I have had to withdraw for a time to recover from a left hip situation. I will find out Tuesday, the third, as to when the surgery will be.
I will miss all of you. I pray God's blessings are each of you and that you will have good classes.
Friday, December 30, 2011
Saturday, November 19, 2011
RESEARCH MAKING LIVES BETTER
Early Head Start is a program that uses families and children to evaluate their programs in research settings. “A rigorous evaluation of Early Head Start in 17 programs selected from the first program cohorts shows that the program had significant and positive impacts on a wide range of parent and child dimensions, some with implications for children’s later school success.”
Early Head Start Benefits Children and Families Retrieved from
http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/opre/ehs/ehs_resrch/reports/dissemination/research_briefs/research_brief_overall.pdf
Parents who participate in HS(Head Start) are found to have greater quality of life satisfaction; increased confidence in coping skills; and decreased feelings
of anxiety, depression, and sickness. HS children are at least eight percentage points more likely to have had their immunizations than those children who did not attend preschool. Similarly, EHS(Early Head Start) children had a higher immunization rate than children in a control group.
Benefits of Head Start (HS) and Early Head Start (EHS) Programs Retrieved from http://www.nhsa.org/files/static_page_files/081FD64E-1D09-3519-ADC7E878DDB5CEC9/REDFactSheets1.pdf
I have witnessed families that are enrolled in Head Start and Early Head Start programs and have been impressed with their desire to learn and work to better their lives and their child’s life. The Head Start that I observed in Newton was a community of helpful teachers and counselors and responsive parents with healthy children.
Early Head Start Benefits Children and Families Retrieved from
http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/opre/ehs/ehs_resrch/reports/dissemination/research_briefs/research_brief_overall.pdf
Parents who participate in HS(Head Start) are found to have greater quality of life satisfaction; increased confidence in coping skills; and decreased feelings
of anxiety, depression, and sickness. HS children are at least eight percentage points more likely to have had their immunizations than those children who did not attend preschool. Similarly, EHS(Early Head Start) children had a higher immunization rate than children in a control group.
Benefits of Head Start (HS) and Early Head Start (EHS) Programs Retrieved from http://www.nhsa.org/files/static_page_files/081FD64E-1D09-3519-ADC7E878DDB5CEC9/REDFactSheets1.pdf
I have witnessed families that are enrolled in Head Start and Early Head Start programs and have been impressed with their desire to learn and work to better their lives and their child’s life. The Head Start that I observed in Newton was a community of helpful teachers and counselors and responsive parents with healthy children.
Monday, November 14, 2011
My interest in the childhood field
My interest in the childhood field lies with the education of teachers going into the field. It appears that many young people who are going into the teacher field of early childhood have lots of book knowledge, which is good, but they are short on practical knowledge.
My focus for this class is the standards set by the states, particularly Kansas. I will be working to investigate the qualifications that are required for an Early Childhood teacher.
I want to research resources that teachers can use for children and their families if they are not knowledgeable or qualified to do so.
Thirdly, developing a mentoring system and how it could or would work for helping those inexperienced and uncommitted teachers to realize their potential. I know that mentoring systems are used in public school systems, at least some and they work. My daughter-in-law was mentored her first year, now she visits her mentor regularly. Her daughter goes with her to visit, Hannah asks often when they are going to visit Kay again. It not only helped my daughter-in-law but her daughter.
My focus for this class is the standards set by the states, particularly Kansas. I will be working to investigate the qualifications that are required for an Early Childhood teacher.
I want to research resources that teachers can use for children and their families if they are not knowledgeable or qualified to do so.
Thirdly, developing a mentoring system and how it could or would work for helping those inexperienced and uncommitted teachers to realize their potential. I know that mentoring systems are used in public school systems, at least some and they work. My daughter-in-law was mentored her first year, now she visits her mentor regularly. Her daughter goes with her to visit, Hannah asks often when they are going to visit Kay again. It not only helped my daughter-in-law but her daughter.
I am still a little boggled with the idea of research but the simulations and guidance from the textbook and the other directional articles. I have been working in the field of teaching children since I was eleven. I started as the teacher for the preschoolers in my church. Teaching has become a challenge for me health wise. At least, this last situation was such a struggle I had to quit. I had three children that were extremely disruptive, one physically and sometimes abusive, kicking, hitting, spitting on me, knocking me on the floor and threatening to kill me. I am sore, tired and discouraged. I want to stay in the early childhood field but have no idea where to go from here. I do not know how to go about researching areas that would be a good fit for me. Does anyone have any suggestions?
