My Supports

 

Emotional Supports

Family: I think the most important ingredient to my support system is my family. When I encounter a problem, I like to be able to talk it out. I look to my family to be there as I work through the emotions and determine my course of action. My family also serves as a practical support. For example, if I needed someone to watch my infant, I have a slew of aunts, uncles, grandmas, and grandpas to call. And I always feel confident that my child will be cared for in my absence.

Practical Supports:

Income: It is important for me to have a stable income as I support my family. Income is vital to providing the necessities. If I did not have an income, I would not be able to feed my family or be able to drive them to and from activities.

Computer: I think another valuable support is the use of the internet. I remember when there was a time when I had to go to the library to research for a paper or find information. Now I am able to complete this course with the use of my computer and the internet. I am able to look for a good recipe for dinner by surfing the internet. If I have a question about when to start my newborn on solids, I can look at entire blog of other mothers sharing information.

Physical Support:

Husband: As I think of the heavy things, literally, I think of my husband as a physical support. I was always taught that a woman can do just as much as a man. But when moving the couch to another room, I need two capable people, myself and my husband. So as I think of physical challenges I think of my husband and the teamwork we use to complete a task.

 

Why is my support system so important?

As I reflect on challenging times, I am able to examine the benefits to having supports in my life. This past November my son was born and I needed to have an emergency C-section. The recovery time was unexpected and was not part of my plan. I am a very plan oriented person! I relied on my family for the emotional support as well as the physical support. The frozen meals that were sent over to the house were a practical support that made life easier for my husband and I. Each of these supports made the recovery a little easier. I felt rested and ready to take on the new challenge of being a MOM! Challenges and obstacles are a part of life. As I confront any challenge I feel confident that I will overcome any obstacle with the use of my support system.

My Connections to Play

 

 

"Almost all creativity involves purposeful play." ~Abraham Moslow

 

"In our play we reveal what kind of people we are." ~Ovid

 

 

 

Toys I played with:

 

Toy Kitchen

 

 

Cabbage Patch Baby Doll

 

 

The role of play in my life:

 

·                                 As a child, I was the youngest of five children. I had many playmates that delved into my imagination with me. And as the youngest, I have to admit, I got to lead the play scheme. I often played in my make-believe world. I took on the role of the mother and took care of the baby dolls. As I think of play today, I think there is a greater emphasis on electronics. While I was younger there was Nintendo and I did like to play games ever so often. But I was more interested in going outside to my tree house or playing tag in the field behind my house. I was lucky to have a playground close by and lots of fields to run through. Where I teach today, the school district has many townhomes and very little playgrounds. Children have Ipads, Iphones, Xbox, and Wii. Although in the classroom, I witness the make-believe play in the kitchen center and the imagination in the block center. It is not always so natural and many children need to be taught how to play with others. My hope is that children continue to engage in make-believe play, get outside, and interact with others. I wish for every child to have a healthy balance between electronics and interactive play. As I look back on the role of play in my life, I think of who I have become. I always liked to play the mother or the caretaker. As a teacher today, I see myself as a caretaker and I enjoy taking on that role.

 







Relationship Reflection

Why are relationships/partnerships important to me?

As I consider the question, I remember an old saying I have heard in my past. “In life you’ll realize there is a purpose for everyone you meet. Some will test you, some will use you, and some will teach you.  But most importantly, some will bring out the best in you.” Relationships can last a lifetime while others a minute but in the end it is those interactions where you find love, support, and joy. It is through relationships where you grow, learn, and evolve into the person you are meant to be.

Who do I have positive relationships with?

My Parents: My parents have remained beside me through every milestone in my life. Our relationship is strong because at its foundation there is love, trust, and undying support for one another. My parents have modeled the core values that I emulate today. I value knowledge, compassion, and determination. In any relationship, it is easy to let “life” get in the way of maintaining the relationship. With my parents, we are truly invested in each other’s lives and we value family. It is important to us that we remain close for every milestone and memories to come.

My Husband: My husband and I have a healthy relationship that is rooted in our love for one another. Our relationship grew through our friendship and our desire to be in each other’s company. We have common values that we embed in our lives as we build a family. We value patience, a thirst for knowledge, and adventure. At times there are disagreements just like there are in any relationships. But what keeps our relationship strong is that we are dedicated to each other. As our responsibilities grow, we become partners. We work with each other, share tasks, communicate, and remain loyal to each other.  

My Son: The relationship I have with my son is brand new. At 2 months old, we are constantly learning from one another. The relationship is one that teaches me everyday and is driven by my undying love for him. It is hard to imagine what it was like not being his Mom. We are building our communication skills as I work to learn what each cry means. There are often challenges when he wakes up with gas pains at 2 am and all I want to do is sleep. But each moment with him is a treasure and being a Mom is worth every 2 am wake up call. In our relationship, I am the caregiver and the provider to all he needs. It is a responsibility I gladly take on because it is just as rewarding watching him grow.

