My Supports

My greatest form of support comes from my faith and relationship with God.  I find the strength and support I need daily by praying and by reading the Bible.  I know that I would not get through each day without the guidance and grace of the Lord.  When I am able to pray I feel peace in a world that constantly throws challenges at me.  When I come across hard times or challenges, I can overcome them by praying or reading the Bible.  Without this support system I would be lost and incomplete. 

Another form of support that I have is from my family and when I say family, I mean all of them.  I have my immediate family (my husband and children) who are there to help me every day.  When I decided to go back to school to get my master’s degree,  I told my husband how difficult it was going to be for me to take care of the house, go to work, and complete the work I would have to do for my classes.  He assured me that he would help out more around the house and he has been truly AMAZING.  I couldn’t do this without him.  He allows me time to complete my work and keeps the children out of the room when I am working.  He tries really hard to do all of the things around the house that I would normally do and if he knows that I have extra tasks to complete, he will ask me what he can do to help.   My children support me with their love and smiles.  I have four beautiful children who are very well behaved (although they are not perfect and have their moments) and just looking at them each morning is such a terrific blessing.  They get up and get ready for me each morning without a fight and that helps support me in my schedule.  All three of the older ones help out when I need it with my 20month old and they are exceptional children.  I think that if they were more challenging it would be more difficult, but for me they are one of my greatest forms of support.  Just to see their faces each day keeps me going and reminds me the worth of this life.  My extended family (sisters, in-laws, parents, and friends) also shows me support.  My sisters have always been there for me.  I have four and all of them support me in similar yet different ways.  I know that if I ever need something (and I mean anything) they would be there to provide it.  They have helped me out physically, emotionally, and monetarily when I have needed it and there is no way that I will ever be able to repay what they have given me.  When I’m not sure of something I should do, or a topic in class, I just call my twin sister and she helps me through it.  She helps me bounce ideas around and when she thinks I’m not doing something right, she tells me.  They have all helped me out with my children and when my youngest was born with many physical challenges, they were right there to support me and my family.  I couldn’t have gotten through the first year of his life without them.  I also have to include my mom and my in-laws here because they did the same.  My mother and father in-law watch my children for me each day.  They come to my house and finish getting my children ready for school when I have to leave for the day and then they care for my little guy and pick the kids up at the bus stop and watch them until I get home.  It would be much easier for them to be at their house, but they come to mine in order to help me out.  My mother in-law also takes care of things around my house for me.  She does my laundry (which builds up fast with four children) and will also throw dinner in for me if I ask her to.  My house is always in order when I get home from work which is an amazing support that I don’t know what I would do without.  My friends are there to listen to me when I need to vent and I have two really good friends who go and have dinner with me once a month.  Our free time together away from our families helps us to stay in check and support each other in our daily lives.  I also work with amazing people.  I carpool with two girls from my hometown and that is a huge support in this economy today.  I also team teach with a wonderful woman who helps me out when I may need it.  We work very well together and do things for each other to show support. 

When thinking in terms of practical support I think of the support of having a set routine in getting ready in the morning.  I stick to my routine daily and it helps me know what I need to do each day and possibly what I haven’t done.  I use my calendar to write important events or appointments on and even though I don’t always look at it, I have it in a spot now where I have to see it when I walk into the kitchen.  Monetary support is also necessary in this day in age.  It seems that everything costs money these days and without it, life is more difficult.  My family is very fortunate that we both have good jobs and are able to provide the things for our family that they need.  We are also able to give to certain causes that need assistance and giving back is very important to me.

Without these supports (especially the people) in my life, my life would definitely be more difficult.  I do know that I will always have the love and support of my Lord which gets me through each day, but I do not want to imagine a life without the other people that I know and love.  These people support me in ways that are indispensable and I can’t imagine my life without them.  I often think about other people who do not have the support system that I have and I wonder how they get through each day.  I guess when I think about that I try to think about how I can be a support in their life and I try to be a good friend and support system for people around me.  I want to do anything I can to make other people’s lives as fulfilling as mine is. 