Friday, November 11, 2011
My granddaughter is so smart
I overheard this discussion between my granddaughter and her friend:
Hannah: Santa is going to come down our chimney and put presents under our tree.
Emma: Well, maybe Santa will not come to our house, we do not have a fireplace or chimney. How will he get into the house?
Hannah: Just leave the door unlocked.
How smart is that?
Hannah: Santa is going to come down our chimney and put presents under our tree.
Emma: Well, maybe Santa will not come to our house, we do not have a fireplace or chimney. How will he get into the house?
Hannah: Just leave the door unlocked.
How smart is that?
Saturday, October 29, 2011
God Bless each classmate, Week 8
•
• Post at least three consequences of learning about the international early childhood field for your professional and personal development (any format, any length)
Learning about international early childhood field makes my heart yearn to travel to Guinea to assist in teaching parents and grandparents the importance of nutrition and their child’s education. I am not sure how that can happen but my heart sure wants to as I know the problems and the poverty in that country and I hear from friends that things are not as good as it was when I was there.
I have so many questions about the things I have learned, how can they really be resolved with so much ignorance and lack of concern about the importance of Early Childhood Education, or even the importance of our children. With so many children living in poverty level or even below in our own country, where is the money and resources coming from to support organizations such as SAVE THE CHILDREN in other countries.
I once, was offered a position for a short term working with SAVE and was not allowed to take it at the advice of the mission I was working with. Now at this time in my life, where do I find a way for me to contribute and be a supporter of this kind of work. Does my teaching a little boy from India count and is that all the further it will go?
• Post one goal for the field related to international awareness of issues and trends and the spirit of collegial relations
I have looked at the goals that I set down in the Foundations class and look at where I am now. I feel like I am spinning my wheels and going nowhere. When I was thinking things were going so well for me, now with loosing my job, taking one with less pay, and having to live with my son and his family: I feel like I am in a financial prison.
I do want to thank my classmates for being so encouraging and questioning me, and supporting my posts. I especially want to thank Christina Parker, Darcey Richardson, Leigh Todd and Amy Smith for hanging in there as encouragers from the first class. Thanks so much girls. Thank you to Dr. Dartt.
• Post at least three consequences of learning about the international early childhood field for your professional and personal development (any format, any length)
Learning about international early childhood field makes my heart yearn to travel to Guinea to assist in teaching parents and grandparents the importance of nutrition and their child’s education. I am not sure how that can happen but my heart sure wants to as I know the problems and the poverty in that country and I hear from friends that things are not as good as it was when I was there.
I have so many questions about the things I have learned, how can they really be resolved with so much ignorance and lack of concern about the importance of Early Childhood Education, or even the importance of our children. With so many children living in poverty level or even below in our own country, where is the money and resources coming from to support organizations such as SAVE THE CHILDREN in other countries.
I once, was offered a position for a short term working with SAVE and was not allowed to take it at the advice of the mission I was working with. Now at this time in my life, where do I find a way for me to contribute and be a supporter of this kind of work. Does my teaching a little boy from India count and is that all the further it will go?
• Post one goal for the field related to international awareness of issues and trends and the spirit of collegial relations
I have looked at the goals that I set down in the Foundations class and look at where I am now. I feel like I am spinning my wheels and going nowhere. When I was thinking things were going so well for me, now with loosing my job, taking one with less pay, and having to live with my son and his family: I feel like I am in a financial prison.
I do want to thank my classmates for being so encouraging and questioning me, and supporting my posts. I especially want to thank Christina Parker, Darcey Richardson, Leigh Todd and Amy Smith for hanging in there as encouragers from the first class. Thanks so much girls. Thank you to Dr. Dartt.
Saturday, October 22, 2011
WEEK SEVEN
This week I received a newsletter from NIEER,National Institute for Early Education Research. The highlight this week was on the school lunch programs.
I have not received any information from my other contacts this week. Save The Children publish once a month therefore no new since I last wrote about them. Their concern now is that Congress will take action to protect the children around the world. This would come through their U. S. Foreign assistance funding program.
I have not received any information from my other contacts this week. Save The Children publish once a month therefore no new since I last wrote about them. Their concern now is that Congress will take action to protect the children around the world. This would come through their U. S. Foreign assistance funding program.
Saturday, October 15, 2011
week 6 assignment
SAVE THE CHILDREN is a website of interest to me. The drought in East Africa is one of their great concerns at the present time. The countries most affected are Ethiopia, Kenya and Somalia. The drought has put an estimated 12 million people in need, especially children who are hungry, thirsty and desperate. In Ethiopia’s Somali region hundreds of people are dying every day in the southern region and at least half of them are children.
