Quotes about Education, Children, and Success

"If you don't like the way the world is, you change it. You have an obligation to change it. You just do it one step at a time".        - Marian Wright- Edelman


"The legacy I want to leave is a child care system that says that no kid is going to be left alone or left unsafe".     - Marian Wright-Edelman


Marian's work has revolved around service work for children and families. She has strong beliefs that we can make things happen for children. It is our job and responsibility to adovocate for children.



"The greatest sign of success for a teacher...is able to say, "The children are now working as if I did not exist".          - Maria Montessori



"Free the child's potential, and you will transform him into the world".       - Maria Montessori


"When dealing with children there is greater need for observing than of probing".       - Maria Montessori


I love these quotes! We must remember to take time to really watch and observe chidlren. I know so many teachers who love to plan, plan, plan that they miss why they are planning. During my Head Start days, I knew teacherd who dreaded the required observations. I enjoyed observing the children, even though it is time consuming. Make the time to watch the discoveries!

My Personal Childhood Web

The foundation if my development was formed through many close relationships, here are just a few.

Mom - my mom taught me everything I know. Besides some of the general skills for life (cooking, cleaning, etc), she taught me how to love and trust in others. She modeled caring and communication skills that are important in relationships. She was a stay-at-home mom who made sure we were loved, cared for and had what we needed to succeed. I loved knowing that when I got off the school bus she would be home, waiting to hear all about my day. By her example, I saw what it takes to be a great mom. When she succumbed to breast cancer in 1994, she began a new journey of trials and triumps that fell short in 1997.  She left me with a lifetime of memories and lessons that impact my life on a daily basis.

Dad - Although my dad and I were not as close, I have great memeories of my childhood with him. My dad took me for my physical to enter kindergarten. I still remember sitting in the doctors office with him at this appointment. As an auto mechanic my dad often worked on cars in our garage. I was allowed to play in these cars while he worked on them. My dad probably never knew how these fun times playing at the steering wheels, brought my role-playing skills to new heights. I also remember one year he took me and my brother to the local horse show. We had a great time just enjoying the races. He also, has journeyed on to a new life, leaving me memories to cherish.

Grandparents - I loved spending time at my maternal grandparents house. I would go and spend several nights at a time, mostly in the summer. Some of my most memborable times are helping my grandma spring clean. The grandpa would make us chocolate shakes and we would sit on the front porch and catch lightening bugs. My mother used to tell me that she would call over to my grandma and ask if I was ever coming home. My grandparents impacted my life through their love and the things they taught me. I learned to starch linenes from my grandma and a little bit about carpeting from my grandpa. My grandmother also left me with a love of fruit and cottage cheese. This was a part of dinner every night.

Siblings - I am one of 6 children. Although all my siblings have had an impact on my life, most of my early childhood years were spent with my oldest sister (Sylvia) and brother (Bill). My brother and I were not even a year apart (we are the same age for 10 days). We spent a lot of time together playing cops and robbers on bikes, playing in our basement, etc. We always called each other buddies and did a thumbs up in true Fonzie fashion. Unfortunately, we have grown apart in our adult years. Sylvia taught me a great life lesson - life's not fair. As a kid, one of my favorite sayings ws "that's not fair" and she was quick to remind me that life's not fair. However synical this might sound, it is something that impacted my life, and we mention it often.

Ms. Gavin - Ms. Gavin was my kindergarten teacher. She allowed us free play for most of the morning. One of my main memories about kindergarten was how Ms. Gavin played piano during circle time. This began my love for music. She encouraged singing and experiementing with music. Ironically enough, in high school I had the opportunity to take a quarter of piano classes. It was fun. Although, I am not very successful at playing the piano, I can tinker with it now and again.

Brandon's Discoveries

In the summer of 1997 I was working as a preschool teacher at a local child care center. One of the children in my classroom was 4-year old Brandon. He had minimal language capabilities and explored everything. He still wore pampers and did not engage with other children. I witnessed him in parallel play periodically. When the class groups were together in the common areas, many of the other teachers at the child care center laughed at Brandon and said he would never learn.
I, on the other hand, had my own ideas. A child not learn - not possible. I made it a priority of mine to talk with Brandon and encourage engagement often throughut the day. I stood back and observed him so that I could learn where he was and what his capabilities were. In short conversations with his mom, a single mother of 2, I found out that Brandon's older brother learned at a slower pace. At this time in my career, I was not aware of community resources as far as assessments go, and let's just say the center director was not an involved, engaged director.
Over the summer, Brandon made improved and grew by leaps and bounds. I continued to plan activities that kept Brandon's interest. During outside time, I made sure I checked in with him and talked to him about what he was doing. One day he dug up a worm and was playing with it, what a teachable moment. The other teachers were amazed that by the end of the summer Brandon was almost potty trained and talking to others. Although he did not have long conversations with peers, Brandon was speaking words and making sentences. Something he was not doing just 2 short months before.
I think of Brandon often and wonder how is he doing. He would have graduated high school this year. I am hopeful that my inentional practices over that summer gave Brandon the boost he needed to be successful in his school career.
I am reminded of the saying: To Teach is to Touch a Life Forever.

Favorite Children's Books

There are so many books to choose from. I have a few that are forefornt in my mind.

I have several copies of Steven Kellogg's Is Your Mama a Llama?  This became a favorite of mine when I was teaching a particular class of preschool children. Everytime I read this book, whether at group time or one-on-one, the children were engaged. A great aspect of this book is the rhyming. This is a prime example of exposing young children to phonemic awareness. My personal copies are well-worn as my niece and nephew have enjoyed this book also.

Mercer Mayer's Just For You is a great children's book that addresses how children try so hard to help others. Everytime little critter helps, accidents occur. I love when he is carrying in the groceries and the eggs break - what a real-life example in which young children can relate. I had a child in my classroom several years back who would read this book aloud often. He enunciated the "just for you" part everytime. Again, this is a book with repetitive language and children know what is coming.

                 

These are just a couple of my faves, check them out sometime (or re-visit them).

My Teaching Philosophy

I believe that children learn best through hands on activity. Children must be engaged to the fullest extent to gain knowledge and cultivate learning. These 2 well-known quotes really speak to my teaching philosophy.

"Tell me and I forget. Teach me and I remember. Involve me and I learn" - Benjamin Franklin

"The learning is in the doing" - Hawaiian Proverb

It is the teacher's responsibility to engage children in everyday experiences, meeting the children at their level of learning. If these factors are considered in the planning process, learning is sure to occur.

A Little About Me

I grew up in a big family, I am one of six children. I have been around children all my life. When I graduated high school I decided to jump into early childhood. My grandma always said, "why do you have to go to school to take care of children"? I still smile to this day about her comment. There is so much to learn, and most important is to remember to learn from children every day.
I am single and love spending time with friends and family. I take much pride in my neices and nephews. They bring me much joy.
I chose to begin graduate work in this particular program because it speaks to my everyday work. One of my co-workers says that it was designed just for me. After finishing my BS work, I was not really looking to continue my education in a formal way. This degree found me!