My Supports

Factors in my daily environment that are supportive to me are my family, friends, Impact, and my job. My family provides support by helping me with my children by giving much-needed time off. They also provide ears for me to vent. My friends are awesome because some are old, some are new, but they are all there for me when I need them. Most of the time just to listen, but lately they come over to hang out when things have been rough. They offer to help out with my kids too. My children have an Impact worker who is a Godsend. She goes above and beyond her job to ensure we have community resources and supports to stay together. She often offers advice and guidance that goes a long way. My job provides financial support to take care of my family and a much required reality check to keep me grounded. I need to be grateful and thank God everyday that I have a job to go to.

The benefits of these supports are that they represent strength for me and my family and cut down and stress and tension in my life. All of these things and people come together to balance out an otherwise crazy existence. Without one or all of these supports, it would be scary for us. I have seen it play out. We may be separated, sick, or gone all together without them.

The challenge I choose would be life without my two aunts. It would be a sad situation. We have our ups and downs, but through it all they never let me down. They can hear my cry for help when I don't even hear myself making it. If they were not here, I would probably suffer in silence, blow up after a while, and be totally useless to my kids. If they were gone I would need more money to pay sitters, a better job, and antidepressants to make it through an hour.

I can't say enough how special these supports are to me and my family and hope to never know what it would really be like without them!

My Connection to Play

“Children's games are hardly games. Children are never more serious than when they play.”

MONTAIGNE, Essays

                            

“Children need the freedom and time to play. Play is not a luxury. Play is a necessity.”

Kay Redfield Jamison

Contemporary American professor of psychiatry

  From the age of at least three years old I can remember playing and having fun. I can remember my teacher in Headstart giving me toys to play with when I was upset that my mother was leaving me there.

The adults in my life encouraged play most of the time. Looking back now, it may have been more of a way for them to keep us busy while they did grown-up things, but nevertheless we still had fun and learned so much from so much play.

In my opinion, play is so much different today than it was when I was a child. Children today seem to only be concerned with video games, social media, and sports. Sports used to be a really good way for children to experience structured play but are now fierce competitions used to satisfy parental desires. The children aren’t being allowed to have fun when playing and have tremendous pressure on them to play hard to be future athletic celebrities.

When I was young there were video games out but we played them when we came in from a long day of playing outside. I know many of my students know nothing about playing cards. Me and my friends could take a deck of cards and play twenty different games with them.

I noticed that Target now has a section in their toy aisle of Retro toys that were out when I was growing up. I was as excited as I was at 5. I think this is awesome and bought some toys for my baby there. I hope that more parents will do so and introduce their children to some of the classic toys that allow children to build their intelligence and character through play.

I can definitely attest to how important play has been in my life. I played games that allowed me to use my imagination and intelligence. We played solitaire, speed, and 21 with cards and all of these games required logic, concentration, dexterity, and math skills. We played the Game of Life and never even realized how realistic it was. You had to spin the wheel to see how many kids you would have, what your occupation would be, and figure out if you made enough to support your family. How real is that? I always had a car full of kids in the game and swore I wouldn’t have any in real life. Irony at its best proved me wrong. I did however remember the lesson learned in the game by securing a career to support me and my family!

Relationship Reflection

Relationships are important to me because they are the part of life that keeps you on touch with your emotions. They are never easy, but require constant give and take. As I get older, I am more aware of how past relationships have shaped my life both good and bad.

I currently have positive relationships with my female friends that I have known for a long time. We have our moments here and there, but we have never done anything to each other that has done harm to our relationships. Our relationships are based on mutual respect, caring, support, and interactions with each other. We share our ups and downs and try to find ways to lift each other up whenevr we can.

 I also have positive relationships with my children. They are complex and take alot out of me, but they are mine. I wouldn't trade any of them for the world. Just watching them grow and change is the biggest reward of this partnership. I can see something everyday that verifies the positive effects of our interactions.

My students and I have very positive relationships. I love the fact that I don't have to play "good or bad" teacher with them. I am always myself, let them know that every decision I make is based on my caring for them, and do not carry ill feelings towards them when they make mistakes.

Challenges I have found in developing and maintaining relationships are trusting and depending on people. I was raised to be very independent due to parents who were substance abusers. I learned to do for myself and not to depend on others because they may not do what they said they would regardless of how they feel about you. I took this into most of my relationships. The first time someone failed to meet my expectations, I bailed without looking back. As a result, I don't give people chances to recover from mistakes, I shut people out when I am angry at them, and I tend to avoid confrontation to keep from hurting the feelings of those I love. I developed many communication issues as I grew up.

I think my experience with relationships will make me a great early childhood provider. I can relate directly to children who may be living through some of the same horrors I did as a child. I can also relate and sympathize with parents who are unable to understand or help their child through troubled times.

Greetings All!