The hunger crisis is caused by a lack of rain, failed harvests, loss of livestock herds and food prices escalating. The expected rains will not come until October and then planting season will begin.
SAVE THE CHILDREN is reaching out to children and adults in Kenya, treating malnourished children in each nation. In Kenya supplementary feeding for children under the age of 3 has begun and will be extended to children under 5. Good water is a severe problem affected by the drought and improving water supply and sanitation in health clinics and school. Veterinary care and feeding of the cattle through the Pastoralist Livelihoods Initiative Project continues to be provided helping children and family members in Ethiopia. SAVE supports the Kenyan Ministry of Health with immunizations in an effort to control the outbreaks of measles. SAVE partners with other groups to care for displaced children and provide primary schools
This website paints a grim picture of children living in poverty all over the world. SAVE is an organization that works to alleviate the pain of hunger and safety for as many of these children as possible. They also partner with other organizations in establishing programs that define poverty and reach out to these children and their families.
SAVE THE CHILDREN works to bring education to those children in poverty ridden parts of the world furnishing school rooms, books, food, water, clinical needs and safety in housing. I know that SAVE is an organization that does not consider their own needs when going into a country but what is best and what they can do for the people, especially the children. There is the desire for excellence of provisions and education.
I have subscribed to their e-letter but it is not published monthly. I think that it is published tri-monthly therefore I have not received new information except for what I have followed on their website. It is obvious that much of my interest is in Africa, which is dear to my heart. I also know that people in West Africa are suffering from drought, lack of food and sanitary water. I receive a newsletter from missionary friends that tell of the situation in Guinea, West Africa. With the political situation there being so fragile, necessary living conditions are also fragile.
http://www.savethechildren.org
I cannot publish the names or newsletters of my friends for reasons of safety their names have to remain unspoken.
The hunger crisis is caused by a lack of rain, failed harvests, loss of livestock herds and food prices escalating. The expected rains will not come until October and then planting season will begin.
SAVE THE CHILDREN is reaching out to children and adults in Kenya, treating malnourished children in each nation. In Kenya supplementary feeding for children under the age of 3 has begun and will be extended to children under 5. Good water is a severe problem affected by the drought and improving water supply and sanitation in health clinics and school. Veterinary care and feeding of the cattle through the Pastoralist Livelihoods Initiative Project continues to be provided helping children and family members in Ethiopia. SAVE supports the Kenyan Ministry of Health with immunizations in an effort to control the outbreaks of measles. SAVE partners with other groups to care for displaced children and provide primary schools
This website paints a grim picture of children living in poverty all over the world. SAVE is an organization that works to alleviate the pain of hunger and safety for as many of these children as possible. They also partner with other organizations in establishing programs that define poverty and reach out to these children and their families.
SAVE THE CHILDREN works to bring education to those children in poverty ridden parts of the world furnishing school rooms, books, food, water, clinical needs and safety in housing. I know that SAVE is an organization that does not consider their own needs when going into a country but what is best and what they can do for the people, especially the children. There is the desire for excellence of provisions and education.
I have subscribed to their e-letter but it is not published monthly. I think that it is published tri-monthly therefore I have not received new information except for what I have followed on their website. It is obvious that much of my interest is in Africa, which is dear to my heart. I also know that people in West Africa are suffering from drought, lack of food and sanitary water. I receive a newsletter from missionary friends that tell of the situation in Guinea, West Africa. With the political situation there being so fragile, necessary living conditions are also fragile.
http://www.savethechildren.org
I cannot publish the names or newsletters of my friends for reasons of safety their names have to remain unspoken.
Saturday, October 8, 2011
THE CENTER ON THE DEVELOPING CHILD
The global program will focus on three strategic areas:
reframing the discourse around child health and development in the global policy arena by educating high-level decision-makers about the underlying science of learning, behavior, and health, beginning in the earliest years of life;
supporting innovative, multi-disciplinary research and demonstration projects to expand global understanding of how healthy development happens, how it can be derailed, and how to get it back on track; and building leadership capacity in child development research and policy—focused on both individuals and institutions—in low- and middle-income countries to increase the number and influence of diverse voices and perspectives that are contributing to the growing global movement on behalf of young children.
CENTER ON THE DEVELOPING CHILD retrieved from http://developingchild.harvard.edu
The global purpose of this organization is to focus on all children with no regard to their economic status, their health outcome, or their political position. Their focus is on three domains: "childhood development, child mental health, and children in crisis and conflict situations."
Not being able to get to my e-mail I cannot give an assessment of the contact in Australia. I just hope that all that information can be retreived.
