Saturday, February 25, 2012
With Thanks!
I am amazed that this course is finished already! I must admit this blog was probably the most difficult task for me. I am a very private persone and not really into socail media. I would like to thank the help I recieved while creating my blog and those of you who read it! This has truly been a new expierence for me and I hope to become more literate in the world of socail media.
Saturday, February 18, 2012
Code of Ethics
Code of Ethics
NAEYC code P-2.11- We shall not engage in or support exploitation of families. We shall not use our relationship with a family for private advantage or personal gain, or enter into relationships with family members that might impair our effectiveness working with their children.
NAEYC code p-2.14- In cases where family members are in conflict with one another, we shall work openly, sharing our observations for the child, to help all parties involved make informed decisions. We shall refrain from becoming an advocate for one party.
NAEYC code P-3A.3- We shall exercise care in expressing views regarding the personal attributes or professional conduct of co-workers. Statements should be based on firsthand knowledge, not hearsay, and relevant to the interest of children and programs.
I chose these three codes because I have had experience in dealing with all of them and at the time, I did not know how to handle them. I am going to begin to use these codes with my staff and make them part of my daily operations.
Code P-2.11 is crucial to having a professional relationship with families. Although we want to be friends with our parents as soon as we go to that first birthday party, parents expect more from you and have no problem calling you at home to address an issue that should be handled at school. It also makes it difficult to talk to a parent about an issue that the child may have, we don't want to upset our friends, so we tend to let the child get away with breaking the rules.
Code P-2.14 is important because families go through many dilemmas during the time you have their child. They will talk with their child's teacher about issues at home and often want words of encouragement and advice. This can be seen by some parents as taking sides. As soon as a parent thinks you are on their side they quickly tell the other parent. This causes issues that can not always be resolved. The best thing to do is to acknowledge the parents feelings, assure them that your only concern is their child and that the family is doing well, offer resources and that you will have the same conversation with the other parent so that everyone is on the same page. If you give too much advice or become to involved it makes teaching that child difficult.
Code P-3A.3 is an issue I deal with all the time. There is not a school around that does not have conflict amongst its teachers. This code is something that I am going to post in my lobby. All teachers need to address issues that they know to be true not gossip! Gossip, and teachers not liking each other will ruin a program. I always take any teachers having an issue and sit them down together and make them talk. This always solves the problem, because there is always a mis-communication between other staff.
NAEYC code P-2.11- We shall not engage in or support exploitation of families. We shall not use our relationship with a family for private advantage or personal gain, or enter into relationships with family members that might impair our effectiveness working with their children.
NAEYC code p-2.14- In cases where family members are in conflict with one another, we shall work openly, sharing our observations for the child, to help all parties involved make informed decisions. We shall refrain from becoming an advocate for one party.
NAEYC code P-3A.3- We shall exercise care in expressing views regarding the personal attributes or professional conduct of co-workers. Statements should be based on firsthand knowledge, not hearsay, and relevant to the interest of children and programs.
I chose these three codes because I have had experience in dealing with all of them and at the time, I did not know how to handle them. I am going to begin to use these codes with my staff and make them part of my daily operations.
Code P-2.11 is crucial to having a professional relationship with families. Although we want to be friends with our parents as soon as we go to that first birthday party, parents expect more from you and have no problem calling you at home to address an issue that should be handled at school. It also makes it difficult to talk to a parent about an issue that the child may have, we don't want to upset our friends, so we tend to let the child get away with breaking the rules.
Code P-2.14 is important because families go through many dilemmas during the time you have their child. They will talk with their child's teacher about issues at home and often want words of encouragement and advice. This can be seen by some parents as taking sides. As soon as a parent thinks you are on their side they quickly tell the other parent. This causes issues that can not always be resolved. The best thing to do is to acknowledge the parents feelings, assure them that your only concern is their child and that the family is doing well, offer resources and that you will have the same conversation with the other parent so that everyone is on the same page. If you give too much advice or become to involved it makes teaching that child difficult.
Code P-3A.3 is an issue I deal with all the time. There is not a school around that does not have conflict amongst its teachers. This code is something that I am going to post in my lobby. All teachers need to address issues that they know to be true not gossip! Gossip, and teachers not liking each other will ruin a program. I always take any teachers having an issue and sit them down together and make them talk. This always solves the problem, because there is always a mis-communication between other staff.
