Wow! As I come to the close of this chapter in my life, I can’t help but look back over the last twenty months and think about the new friends that I have made, the instructors that have supported and challenged me, and the knowledge that I have gained that will continue to encourage me and drive me to promote change and success not just in my life but in the lives of others as well. I have learned how important it is to communicate with our children and their families, and to begin this as early as the infant years. I have learned how to identify my biases and the strategies that will help me overcome them. But most of all, I have learned that there is a community of professionals and organizations, not just local, but nationally and internationally that surround me and that I can turn to them for the support that I may need as I continue to seek change in my own professional life.
A long term goal that I have identified for my professional and personal life is to continue teaching families as well as children on the important part they play in the lives of their own children. Parents are as important as their teachers and when working together we can serve as a great team for the success of all involved.
To my colleagues, thank you for your kind words and support. I wish you the very best! Keep learning and following your dreams. Who knows where they may lead you! Thank you to my instructors for the many resources, the professionals that have been shared with us through media segments and for the support, encouragement, and comments along the way!
Amy, thank you for sharing these insights about your learnings over this journey. Your perspective as a parent and dedicated teacher of young children has so much value for both parents of young children and colleagues in our field. I share your sentiments about the collegial support that we have discovered in our course of study. The communities of practice that support our work and increase our knowledge are essential for professional development and reflective practice. I wish you all the best in your work with children and families, in whatever career direction life takes you. Congratulations on achieving your master’s degree while juggling the roles of mom and teacher too!
ReplyDeleteHi Amy, Congratulations! It has been a long, but very rewarding road. I identify with all of the important lessons learned that you shared in your post. I am glad you brought up communication. Until this program, I never gave effective communication much though, but I agree that the knowledge I gained regarding communication has made me more effective in working with children and families. I also realize that personal biases impact everything we do; and so increasing awareness of biases also helps improve interactions with children and families. Thanks for your inspiring words and best wishes to you as you begin the next chapter in your career!
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ReplyDeleteI would agree that it is great to know that we are all part of a community of early childhood professionals. I have had the opportunity through my studies at Walden to connect with other professionals from around the world. Thank you for reminding me of the lessons I learned from others during my studies. I wish you the best for your future work with children and families.
Congratulations! I am excited to have completed this journey along with you. I would like to thank you for sharing throughout this semester. I wish you the best of luck as you continue on in this journey!
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