The global program will focus on three strategic areas:
reframing the discourse around child health and development in the global policy arena by educating high-level decision-makers about the underlying science of learning, behavior, and health, beginning in the earliest years of life;
supporting innovative, multi-disciplinary research and demonstration projects to expand global understanding of how healthy development happens, how it can be derailed, and how to get it back on track; and building leadership capacity in child development research and policy—focused on both individuals and institutions—in low- and middle-income countries to increase the number and influence of diverse voices and perspectives that are contributing to the growing global movement on behalf of young children.
CENTER ON THE DEVELOPING CHILD retrieved from http://developingchild.harvard.edu
The global purpose of this organization is to focus on all children with no regard to their economic status, their health outcome, or their political position. Their focus is on three domains: "childhood development, child mental health, and children in crisis and conflict situations."
Not being able to get to my e-mail I cannot give an assessment of the contact in Australia. I just hope that all that information can be retreived.
Saturday, October 1, 2011
Blog Assignment for October 1, 2011
What specific section(s) or information seemed particularly relevant to your current professional development? SAVE THE CHILDREN has been involved in the USA setting up 84 sites in 11 states. The emphasis on the connection between parents reading to their child and those who do not have a positive impact on helping their child learn. There is a wealth of information concerning early childhood education and its importance. For me, their emphasis on training teachers to teach effectively reading programs and developing materials for families to use is a highlight. I want to teach young teachers effective methods of teaching little ones to read and to have a desire to learn.
Which ideas/statements/resources, either on the website or in an e-newsletter, did you find controversial or made you think about an issue in new ways? I was aware of the literacy programs in Africa but was not informed of the literacy programs in the USA. Their website tells of 16,000 children in the USA participating in their literacy program in the year of 2010.
What information does the website or the e-newsletter contain that adds to your understanding of how economists, neuroscientists, or politicians support the early childhood field? The list of members of their board can be found on their Board of Members link on the website. Every board member is either an education or a business man. This shows me that SAVE THE CHILDREN is supported by many sectors outside of Early Childhood Education.
What other new insights about issues and trends in the early childhood field did you gain from exploring the website or e-newsletter? I did not realize the extent of operation and service that SAVE THE CHILDREN serves throughout the world. Assisting families in crisis is a first step in touching those families to educate them to the importance of education for their children and in developing literacy and early childhood programs.
SAVE THE CHILDREN retrieved from http://www.savethechildren.org
Which ideas/statements/resources, either on the website or in an e-newsletter, did you find controversial or made you think about an issue in new ways? I was aware of the literacy programs in Africa but was not informed of the literacy programs in the USA. Their website tells of 16,000 children in the USA participating in their literacy program in the year of 2010.
What information does the website or the e-newsletter contain that adds to your understanding of how economists, neuroscientists, or politicians support the early childhood field? The list of members of their board can be found on their Board of Members link on the website. Every board member is either an education or a business man. This shows me that SAVE THE CHILDREN is supported by many sectors outside of Early Childhood Education.
What other new insights about issues and trends in the early childhood field did you gain from exploring the website or e-newsletter? I did not realize the extent of operation and service that SAVE THE CHILDREN serves throughout the world. Assisting families in crisis is a first step in touching those families to educate them to the importance of education for their children and in developing literacy and early childhood programs.
SAVE THE CHILDREN retrieved from http://www.savethechildren.org
Sunday, September 25, 2011
New Sites I just became aware of today
Move the Mountain www.movethemountain.org
Bridges out of Poverty www.ahaprocess.com
Circles of Hope also found at www.movethemountain.org
Harvey County Horticulture and Master Gardeners and City of Newton, KS partner to gather to create a community garden
Plant a Row for The Hungry found at www.gardenwriters.org
Since just having come to Newton three weeks ago I had to go to the internet for some information and some recommended by a city official
Bridges out of Poverty www.ahaprocess.com
Circles of Hope also found at www.movethemountain.org
Harvey County Horticulture and Master Gardeners and City of Newton, KS partner to gather to create a community garden
Plant a Row for The Hungry found at www.gardenwriters.org
Since just having come to Newton three weeks ago I had to go to the internet for some information and some recommended by a city official
Friday, September 23, 2011
Contacts I have made and now need to follow up
Linda Bazerjian
Director of External Affairs
Institute for Children, Poverty, and Homelessness
44 Cooper Square, 4th Floor
New York, NY 10003
LBazerjian@icphusa.org
T: 212.358.8086 x 1204 | F: 212.358.8090
Subscribed to NIEER online Newsletter retrieved from http://nieer.org/resources/newsletter/
Sherry Hutton and Donna Burns, Fun@playbasedlearning.com.au
Statistics information for state of Victoria, AU
http://www.missionaustralia.com.au/news/2953-poverty-in-victoria-reaches-alarming-level
Dorothy Gibson
Organization and Field Services
American Federation of Teachers
555 New Jersey Avenue NW
Washington, DC 20001
(206) 778-2703 (cell)
dgibson@aft.org
www.aft.org
I will be speaking on the phone with Dorothy this weekend.