Saturday, February 4, 2012
Early Childhood Resources
Early Childhood Resources
http://worldforumfoundation.org/wf/wp/about-us
http://www.naeyc.org/
www.eirc.org
http://worldforumfoundation.org/wf/wp/about-us
http://www.naeyc.org/
www.eirc.org
Saturday, January 28, 2012
Quotes about passion from video segment
"I have a built in passion that it was important to make a real contribution to the world"
-Louise Berman Sparks
"I'm not hear to save the world, I'm hear just to make a difference"
-Raymond Hernandez
References:
Video Program: “The Passion for Early Childhood”
Five early childhood professionals share passion, motivation, and commitment to the early childhood field.
"I have a built in passion that it was important to make a real contribution to the world"
-Louise Berman Sparks
"I'm not hear to save the world, I'm hear just to make a difference"
-Raymond Hernandez
References:
Video Program: “The Passion for Early Childhood”
Five early childhood professionals share passion, motivation, and commitment to the early childhood field.
Words of Inspiraton
Famous Quotes:
"The challenge now is to practice politics as the art of making what appears to impossible, possible"
-Hillary Rodham Clinton
This quote is not from our video or readings, but I have always felt they were words to live by.
"God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change
Courage to change the things I can
and Wisdom to know the difference"
-Serenity Prayer (14th century)
"The challenge now is to practice politics as the art of making what appears to impossible, possible"
-Hillary Rodham Clinton
This quote is not from our video or readings, but I have always felt they were words to live by.
"God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change
Courage to change the things I can
and Wisdom to know the difference"
-Serenity Prayer (14th century)
Saturday, January 21, 2012
Personal Childhood Web
There are many people that have guided me through my life and made an impact. Childhood teachers, friends, even the stranger in the supermarket that does a kind thing for someone. It is hard to determine who has had the biggest impact on my life. Like most of us, our mother and father, our friends are usually the ones who influence us the most, and although I had many good teachers and friends, no one stands out. If I am going to be honest I dont know who influenced me. I grew up in a divorced home, I spent Mon to Fri with my mom and most Sat and Sun at my dads. I always felt so torn between two families. My mother remarried when I was 6 and then there were 3 families I had to chose from. I never felt like I was part of any of them. Do not get me wrong I know my family loved me, but they placed a burden on me that I do not think they even know they did. I was always forced to chose where to spend holidays, who do I go to the fireworks with? These may seem like small issues, but I always felt guilty about leaving one parent behind. All my cousins had close relationships with each other, they were always together, I wasn's always there, so I never felt like I belonged to any family. Maybe this influenced me. My mother taught me one thing that will stick with me forever, and I have taught me children. Never rely on anyone to do it for you, do it yourself.
I think that this has driven me in my life to want more and succeed.
My sister and I were the "black sheep of the family" our mother was divorced and that was not acceptable. I guess my sister had a great influences on me as child. She taught me how to be a mother. I was the one caring for her at 9 years old while my mother worked(that was normal in the 70's, we were considered latch keys kids). She taught me patience and tolerance, (we still fought like sisters). When I left my house at 16, my sister felt as if I abandoend her. She could not come with me she was only 13. I dont think to this day she forgives me, our relationship is very strained.
Although my father was what I call a part time father. He did not come to any of my softball games, did not come to see my clarinet recitals. For some reason he was still my hero. I guess I had the knight in shinning aromor syndorme. I wanted so badly to have a normal family that to this day I place my father high on totem pole and would do anything for him. In my eyes he did nothing wrong, ever, my mother would disagree of course. The more I think about it although my father was not there everyday, his influence on me was greater than I ever realized. He called and talked to me every night. He always wanted to know how my day was , what did I eat for dinner. Those simple questions that my mother never asked. He did make me feel important through a 5 minute phone call. To this day he calls and asks those same questions, he has been the consistent one in my life.
Although my husband and children were not part of my childhood, I did meet my husband in my teens and had my daughter at 19. They are the biggest influences in my life. Without my husband support and belief in me I would have never finished college, opened my schools. He to this day makes me feel like I can do anything. When I get upset and life seems to be to overwhelming with my schedule, he reminds me of everyhting I have accomplised and that only I can fail or succed. He keeps my spirits up and positive. My children have driven me to suceed and always want more. If they ever have to do a perosnal childhood web I hope that they say that I have influenced them to suceed, be good to everyone, help you neighbor and never give up. That will be my legacy.
So although I do not have any life changing stories, or great influences, this is my story and all of it is what has made me who I am.