I just wanted to say hello to my new class mates. I am a middle school ECE teacher in Kentucky and a mother of 5. I am working on a second degree in early childhood in hopes of starting my own business in the childcare/tutoring field. I also want to implement programs to help parents with job searches, computer skills, and educational improvement. I am looking forward to interacting with you all and learning from you. If there is anything that I can help with, please let me know.

Reflection...

Quote:

"Level with your child by being honest. Nobody spots a phony quicker than a child." Mary MacCracken
 

I used this quote in another class but it is so powerful. I think that as their cognitive skills sharpen, they are like little scientists. I am amazed at how perceptive my 8 year old is. He listens and observes people and often questions their honesty and/or intention. Even my baby is able to spot people who may not really be into babies and just play with him because he's there (grandmother). I notice that he is not very receptive to this kind of person and is reluctant to smile and play as he does with us when he/she is around.

Assessment at Home and Abroad...

Assessment is really a tricky subject with me. I am at odds as far as to how much and what kinds should be used with kids. I was and still am the person who didn't have to study for a test and if I did, it threw me off. I have almost never done poorly on a test and am fortunate to be this way. But what I see as a parent is that three of four of my children almost always bomb on tests. I don't like when my children score really low on a reading exam and are looked at as unsuccessful when they can read to someone and show that they read two to three years above their reading level. Even in my job I see really bright students who clam up during a test and bomb it. Or really smart kids who play around on tests and end up in lower level classes because they didn't give their full effort. I would rather see formative and summative assessments done during class in non-threatening manners or unsuspecting manners to gauge what students have learned. The state assessments are a joke to me and do not benefit the students. The teachers are frustrated because they are ordered to teach to the tests and miss important areas of learning due to this. I know that much of it is tied into money and how much schools receive for better scores. That still does nothing for students in the long haul. They look at the tests as useless and often mark anything due to their frustration of having to sit and take them for 1-2 weeks.

Interstate differences within a homogeneous culture, and a willingness to innovate

and think independently, have led to the development and implementation of

responsive assessment practices that reflect student performance across many dimensions

and in a positive manner. A range of assessment practices that are believed

to enhance student educational development and pathways are firmly in place in

Australia. The rhetoric, of course, as in all education, still exceeds the practice. The

quality of assessment practice is uneven, most notably in the compulsory years of

schooling where collaborative moderation and professional development to explore

common understandings of standards and expectations are still developing. Quality

still tends to be related to teacher experience (both too limited and too entrenched),

familiarity with assessment issues, and resources. The new frameworks, with clearly

specified outcomes and guidance for appropriate assessment practices, should guide

teachers in constructive ways.
In Australia many components are taken into consideration when giving assessments. The article I read mentioned money as well so I guess that is probably something that is consistent wherever you go.


Assessment in Education, Vol. 11, No. 1, March 2004
http://wpmu.innovation.cfl.mq.edu.au/summer/files/2010/05/assessment_australianschools.pdf

Common Stressors

I had two male cousins who as children watched their father beat their mother repeatedly. They grew up to be very violent men. They beat their girlfriends and were really mean to their mother as they got older. The end result was the younger of the two killing his girlfriend and himself and the older one killed himself 2 months later. They never received any help dealing with the violence they grew up in and suffered most of their lives. I think one or both of them even experience sexual abuse in jail.
I grew up with alot of chaos involving drug abuse, lack of stability, and death of loved ones. However, I had many positive role models and supports to help me. I also was able to talk to teachers and different people in my community about the things that troubled me.

Of the 1,674 persons murdered in Jamaica in 2005, 91 were children (5.44%).  Over the past five years, more than 300 children have been murdered.  The number of sexual crimes among children continues unabated: 367 cases of rape and 346 cases of carnal abuse were reported in 2005. One poll  found that 85% of households that were victims of crime reported it to the police.  However, when the crime was rape, reporting was 20%.  If these figures are indicative of actual reporting, as many as 1,800 cases of rape of children might have occurred in 2005.  In 2004, violence caused the closure of schools; children were prevented from preparing for and taking exams while some had to be escorted to test centres by the police; attendance and performance declined in some schools; and, some children cannot move freely in or around their communities.  The psychological impact children and their families is beyond measure.

http://www.unicef.org/jamaica/resources_3950.htm

These children will face a very bleak future. School was a very good outlet for me and I didn't experience half of this trauma.

Public Health

Immunization is the topic that I am passionate about. I think that they are one of the most important things a child can have next to education. I feel safer knowing my children are able to have immunizations. They have all had their shots from birth on up and have been really healthy as a result. I know people who fail to immunize their children and it seems that they are always battling some sort of ailment. I wouldn't wish that on anyone who is unable to fend for themselves. Many children in other parts of the world are not as fortunate and their parents don't have a choice. Immunizations are unavailable.

