This is a photo of me in Kindergarten. I'm in the back row with the blue and pink dress.
One thing that fuels my passion for early childhood is realizing that Kindergarten, as with the rest of education, was not innate in society but rather created. I really enjoyed learning about early childhood education, including about Froebel, the "father"of Kindergarten, in my undergraduate program. This is why I chose a picture of me in Kindergarten- learning about the beginnings of education was a turning point for me in realizing my passion for the field of Early Childhood.
My favorite children's book is Goodnight Moon by Margaret Wise Brown. Perhaps it is my favorite because it is classic children's literature. Perhaps it is my favorite because it was my grandmother's favorite and she made sure to read it to me every night I was with her. Perhaps it is my favorite because of how much fun it can be to read. My favorite things to do with Goodnight Moon are to prompt the child for the words (I will not say them while reading and wait for a child to offer the word) and to talk about all the objects in the book. It has been great fun watching as a young child says "moon" for the first time. It is also great fun to hear a toddler recite the story word-for-word. Right now I work in a toddler room (ages 15 months to 3 years) and we read Goodnight Moon at least once a day. Of course, I know all the words by heart!
A final thing that makes me love the field of Early Childhood is a boy named Jacob. I met Jacob on my very first day of teaching; I was a substitute student classroom aide and had barely ever played with a young child, much less cared for one. As I found my stride working at the childcare center, Jacob always was on my mind. He displayed very challenging behavior, and even with no experience, I could tell this was extreme. The situation bothered me to no end- what was I doing wrong? How could I help him? Months went by of talking to the lead teachers about what we were seeing with Jacob and being counseled on how to approach him during times of violence. Finally, I went to the director and inquired curiously about Jacob. We had a great conversation about Jacob and his life before age three. Jacob was now adopted and had suffered extreme abuse and neglect as a young toddler and baby. I felt so emotional about the situation because of my own upbringing and the similarities in our situations. I, too presented with extreme violence as a young child due to my own early attachment and lack of nurturing. Jacob became my fuel. I worked hard to meet him where he was, respect him and his autonomy, and help him regulate his own emotions and behaviors. My appreciation for Jacob and his talents only expanded, and my drive to make the world a place where children are nurtured. In my career, there have been countless "Jacob's", but I will never forget the Jacob I met on my first day- I still think about him and wonder how he is. Sometimes when I get frustrated in my own classroom., I think about Jacob, take a deep breath, and continue with my work.
Hello Neisha I had a child in my room like Jacob that stole my heart he is the kind of student that puts my passion to work
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ReplyDeleteNeisha I enjoy hearing about your experiences with the boy named Jacob. I had a little boy enrolled in my program who struggled with behavioral issues. You don't know what to do and begin to question yourself as to what is necessary to redirect the negative behavior. And channel that inappropriate behavior to a positive. However, before I put my educational strategies into practice I discussed my concerns and welcomed feedback from my licensing specialist that had been a childcare provider before choosing to be a specialist. She explained first I had to get the parents involved and let them work with him at home as well. At the time behavior issues were happening the parents were going through an unpleasant divorce and this affected his behavior when he was three years old. He cared for him for ten years so he has now aged out and is a teenager and in middle school.
ReplyDeleteCarmencita A.
Neisha
ReplyDeleteWorking in the teaching profession,brings about many children that leave an impact on our lives. Jacob reminds me of this little boy in my preschool class name Durben. Durben entered my class wearing diapers and unable to talk. I took the time to get to know and made him feel as if he is important. By the time Durben left my class he was speaking, spelling his first and last name, and out of diapers. This made mom, dad, and Durben proud. Sometimes I still see his family at different stores mom always let me know how she is grateful she is to have met me. It's kids like Durben that touches me and make an ever lasting impression.They are the kids that makes this job well worth it.