Reading this book has helped me realize why I have chosen to work with young children. I have the opportunity to be in about 40 young lives each year in my building. I get to have conversations, sing, dance, play, and read with my young children. I am able to be a role model for them, wipe their tears away when they are sad, help them learn new things, and give them opportunities to excite their learning. At the end of the day, I am so happy that I work with children. The Afterforward of this book gives a lot of information on early childhood programs and projects to bring awareness of the importance of early childhood. We as teachers and aspiring teachers should be bringing awareness of the importance of early childhood education to everyone we know and meet. It's part of a package deal when you become an advocate of early learning. Looking back on the pages of this book, I have learned a lot about what it takes to be a director. Not only being a director, but a good quality educator. All the information given in this book can be related to all careers in early childhood education. One thing I will definitely take with me is that there has to be a balance in my work with children. The triangle is so important and I think it should be placed in every office at every early childhood program. Having a balance between managing/overseeing, coaching/mentoring, and building/supporting community is how a practitioner in early childhood will succeed. How will you use the information and encouraging strategies from this course in your own practice? This has been a fun class and thank you to everyone who has read and commented on my blog. See you all next semester!
-Ashley
I agree....What a GREAT book full of so much valuable information to take with you whether you become a director one day or continue teaching in the classroom. This book inspired me, taught me, encourage me to think a little deeper, and sometimes scared me ;) But it was jam packed full of stuff I hope to take with me for years down the road! I would have to say the key thing that will stick with me probably forever, is the importance of balance that the triangle strategy really encouraged! Balance is key in most areas of our lives I have noticed! Too much of a certain thing can be a bad thing but the right amount can be advantageous! If something as good for you as working out can hinder you if you over do it and just kill your body! But working out a healthy amount is great for your physical body as well as how you feel mentally! The same thing with the triangle idea that we learned so much about! Too much focus on one side of triangle and it is typically over kill and may hurt your program! But if you can find a way to balance all three sides and maintain it, I think you will find that your program runs much more efficiently and smoothly! Its ideas like the triangle one and others from this book that make me so excited to be in the field that I am in. I love what I do, and I LOVE working with kids....they always put a smile on my face no matter what mood I am in! BUT there is so much to think and worry about beyond just the children (even thought they are the most important and should come first), things like relationships with parents, relationships with staff, the feel of your environment, budgeting and so so so much more! I hope that I can take what I learned from this book and all the blog discussions and use this information for years to come!!
ReplyDeleteHi Ashley,
ReplyDeleteYou make a powerful observation here -- what it means to be a good quality educator. Should/can directors also function as good quality educators? In what ways do you articulate good and quality in the conception of a good quality educator? Are there specific characteristics of a good quality educator? Can different cultures and contexts create different constructions of a good quality educator? In what ways can advocacy further define the role of the good quality educator? Can directors and teachers function in their jobs without advocacy? If they can, how might school/teaching be enacted?
Jeanne
Hello Ashley,
ReplyDeleteI agree with you, this book gave us a lot of insight on how and what strategies should be used in order to have a very effective and “balanced” program that meets the needs of everyone meaning directors, teachers, students and families. I really liked how our readings allowed us to visualize the settings and environments making it clear as to how these methods were used and how they changed the programs for the better. It is an advantage to be able to implement these strategies when learning about them. I am happy to hear that you are so excited, willing and passionate to teach our young children. I think it is great that you keep your enthusiasm in your teaching and you know the importance of great strategies and of a balanced program. Thank you for sharing and allowing me to comment on your blogs. I look forward to hearing and learning from you next semester : )
mari
Hi Ashley,
ReplyDeleteThis class has been great and I love this text. I even have co - workers who have been working in the field for many years that say they have this text and love it. This text has helped me look at where I'm at as an educator and what I need to improve on and also motivate me to stand up for what I feel needs to be changed at my school.
Hi Ashley,
ReplyDeleteHow can different cultures help with a good quality program? Is this possible? What are the characteristics associated with effectiveness in various roles that we are engaging in? How can we take what we have learned and use that knowledge in multiple learning styles for our programs, children, parents, staff and director? Should there be learning styles that are better suited to a learning task or another? Wouldn’t a well balanced learner learn in many ways using diverse styles?