I chose the challenge of having a physical disability such as being in a wheelchair.  I have often thought of how my life would be different if I had a disability such as this.  I have a very strong faith, so I know that I would be ok emotionally because that support is within my soul.  Physically I know that I would have the help of those people around me.  I think that is what is nice about having such a great support system, because I know that no matter what challenges occur in my life, I will have people there to support and help me no matter what.  These people would help get me in and out of bed, dress me, bath me, help provide my meals, and take me where I need to go.  I would also need accommodations in the way my house is set up and how I would get from place to place.  I know the people in my life would help me make all of these changes and support me in living life daily with this challenge.  If I did not have this support system, life would be much more challenging in the physical realm.  I have someone in my family who is in a wheelchair because of MS.  We are her support system and I see all of the physical challenges she has that she needs assistance with.  She is a great inspiration emotionally because she has accepted her illness and does not let it affect her mood or personality.  She does constantly need physical assistance though and without it she would not be able to do the things that she needs to do (like get into bed).  I think that the physical challenges would be the greatest concern if I did not have the support system that I have.  Support in our lives is very important and I think that is why it is always important to “pay it forward” and help other people out whatever chance we may get. 

My Connections to Play

“We don’t stop playing because we grow old; we grow old because we stop playing.” 

                                                                                                ~George Bernard Shaw

“Life is playfulness…we need to play so that we can rediscover the magic all around us.”

                                                                                                ~ Flora Colao

“If you never did you should.  These things are fun and fun is good.”

                                                                                                ~Dr. Seuss

                               

When I was young my parents encouraged play by allowing us to go and play by ourselves.  We were always being told “Why don’t you go play.”  I am one of four sisters and we were always encouraged to go and play together.   We enjoyed playing hide and go seek outside and during many family events we would have a large game with many people.   We played a lot with Barbie dolls and our Cabbage Patch Kids.  We also played outside on our swing set.  We liked to play board games with each other.  When we were young it was games like Hungry Hippos and Hi Ho Cherry-o and as we got older the games became more intellectual like Trivial Pursuit and Boggle.  We still enjoy playing board games with our families.  Our parents encouraged play by letting us play alone, but they were also involved in our play a great deal and often made it a family event. 

I think play today is similar because there are still games that you can play that I played as a child.  I think children also still enjoy playing outside with games like hide and go seek and sport related games.  I think that another similarity is that play is still fun for children when they are able or encouraged to be involved in it.  I think one of the differences in play today is that it is not encouraged as much as it used to be.  Children are spending more time in front of electronic equipment and video games and are not engaging as much in imaginative play.  Parents find this kind of “play” easier because they are busy as well and do not have much time to “play” with their children.   I also feel like safety is an issue in play today.  I know that when I was a child we were allowed to go outside and ride our bikes to our friend’s house who lived 4 miles away.  We played outside all the time alone.  Today I feel like I have to be outside with my children if they are out there and I am not comfortable with having them ride around the block because of the potential for violence or danger.  My hope is that children are able to find a way to play no matter what situation they live in or where they live.  I hope that children are still encouraged to play and that it is still important in their lives.  My hope is that children will learn through play and love to learn because of it. 

I think that play is very important in early childhood because it aids in the development of many skills.  I don’t think that the importance stops there.    I think that it is important in every stage of our lives.  I completely agree with the quote at the top of this blog because it is play which keeps us young at heart.  I know that some of my happiest moments are those moments when I am fully engaged in play with my children.  I can see the look of joy on their faces and I can feel it within my heart. 

Relationship Reflection

Relationships are those connections that we have with other people and how we feel about them.  Partnerships on the other hand are the relationships that we have with people who are involved in the same activities or groups that we may be involved in.  I think relationships and partnerships go hand and hand and often partnerships develop into very strong relationships.  Relationships that we have with the important people in our lives shape the people we are and will become from the very moment of birth.  It is these relationships that strengthen, support, encourage, and uplift us.  It is for this reason that it is important to have several positive relationships in our lives.  I know that I would not be the person that I am without the relationships that I have developed over the course of my life and I have many positive relationships that keep my life grounded and remind me daily of how blessed my life truly is.

My Positive Relationships 

The most important relationship that I have and the one that is the basis for all of my other relationships is with my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.  I am a devout Christian and I have a close relationship with the Lord.  This relationship was made when I was born(because He breathed life into me) but did not blossom until about 12 years ago when I asked Jesus to be the Lord of my life.  From that moment on I have learned what life is truly about and because of the relationship I have with God(He has filled me with love), the relationships that I have with other people in my life have become stronger.  God has taught me what it means to love other people and accept them for who they are and not who I would like them to be.   God has taught me that love is unconditional and we need to love others the way He has love us.  I have taken this love and this relationship and used it to make the relationships that I have with others even stronger because I now know what it means to be loved and I want to make other people feel that same love from me.    
                       