Three contacts for the city of Newton, Kansas
Erin McDaniel
Public information officer
City of Newton
201 E. Sixth
Newton, KS 67114
Phone: (316) 284-6055
This is the information I received about the city of Newton, Kansas 67114
Percentage of residents living in poverty in 2009: 9.7%
(10.0% for White Non-Hispanic residents, 27.8% for Black residents, 6.1% for Hispanic or Latino residents, 0.0% for American Indian residents, 7.1% for other race residents, 2.4% for two or more races residents)
Need to receive this information
Statistics for School Lunch Program for the USD 373, Newton, KS area
Lunch Program, email mzinn@newton.k12.ks.us
Mandi Zinn, Director of Food Service
Resource recommended by Miss McDaniel
Myrna Krehbiel from Peace Connections. You can contact her at 316-284-0000 or info@peaceconnections.org. She leads the Bridges Out of Poverty program.
Director of External Affairs
Institute for Children, Poverty, and Homelessness
44 Cooper Square, 4th Floor
New York, NY 10003
LBazerjian@icphusa.org
T: 212.358.8086 x 1204 | F: 212.358.8090
Subscribed to NIEER online Newsletter retrieved from http://nieer.org/resources/newsletter/
Sherry Hutton and Donna Burns, Fun@playbasedlearning.com.au
Statistics information for state of Victoria, AU
http://www.missionaustralia.com.au/news/2953-poverty-in-victoria-reaches-alarming-level
Dorothy Gibson
Organization and Field Services
American Federation of Teachers
555 New Jersey Avenue NW
Washington, DC 20001
(206) 778-2703 (cell)
dgibson@aft.org
www.aft.org
I will be speaking on the phone with Dorothy this weekend.
Three contacts for the city of Newton, Kansas
Erin McDaniel
Public information officer
City of Newton
201 E. Sixth
Newton, KS 67114
Phone: (316) 284-6055
This is the information I received about the city of Newton, Kansas 67114
Percentage of residents living in poverty in 2009: 9.7%
(10.0% for White Non-Hispanic residents, 27.8% for Black residents, 6.1% for Hispanic or Latino residents, 0.0% for American Indian residents, 7.1% for other race residents, 2.4% for two or more races residents)
Need to receive this information
Statistics for School Lunch Program for the USD 373, Newton, KS area
Lunch Program, email mzinn@newton.k12.ks.us
Mandi Zinn, Director of Food Service
Resource recommended by Miss McDaniel
Myrna Krehbiel from Peace Connections. You can contact her at 316-284-0000 or info@peaceconnections.org. She leads the Bridges Out of Poverty program.
Saturday, September 17, 2011
fun@playbasedlearning.com.au Sherry has written that she would be willing to correspond and answer any questions I have. She is a early childhood professional in Australia
Dorothy Gibson, Organization and Field Services, American Federation of Teachers, www.aft.org I will be interviewing Dorothy one day next week.
SAVE THE CHILDREN http://www.facebook.com/savethechildren?sk=wall
Be an advocate for children
http://www.savethechildren.org/site/c.8rKLIXMGIpI4E/b.6151677/k.7FB4/Be_an_Advocate_for_Children.htm
Dorothy Gibson, Organization and Field Services, American Federation of Teachers, www.aft.org I will be interviewing Dorothy one day next week.
SAVE THE CHILDREN http://www.facebook.com/savethechildren?sk=wall
Be an advocate for children
http://www.savethechildren.org/site/c.8rKLIXMGIpI4E/b.6151677/k.7FB4/Be_an_Advocate_for_Children.htm
Saturday, September 10, 2011
Connections for current trends and issues
Sherry Hutton and Donna Burns, a blog search connection
fun@playbasedlearning.com.au
American Federation of Teachers, Dorothy Gibson, dgibson@aft.org
No connections with World Forum Foundation, eight e-mails sent and all came back from mail administrator as error
From a blog connection
http://lawhighteeducation.com
http://american-education.org
http://early-childhood-education-online.org
A program facilitator in Canada
http://www.strongstart.blogspot.com
An educator in Canada
http://common-senseinearlychildhoodeducation.blogspot.com/
An educator in Australia
http://malesinearlychildhood.blogspot.com/
Another educator from Australia
http://auntannieschildcare.blogspot.com/
The last four websites were donated by a friend.
