MY SUPPORTS

Your life revolves around your physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual well being. I am blessed to have strong relationships that help promote a healthy lifestyle. Physically I get support from the use of a knee brace on my right leg. I use the brace when I know that I will be on my feet for long periods of time. The brace enables me to successfully fulfilll my duties as a teacher and also gives me support when I walk for exercise. Mentally and spiritually I receive support from reading the Bible and attending worship services with my family and friends. I grew up in a religious family and have always been surrounded by those who believe in God. When I am unable to attend Church or worship, I feel that something is missing out of my day. It would be extremely challenging for me if I had to give up my faith and religious beliefs. They give me inner peace which enables me to have a balanced life so that I am able to help others. Financially and emotionally my support comes from my job and my family. Although I only work part time, I am thankful to have an income to help support my family. My husband is very supportive financially and also emotionally. He is a giver and will give you his last if you need it. He also keeps me from being stressed out by reminding me about our many blessings. Supportive to me means that there is always someone or something to give you stability. That stability makes you the person you are or the person you hope to become.

MY CONNECTIONS TO PLAY

"Play is the beginning of knowledge"--Anonymous

"Play is not only our creative drive; it's a fundamental mode of learning."--David Elkind
I was fortunate enough to grow up in the country. My play area consisted of the yard around my house. I can remember playing for hours with my dog Sandy. My sisters and I would play hopscotch in the sand or play hide and seek. We loved being outside in the fresh air. When we did go inside to play, we played with our dolls. We also loved to play school. My Mom would be outside hanging clothes up on the clothesline and sometimes she would join our game of hide and seek. When my cousins came over it was like a super big party! Sometimes we would have big tea parties in my room, but most of the time we played right in my yard.

Today my family is very close. I believe this has come from years and years of being together and watching each other grow up. We always have family functions and now we encourage our children to play with one another without technology. The world of television and video games has seemed to destroy the creative minds of our children. Children and parents are always so busy now going from one sports event or practice to another. When I think back to growing up in the 70's life seemed so much easier and simple. I think Albert Einstein said it best...."Play is the highest form of research." Maybe we need to get back to that old school way of playing when we used nature to inspire our imagination.

The Importance of Love

"Every child walks into existence through the golden gate of love."--Beecher

We have learned that the successful development of children depends on a variety of things. One of the most important of these is the love of the people who surround them on a day to day basis. As we continue on our journey with Walden, let us not forget the importance of love as we strive to make a difference in the lives of children all over the world.

"Be the change that you want to see in the world."--Mohandas Ghandi

ASSESSMENTS

Giving an assessment is a way to record a child's progess overtime and provide feedback to a child's parent. Assessments can also be utilized to detect disabilities, measure readiness, and to evaluate the effectiveness of a lesson or program. Standardized tests are given state wide and nationally to school age children. These tests results can be used to compare children based on developmental norms. A disadvantage of a standarized test is how to interpret the information or data that is gathered. Many believe that the test is considered to have a cultural bias to a particular group of children which makes the accuracy of the results difficult to achieve. Other informal tests and techniques may be used for assessments such as teacher observations, teacher made checklists, portfolios, or open-ended questions. As stated earlier, research indicats that assessments both standardized and informal can be used to screen for disabilities, assess readiness, and to help develop curriculum and daily activities along with providing feedback to parents which makes them useful tools.

Students in Singapore and other Asian Countries continue to score higher in than students in the United States in both Math and Science. According to the Trends in Math and Science Study (TIMSS), which is a national test given to 4th and 8th graders, an average ten year old is 5% ahead of US Students in Math. Fourth graders in Hong Kong, Japan, and Taiwan also do better than students in the US. This trend usually continues through high school. It is suggested that the US focuses heavily on literacy and reading and not enough on the sciences. Education in Asian Cultures is considered to be the single most important means for social mobility. Access to quality education is very competitve and many families spend approximately 20% of their monthly income on their children's education.
If the United States plans to compete with Global America,than the educational system must better prepare students in all areas of learning.

References:
Berger, K. (2009). The developing person through childhood. (5th ed). New York,NY: Worth Publishers.

Retrieved from www.earlychildhoodnews.com/earlychild/article_view.aspx?ArticleID=210.

Retrieved from www.usnews.com/education/blogs/on-education/2008/12/09/study-us-trials-asian-countries-in-math-and-science.

Natural Disasters and Children

The children of both Haiti and Japan have been devasted by natural disasters. An earthquake in Haiti and an earthquake and tsunami in Japan have left thousands of children homeless and in need of basic items that we take for granted. The biggest stress on the children is the lack of basic services like clean water/food and family members. All of their sense of a normal existence has been taken away. This is very devastating to their psychological development. The experience of losing family, seeing injuried family members or friends and being displaced from their homes and schools is almost too much to bear. Many of the children are scared or afraid that this could happened again. Communities and volunteers from all over the world have dedicated their money,time, and efforts into trying to rebuild and bring some sort of normacy back to the people, but especially the children in these countries.

