Words of Inspiration and Motivation

" In the good years, work very hard to win everything that's possibly winnable.  In the bad years, work just as hard to keep you losses to a minimum.  There are good times, and there are bad times.  But you have to stay in the game." - Edward Zigler

"If you want to provide rich opportunity for the development of language skills, then encourage dramatic play- a place where you'll really see children's language grow and thrive." - Deborah Leong

"Children are still trying to figure out their identity.  They are still being bombarded with positive and negative messages." - Louise Derman Sparks

" We are professionals in the early childhood field have an opportunity to shape a child's life for the better." - Sandy Escobido

Personal Childhood Web

My Dad

 I just want to start out saying that I love my family.  I did not have a "normal" childhood growing up.  Life was always changing and so was my home situation.  The people that I have chosen are people that I could always call on no matter what, that would be there for you.

<-- This is my Dad.  An amazingly understanding person that has always loved me for who I am, no matter what.  He has always been a support for me, because when I needed him the most he would offer solid advice and just listen.  I enjoyed every minute I got to spend with him, and now I miss being so far away from him.
 

 I lived with my mom and brother through most of my youth.  My brother hated my guts most of the time, or so it felt, but he too was there when we needed to talk.  My Aunt and Uncle we have always seen at family holidays.  Though we lived far away, they would always take the time to do something with us.  It wasn't just like playing a game of cards, but it was doing some sort of activity.  Whether Ice Skating, cooking or going to the theme park.

These two amazing people are my grandparents (left and bottom).  My grandfather was an amazing influence to everyone around him.  He was always so helpful to the students that he taught, when he was a teacher.  When I would spend part of my summers in Michigan with them, he would take the weekends and time after work to do activities with me.  We could paint, draw or go on bike rides.  After every night of painting with him, he would give me homework for the next day.  He would give me tips of what to try and what other materials to try working with.  It was always nice to have someone that would listen to my ideas and support them whether big or small.  During the day my grandma would do crafts with me.  We made a couple of quilts, we would create other things, or we would bake.  One of the things that I enjoyed about going to my grandparents house, was that my great grandparents lived there as well.  It was such a blessing to be able to see my families generations in one house.  
My summers were my learning adventures.  It was my time where I was able to be me, without the restrictions of homework and daily activities that you had to do throughout the school year.  

 All of these people still influence my life.  I might not be the "typical" daughter, sister, niece or granddaughter but I respect my families opinion. Even if I might do things differently then what they did, I still want them to recognize the educational goals that I have mastered, and continue to seek. 

Memories

Working in the Early Childcare field is not always the easiest, and the rewards are not covered in gold and turned into a statue that you can put on your book shelf.  The rewards are the excitement that you see on your students face when the light bulb has just clicked on.  

This is my light bulb story.  Two years ago I never thought that I would be working in a small room at a local daycare.  The bonus of working in this room, was that there were only 5 students in there.  I was able to give all my kids a lot of attention, and that was something that one little girl was not given in her previous room.  The new girl who was joining my room was blind.  Inside I freaked out!  I've worked with special needs children, but this one was a first for me.  In talking with the parents and using her IFSP as a guideline of what needed to be worked on, I got to work.

Now when this little girl started in my room she didn't stand, walk, talk or eat normal foods, this was a challenge.  So day by day we took baby steps to introduce new activities to her, to get her interested in what was going on around her.  She made amazing progress, and in a little under a year of being stuck in a small room with me, she had a light bulb moment.  I walked into my room, and my friend walked over to me hugged my leg and said "Hi".  

All my previous thoughts of not being able to make a difference was shattered.  A three year old convinced me, that I am a good teacher and I can make a difference.