Words of Inspiration and Motivation by Early Childhood Professionals

Oh the journey into the minds of great educators is a wonderful path to explore! Sharing ideas is just part of the fun and interaction between educators who love to embrace the world of teaching and give the children all we have to offer and extend in it the wisdom of others. What a gift knowledge can be for so many. :-)

This week I was able to research someone I had not heard of previously and surprisingly to me as she has so many accomplishments to her name and that is Ann Turnball, a leader in the special Education field. Ann's son had Down's Syndrome and Bipolar and she and her family knew first hand the struggles he faced each day, but he didn't conform and lived a full, successful life until his sudden death at the age of 41.

This week we are to share some quotes from the people we chose for our assignment . One thing that stood out to me that she said in a YouTube video I watched titled Turnball (Retrieved from: www.YouTube.com/watch?v=ua_PNQSB6-0) "I say I was privileged because more than any other experience or person, Jay taught me more and influenced me more about what is truly important in life" (Turnball, 2008). Jay was her son and her inspiration to all she did throughout her career and continues to achieve, so for me he has been a huge contribution to the early childhood field and to all the children who have special needs. This research has benefited so many students and teachers and is changing lives.

In another YouTube video titled 2008 Inclusion Institute ( www.YouTube.com/watch?v=jfybydcla) Turnball states the important factors in special education and early education is:

IDEA & RESULTS
* Equality of opportunity
*Full participation
*Independent living
* Economic self-sufficiency.

It is through these ideas and studies that we have gained new ways to help these children succeed.

The next person is Lillian Katz who is well known throughout the early childhood field and was involved in the development of the Project Approach. There are a couple of her quotes I'd like to share:

"We are doing earlier and earlier to children what we shouldn't do later" (Lillian Katz, 2011)

"Curriculum is not delivered. Milk is delivered" (Lillian Katz, 2011).

"Curriculum should help children make deeper and fuller understanding of their own experience" (Lillian Katz, 2011).

Reviewing the video from week two The Passion for Early Childhood (Laureate, 2013),also provided insight into what made other educators pursue their field. For instance Leticia Lara stated that at a young age she realized families needed support. She came from an immigrant background and had to help translate to her mom, she said it helped her to see that parents who had help made a big difference. She is now the regional manager of zero to three.

Also Louise Derman-Sparks who knew she always wanted to be a teacher and always had a passion for it. "Nurture children to grow to their fullest potential because the early learning years are the most critical years" (Derman-Sparks, 2013).

I'd also like to share a couple other inspiring quotes for teachers.

"It is the supreme art of the teacher to awaken joy in creative expression and knowledge" Albert Einstein

"If I am walking with two other men, each of them will serve as my teacher. I will pick out the good points of the one and imitate them, and the bad points of the other and correct them in myself" - Confucius

"One looks back with appreciation to the brilliant teachers, but with gratitude to those who touched our human feelings. the curriculum is so much necessary raw material, but warmth is the vital element for the growing plant and for the soul of the child" -Carl Jung


                                                                    Jill

Personal Childhood Web (Week 3)

 

What a great assignment this week...the opportunity to share what the people in our lives meant to us when we were children and the influences they had upon us, and still do today.

I must say I had a very blessed childhood for I was surrounded by so many wonderful people who influenced me in different ways. The assignment calls for up to five to mention, but I could write a book on my blessings.

The first people I have to mention are my mom and dad, two truly amazing people who created a loving, stable environment for me and my sister to grow up in. They took the time from their busy days to be involved in my life and to encourage me to try news things, to help others and to enjoy the beauty of nature around me. Inspiring me to find and marry a great man and raise a family of my own. I could not ask for better parents or a greater support system then the one I had at home. To this day they are always there for me, supporting me, standing by me and offering advice. I am so very blessed to have them as my parents.

My grandmother was also an influence during my childhood. She came to live with us when I was young and was a big part of our family. Unfortunately I never knew my grandfather on my mom's side or my grandmother on my dad's side as they passed away at a young age. I knew my grandfather on my dad's side a few years before he passed away. So my mom's mom, my grandmother that lived with us was there for me growing up. She shared stories of her childhood and offered advice, took me places. I remember her being very frugal and not having a lot of material things. She grew up in the Great Depression and I never could understand when I was little why she saved everything! I can remember her washing sandwich baggies and aluminum foil to reuse, and from that I learned about being aware of what I have and appreciating those things.