fun@playbasedlearning.com.au
American Federation of Teachers, Dorothy Gibson, dgibson@aft.org
No connections with World Forum Foundation, eight e-mails sent and all came back from mail administrator as error
From a blog connection
http://lawhighteeducation.com
http://american-education.org
http://early-childhood-education-online.org
A program facilitator in Canada
http://www.strongstart.blogspot.com
An educator in Canada
http://common-senseinearlychildhoodeducation.blogspot.com/
An educator in Australia
http://malesinearlychildhood.blogspot.com/
Another educator from Australia
http://auntannieschildcare.blogspot.com/
The last four websites were donated by a friend.
Friday, September 9, 2011
SAVE THE CHILDREN SITES TO REVIEW THE WORK THEY ARE DOING:
http://results.savethechildren.org/Article/2011/Q3/Letter-From-the-President?msource=pcecures0911
http://www.savethechildren.org/site/c.8rKLIXMGIpI4E/b.7084413/k.26F5/Oprah_Winfrey_Matau_Primary_School_Project.htm?msource=pcecures0911
http://www.savethechildren.org/site/c.8rKLIXMGIpI4E/b.7084483/k.8F5A/Literacy_Boost.htm?msource=pcecures0911
http://www.savethechildren.org/site/c.8rKLIXMGIpI4E/b.6153015/k.E633/Education.htm?msource=pcecures0911
http://www.savethechildren.org/site/c.8rKLIXMGIpI4E/b.6153013/k.9328/Program_Areas.htm?msource=pcecures0911
http://www.org/site/c.8rKLIXMGIpI4E/b.6150371/ Save the Children in Guinea is especially close to my heart as Guinea is where I worked as a teacher.
http://www.savethechildren.org/site/c.8rKLIXMGIpI4E/b.7084413/k.26F5/Oprah_Winfrey_Matau_Primary_School_Project.htm?msource=pcecures0911
http://www.savethechildren.org/site/c.8rKLIXMGIpI4E/b.7084483/k.8F5A/Literacy_Boost.htm?msource=pcecures0911
http://www.savethechildren.org/site/c.8rKLIXMGIpI4E/b.6153015/k.E633/Education.htm?msource=pcecures0911
http://www.savethechildren.org/site/c.8rKLIXMGIpI4E/b.6153013/k.9328/Program_Areas.htm?msource=pcecures0911
http://www.org/site/c.8rKLIXMGIpI4E/b.6150371/ Save the Children in Guinea is especially close to my heart as Guinea is where I worked as a teacher.
Thursday, September 8, 2011
Monday, August 1, 2011
Week 6
Support, to me means being there when needed to hold me up, to be available and ready to be a part of my world. The challenge that might be coming for me: searching for another school to teach in. My son wants me to move closer to him and his wife. That would mean moving, I have lived in this house for 22 years, finding another place to live, finding a new job, etc., etc.
My support comes from my faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and my relationship with God the Father. When stressors come, and I have had several in the last few weeks, I know my Father knows and will hold me and strengthen me for the tasks that need to be done and to calm my spirit.
Because of my faith, I have had so many opportunities to serve people and travel. My faith took me to West Africa, Australia, Old Mexico, to Canada and all across the USA in service. I had never been to Africa, but hopped on a plane in 2002 and flew to a “destination unknown” at least to me. God knew what was ahead for me but I had no clue. If I had known, I might have given it much more thought than I did.
When I was in school at the Graduate Institute of Applied Linguistics, I had two professors that kept trying to discourage me saying I was too old and that I could not learn another language. At the end of the class, they had to give me an A. I spend more time praying about that class than I did studying. Then God sent me to another difficult school, the University of Quebec at Chicoutimi for French Language Immersion to learn to speak French in 13 months. He is my support, my driving force that keeps me going. My faith means everything to me.
I do have another significant support in my youngest son and his wife. When I get discouraged, I call William and he always says, “Do not worry about it MOM we will work it out”. He has been the crutch that I have leaned on since the divorce in ‘91. My daughter is supportive most of the time but she lives so far away that it is hard for her to relate to what I am going through. My church family is supportive and caring. My minister answers my e-mails when I have questions and is very encouraging.
Every day of my life, I know that God is with me to support me in my teaching, my driving to work, my studies and my life. We had for a while a little girl in class who was very defiant and violent at times. She kicked every teacher at one time or another. When I would get frustrated and not know what to do next, I would tell the other teachers I had to go to the bathroom. I would sit in there and pray, “God calm my spirit” and “calm B’s spirit” and then I would be ready to go back to the classroom and proceed with the day.
