Quotes from professionals in the Early Childhood field

     To respect, accept, and treat with dignity a child or colleague or parent we like, enjoy, and agree with, is easy. We all can          do that without much trouble.  But it takes a true professional to be  respectful and accepting of a child or a student you        might wish was absent from the classes or meetings more often! To be a professional also means treating with dignity            and acceptance students or parents we might dislike or with whom we disagree. After all, parents – and students — are          just like 31 people! Some are easier to develop relationships with than others (Katz, 2008).

“Willingness to protect children is a characteristic of any decent and compassionate society and of any intelligent nation seeking to preserve itself” (Edelman, 1989)

Louise Derman-Sparks seems to be passionate about teaching young children, she commentated that “It was like the most joyful experience where I felt that everything in me was called on to teach and also it was very rewarding.  It just made me feel whole.  It made me feel whole and it made me feel creative” (Laureate Education, Inc., 2013).

Sandy Escobido was motivated to join the early childhood field by “Seeing how involved my [her] parents were.  It made me [her] want to be involved in education in general” (Laureate Education, Inc., 2013).

Edelman, M. (1989). Defending America’s Children. Educational Leadership, 46(8), 77.

Katz, L. (2008, November).  Challenges and Dilemmas of Educating Teachers of Young Children. Speech presented at the National        Association of Early Childhood Teacher Educators Conference, Dallas, Texas.

Laureate Education, Inc. (Producer). (2013). The Passion for Early Childhood [Video webcast]. Retrieved from                                https://class.waldenu.edu/webapps/portal/frameset.jsp?tab_tab_group_id=_2_1&url=%2Fwebapps%2Fblackboard%2Fexecute%2Flauncher%3Ftype%3DCourse%26id%3D_3468507_1%26url%3D

Personal Childhood Web

During my life, there have been people who have supported and nurtured me.  Five of them are: 

My Mother

Ever since I can remember my mother has always been very encouraging and supportive.  Since I grew up in a single-parent household she did not want me to become too dependent on her so she pushed me towards being more independent.  Throughout my life I have never doubted her love for me and she has always been my role model.  Though she was what some considered a strict parent I was never afraid to approach her with any topic. I knew that everything she did was out of love for me.  She made sacrifices to ensure that I had what I needed to succeed.  My mother’s influence can be seen in so many areas of my life such as: my approach to situations that arise, the way I treat others, some of my characteristics and my attitude towards work.  

 Aunty Avril 

I have always known her as Aunty Avril.  When I was younger she shared an apartment with my mother and me.  Her schedule was such that it allowed her to drop me at school every morning.  I soon became like a daughter to Aunty Avril.  We often had our own inside jokes and nick names for each other.  Aunty Avril still kept in touch even after we had all left that apartment.  When I went to college I got weekly emails from her and I continue to do so now.  Whenever I return home I always visit her and her co-workers.  She went to my college graduation, which made us both extremely happy. Aunty Avril influenced me to keep in touch with my friends. I really appreciated the fact that she kept in touch me even though we were miles apart

 Aunty Marcia

My whole life I have called her Aunty Marcia.  She is my mother’s hairdresser.  When I was younger I used to stay at her house after school.  My mother would pick me up from there on her way home from work.  At the time, Aunty Marcia had two sons, one was one year older than me and the other was two years younger than me.  She always involved me in anything that her family was doing, I never felt like an outsider but instead I felt like a part of her family.  When it was time for my high school prom she did my hair and nails for free.  She has always been involved in my life and has playfully teased me about boys and about growing up. Since leaving Jamaica we do not keep in touch like I would like to but my mother relays messages between the both of us.  Whenever I return home she is always one of the first persons that I visit. Her influence can be seen in the way I try to include other people in much the same way that she always included me.

Uncle McKayle 

I have known him for the majority of my life.  He used to work next door to my mother; he dropped her at work for years until she got her own vehicle.  Uncle McKayle was always interested in how I was doing at school.  He was also interested in my nutrition. Uncle Mac would sometimes buy groceries for us on the weekend, mostly fruits.  When he became a Christian, he would often tell me that he is praying for me.  He always visits me when I return home.  Nowadays I don’t talk to him very often but I often think of his kindness and this makes me want to be kind to someone else. 

 Aunty Pearline

Aunty Pearline ,as she was known to me, was my mother’s co-worker.  She would often invite me to her house where I would have sleepovers with her children.  I became very close to her daughter who was one year younger than me.  Aunty Pearline was always very encouraging to me, especially in regards to school.  One year she invited me to join her family on their family vacation at a hotel.  It was one of the my best vacations. When I started college in America she told me that I could contact her if I needed any help, financial or otherwise.  Nowadays I mostly stay in contact with her through her daughter. Her influence can be seen in the close relationship I now have with her daughter.

Special Day

My student drew this picture after we had a Special Day. I like it because it shows how happy she was. I also like the vibrant colors she used and the fact that everyone has the same nose.

Ohana means fam…

Ohana means family – no one gets left behind, and no one is ever forgotten. ~Chris Sanders and Dean DeBlois, Lilo & Stitch

A child can ask questions that a wise man cannot answer. ~Author Unknown

There’s nothing that can help you understand your beliefs more than trying to explain them to an inquisitive child.
-Frank A. Clark

Quotes that mean a lot to me, something to consider.

A younger me