My biological family(dad, mom, sisters, grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins) is another positive relationship that I have.  I have a semi-large family that is very close.  My family gets together for every one's birthdays and holidays and we celebrate together.  It is this closeness that has led me to know that I would always have someone in my corner.  We are always there for each other and the love in our family is one that some people have never known.  As with any family, there are challenges and people don't always see eye to eye but I think what is special with the family that I have is that we always forgive each other and accept each other even if we tend to disagree at times.  We are not the type of family to hold grudges or not speak to each other for years and I think this has taught me to be forgiving.  I have learned that it is ok to disagree with someone and still love them for the person that they are. 

One of the closest relationships I have in my family is with my grandma.  My parents have lived next door to my grandparents since I was 5 years old.  I have become very close to my grandma and she has definitely been a great influence on the person that I am.  I am who I am because of the love and support she has shown to me.  She is a very strong woman who has taught me that it is always important to remember that I am worth something and worth loving.  She is the glue that holds our family together and because of our relationship I have learned to be giving, caring, and encouraging.  I have learned the importance of family and making sure to stay in touch with everyone.  She has taught me that family is love and love is everlasting!

I think the greatest relationship and the one I know I can always count on is the relationship I have with my sisters.  I have 3 sisters one of whom one is my twin.  My sisters and I are very close and love one another very much.  We do not always agree with each other but we are always there for each other no matter what.  I know that I will always have someone in my corner when I am facing difficult times because I have my sisters.  We share a love that has been growing since we were young.  I am very close to all of them but the bond that I share with my twin sister is like nothing I have ever experienced.  She is like an extended part of me and she makes me whole.  We live 5 hours away from each other right now and it is very difficult because I always feel like a part of me is not here.  We cherish the times that we can get together and when we are together, we are inseparable.  The best thing about our relationship is that it is unconditional and I know that my children have a second mother in her.  We love each others' children as if they were our own and there is nothing more comforting than that.  These women in my life have taught me strength, courage, dignity, honesty, giving, nurturing, and most of all love..Without them, I wouldn't be half of who I am today. 

Almost 18 years ago God took all of the love he had for me and put it in the man who is the love of my life.  Next to the relationship I share with the Lord my relationship with my husband is what is most important to me.  He is the best friend I could ever have hoped for and he makes me feel loved and valued always.  Our relationship is based on love, communication, honesty, and trust.  Although every marriage has issues(and ours is not any different) we have always remained dedicated to the love that brought us together.  I think because we have a love that was blessed by God and we keep God as a center of that love, we are able to withstand any obstacles or difficulties that life can throw our way.  He is my rock, my support, and the one place that I can feel safe and secure.  It is because of his love that I have had the chance to build a great relationship as a mother.  We have been blessed with four beautiful children and I share a very strong relationship with each one of them as well.  I know that I was given these children on loan (from God) and it is my purpose to show them love and protection and give them the guidance they will need to survive in a world that is not always kind or giving.  My children will learn from me that the relationships that they have are very important and that they need to treasure each one.  I hope that I am teaching them how to love and how to give that love unconditionally.  I want the relationship that we share to always be open and honest and I want to make sure that they know that they always have someone in their corner who is encouraging and supporting them.  Most of all I want them to always feel loved and to build their relationships by passing that love on. 

 

I also have many friends with whom I share very close relationships. Friendships are one of the greatest blessings we can be given and in many cases I feel as if my friends are part of my family.  The love I feel for them is the same love that I feel for my family.  I feel that God gives us some friendships for a season(for our benefit, or for theirs) and others for a lifetime.  I have had friendships that have lasted for awhile and then slowly dwindled away and others that have been here and will remain with me always.  I think that in each case I have learned from those people in my life and I know that God put them there for a purpose, even if that purpose was not for us to be friends forever.  In other friendships I know that I will be friends with that person always no matter how time or space may separate us.  In my friendships I know that I have people with whom I can be myself and they love me for the person that I am.  My friendships are another way that I feel encouraged, supported, and loved.  These relationships are important to me because friends can give us another way of looking at things when we are going through difficult times.  They are there to support, but also to give advice and understanding.  The relationship that I have with my friends is one that I treasure and I always look forward to the times that I can go out with my friends and share stories and laughter.  My friends make my heart smile and I know that my life is truly blessed with these relationships that I have with them.