I work with a great team of teachers: my co-teacher is a great supporter. He listens, he talks, and he will advise when needed. He is a friend and a good example for the children. He has a dry sense of humor which I enjoy. We make a good team. He is young but very mature for his age. He treats me as an equal even though there is forty years difference in our ages. Both he and my son are supportive of my finishing my Master’s Degree. There are times I have gotten discouraged and wonder if I made the right decision to pursue this journey, both of them say, ”Of course, keep going.”
I cannot even imagine what my life would be like if I did not have Jesus as my best friend and sustainer. I have been asked if I was ready to go back overseas to work. I always say, “If God calls, I will answer, but He is not calling me”. With the health issues I have a long-term mission assignment would not be advisable. But I have said I would go on short-term trips and be ready to serve. To go to the mission field again would mean raising funds, hours and hours of speaking before crowds of people pointing out the importance of the mission. It would mean closing my house again and preparing my sister or my friends to care for my stateside expenses while I was gone. This is a huge task, I do not think I am ready for this again. I do not mean to preach but that is where my life is and where my support comes from.
Tuesday, July 19, 2011
My Connections to Play
Not my doll, but much like it
While we try to teach our children all about life,
Our children teach us what life is all about.
~Angela Schwindt
While we try to teach our children all about life,
Our children teach us what life is all about.
~Angela Schwindt
Bitter are the tears of a child: Sweeten them.
Deep are the thoughts of a child: Quiet them.
Sharp is the grief of a child: Take it from him.
Soft is the heart of a child: Do not harden it.
Pamela Glenconner
Deep are the thoughts of a child: Quiet them.
Sharp is the grief of a child: Take it from him.
Soft is the heart of a child: Do not harden it.
Pamela Glenconner
This last quote describes my childhood so completely but yet there are people I would not have wanted to have lived without, such as my Grandfather and My Aunt.
As I think about play, as much as I remember, play was a time of sending the children out so work could be done in the house without being interrupted. I used play as a means of escape, play itself could be anywhere from riding the horses to hiding away to read and dream. I was, and am, a dreamer with lots of things to do before I am done.
Every one of us has a child lurking inside wanting to come out. I guess I have that child wanting to come out and play. I can envision myself by a stream, a small one, possibly a shallow creek, stretched out on a large towel with a book in hand and a dream in the heart. I am going to read about Australia and dream of a trip I might one day take there. I read about the kangaroos, what a strange looking animal, and the kookaburra bird with their strange call.
When I go to Australia, will I have to wear something different, do they dress as we do. Are all the people prisoners, will I be afraid of the people, what color of skin do they have, what do they eat? When I go to Australia, will I have to fly or go on a boat, do they have cars? I read on in my book to find answers. I will have to ask my Aunt when I get back to the house.
The sun is getting warm and I am tired of reading so I turn over and watch the clouds. That one looks like a ship, oh that one looks like a bird, and that one looks like a horse. Watching the clouds make formations is fun but I fall asleep only to be wakened by a pesky fly on my nose. I look at the clouds and they have turned dark and are rolling around like an angry sea. I best get back to the house before the rain starts.
I feel a drop of rain on my eye and know that I need to run faster. As I am running, I hear a clap of thunder and more rain pelts my head. Am I in trouble, am I going to get drenched, oh well, rain is cooling and refreshing but I must get back so not to worry anyone. I run in the house only to find no one had missed me, they thought I was in my room reading. Well, I was reading but not in my room but my favorite spot by the creek.
Australia, will I ever get to go there and see all their strange animals and eat their food and see their clothes? I hope so, the dream goes on.
The one joy of the summer was playing in the rain barrel. Each one of us had our chance to play in the barrel. The only purpose for the rain barrel was to play in it. Sometimes my grandfather would use some of the water to put on the garden which was nearby. Most of the time the barrel was for playing, as I remember. I do not remember much of my childhood, and prefer to not go back but this was something I do remember.
An adult note: I went to Australia the last of September of 2004. I got all my questions answered an more. It is a beautiful country and my dream is to go there again before I close the book. And yes, I would have been reading a level 3 book by the time I was five. I started first grade at four because I could read so well. That came from reading under the covers with a flashlight for many, many nights.
As I look at play today versus play when I was a child, children now have so much more "equipment" for play. The only real toy I remember was a baby doll that my sister and I shared. I am sure, there must have been others but I do not remember them. Play for me was creative, making our own dishes out of gourds while the children now have all sorts of kitchen equipment to play and create stories with.
