Time for another posting. This one gets to be a little more personal---some things about me! I am adopted and my favorite story when I was young was The Chosen Baby by Valentina Wasson. It is the story of a baby who is adopted by a family who wanted him very much. His parents had everything they could ever want but they didn't have a baby to love. They went to the adoption agency, filled out their paperwork, had a visit from an adoption counselor, and then waited and waited. Finally they got their baby! They took him home, watched him sleep, and planned for their life together. The deep love that this family had for this baby exemplifies my belief that all babies should have people in their lives that love them.
When I am with children in a classroom, I try very hard to remember that I am a part of that deep love experience. One of my favorite quotes comes from Dr. Haim Ginott. He says, “I've come to the frightening conclusion that I am the decisive element in the classroom. It's my daily mood that makes the weather. As a teacher, I possess a tremendous power to make a child's life miserable or joyous. I can be a tool of torture or an instrument of inspiration. I can humiliate or humor, hurt or heal. In all situations, it is my response that decides whether a crisis will be escalated or de-escalated and a child humanized or de-humanized.”
Ginott, H. (1972). Between teacher and child. New York: McMillian.
Another thing about me is my belief that children should be allowed to be children. I have a t-shirt handout that I give to parents and providers that helps them understand that being a child means experiencing things first hand, and that can be dirty!
I love this picture! I own a daycare and its funny that this usually the number one complaint is that children are not clean when they leave like they are when they arrive on that morning. When in daycare, this is were they learn the most and staying clean is not the focus of the day! If you dont mind< I would love to post this picture, not only on my blog but at my daycare! Thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteI like you page
ReplyDeleteCarolyn,
ReplyDeleteI love this handout! I am a firm believer in the importance of play and allowing children to learn through play-based experiences. Parents need to learn to see the ‘mess’ as a positive and realize that it means their child had a fun and stimulating day. My two year old daughter usually comes home with paint on her clothes, marker stains on her hands, sand in her hair and shoes etc. When we see her at the end of the day my husband often asks as to what she has been up to, to become so messy. I tell him that the mess just means she was engaged in fun learning experiences throughout her day! What response have you received from parents once they read the handout?
I also like this!!
ReplyDeleteCarolyn,
ReplyDeleteA Hawaiian proverb or poetic saying is Ma Ka Hana Ka 'ike - by doing you learn best. I appreciate your blog and look forward to more posting and inspirations. Thanks!