Teachers open doors: November 2013

"Schools of the 21st Century and other community schools can be the salvation of schooling in America. These schools are working toward increasing student achievement, which is first and foremost a function of whether children have had proper supports from early in their lives to promote their optimal development."

Susan Bredekamp,Ph.D.

“Developmentally appropriate practices are ways of teaching that vary for or adapt to the age and experience of the individual learner. So fundamentally the definition has not changed. Instead, it has been expanded to include the fact that not only do you have to consider children as individuals, but you also have to consider children as members of groups with their own cultural identities”.

http://news.yale.edu/2002/07/12/experts-share-strategies-responding-needs-children-and-families

http://www.scholastic.com/teachers/article/ect-interview-sue-bredekamp-susan-neuman-learning-read

http://www.waldenu.edu/about/who-we-are/accreditation

Saturday, November 16, 2013

MyFamily System

I would have to say my mother Pattie and her sisters, school and church family make up my childhood web. To start my mom was one of the best moms a child could have. She played the role of mom and dad. She provided a roof and worked two jobs and went to school while raising my sister, brother and me. She instilled great values in us as well as the will to survive. She gave sound advice and always listened to me. She raised us to be independent and to never settle for less. I remember Saturdays were our clean the house from top to bottom and get your hair washed then later go to grandma's house. Our summer's were spent canning vegetables for the winter. Next there was school. School was where I was able to make friends, play sports, and learn from the best teachers ever. My favorite teacher was our spanish teacher Senora Berry. She was from Chile and she is the reason I'm so intrigued with the spanish language. She taught me so much and we became very close, If I had a problem I could go to her. I was sadden a few years ago when I found out she had passed. Last there was my my church family. There I was on the usher board, sang on the choir and was a part of the youth missionary. We were an African Methothist Epistopal Church so to this day I still sometimes recite the Apostle's Creed. The older ladies within the church gave us advice and the pastor would counsel me as well. We had dinner occasionally or the pastor would have dinner with a church member it was great having the pastor over sharing stories and and wisdom. I feel I had

Friday, November 8, 2013

My favorite book is "Who Moved my Cheese?" by: Spencer Johnson. When I first began as a early childhood teacher I had a little trouble adjusting to change and so my director suggested I read this book. After reading the book, I learned that when I am put into a situation that in unfamiliar I must learn my surroundings so when the situation changes I am adaptable. My favorite author is Eric Carle. I love his books because they are fun to read and they build language, courage and they help with building character. His books also enhance math, and social development. I hope someday to visit his museum in Boston. One of my favorite quotes is “Tell me and I forget, teach me and I may remember, involve me and I learn.”
Benjamin Franklin.

Saturday, November 2, 2013

Teachers open doors

Hello Classmates, "Teachers open doors" is a phrase I used a few years ago with my toddler friends to keep them from opening the clasroom door. Well, months later a parent gave me a plaque with that same inscription on it. He also gave me a card that said, "thanks for opening the doors to Annabel's early education. We appreciate all you do." I was so touched by that. I had no idea her dad would use that phrase to show my impact on his child. It makes me proud to know something I said can make a positive impact a family's life.