References:
www.traumalines.word press.com
www.guardian.ck.uk

DIVORCE AND ITS EFFECTS ON OUR CHILDREN

Family relationships can become stressed when parents are not able to get along. The family unit serves as the provider of a child's basic necessities, their learning, their self image of themselves, and the ability to nurture friendships and provide harmony and stability. When this is threathen, children are the ones who are the most affected. Divorce can separate children from someone who is seen as a caregiver. Bonds or attachments may be broken which can cause the child to become withdrawn or lonely. Children may begin to act out or do certain things that they may have never done before. Divorce can affect the financial well being and stability of a family. Children may also feel that they are the cause for the parent leaving. I have helped to raise two children who witnessed their parents' divorce. They both could have benefited from counseling because for a long time they felt like they did something to cause the divorce. Even though they had a supportive father and extended family, I believe that this was not enough to erase the fact that "Momma" was no longer around.

Reference:

Berger,K.(2009). The developing person through childhood. New York,NY: Worth Publishers.

Mental Illness And Its Effect On Children

Mental illness has become a major public health issue in our society. It is estimated that mental illness will affect 25% of us at some time in our lives. Many children will grow up with a parent or relative, who at some point, will have a mental illness that will affect the family as a whole. Although most of these illnesses may be mild and short lived, they will have adverse effects on the children of that family. The children may become withdrawn and also find it difficult to concentrate on their school work. They may have to look after a sick parent or take care of younger brothers and sisters. They may be worried or ashamed of their parent's or family member's illness or behavior. There is also evidence that links parental mental illness to the mistreatment of children. I had an uncle who suffered from a bipolar disorder for most of my childhood. I can remember being afraid of him because I couldn't understand why or how his moods and personality would change so drastically. Mental illness in the United States is quite high compared to other countries. In the United States the only people really getting the proper treatment are those with the most money. Compared to Canada, Chile, Germany, and the Netherlands, the US has the lowest rate of treatment for mental illness. Canada is said to be the best country to live in for receiving benefits of their public services. As educators, care givers, and advocates for children, I think that it is very important for us to be able to interact with the families of the children we serve. Therefore we must be prepared to offer help or provide resources to families that will help them be more successful in the family life and healthy development of their children.

Gadit, A. (2007). Mental health model:comparison between a developed and a developing country. Journal of Medicine,1(1). Retrieved from www.scientificjournals.org.

Huntsman, L. (November 2008). Parents with mental health issues:consequences for children and effectiveness of interventions designed to assist children and their families. Centre for Parenting & Research.

Royal College of Psychiatrists. (2004). Parents with mental illness:the problems for children. Mental Health and Growing Up Factsheet. Retrieved from www.rcpsych.ac.uk.

The Birthing Experience

The experience of having a baby in China is much different then having one in a western country. Routine and free prenatal care is limited in some areas. Technically it is also illegal for the those giving the ultrasound to disclose the gender of the fetus. Many hospitals in China only give epidurals for those having cesarean births and women labor together in one room. This type of system may not allow for many family members to be present during a delivery. A similarity to the United States is that cesarean births have risen since the 1970s. Chinese doctors may also be very pushy to foreigners and not want to comply to your wants. As I read the information about having a baby in China, it made me realize what I took for granted during my pregnancy and birthing experience. My OBGYN made me feel relaxed and informed as a new expectant mother. I found out the gender of my son early own with no problems and had natural childbirth by choice. I also have had friends who have had their entire families present during the birth of their children. Some were even videoed.

The Joy of My Life!

On Sunday, September 29, 1996 at 8:29am my life changed forever! This is when my little miracle Kenneth Leroy Glover, Jr. was born. I guess I had a very easy delivery...only two hours of labor. He is my only natural born child. My husband and sister in law witnessed his delivery. They were both very supportive. I was scared since he was my first and excited at the same time. I remember my husband having a lot of nervous energy because he talked a lot! I thought to myself...man can he just shut up! I also remember being very tried and wanting to sleep after his birth.

NOTE TO ALL OF MY WALDEN FRIENDS!

Thank you for visitng my blog site.  I hope to build a wonderful relationship with you as we take this journey together.

Passion, Motivation, and Wisdom

The following quotes speak volumes to me about passion, motivation, and wisdom.  They inspire me to continue on my journey in Early Childhood Education so that I may be a blessing to others.

"Education is a Civil Rights issue.  All children have the right to an optimum childhood education and life experiences...an education that opens up the world and leaves you ready with the necessary tools for life."
Renatta M. Cooper
Program Specialist
LA County Chief Administrative Office


"It is my passion to make sure that all children are taught in environments and in ways that nurture them to grow to their fullest ability."
Louise Derman Sparks
Professor Emeritus
Pacific Oak College, CA

Communicating Through Pictures

My neice Peyton will be moving into a new house in two weeks.  She is very excited about her new home.  She made a picture to tell me all about it.  I just love the creativity that children show in their pictures.