As an adult, I do think that my play has influenced my life in a way to be more sensitive to children, especially those who do not have. As far as toys, I never felt deprived in that way. My friend and I spent time creating things out of branches, gourds, and leaves. I do think that with so much to "have" children are not as creative and do not explore as much.
I am not sure we teach our children to dream. That was an important part of my play, dreaming and wondering what the world was like and how it all worked. As a dreamer, I would go to books as my friends and let them take me to places I never thought I would go. I now tell my children that, books can take you to places you might not ever get to go so treat them as your friend.
Monday, July 11, 2011
Quotes Teacher/Parent
If you think education is expensive, try ignorance.
Derek Bok, President, Harvard University
Derek Bok, President, Harvard University
The greatest discoveries all start with the question "Why?"
Dr. Robert D. Ballard
Dr. Robert D. Ballard
Be very, very careful what you put into that head,
because you will never, ever get it out.
Cardinal Wolsey
because you will never, ever get it out.
Cardinal Wolsey
Never let formal education get in the way of your learning.
Mark Twain
Mark Twain
The only good is knowledge and the only evil is ignorance.
Socrates
Socrates
Learning is not attained by chance, it must be sought for with ardor
and attended to with diligence.
Abigail Adams - 1780
and attended to with diligence.
Abigail Adams - 1780
Education is what survives when what has been learned has been forgotten.
B. F. Skinner
B. F. Skinner
www.songs4teachers.com/inspiration
Wednesday, July 6, 2011
Relationship Reflection
She called me one night, 1:30 a.m. crying. It scared me and I asked her what was the matter. Her response was “nothing Mom I just want to tell you thank you for being such a good mom and teaching me how to be a lady.”
My friends are my accountability partners, we laugh, we pray, we cry and we support each other. I do not see them right now as much as I would like. Being summer they are busy with their families. I became acquainted with them through my two youngest children. Their children, three girls, and my children were in youth group at church together. We all became close, to the point that their daughters called me “Mom number 2”. My son was like the girls brother. As our children matured and moved on with their lives, they have lost track of each other but Mom and Dad and I are still close friends. My relationship with them is unique as he was my forwarding agent when I was in Africa and then again when I went to teach at the Mission School in Arizona. A forwarding agent is one who oversees the stateside expenses and manages any personal business that cannot be care for overseas. By doing this for me, they became really involved in my life, knowing pretty much everything that went on. They were there for me when my oldest son sent a letter disowning me and never wanting to hear from me again. He actually sent the letter to them and asked them to forward it to me. I never saw the letter, they were protecting me from things he said and how he said them.
My oldest son decided that he did not want to have anything to do with me because I became a missionary in Africa. He was opposed to my going there. He is extremely prejudiced. He also became very involved with his dad and what was going on there. I do not know the details but know that if he is talking to his dad he cannot talk to me. This was very hard for me to understand and still is but I have accepted it and moved on. It still hurts but I cannot do anything about it now except pray for him.
Relationships have been hard for me to develop. After my mother died when I was four, my dad took the four oldest and moved back to the family farm with my grandfather. My dad became moody and impulsive in his anger doing things that kept all of us scared most of the time. My dad’s sister was our caretaker and she was the kindest person, teaching us all she knew about life. She had live a sheltered life on the farm caring for everyone but she knew how to be kind and that she did well. My grandfather was the greatest, I know that is where my aunt learned to be kind. He was the kind of guy everyone knew, respected and consulted about farming.
My aunt taught me to trust, my dad taught me to trust no one. That was confusing but I preferred to follow my aunt. I learned to trust no one again through my marriage and divorce. I have worked hard to learn to trust again but there are times when I question the actions of others and wonder if they are being truthful.
Strong healthy relationships are built on trust, respect and loyalty. I know that I have that kind of relationship with my friends, my youngest son and his wife, and my daughter and her husband. There are many people at the church that I have healthy relationships with: my friend/counselor, my friend and encourager, my minister and his wife and the administrator and his wife. These are the people who support me, and I support and respect them. My church is my family. I know that my son and daughter understand that as they also are a part of this family even though they live away.
As a preschool teacher and early childhood advocate, I know that my experiences have taught me to be sensitive to the needs of a small child. Our house burned and my mother and father fought to put it out. A few weeks later, my mother was taken to the hospital with bad headaches and she never came back. I did not understand what was going on. This impacted my life in a way that made me sensitive and caring for the feelings of small children. I have a desire to advocate for them, to teach them, and to love them. Teaching was my mother’s field of work when she met my father. I wanted to follow in her steps and to do her work that she did not get to finish. That may sound strange but that was and is my desire.
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