I believe that many of the relationships that we have are also partnerships at different times.  I believe that my marriage is definitely a partnership because we are involved in raising children together.  We have to partner together for this cause and I have always believed that marriage is a 50/50 relationship where the people work together for the good of the whole.  I think that is what makes my marriage so strong.  I also believe that when you go through experiences in your life, then you are involved in partnerships with the people who are going through those experiences with you.  I have developed friendships with my colleagues at work, but we also have a partnership in educating young children.  We are working together in order to give children the best we can and because of that partnership we have created lasting friendships and relationships.  Sometimes we develop partnerships first and then those partnerships can develop into lasting relationships(friends) and sometimes we develop relationships that can also be partnerships at times(mothers and fathers).  I think the two definitely go hand and hand and the most important thing to remember is that the basis for both is respect, trust, honesty, and love. 

I think all of these relationships and partnerships impact my work as an early childhood professional because they have made me the person that I am.  I think that if I hadn't had the positive and loving relationship with my family growing up, then I may not have valued my life as much.  I think it is the love that I have felt my whole life and have been able to share that makes me a good educator.  I care deeply about people and I want to give children the chance to learn how to do the same.  I want to make children and others feel as if they are valued and that if no one else in their life cares about them, they know(at least for the amount of time they are with me) that they are important and worthy.  It is my goal to impact the lives of others by creating a positive caring relationship or partnership that they hopefully will pass on to others.

Relationship Reflection

A Word of Thanks

Dear Friends,
I just wanted to take a moment to say "thank you" to all of you for your enhancement of my knowledge of child development.  I truly appreciate the work that each and every one of you put into our class, our discussions, and our blog postings.  You are all very knowledgeable and I know that each day you are contributing greatly to the lives of children.  I wish you all the best that life can offer personally and professionally.  I will be praying for each one of you.  Many blessings!

When I Think of Child Development...

"It is true that we cannot make a genius. We can only give to each child the chance to fulfill his potential possibilities.” Maria Montessori



God’s Special Gift

Once upon a time God created

 a special little seed.

 He planted that seed in a unique garden,

Filled with all that it would need.

The gardeners asked “Why us Lord,

What could possibly be your reason?”

The Lord replied “This seed needs someone

To guide it for a season.”

The gardeners began to realize

As that seed began to grow.

That its life would come to depend

On what the gardeners would sow.

The seed soon emerged into the world

And bursted forth with soul.

The gardeners at that moment were aware

Of how the seed made their garden whole.

The gardeners showered the seed with love

And did all within their power.

To help that seed develop and grow

Into a strong and beautiful flower.

Some days the skies were sunny

And sometimes clouded with gray.

The gardeners knew their flower must be strong

As the winds would make it sway.

Although the winds were challenging

The flower faced them with great heart.

For the gardeners had helped enable strong roots

Right from the very start.

 ~ by Valerie Archer

If a child is given love, he becomes loving ... If he's helped when he needs help, he becomes helpful. And if he has been truly valued at home ... he grows up secure enough to look beyond himself to the welfare of others. 

DR. JOYCE BROTHERS

 Unity

I dreamed I stood in a studio

and watched two sculptors there,

The clay they used was a young child's mind,

and they fashioned it with care.

One was a teacher; the tools he used

were books and music and art;

One, a parent with a guiding hand

and a gentle, loving heart.

Day after day the teacher toiled,

with a touch that was deft and sure,

While the parent labored by his side

and polished and smoothed it o'er.

And when at last their task was done

They were proud of what they had wrought,

For the things they had molded into the child

Could neither be sold nor bought.

And each agreed he would have failed

If he had worked alone.

For behind the parent stood the school,

And behind the teacher the home.

~ Anonymous

I believe that a child's development begins at the very moment of conception.  I believe that parents are the foundation for the way that development will be either enhanced or depleted.  Development of a child is a very complex matter that is important to understand.  As a parent and an educator I find that knowing about how development occurs aids me in relating to children better.  The knowledge that I have learned in this course will make me a better mother to my children and a better teacher for my students.  Each child is a glimpse into the future and only we can make that future look brighter by seeing the potential that is given to each child at birth. 