Robert Frost has always been my favorite poet, here is a poem that I often think of when life is tough.
"The Road Not Taken"
Two roads diverged in a yellow wood.
And sorry I could not travel both
And be on traveler, long I stood
And looked down one as far as I could
to where it bent in the undergrowth:
Then took the other, as just as fair,
And having perhaps the better claim,
Because it was grassy and wanted wear;
Though as for that the passing there
Had worn them really about the same,
And both that morning equally lay
In leaves no step had trodden black.
Oh, I kept the first for another day!
Yet knowing how way leads on to way,
I doubted if I should ever come back.
I shall be telling this with a sigh
Somewhere ages and ages hence:
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I-
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference.
Robert Frost, Mountain Interval, 1920
I think that this has driven me in my life to want more and succeed.
My sister and I were the "black sheep of the family" our mother was divorced and that was not acceptable. I guess my sister had a great influences on me as child. She taught me how to be a mother. I was the one caring for her at 9 years old while my mother worked(that was normal in the 70's, we were considered latch keys kids). She taught me patience and tolerance, (we still fought like sisters). When I left my house at 16, my sister felt as if I abandoend her. She could not come with me she was only 13. I dont think to this day she forgives me, our relationship is very strained.
Although my father was what I call a part time father. He did not come to any of my softball games, did not come to see my clarinet recitals. For some reason he was still my hero. I guess I had the knight in shinning aromor syndorme. I wanted so badly to have a normal family that to this day I place my father high on totem pole and would do anything for him. In my eyes he did nothing wrong, ever, my mother would disagree of course. The more I think about it although my father was not there everyday, his influence on me was greater than I ever realized. He called and talked to me every night. He always wanted to know how my day was , what did I eat for dinner. Those simple questions that my mother never asked. He did make me feel important through a 5 minute phone call. To this day he calls and asks those same questions, he has been the consistent one in my life.
Although my husband and children were not part of my childhood, I did meet my husband in my teens and had my daughter at 19. They are the biggest influences in my life. Without my husband support and belief in me I would have never finished college, opened my schools. He to this day makes me feel like I can do anything. When I get upset and life seems to be to overwhelming with my schedule, he reminds me of everyhting I have accomplised and that only I can fail or succed. He keeps my spirits up and positive. My children have driven me to suceed and always want more. If they ever have to do a perosnal childhood web I hope that they say that I have influenced them to suceed, be good to everyone, help you neighbor and never give up. That will be my legacy.
So although I do not have any life changing stories, or great influences, this is my story and all of it is what has made me who I am.
Robert Frost has always been my favorite poet, here is a poem that I often think of when life is tough.
"The Road Not Taken"
Two roads diverged in a yellow wood.
And sorry I could not travel both
And be on traveler, long I stood
And looked down one as far as I could
to where it bent in the undergrowth:
Then took the other, as just as fair,
And having perhaps the better claim,
Because it was grassy and wanted wear;
Though as for that the passing there
Had worn them really about the same,
And both that morning equally lay
In leaves no step had trodden black.
Oh, I kept the first for another day!
Yet knowing how way leads on to way,
I doubted if I should ever come back.
I shall be telling this with a sigh
Somewhere ages and ages hence:
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I-
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference.
Robert Frost, Mountain Interval, 1920
Saturday, January 14, 2012
When I try to think of a story about a child that has changed my life, I think about all the children that I have loved over the years. The families that have become part of my family. Although I have many happy stories I could share, I would like to share one that is not so happy. About 1 year after I opened my first center, there was a 4 year old little girl namde Morgan. Morgan was a beautiful, happy child with a smile that would make you feel happy on your worst day. She was the child in the room that the other children wanted to play with and always helping the younger ones. Her family life wasnt perfect, her parntes were getting a divorce, she was going back and forth between two homes and her parents were not seeing eye to eye on custody. One saturday afternoon, she was going to a festival with her fathers fiance when a Fed Ex truck hit their care and everyone in it was killed. The car burst into flames and the reports said they were all killed instantly. There was a memorial service for Morgan and my school raised about $600 for her familys exspenses. What was amazing to me is when I and my entire staff attended her memorial, her father seemed surprised that we were so upset. A man that I only knew through hellos and goodbyes hugged me as I cried, I sometimes wonder if he knew how special his child was to all of us. As I write this the tears come down and it has been many years since Morgan passed away. This is the impact that my students have on me, they are my children, part of my life. I will never forget Morgan or her smile!
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