When my son was born he was 6 weeks early and came unexpectedly. I was 34 weeks pregnant and began to have contractions. I went to the doctor's office and was given a stress test. My son was displaying signs of distress and I was told to go immediately to the hospital and check myself in. He was born later that afternoon via emergency C-Section. His Apgar scores were not good and he was immediately removed from the delivery room and taken to the NICU. His was grey, his breathing was shallow and he was weakening quickly. Since, I had a c-section I was unable to get on my feet and my son and I spent his day of life apart. This was very difficult as we were missing those initial moments of bonding. The next day he was diagnosed with phenumonia and placed on a respirator. I was told by his doctor that they did not expect him to make it through the day. This was a very emotional time for both myself and my family. By the grace of God he began to improve in about 4 days and began to get stronger. I remember at the time being so very thankful that he had been born here in the United States where the dedication and education of the physicians caring for him made the difference between life and death.
As I did some research on options for emergency deliveries in Haiti I quickly realized that my son would not have survived there. First of all there are not ambulances or medical personnel that can come to you, hospitals are very few and often staffed by volunteers and limited medical professionals. C-sctions are performed as a last resort often by those who have been trained in a different medical field or are inexperienced in the procedure. Typically woman who are unable to deliver their child naturally do not survive childbirth. Even if you are lucky enough to find someone why can perform a reliable c-section the chances of the baby surviving if it is not healthy are very low. Some of the volunteer doctors have been trained in infant resuscitation but the infant needs to be strong enough to survive on their own. It truly saddens me that not all children have access to medical care and makes me even more appreciative for the access to medical care for those of us who live in the United States.
Monday, September 2, 2013
Sunday, August 18, 2013
NAEYC Code of Ethics
Although all of the values of the NAEYC to be important when working with children however there were three that really jumped out at me and I felt strongly about the importance of them.
• Recognize that children are best understood and supported in the context of family, culture,* community, and society
This is something that I feel very strongly about. It is our job a s an educator to accept every child for who they are and the cultural values that they possess. It is not our job to teach a child to conform to our own personal beliefs or values. By accepting each child for who they are it teaches a message of diversity and acceptance within their environment.
• Respect the dignity, worth, and uniqueness of each individual (child, family member, and colleague)
As with the first code that I selected I feel it is extremely important to treat each person as an individual. This includes respecting colleagues and being open to listening to their beliefs and ideas. I also feel very strongly that it is important to include the family when making decisions that regard their child. Even if we do not believe that the way a parent is raising a child is right that parent still is entitled to respect.
• Respect diversity in children, families, and colleagues
By respecting the diversity among us we can learn so much from each other. If we model acceptance and understanding then children will pick this up from us and model it in their own world. Respect really does begin with us as this is when a child learns how they will be treated by the world. A family that is disrespected can be shut down to education and this can have a huge lifelong impact on their children.
• Recognize that children are best understood and supported in the context of family, culture,* community, and society
This is something that I feel very strongly about. It is our job a s an educator to accept every child for who they are and the cultural values that they possess. It is not our job to teach a child to conform to our own personal beliefs or values. By accepting each child for who they are it teaches a message of diversity and acceptance within their environment.
• Respect the dignity, worth, and uniqueness of each individual (child, family member, and colleague)
As with the first code that I selected I feel it is extremely important to treat each person as an individual. This includes respecting colleagues and being open to listening to their beliefs and ideas. I also feel very strongly that it is important to include the family when making decisions that regard their child. Even if we do not believe that the way a parent is raising a child is right that parent still is entitled to respect.
• Respect diversity in children, families, and colleagues
By respecting the diversity among us we can learn so much from each other. If we model acceptance and understanding then children will pick this up from us and model it in their own world. Respect really does begin with us as this is when a child learns how they will be treated by the world. A family that is disrespected can be shut down to education and this can have a huge lifelong impact on their children.
Saturday, August 3, 2013
Additional resources
Additional Resources
1. Developmentally Appropriate Practices in Early Childhood Programs, NAEYC, 2009,
ww.naeyc.org
2. Essentials of Active Learning in Preschool, Ann S. Epstein, Ph.D., High Scope Press, 2007
3. American Educator, www.Americaneducator.org
Early Childhood
Resources for Educational Services
11. NAEYC – National Association for the Education
of Young Children
Offers services in for children
birth through the age of 8. The assist
with responsibilities such as curriculum development, school readiness, abuse
prevention, inclusion support, cultural diversity, educational services and
many more.
http://www.naeyc.org/
22. Zero to Three: National Center for Infants, Toddlers
and Families.
Supports early childhood
development for low-income children birth to 3.
Offers services with family support,
health, behavior development, childcare, education and other early childhood experiences.
33.
FPC: Child Development Institute, Uses evidence
based practices to empower early childhood professionals and families. Information provided for family support,
childcare, resources, projects as well as ideas and information for early
childhood educators.
44 HighScope
http://www.highscope.org/
Resources
for Children’s Rights, Health and Well Being
1.
Zero to Three: National Center for
Infants, Toddlers and Families.
Supports early childhood
development for low-income children birth to 3.
Offers services with family support,
health, behavior development, childcare, education and other early childhood experiences.
2. FPG Child Development Institute, assist with developmental milestones
and
various delays
http://www.fpg.unc.edu/
3 3.
Administration for Children and Families
Headstart's National Research
Conference, services realted to head start and
early head start as well as
services provided under this funding
4 4.
Voices for America's Children, advocacy and counseling resources
Sunday, July 28, 2013
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
Saturday, July 20, 2013
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.
Thursday, July 11, 2013
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.
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.
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