"Children are likely to live up to what you believe of them" 
~Lady Bird Johnson

Intelligence Testing

I believe that it is important to measure and assess the academic learning skills of children.  In saying that, I think that the way that they are measured is extremely important.  It is important to know if children are obtaining the skills that they need to be successful in a very competitive economical world.  Children need to be able to read, write, perform mathematical operations, and have knowledge of scientific processes.  These are all skills that they will learn while they are in school.  It is important to assess children in order to learn if they are obtaining these skills.  If they are not obtaining the skills, then the curriculum or teaching methods need to be adapted to allow for successful acquisition of the skills. 
     As a teacher it is important for me to know if the students I am teaching are learning what they are being taught.  I can find this out by assessing them on the skills.  I am then able to adapt my teaching to provide for those children who have not yet acquired the skill.  If I find that the whole class is having trouble, then I am able to reteach a topic a different way.  If I find that only a small number of students have not yet grasped the topic, then I can pull them into a smaller group and work with that group individually.  Assessment tools allow for success in the acquisition of knowledge. 
     The problem that I find with the assessment of children is not in the assessment itself, but rather in the way schools perform the assessment.  In my home state of Pennsylvania, children have to take yearly state assessments that are supposed to show what they are capable of.  This testing begins in third grade and continues throughout high school.  The school district is then held accountable based on the students' performances on these tests.  The problem I (and many of my colleagues) have with these tests is that it is not a true measure of what a child has acquired.  These tests do not take into account what may be happening in a child's life while taking the test.  They also only show a snapshot of learning.  We spend hours each day shoving skills down our students' throats in order to prepare for these tests.  Due to the fact that there are so many skills that are tested, there is not enough time to really see if the students have learned the skills that they are being tested on.  In most cases, exposure to the skill is all they have.  We then take these children and give them a test that is supposed to measure what they "know".  I believe that assessment would be much better founded if it was done more often and took into account the learning styles and lives of the children.  If for example a child has not performed well on a weekly test, but looks extremely tired, why not take into account that the reason for the poorness in performance has to do with the lack of sleep.  In standardized testing this isn't taken into account.  If we were able to perform real assessment, we would be able to then test that student on a day when they have clearly had more sleep and can show what they truly have learned.  Assessment should be formative and summative, not just one or the other.  There needs to be a balance of both forms of assessment.  I also believe other aspects of a child’s life need to be taken into account.
            In China, educational assessment has become an important factor in their reform of their educational system.  In the U.S. assessment is focused on just the academic areas in a child’s life.  Whether they have acquired a certain set of skills in Reading, Math, and Science.  We then hold schools accountable instead of the students.  In China the focus of assessment is on the child as a whole, taking into account not only academic growth but emotional health, learning styles, fine arts, values, and confidence.  Their assessment strategies focus on formative and summative assessments where in the U.S. the focus is primarily summative.  In China they have a sort of checks and balances system where the child evaluates him/herself, the teacher evaluates the child, and then the teacher evaluates him/herself.   In this system, the student is held accountable for the learning, not the school.    Their assessment is designed to make students and educators accountable for the achievements in the major areas of learning such as Reading, Math, and Science.  It is also used to improve other skills such as the way students solve problems, and think critically and creatively. 
            In looking at the differences between the U.S. and China in their forms of assessment, I think I have to agree more with the way the students in China are assessed.  I think the U.S. could also benefit from the whole child approach to assessment.  When teaching, we are expected to take into account the learning styles of our students and adapt our teaching accordingly, but when it comes to standardized tests, there is no adaptability.  The tests are administered the same way for every student and they are expected to perform well on them.  Is it fair to assess all children the same way when not all children learn and perform the same way?  I say definitely not!  I would like to see an approach to assessing where the students are assessed continually throughout the year and data is kept to prove what the children are or are not learning.  We would then get a clear picture of what each specific child needs in order to better equip future teachers with the strategies they would need to teach each child.  I believe if we are using differentiated instruction, then we should be using differentiated assessment as well and holding not only the teachers accountable for their teaching, but the students accountable for their learning as well. 

Resource:

Case, B. J. (2005, 09). Assessment report-the age of accountability. Retrieved from http://www.pearsonassessments.com/NR/rdonlyres/9B951F2F-37A6-4508-A656-3EF8FE346B19/0/AgeofAccountability.pdf