Inspiring Words from Present Early Childhood Professionals

"If you don't like the way the word is, you have an obligation to change it. Just do it one step at a time."
-Marian Wright Edelman. (n.d.). In Wikipedia. Retrieved November 26, 2011, from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marian_Wright_Edelman

"We now have scientific evidence to support a belief that many of us have held for a long time: That children's environment of relationships in the first years of their lives shape the architecture of their brains, influencing their abilities long into adulthood."
 -Whitebrook Ph.D., Marcy (2010, April 26). [2020 Vision for the Early Learning Workforce speech]. Speech presented at Early Learning Tour, Denver, Colorado. [Transcript]. Retrieved from http://www2.ed.gov/about/inits/ed/earlylearning/denver-whitebook-speech.pdf

"And when I think about passion as a person, I also embrace who I am, who I am as a woman, who I am as a Latina leader, and what my family has taught me."
-Leticia Lara, LSSW, Regional Manager for Outreach and Professional Development, ZERO TO THREE

"I think, like I've said before, and I truly believe that I'm not here to save the world. I'm here to make a difference in the community I am working."
-Raymond Hernandez., MS Ed., Executive Director of the School of Early Childhood Education, University of Southern California

My Favorite Early Childhood Quote:

"We worry about what a child will become tomorrow, yet we forget that he is someone today."- Stacia Tauscher

Why "Little Tina" Touched My Heart!!!!

Being a educator in the early childhood field has so many perks: The young age group, the fun curriculum, listening to their stories and simply seeing them develop day by day. During my student teaching experience, I formed so many long lasting relationships with my students and their parents. There was one student that continues to hold a special place in my heart and I'm going to call her "Tina". "Tina" had a learning disability. She would meet with her intervention teacher once a week and my cooperating teacher would have to write up an IEP, Individualized Education Plan, to keep her on track. "Tina" was very involved with her center time activities and had great interaction with her classmates. Although she wasn't on their learning level, she had the will power to succeed just as they did. Sometimes, "Tina" would also try to use a learning disability to her advantage in certain way of speaking. My cooperating teacher and teacher assistant would ask "Tina" to sit down, clean up, or stop talking and she would not listen. They had a rough time dealing with her behavior. One day, "Tina" and I had a little talk about her behavior. She loved being up under me and expressing herself so our conversation went well. I explained to her that big girls are nice in class and do what their teachers tell them to do." I asked her if she thought that she was being a big girl and she said nodded yes." I told her that she wasn't and that she needs to show Ms. Faison better." She started to cry. I consoled her and told her that it was ok. I want to see her do better because I care. As I held her on my lap, I wiped her tears and told her to go play." From that day, her behavior started changing for the better. Yes, she still had her little moments but then didn't compare to her past behavior. I knew that "Tina" was special and that she was going to go somewhere in life as she grows up. It was something about how she called my name, how she loved being up under me, how she listened to me when I told her to do something and just her smile. I miss my little "Tina" and hope that she is doing well!!!!

My Favorite Childhood Story: "The Little Engine That Could"

My favorite childhood story is, "The Little Engine That Could". This children's story has such a deep meaning. The plot involves a train that has to go over a mountain but doesn't have an engine that's strong enough to pull it over. Some many of the larger trains made so many excuses to why they couldn't do the job. One day, a little engine came across the train and decided to give it try. Although he didn't think that he could because his engine was so much smaller. He had the will power and kept telling itself that "It thinks that he could." After repeating this chant over and over again, the engine reached it's goal by pulling the train over the top of the mountain. The little engine reassured itself that it made it through and knew that it possible all along.
This story's theme is so real that it compares to how children think in the classroom. So many children have doubts about making good grades and succeeding in their school work because of how hard it may be or the lack of support they have at home. We have to encourage our children to try and do their best. Explain to them that a challenge is not a negative thing. And to just know that they have overcome their obstacle can make room for a long term reward in the future. Children will have to do as  the "little engine that could" and have a little pep talk from time to time, repeating their favorite motivation phrase such as "I know I can", "I'm not going to stop" or "There is nothing that I can't do", to get them through. Once they overcome their hurdle, they can have a mental celebration and say " I did it" or "Ms. Faison, was right. I can do anything that I put my mind to".

You tell me that you care about my child and his/her well-being? Prove It!

Early Childhood Educators, it's up to us to make the difference and start placing the needs of kids first!!! Parents depend on us heavily while their children are in our care. Let's show them that we can do the job and do it right!