc.  Some universities even provide their own assessment exams to get into the school.  There is a great amount of pressure surrounding these tests and there are even schools called "juku"  which translates to "cramm schools"!!

http://www.ericdigests.org/1993/japan.htm