Pneumonia, diarrhoea, malaria, measles, HIV/AIDS and malnutrition are the primary killers of children in the developing world. These children die because they are poor, they do not have access to routine immunization or health services, their diets lack sufficient vitamin A and other essential micronutrients, and they live in circumstances that allow pathogens (disease-causing organisms) to thrive.

Knowing so many children are dying from lack of immunizations makes me want to do some deeper research to see what I can do to help. I will add that to my goals.

Birthing Experience

The birthing experience that I chose to write about is my most recent. This was the first pregnancy that I had induced because I was within 6 days of my due date and had never gone that far. I thought that was a sure fire deal but when the induction began, I wanted to reconsider. I also opted to have natural childbirth with no knowledge of how the induction would encourage more intense cramping. The best part of this experience was that within 3 hours of the first dose of medicine, I was in full labor and delivered in the next half hour. I wanted to go natural so that I could enjoy my new baby without being groggy and unable to move around unassisted. I was able to wash myself up, change clothes, and set up my room when I transfered to the other side of the hospital. I have never been a fan of C-section so I am glad that i have never had to have one.

I read that women in China opt to have C-sections more often to reduce the pain factor. I just think that there is more healing involved after a C-section. I also enjoyed taking part in all of my births. I had two sets of twins without C-section so I can attest to the simplicity of vaginal birth. It may not be for everyone but I have been blessed.

Ethics

We shall serve as advocates for children with disabilities and their families and for the

professionals who serve them by supporting both policy and programmatic decisions that

enhance the quality of their lives.

We shall recognize our responsibility to improve the developmental outcomes of children and to

provide services and supports in a fair and equitable manner to all families and children.

We shall empower families with information and resources so that they are informed consumers

of services for their children.

The ethics I read are important for anyone who works with the public, but more so for childcare professionals. I definitely believe that we are the first advocates after the parents of these kids. We spend more time with some kids than the parents, so we must take our roles and responsibilities very seriously. Their growth and development is being shaped and molded by what they learn in our presence.
Our responsibility is not just for the children though. We need to share our knowledge with the whole family so they are able to benefit and prosper as a unit.

TGIF!!!!!!

Okay, so going to work and to my son's second grade Friendship Party today has solidified my decision to transition out of middle school. The little kids in his class really made my day. I had such a good time with them. I will look forward to having parties with my students. I can certainly appreciate their innocence. I have almost lost hope with the older ones. I had a boy at my school tell me that he is the father of an 18-month old baby. He is no more than 13 years old. The mother is a sixteen year old girl in highschool. I am speechless. His behavior is so infantile and it horrifies me to think that he will be responsible for this baby. Or that he is sexually active at all. He flirts with me all the time and now I guess I know why.
It is so sad to see the disconnect that these teens clearly have with their parents, authority, and the real world. They live in some sort of fantasy land with blinders on. I still believe I can change someone's life for the better and my quest continues!

Early Childhood Resources

The Children's Defense Fund Leave No Child Behind^® mission is to ensure every child a Healthy Start, a Head Start, a Fair Start, a Safe Start and a Moral Start in life and successful passage to adulthood with the help of caring families and communities.
http://www.childrensdefense.org/

The National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) is dedicated to improving the well-being of all young children, with particular focus on the quality of educational and developmental services for all children from birth through age 8. NAEYC is committed to becoming an increasingly high performing and inclusive organization.
http://www.naeyc.org/

ZERO TO THREE is a national, nonprofit organization that informs, trains, and supports professionals, policymakers, and parents in their efforts to improve the lives of infants and toddlers.
http://zerotothree.org/

Week 4 Quotes

Hillary Clinton:

God bless the America we are trying to create.

We need to be as well prepared to defend ourselves against public health dangers as we should be to defend ourselves against any foreign danger.

 I think it does once again urge us to think hard about what we can do to make sure that we keep guns out of the hands of children and criminals and mentally unbalanced people. I hope we will come together as a nation and do whatever it takes to keep guns away from people who have no business with them.

Aisha Ray:
Children benefit when schools systematically build connections to children's home language, literacy, and culture.

From the video (Escobido): I would say my passion really stems from my personal experience growing up.

