Inspiring Quotes

                                                          

                                                                Maria Montessori 1870 - 1952

Scientific observation has established that education is not what the teacher gives; education is a natural process spontaneously carried out by the human individual, and is acquired not by listening to words but by experiences upon the environment. The task of the teacher becomes that of preparing a series of motives of cultural activity, spread over a specially prepared environment, and then refraining from obtrusive interference. Human teachers can only help the great work that is being done, as servants help the master. Doing so, they will be witnesses to the unfolding of the human soul and to the rising of a New Man who will not be a victim of events, but will have the clarity of vision to direct and shape the future of human society. - Maria Montessori, Education for a New World



                                                        Urie Bronfenbrenner 1917 - 2005


Children need people in order to become human.... It is primarily through observing, playing, and working with others older and younger than himself that a child discovers both what he can do and who he can become--that he develops both his ability and his identity.... Hence to relegate children to a world of their own is to deprive them of their humanity, and ourselves as well.





                                                            Maria Montessori 1870 - 1952

Scientific observation has established that education is not what the teacher gives; education is a natural process spontaneously carried out by the human individual, and is acquired not by listening to words but by experiences upon the environment. The task of the teacher becomes that of preparing a series of motives of cultural activity, spread over a specially prepared environment, and then refraining from obtrusive interference. Human teachers can only help the great work that is being done, as servants help the master. Doing so, they will be witnesses to the unfolding of the human soul and to the rising of a New Man who will not be a victim of events, but will have the clarity of vision to direct and shape the future of human society. - Maria Montessori, Education for a New World

                                                                   Urie Bronfenbrenner

"Children need people in order to become human.... It is primarily through observing, playing, and working with others older and younger than himself that a child discovers both what he can do and who he can become--that he develops both his ability and his identity.... Hence to relegate children to a world of their own is to deprive them of their humanity, and ourselves as well."  Urie Bronfenbrenner



"It was the most beautiful thing like something had called upon me.... " Louise Derman-Sparks


"We as early childhood professionals have the chance to shape the life for the better..." Sandy Escobito

This space is dedicated to those who nurtured and cared for me when I was a child.

Personal Childhood Web

When I was a young child there were many people who nurtured and cared for me over my youth.  However, like most people I have those who stood out above the rest.  Those who I could count on for whatever I needed.  The 1st person who nurtured me all of my life and continues to do so is my mother.  Her and I were very close as I grew up and continue to be close today.  She is my biggest cheerleader, always believes in me and encourages me to do whatever I choose.  The  2nd person would have to be my grandmother.  I lived in a house 2 doors away and saw her every single day of my childhood.  She took me on vacations and showed me the world.  She always taught me the importance of education, which I carry on with me today.  She is no longer living, but the lessons she taught me along the way surely are.  Another nurturing person in my life was my aunt, my mother's sister.  As a young child she took me shopping, to the beach and to social activities that I otherwise would not have had the chance to attend.  She nurtured me in social environments and made me feel confident about myself.  I am a very social adult and feel that I acquired many of my social skills from my aunt and the events we attended.  My sister was also an important piece of building trusting,  loving, unconditional relationships.  We are still very close today and when I am upset I know that I can always count on her to continue to nurture me and accept me for who I am.  Another person outside of my family that I was very close to and felt nurtured and loved by was the pastor at my church.  He gave me faith in myself and taught me to believe that you can get yourself out of any situation, if only you are willing to try.   He is no longer the pastor at our church as he now lives on the other side of the country.  Even though he is far away we still keep in touch.  When my grandmother passed away I hadn't spoken to him in years.  However, the relationship that we had when I was a child was strong enough to outlast the years and I knew that I could pick up the phone and call him, so I did.

Week 2 Touched by an angel

Working is special education often reminds me of just how lucky we truly are.  I have worked with children who struggle each day with the basics of life such as communication, movement, toileting, feeding and just the basic desire to want to live.  Some come in your door and you do your best, but understand that your abilities are limited.  My first year teaching I had a very special child walk through my classroom doors.  She was 5 years old, recently placed in foster care, never had been in school and weighed 17 pounds.  She has been locked in a room for the first 5 years of her life and given food on the floor from time to time.  She had been diagnosed with Trisomy 21 and failure to thrive.   This child needed so much I wasn't sure where to begin.  With a lot of love and patience this child blossomed like a beautiful flower.  She became very social, began picking up classroom routines and demonstrated a desire for life that I had never seen before.  Every morning, regardless of the day she bounced off the bus with the biggest smile you could imagine.  It warmed my heart and reminded why I had decided to go into teaching.  By the end of the school year she weighed 32 pounds, have acquired a huge vocabulary and was ready for kindergarten.  The growth this child made in 9 months, given the opportunity to grow and develop was truly amazing.  As I go to school each day I think of the difference that I made in her life.  I remind myself that this why I do what I do everyday and deep down I hope that I am transforming another child in the same way I was able to transform her.
My favorite book is called "Love You Forever" which is written by Robert Munsch.  This is a story about a little boy who is always getting into trouble.  Throughout the book his mother becomes frustrated with all that he does, but each night she rocks him on her lap and tells him that she will love him forever.  As time passes he moves out and becomes independent but she goes across town in the  middle of the night to tell him she she will love him forever.  As time goes on she becomes elderly and the son realizes that he also will love her forever.  He goes to her retirement home rocks his mother and tells her he will love her forever.  It just depicts the time line of life and how our roles within the family change but that is what makes us a family.  My children have also grown to love this book over time and one of my sons recently bought me a copy with a hand written message in the front of it for Christmas.  It is a story that can be handed from generation to generation.  

Lost time

All too often students come into my classroom and they are delayed in fine or large motor skills, speech and language abilities , cognitive function, and simple life functions such as begin toilet trained or having the ability to feed themselves without getting food all over them.  These students are already 5 years old by the time they enter school.  So much time has already been lost as many of these children have not received early intervention therapies or services.  It is my true belief that early intervention makes a life time of difference.  Research shows that young children that begin receiving language therapy early makes a tremendous amount of difference by the age of 5.  It is my goal to continue to push for children to be identified earlier in life and begin receiving essential services so that they may catch up with other typically developing children.  The way our current system is set up we allow for the gap to become way to great before making the interventions to close it.