Respecting and Responding to Diversity

Children who are bilingual are very intelligent and should be treated as such. Supporting the home language while teaching a second language is in the best interest of not only the child but also of the family. Children need to know that they are accepted as they are and celebrated for their differences. Teachers should be eager to support all their students in whatever way they can and this includes going out of their own comfort zone. Learning about another person's culture and language shows respect and understanding. Even if you are only able to learn a few words or phrases, this shows effort which can make all the difference. Strive for success of the children in your life no matter where they may be. We can each make a difference if we only try.

Violence in the Lives of Children

After reading "Violence in the Lives of Children", a position statement of the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC), I am truly scared for the future of not just our children in our country but also for the adults. This paper was written in July of 1993, and 22 years later I know that things have gotten worse not better. To read these numbers is so shocking in its self, to know how outdated it is makes it scary. Violence in our country is out of control and we as adults SHOULD be outraged and do something about it as the article suggests. These are our children, if not physically than emotionally, and we need to protect them as a whole. The things we do to each other is horrible, and to know that children are watching and learning that it is acceptable behavior is not okay. Teachers are here to help both children and the family but parents are the first line of defense. Stand up and be heard. This is not okay and we as a family, as a community, as a town, a city, and a society will no longer just accept it as a norm.

Professional Development

I believe that all employees should have professional development that includes learning a second language even if one is not present in their current classroom, this would include sign language. I also think that trainings on the newest research for special needs children and helping families find resources should also be a must. It is required to update background checks and basic trainings but keeping up on the latest findings is very important. Too many teachers start in the classroom and then fall behind in the times because they fall into only doing the bare minimum for their own education.

Anti-discrimination

NAEYC's position on anti-discrimination is for the best interest of the children, there is to be no discrimination of any kind toward anyone. Teachers are hired and let go based on qualification and competence. Teachers are also not to discriminate against any child or family and are to be understanding and accepting of all cultures. This is clearly stated in both the NAEYC position statement and policy.

My early math experiences

When asked about my memories of math, thoughts of difficult classes and negligent teachers filled my head. Of course these were thoughts from junior and senior high school where math becomes less fun and more about remembering formulas and facts. To dig deeper in my memory banks took a little more work but I was surprised of my own findings. There was a time when I truly loved math and looked forward to it. Of no surprise was that these memories were connected to my favorite teacher. I was lucky enough to spend my very early years in a small town. As with small towns the class sizes were small as a result. In my kindergarten class there were only eight of us, I know this because I still have a class photo that my grandmother saved. I can remember counting everything we did, saw and touched. Baking cookies in the school kitchen and each of us getting to measure and set timers. Shapes were in everything we saw. During art we used shape stamps to make pictures as well as looking at paintings and finding the shapes within them before trying to recreate them our selves. Math was fun because there was no "math time', it was all the time. We learned math with out realizing we were learning. Children learn through fun and play and the minuet we stop the fun we truly slow the learning process.

Science in the Air

After reading the article "Science in the Air", I now believe that introducing science in my own classroom will be easier than I originally thought it would be. Science has always been an overwhelming area for me, never quite understanding all the terms and reasoning. I now realize that science in the classroom is really just an appreciation of the world around us. Noticing the weather and the changing seasons. How things feel and all the different textures. Shapes of things and all the different shapes that make up an object when looking through a magnifying glass or microscope. The key to getting a child's attention is to make it interesting to them by asking questions or finding things they want to understand. Following their lead can be more of a learning experience than trying to teach them a specific planned lesson. Making predictions and doing experiments helps them build knowledge in a fun way. Having pictures as a reference is great but taking pictures to remember actual experiences helps them remember and relate it to their everyday lives better. Creating experiments and documenting findings is not only a science activity but crosses over into areas of math and language as well. It helps with creativity and self esteem as well. In an age where math and language are pushed so hard in standard school settings we need to remember the importance of science and not over look it at this young age. Science can be fun, and fun helps in all areas of learning.

Serve and Return

After watching the three videos in the titled series

Three Core Concepts in Early Development

at http://developingchild.harvard.edu/resources/three-core-concepts-in-early-development/, I have come to the following conclusion.
Although all experiences and interactions shape the person we become, the ones we have in early childhood are of extreme importance. These are the ones that help the brain develop and grow and prune off the connections we don't use. It is important to have enriching experiences to help all areas grow. To limit these not only stifles growth but can stop the brain from ever developing these healthy connections. Interacting with children in a positive way helps make these initial connections and continue to strengthen them over time. Talking to them right from birth helps with language, cognition and building relationships that will last their life time. To deny children emotional and physical support causes toxic stress on their developing brain and body. Short term effects can be hard on a child but can be mended over time. Long term effects or neglect and abuse are heart breaking and can never be fully healed. We can not help build the foundation of a strong house after the walls and windows are already in place. Small patches can be made over time but it is so important to help children right from the start. We, as teachers, have to be the contractors that help the parents build their children to their full potential. They are the future of our society and getting it right from the beginning is so much easier and fulfilling than trying to fix it later.