Another lady that was very dear to me and like a grandmother was Mrs. Peterson. One of the greatest people I ever knew! She always did so much for others and was a joy to be around. She was always very positive and loved to sew and crochet and be out doing things in the yard. She liked coming to visit with us because we had five acres and my dad and mom worked hard creating a lovely yard and sanctuary for everyone. Still a place I love to visit today. I loved hearing her stories and listening to her knowledge. She would always towel dry my hair after my baths, which included a scalp massage that about put me to sleep! LOL. So many positive, wonderful memories from this amazing women.

My "uncle" Ellis was another influence in my life as a child. He is my dad's best friend and that is why I refer to him as my uncle. One of those down to earth people that will do anything for his family and friends. I remember when I was learning to drive and he offered for me to drive his brand new vehicle! I didn't want to because I was afraid I'd do something to it. He just said "no matter what happens to it, it can be fixed or replaced, no problem. But you cannot be replaced and your safety is what matters, just trust in yourself and your driving abilities." He was a Marine and in Vietnam and would share stories from his time there. Sharing other stories with loud laughter and smiles, just happy to be with his friends and family. Accepting of others for who they are and not passing judgements. Good lessons learned from him. Still visit with him and his family today and consider them all family, my girls call him uncle Ellis as well. :-)

This is just the beginning of a long list of people who have touched and influenced my life in some way. I am who I am today largely in part by the positive experiences I had growing up. I always knew I wanted to be there for others and give back my time to them and help those children of broken families that may not have had a place to go. My parents always took in my friends and my sister's friends. We each had friends that needed a place to stay for long term and my parents took them in no questions asked until they could go home again. Opening their hearts and homes to others so I learned early about giving of myself to help others in any way I can. You never know in this life when things can go bad and it may just be us needing that support from someone.

Would just like to end this post by sharing another one of my favorite quotes:

"Children are happy because they don't have a file in their minds called "all the things that could go wrong"

-Marianne Williamson.

Jill

Some things I enjoy in teaching Early Childhood

Books, books and more books! Can't get enough of them when it comes to teaching children! I have so many favorites and I will share more throughout this course, but I wanted to list a few to get started.

Since Fall will soon be upon us, I just had to mention the above book The Runaway Pumpkin! It's a great book to read and has some repetition and it really engages the children. They giggle and laugh out loud at the story. It's one I try to read each year around this time.

And I'm sure you're all familiar with the Froggy story books. These are so much fun to read to the children and they are a favorite of my two girls as well! Fun, silly antics and of course they all like to chime in and yell....."Frogggyyyy!" :-)

Another absolute favorite series of mine is the Magic Tree house books! Great story lines and educational as well. So many themes and learning activities can be based off these books. She even has a web site you can visit for more ideas and lesson planning.

I'd also like to share a few of my favorite quotes from children's books I've read that have a lot of meaning and are worth sharing and pondering.

"The moment where you doubt whether you can fly, you cease forever being able to do it"
                                            J.M. Barrie, Peter Pan

"If you have good thoughts they will shine out of your face like sunbeams and you will always look lovely"
                                           Roald Dahl, The Twits

"You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself any direction you choose"
                                            Dr. Seuss,Oh the Places You'll Go!

"If more of us valued food and cheer and song above hoarded gold, it would be a merrier world"
                                            J.R.R. Tolkien, The Hobbit

"I am not afraid of storms for I am learning how to sail my ship"
                                           Louisa May Alcott, Little Women

"Your braver than you believe, stronger than you seem, and smarter than you think"
                                          A.A. Milne, Winnie-the-Pooh

As for sharing a child's drawing, I had to choose one my 7 year old daughter made me the other day.

This picture means a lot to me because she made it right after I received my BS degree, and she told me she knew how hard I worked and how I always seem to be able to do everything and do it well. Totally melted my heart and I have this hanging up right in our kitchen where I can see it every day.

I knew at a young age I always wanted to be a mom and a teacher and I couldn't be more proud of my girls. I work with children who have special needs and my daughter rides to school with me each day and home at the end of the day. She thinks it's pretty cool I have a special badge to get into school and that I help other kids. She wants to be just like me one day she said and that brings me so much joy! Working with children who have special needs just makes me appreciate my children even more and I know how truly blessed I am!

                                                                          Jill