Sunday, October 16, 2011

My Supports

When I think about my daily supports I think about my coworkers at my job. I have a really good kindergarten team who are always willing to help. We share ideas, we help counsel each others students and we are just truly there for each other. I have heard a lot of stories about people on their jobs and not having the support they need and not having support can make it difficult to do your job. I am so lucky to have coworkers who care about me and want to see me successful as I do them.

Sunday, October 2, 2011

My Connections to Play

The following quotes stuck out to me

Play is our brain's favorite way of learning.

Diane Ackerman
Contemporary American author

Children need the freedom and time to play. Play is not a luxury. Play is a necessity.

Kay Redfield Jamison
Contemporary American professor of psychiatry


The following pictures are objects that i remember playing with as a child:












When I was little I played with barbie dolls and teddy bears. I would pretend they were people and make them talk to me. Growing up I did not have any friends so I really relied on my toys to play with. I loved dressing up dolls and pretending that I was in a fantasy land. Playing was a great escape from the reality of the real world. I still today have teddy bears that I sleep with and that comfort me when I have had a bad day.
Play today is different from when I was little. When I was little we got to play in school and go outside. Today's children do not get to experience that because the most important thing today is testing and making sure students pass. It is like the policy makers have forgotten what is like to be kids. We have got to get back to the roots and find out how to ensure that students are learning without jepordizing a child's right to play.

Sunday, September 18, 2011

Relationship Reflection

I believe relationships are important because it is good to have people around you who are always building you up and supportive of you. It is good to be able to come to someone who you trust for advice and to just be able to talk to. I do not have any relationsips that I consider positive. I guess my parents can be used but they are not always positive with me or supportive. I have learned over the years that building relationships with people tends to be one side because the other person will always let you down. In order to have a good relationship or partnership the first thing you must have is trust. If you do not trust the other person then the relationship is not going to work. Another big thing you must have is communication. My family never really expressed themselves in positve ways only yelling and screaming at one another so I learned to hold everything in and be a people pleaser. This attitude has carried over into my job. When I talk with parents I have a hard time expressing what I really want parents to know about their child and that can sometimes be hurtful because the parents may miss something that they really need to know. I hope through this course I can improve these skills and become a better teacher.

Sunday, July 24, 2011

War and the stress it can cause

I dont anyone who has been affected by war but unfortunately as a teacher I have seen it in my classroom. For the past couple of years I have seen the stress that some of my students face because one of their parents or both are overseas serving the country. I sometimes get students who come in sad or crying becasue they are missing their parents and want them to come home. It is hard for me because I do not know what to tell them. I try to be supportive and tell them its going to be okay and sometimes offer activities that the students can do to send to their parents to show that they love and miss them.

Saturday, July 9, 2011

Nutrition and Malnutrition
I chose nutrition and malnutrition because I found it to be the most interesting. When I was reading about breast feeding from the readings I did not know all the benefits it had for the baby such as better vision and less likely to get sick. I had always told myself that I would not breast-feed when I have children, but I am starting to change my mind. I think good nutrition has to start at a young age. If the parents are making sure the baby is receiving good nutrition throughout their childhood maybe they will be more likely to have good nutrition during adulthood. As a teacher though I see what my students eat at lunch and wish I could strongly urge my parents to bring their child a lunch to school every day. School lunches are not healthy and it just contributing to more and more children becoming obese. This next school year, I am going to be talking about more about nutrition and what it means to eat healthy.

South America
Foods from plant sources are in abundance South American diets. Corn and potatoes are featured in the diet. Locally grown fruits, vegetables, beans, nuts and seeds are also included. Fish and chicken or turkey are used when they are available. Red meats are used less often in most South American diets except in Argentina where beef is quite popular. Many South American diets use different kinds of chiles for flavoring. The foods in South America countries are uniquely and richly flavored.

Saturday, July 2, 2011

Personal Birthing Experience

Personal Birthing Experience

I currently do not have a birthing experience that I can share right now. I do not remember my own birth and I do not have any children. I asked my mom about my birth and she told what she could. My mom told me that she was in labor for 17 hours and was very hysterical. She also had very high blood pressure during the pregnancy. My mom told me even though she went through a lot of pain she is happy that I am here.

The Netherlands

A lot of pregnant mothers do not go to the obstetrician but rather use a midwife to help deliver their baby. Most of the women prefer home births rather than going to the hospital. If the woman decides to go to the hospital most of the time they do not receive an epidural because they would rather deliver their baby naturally. After a woman delivers the baby, they go home where they have maternity home care for seven days. A nurse comes in and helps take care of the baby, cook, clean and monitors the visitors that come to visit.

Sunday, June 5, 2011

Course Resources

Part 2: Global Support for Children’s Rights and Well-Being
Part 3: Selected Early Childhood Organizations
 Selected Professional Journals Available in the Walden Library
  • YC Young Children
  • Childhood
  • Journal of Child & Family Studies
  • Child Study Journal
  • Multicultural Education
  • Early Childhood Education Journal
  • Journal of Early Childhood Research
  • International Journal of Early Childhood
  • Early Childhood Research Quarterly
  • Developmental Psychology
  • Social Studies
  • Maternal & Child Health Journal
  • International Journal of Early Years Education

Sunday, May 22, 2011

Personal Childhood Web

These five people have influenced my life in my past and presently inlfuence my life.

Mom- My mom influenced me as little girl as someone that I wanted to be like. I wanted to grow up and be just like her. She was smart and pretty and alwasy supported me whenever I needed it. She taught me how to cook and clean and want to be an all around good person.

Dad- My dad was a positive influence in my life becasue he pushed me to be the best that I could be in school. He always helped me with my homework and strived for me to make nothing less than an A. It was sometimes hard for me but I worked hard and made sure to always make him proud.

Brother- My brother inspired me to want to be a good big sister. Throughout school I did  my best so my brother could see someone positive in his family that was doing something good. He influences me today by helping me save money. He puts together budgets for me and gives me books about saving money. My brother wants me to be able to retire at an early age.

Grandmother- My grandmother was special to me because she looked after me and helped to take of me. She would make sure I was doing the right thing in life and always supported me in whenever I wanted to do. Now that she has passed on I try to make sure that I continue to do positive things and inspire others just like she inspired me.

Second grade teacher- My second grade teacher was my favorite elementary school teacher. I liked her because she reminded me of my grandmother. She always treated me well and made learning fun. She also pushed me to be the best that I could be.She would encourage me to participate in programs that would push me into the right and positve directions such as Girl Scouts of America. I will never forget what she taught me and I take it with throughtout me life experiences now.

Sunday, May 15, 2011

My Favorite Quote

"Children are great imitators. So give them something great to imitate."
                                                                                        Anonymous

I really like this quote because it is the truth. How we as adults act around children is how they are most likely going to act. As a teacher I keep that in the back of my head, so I always try to stay positive and inspire my students so they would want to be an inspriation to someone else.

My Favorite Book

I have a lot of favorite books, but one that sticks out right now because I recently used it in my classroom is The Giving Tree by Shel Silverstein. This book has a lot of lessons but I used the book to teach about sharing. I have learned that teaching kindergarten one of the lessons that you will find yourself teaching a lot is the lesson on sharing. The Giving Tree is an excellent book because it talks about giving selflessly to one another and how sharing with each other can be a wonderful experience. My students loved this book and I would recommend it to anyone who loves to read.