How do these relationships affect me as an Early Childhood Educator?

As an educator, I am constantly thriving to better my craft and learn from my experiences. At the foundation of who I am as a teacher, is who I am as a person. I am a Daughter, a Wife, a Sister, a Friend, and a Mom. I take what I have learned from each relationship and carry it with me as I teach. I value compassion, dedication, and hard work because it was something taught to me early on by my parents. These values are reflected within my classroom everyday. Relationships are the “building blocks of healthy development” and as people, young and old, we are always developing. 

Examining my Ideals

We shall strive to build individual relationships with each child; make individualized adaptations in teaching strategies, learning environments, and curricula; and consult with the family so that each child benefits from the program. (NAEYC, 2005)

As an early childhood professional, my first and foremost responsibility is to the child. I wish to create a safe and nurturing environment that will promote each child's successful development. In doing so, I hope my influence will build the foundation of a lifelong learner in every student in my classroom.

We shall respect, value, promote, and encourage the active participation of ALL families by engaging families in meaningful ways in the assessment and intervention processes. (Division of Early Childhood,  2000)

The partnership between the family and the school is essential in developing a successful learner. Every family should be included in their child's education. As professionals, we must consider cultural and religious beliefs as well as find ways to communicate effectively with each individual family. In doing so, we are developing a collaborative partnership that will enhance parent involvement and student development. 

We shall strive for the highest level of personal and professional competence by seeking and using new evidence based information to improve our practices while also responding openly to the suggestions of others. (Division of Early Childhood, 2000)

As educators it is important to remain aware of current trends, research, and data that are in the area of early childhood development. Children are constantly changing and as professionals we must change with them in order to encourage their development. We must remain open and flexible to new ideas that will support student growth. 

References

The Division for Early Childhood. (2000, August). Code of ethics. Retrieved on August 7,   

              2012 from http://www.dec-sped.org/

NAEYC. (2005, April). Code of ethical conduct and statement of commitment. Retrieved on 

             August 7, 2012 from      

             http://www.naeyc.org/files/naeyc/file/positions/PSETH05.pdf

Early Childhood Resources 

NAEYC: Early Childhood Inclusion

Differentiation Daily

Paula Kluth

Wrights Law: Parent advocacy for Special Education

Words of Inspiration and Motivation

Lilian Katz, Ph.D. (Goal of the Project Approach in Early Childhood Curriculum)

"It also enables children to try out their ideas in a safe context where making mistakes can be seen constructively as opportunities for learning by both children and teacher. It builds self-confidence and encourages creativity and other dispositions that should serve the children all their lives." 

Ann Turnbull, Ph.D. and husband Rud Turnbull (Their personal vision for 2010)

"We firmly believe that visions can become realities-Individuals with problem behaviors and their families can have rich lifestyles. We believe this reality will be greatly enhanced as families, service providers, and researchers working in the PBS (positive behavior support) area join forces with leaders who are making impressive progress related to enhancing individual quality of life, family quality of life, self-determination of individual capacity, and self-determination of environmental capacity. If the best thinking, talents, resources, and contribution of these five areas can be synergistically merged, then, in the adapted lyric of one of our favorite hymns, "morning [will have] broken" to usher in rich lifestyles." 

References

Katz, L. G. & Chard S.N. (1992, February). The Project Approach.  Retrieved from

            http://www.eric.ed.gov/

Turnbull A. & Turnbull R. (2000, July). Achieving "rich" lifestyles. Journal of Positive Behavior 

            Interventions, 2(3), 190-192. Retrieved from http://online.sagepub.com.ezp.waldenulibrary.org. 

Passion, Motivation, and Wisdom

Louise Derman-Sparks (personal view of early childhood education)

"It was like the most joyful experience where I felt that everything in me was being called on to teach. And also it was very rewarding, it just made me feel whole, made me feel creative. And so it became my lifelong work with early childhood education and the passion to make sure that all children were taught in environments and in ways that truly nurtured their ability to grow and develop to their fullest ability." 

Sandy Escobido (her passion for early childhood) 

"We as professionals in the early childhood field have an opportunity to shape a child's life for the better." 

References

Walden University. (n.d.). The Passion for Early Childhood Retrieved July 17, 2012, from mywaldenu.edu: 

https://class.waldenu.edu/webapps/portal/frameset.jsptab_tab_group_id=_2_1&url=%2Fwebapps%2Fblackboard%2Fexecute%2Flauncher%3Ftype%3DCourse%26id%3D_1342559_1%26url%3D