Personal Childhood Web

The five people who complete my childhood web are:

Edith - My maternal grandmother. As a child, she was the person who bathed, fed, and talked to me on a daily basis. She took me to church, taught me how to pray, and inspired me to achieve great things. She made me feel special by always believing in me and reminding me of how intelligent I was. Her influence impacts my present life because on the days that are truly dark and I feel like giving up or giving in to evil, I remember how she taught me to go to God and do what is right. Everything I do is for her and to continue to make her proud even though she is no longer with me in the physical.
Charles - My maternal grandfather. As a child he was the father who I could see everyday. My dad lived out of town and my grand daddy always made sure that I knew I was special and loved. He went out everyday and provided for our family, loved his wife and kids, and made a way out of no way. He made me feel special by making me feel like I was his only granddaughter when we were together. He took us to White Castles on Sundays as little girls and when we were teenagers we could find him at White Castles waiting to buy us whatever we wanted. He was a schoolbus driver and he loved the kids. His imfluence continues to impact my life because I developed the same love for the students I work with as he had. I learned to love them as they were my own from him. His love and pride in me makes me want to do better for myself and others whenever I can.
Patricia - This is my eldest aunt. There is not a day of my life from start to current that she has not been there for me. She was the first truly professional woman I knew. She traveled the world, owned several homes, and enjoyed the finer things in life from a humble perspective. She always made sure that I knew those things were possible through hard work. She took me in when my mother wasn't willing to care for me and sometimes just because I wanted to be with her. She is 100% selfless and goes to unbelievable measures to help anyone. She never had children of her own, but me and my siblings have always been just as much hers as our parents. She made me feel special by constantly telling me how smart, beautiful, and unique I was. She made me work hard when I didn't think I had to. Her persistence has made my life what it is today. She has never given up on me and has my back through the good and the bad. Her influence makes me strive to achieve more and give back to others because that's what she did.
Lewis - He was my middle school lband teacher. Mr. Patton was a teacher you stayed away from because he was known for being mean to the students. I usually saw him yelling at kids during breakfast and lunch. One morning he pulled me away from a group of girls and asked who I was. I mmediately started giving him attitude for the crowd and he told me that I was going to be in the band. I told him that I certainly was not. Long story short, I was for the next three years. He brought talents out of me I had no idea existed. He was impressed by my intelligence and natural ability to play several different instruments. He was the first teacher to see that I was acrting out because of my home life and cared enough to find out the specifics. He became the father I needed to be at my concerts, to praise my achievements, and to inspire me to straighten up regardless of my circumstances. He made me feel special by caring. I'd never had a teacher who put that much of himself into students. He continues to impact my life because I can see myself being that kind of teacher. He set a wonderful example!
T. Vaughn -  my pastor. I met this man when I was ten years old or so. He is one of the most honest, humble, and focused person I know. He has remained true to his word and his promise to God the entire time I've known him. He makes me feel special by taking a genuine interest in me, my children, and our well-being. As a child he helped me to figure out where and who I wanted to be. He made me understand that it was okay to change my mind and that if I fell down all I would need to do is get back up. 1
 He encourages me, believes in me, and constantly offers love and advice when I need it. He is a silent force and readily available whenever I need him. He continues to influence my life by setting an example for others to follow and be proud of.

Middle School Kids.....

Is it just me or am I visiting another planet? I know that I was once a middle school student, but SURELY!!!!!!! I wasn't like this.
My daughter was diagnosed as delusional at this age and I'm starting to wonder if they all need to be.
What is it with them when you are looking right at them when they do something and they say, "I didn't do it!"?
I am so confused. Why do they think they know everything and we know nothing?
This is by far the most difficult job I have ever had to do. It's so hard not to get down on their level when they are so hard to rationalize with. It kind of reminds me of headstart and kindergarten.
The biggest difference being that those kids have not yet grasped the concept of following rules and it is acceptable because they are 3 and 4 years old. But my gosh...12, 13!
Where is the lapse in development?
I'll get back to you on that...

Childhood...

"Level with your child by being honest. Nobody spots a phony quicker than a child." Mary MacCracken


A story of a child that touched my heart:
The story of the little girl who was killed in the Tucson rampage. I thought it was ironic that she was born on 9/11/2001, a day of peril and disaster and died in such a horrific way. She brought joy to someone's life when she was born in the midst of so much pain and she lost her life in a heinous, senseless crime. My heart really goes out to her family and loved ones. To all of those touched by both tragedies.
Children's book: "All the Ways I Love You"
I love this book because it tells a child how much you love them using everyday things. It is so special to me because you can record yourself reading the book. My new baby loves it and I feel better when we're apart because he can still hear my voice.

Where does the time go?

I am in utter amazement that the little girl I never dreamed to know past 6 years old has just turned 17 and is now preparing for an early graduation and college. Where did the time go?
In her early developmental stages, she was diagnosed with what was called a Social Developmental Delay. This I later learned is a clinical term for inability to make friends.
I was so hurt thinking that my baby would not be able to play and interact with the kids in her head start class. Sadly enough, this has carried over into her adolescent life. She's always had a rough time making and keeping friends. She's as sweet as she can be but lacks the confidence needed to thrive in that area. Thank God she has always had a vivid imagination and is able to entertain herself. I guess it didn't hurt that I gave her four more siblings to grow up around. They don't get along all the time, but they are always there for each other.
I'm hoping college will prove monumental for her and that she is able to build new, positive relationships that are long-lasting.