A Note of Thanks to my Colleagues

Thank you to all my colleagues for your support and encouragement as we embark on this journey together.  Your kind words and support as well as the knowledge you have shared with me has been a blessing.  I look forward to learning more about each of you as we move on to the next phase of this journey.  As I look back to when I began this class, I have come along way.  From my first post, "Struggling with Blogging" to where I am  now.  I have enjoyed reading and posting to you all!  Good luck as you complete this class and move to the next!

Significant Ethical Codes and Ideals

Ideal1-1.9

 - To advocate for and ensure that all children including those with special needs have access to the support services needed to be successful.

Children are unique and we need to be committed and supportive of each child  so that they all can be successful.  Some children may need more support than others, and it is our job to recognize that need and help them  in every way possible.

Principles P-1.1

 - Above all, we shall not harm children.  We shall not participate in practices that are emotionally damaging, physically harmful, disrespectful, degrading, exploitative, or intimidating to children.  This principle has precedence over all others in this Code.

- Doing any kind of act in any way that is harmful to a child is something that I am very passionate about.  We are trusted to care for many children each and every day.  Children are all different and no one should harm any child in any way.  We need to show our children love and affection and be encouragers in all ways.

Professional and Interpersonal Behavior #2

- We shall demonstrate the highest standards of personal integrity, truthfulness, and honesty in all our professional activities in order to inspire the trust and confidence of the children and families and of those with whom we work.

- Developing a good relationship with our families is important so that we can strive to meet any and all needs.  Relationships are also important so that parents and children will see that we do what we do for them.

Professional Development and Preparation #2

- We shall continually be aware of issues challenging the field of early childhood special education and advocate for changes in laws, regulations, and policies leading to improved outcomes and services for young children with disabilities and their families.

- It is important to stay abreast of new ideas and issues as well as how things in early childhood development are changing.  Advocating for changes in laws and policies that we are passionate about is also very important.  It is all about improving in the areas where services for our children are involved.

A Wealth of Information: Books, Articles, Websites and more

WEBSITES

National Association for the Education of Young Children
http://www.naeyc.org/

The Division of Early Childhood
http://www.dec-sped.org

Zero to Three: National Center for Infants, Toddlers, and Families
http://www.zerotothree.org

WESTED
http://www.wested.org/cs/we/print/docs/we/home.htm

Harvard Education Letter
http://www.hepg.org/hel/topic/85

FPG Child Development Institute
http://fpg.unc.edu

Administration for Children and Families Headstart's National Research Conference
http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/opre/hsrc/

Children's Defense Fund
http://childrensdefense.org

National Center for Research on Early Childhood Education
http://www.ncrece.org/wordpress

Raising Readers
http://www.raisingreaders.org/parents_and_families/books/current_books_collection/
This website has books that you can read that are categorized by age.


Books

The Essential 55 By: Ron Clark

Articles

NAEYC - National Association for the Education of Young Children

http://www.naeyc.org

National Center for Infants, Toddlers and Families

http://www.zerotothree.org

Words of Inspiration and Motivation

Some evidence suggests that early childhood professionals may not be adequately prepared to serve young children with disabilities enrolled in inclusive programs. A growing body of empirical evidence suggests that professional development on any topic is more likely to be effective when it is (a) content specific and focused on well-defined professional practices rather than general issues; (b) aligned with intervention or instructional goals, learning standards, and the curriculum materials used in practice; and (c) intensive, sustained over time, and designed to give feedback and guidance through methods such as coaching, consultation, or facilitated group collaboration.          – Pamela Winton

“We as professionals in the early childhood field have an opportunity to shape a child’s life for the better.”    – Sandy Escobido

“I think my passion comes from wanting to make a difference.” – Raymond Hernandez, MS Ed  

“The question is not whether we can afford to invest in every child; it is whether we can afford not to.”                  - Marian Wright Edelman

“When Jesus Christ asked little children to come to him, he didn't say only rich children, or White children, or children with two-parent families, or children who didn't have a mental or physical handicap. He said, 'Let all children come unto me.'”

                - Marian Wright Edelman

Personal Childhood Web

My Personal Childhood Web



My father was a hard working, caring, supportive, loving, Christian man.  He showed me how to love others no matter what.  As my father lay in the hospital, dying, he was concerned about the man in the room next to him.  He was concerned about his faith.  He sent a footprints plaque to his room as a reminder of how God would never leave him.  My favorite times with my father were when we would go riding on the motorcycle together.  I am so glad that God blessed me with such a wonderful father and that I got to call him my Dad!

 

My mother was a supportive, loving, caring, respectful, fun, and a Christian woman.  She wanted to stay home with my brother and I when we were young, so she kept a couple of other children so that she could do just that.  She always made sure that my brother and I were involved in our church and some sort of sports activities - for me it was gymnastics and soccer.  She was the girl scout cookie mom for my troop and the mom that all the kids wanted to come and visit because she would bake cookies with us.  I love that about my mom and I have always wanted to be like her in that way.

 

Hank Pulliam

Hank was a member of the church where I started attending at the age of 5.  He drove our church van and would pick up people that wanted to come to church that may not have been able to get there for whatever reason.  He loved his church and he loved his church family.  Even though my family would go to church, I loved for him to come by and get me on the church van.  He also had a wood working shop at his house and I would visit him and his wife often and he would let me make things with him.  The impression he left on me was that of love, because he was always showing love to others.

 

Alex Dunn

Sunday School Teacher

Alex was a great Sunday School teacher and a great friend.  He wanted to make sure that we knew about God's love but also about how we should show our love to others.  He was very instrumental in leading me to Christ and I thank him for that.  One of his favorite quotes that he would share with us as we would leave his class was, "Tell me who you run with and I'll tell you what you are!"  He stressed to us the importance of how we should walk so that others could see Christ in us.  Another quote he would share was, "It rains on the just the same as the unjust, and sometimes it just rains."  Things would not be easy along the way but God would always love us.

 

Mrs. Brock

Kindergarten teacher

Mrs. Brock was a great teacher and I loved that she took an interest in me.  I would go to class for half of a day and during that time she allowed me to be her helper.  I would help her with the kids who were less fortunate than I was and now realize that it was probably because they did not have the same support system that I had at home.  She was a nurturing teacher and had every child's education at heart.  The word that my principal described me as in my evaluation last year was just that - Nurturing.



Favorite Children's Quote

Think left and think right and think low and think high. Oh, the thinks you can think up if only you try! --- Dr. Seuss

I love this quote as I speak this to my students each and every day!  I always stress how important it is to keep trying!

A Favorite Children's Book

My favorite children's book is The Kissing Hand" by Audrey Penn.  It makes me think of when I sent my three boys off to school for the first time.  I also used this when I taught first grade.  I would read this story to them and then we would make a kissing hand which we gave to their parents at open house.