Quotes from influetinal people in ECE

I must say that Dr. Lilian Katz seems like quite the character. I read over an interview that someone had with her and she seemed so knowledgeable and full of "moxie." From that interview I read one quote that I particularly liked.

Never confuse excitement with education. Enlighten the child. That is education.

(http://teacherdavid.wordpress.com/2013/03/24/lunch-with-dr-lilian-g-katz/)

The other quote by Dr. Katz that I felt connected to and that showed her moxie is :

Remember that whoever might be president of our country in 40 or 50 years is likely to be in someone’s early childhood program today; and I hope she is having a good experience!" (Rothenberg, 2002).

The other influential person I chose to look at was Dr. Robert Cooke. He helped in the planning and development of Head Start. Dr. Cooke was a pediatrician and a parent of children with disabilities.  In the 1960's when children with disabilities were still viewed as taboo, Dr. Cooke and his wife tried to adopt a child. Dr. Cooke was told this, " that we were unfit parents because we had retarded children in our home,” To Cooke,  “That was a blow that I’ve never forgotten.”
(Grauer, N. http://esgweb1.nts.jhu.edu/hmn/F06/classnotes.cfm)


As a teacher of children with disabilities, I cannot ever imagine what it must have felt like to be told that you are an unfit parent because of your other children with disabilities. I am so thankful that because of people like Dr. Cooke, children with special needs are no longer viewed as a societal taboo.

 

 

 

From the multimedia presentaton in Week 2 I found that I connected to the passions of Louise Derman Sparks. She talked about how as a young child she would play school. I did that as well. As she grew older she knew she had a built in passion for children and she wanted to make a contribution to the world by teaching. After a few years she became interested in ECE she found joy in the three and four year olds. I am the same way! She also felt that ECE allowed her to be creative. I feel the same way too! The quote that really hit home with me was when Louise said  that she now has the "passion to make sure all children were taught in environments and in ways that truly nurture their abilites."

 

Laureate Education, Inc. (2010). The Passion for Early Childhood. (Video Webcast). In Foundations: Early Childhood Studies

 

My Childhood Web

I must admit, this was a tough post for me because it was hard to think of specific individuals that had an impact on my life. I can truly say that my childhood was filled with many caring people.  There are three people that I feel were especially nurturing, caring, and influential in helping me become who I am today. They are as followed:

My maternal grandmother-
My Nan was my primary care giver as a child. From the age of 1.5 years until I was old enough to stay by myself at home, she was the person that would always "watch" me. We would go to the store together, we went on walks,  I spent the night at her house, any day to day activity there is, we did it together. When I was school age, she would volunteer in my class, go on field trips, take me to dance/piano lessons, make my lunch to take to school, and again anything else you can think of she did. To this day she still is making me muffins, playdough for my class, beanbags for school, or anything else that I may need.

This is me with my maternal grandparents at my first Easter.

My grandmother is a coupon lady. She taught me at an early age to make sure I look at the weekly ads for the best deals!

My parents-
I know it probably sounds cliche to say your parents had a big impact on you during your childhood, because in most cases, what parents don't have an impact. But I truly cannot imagine what my childhood would have been like without them.

At an early age I began to travel.  I am pretty sure my first trip was when I was 4 months old, so I guess I got the travel bug early. I really believe that because my parents traveled with me, and exposed me to different cultures, people, food, and experiences, I am the inclusive thinker/person that I am. I also believe that my love for traveling is because of them and remind that when I want to go to places that are a little more "exotic." 

This is a picture of me on one of my first vacations.

My passion for education is also thanks to my parents. Both of my parents are educators. My mother was a teacher and principal and my dad is a director of adult education. As a child  I can remember going into my moms school to help her decorate, visit her class, drop off supplies, attend a concert, or anything else she needed to do at school. As a child I was always around educators.  I often say when people ask me why I chose education as a career that I didn't know better, that's what I grew up in.


Mrs. Anderson-
Mrs. Anderson was my gifted education teacher. I had the privilege of being her student from 2nd grade until 6th grade. Looking back on things, I can say she is one of the people that knew I could be a leader, and pushed me to do this. As a younger child, of course I was not doing presentations or anything, but Mrs. Anderson pushed me to share my opinion and speak up! In the elementary school I was in, I was the only girl in the gifted program in my grade, and the boys I was with were very opinionated. Mrs. Anderson would always tell me to stand up to those boys, and tell them what I think. I am pretty sure that was one of my GIEP goals.

Mrs. Anderson also stood up for me. My district thought that gifted education meant that high math scores were the only thing that "smart" kids were good at. I was not a "smart" kids that was good at math and my district didn't feel that I should be in the gifted class anymore. Mrs. Anderson went to bat for me and of course reminded them of multiple intelligences, and that being in a class of math wiz boys doesn't mean I am not "gifted." Even as a young student I can remember how upset I was that I wasn't the normal gifted student and that my math abilities or lack of, were the most important thing.

I see Mrs. Anderson every few years, just out and about, and I always tell her how much she meant to me and thank her for everything.

 

Oh to be young again....

 

This is my first dance recital, at the age of 3.  I was a chick. I still have my ballet slippers from this show, and I cannot believe how tiny my feet were!



My dad and I have the same goofy personality...obviously :)






 

This is Olivia. She is good at lots of things.

I know "Olivia" is a children's book series, but it is by far my favorite read of all time! I have every Olivia book by Ian Falconer, and will frequently read them aloud to myself.  They are a great pick me up when having a bad day. Whenever I  need to buy a little girl a present, an Olivia book is what they will get. Don't get me wrong, I have had many little boys enjoy hearing an Olivia story, but I find that little girls can relate to her better. Even as an adult I can relate to Olivia. Espeically when it comes to trying on all of her clothes before she goes out for the day. This sassy little piglet cracks me up! You cannot read an Olivia book without smiling at the end. If you have not read an Olivia book, please go and pick one up!!

Coloring books

"Children aren't coloring books. You don't get to fill them with your favorite colors.”
  ― Khaled Hosseini


“Children must be taught how to think, not what to think.”
―    Margaet Mead


The first few years of a child's life is crucial to the development of their personality and self-confidence.  As an ECE it is part of my responsability as a teacher to allow children to be who they are. I truly believe that children come into this world not knowing about judgement and prejudices. As they grow, the world taints their pure mind and heart. It is important to remember that we have to help children become who they are meant to be, and we should not do anything that would hinder them from becoming their authentic selves.

First blog post....ever

I had a tough time trying to think of a title for this blog.  I know when some people read this title they may question it.So, let me briefly explain.  I was chatting with a guy that  I had met online.  We had been talking for a few days, and both knew what we did for work.  This guy knew that I taught preschoolers. We were talking during my Easter break and I mentioned that I was going into work on a day off. This guy replied saying "Yeah you have to get in there because those smiley faces don't hang themselves."  I have not talked to him since that comment becasue as all early childhood educators know, it's more then just smiley faces.