How Much Time Does It Take To Create a Masterpiece?

Given the right set up and environment kids can create learn to focus on just about anything. What would happen if we gave them a bit more time...a few more minutes out of a busy day.
As an artist myself, I just wanted to say to the kids....
Hey, I understand....

Going Fast

I was thinking....
Being in early childhood education is a big responsibility. Children tend to learn what they live. In a world of fast food, instant mashed potatoes and canned curriculum...
For goodness, sake we have lemonade made from artificial lemons and furniture polish made from real lemons. Well, I said all that to say it is not only important for us grown folks to take time and smell the roses but our kids, too.
Going fast and getting everything instantly isn't always such a good thing.
My mom always said it's good for the soul when you sit and wait for something that's coming slow...

Smile

"Remember that there is no happiness in having or in getting, but only in giving. Reach out. Share. Smile. Hug. Happiness is a perfume you cannot pour on others without getting a few drops on yourself."
~ Og Mandino

I never thought the profession I chose would do as much for me as it did the for the children. I learned to laugh out loud, color with my toes, skip sideways, crawl through tunnels and get pulled out the other end, and how to take the honest truth about my choice of socks from a group of preschoolers.
Yes. Love and friendship comes in many forms.
My Mickey Mouse socks stay right where they are, though.....right where they are.

Teacher Documentation and It's Benefits in Early Childhood Education

Ink on paper is as beautiful to me as flowers on the mountains; 

God composes, why shouldn't we? 

~Terri Guillemets

I can remember when I used to take my drawing to my dad as a little girl. He used to stop whatever he was doing; ask me about it, gush over it and write down whatever I said…word for word.

As an early childhood education there are disagreements about how much or how often to praise. Praise vs encouragement, rewarding behavior, etc.
As a little girl I remember the time my father gave me. I wonder if preschooler remember that when we take the time to document their work?
Documentation and various transcripts of children’s words and discussions, photographs of children engaged in activities, play and representations of their thinking and learning using many medias are arranged are often arranged on the walls of the preschool classroom to document children’s work. All in all, it makes for a very print rich and personalized preschool environment.
Benefits of documentation can include:

• Making families aware of children’s experiences
• Maintaining parent involvement
• Allowing for teachers to understand children better
• Evaluating children’s work
• Providing a venue for children to recall and value their own work and the process of that work
• Facilitated communication and exchange ideas among educators.

-Facilitation of an overall sense of community, social development, and personal awareness and development for the child and among his or her peers.
I enjoy the personal time I get with the children when I document. I do consider it a bonding experience. It has helped me become a better listener, friend, and helped me to understand my children and even myself better.
What I have found is that what I am seeing in them, I see in myself…..
We are all growing and learning together.
That's something I not only love to document, but write about....
How about you? What do you really love to write about?

Understanding Montessori in Early Childhood Education

Children have to be educated, but they have 

also to be left to educate themselves.  

~Abbé Dimnet, Art of Thinking, 1928

I have had the opportunity to have Montessori training and it is quite fascinating. It is a very organized way of thinking and learning and children are viewed as ‘working’. Although in Developmentally Appropriate Practice it is often said that a child’s work is their play, the word "play" isn’t used here in this environment even though the children learn and have fun. It is my own opinion that Montessori is often misunderstood because any school can give themselves a ‘Montessori’ title simply because it isn’t trademarked. Not a lot of families really know what to look for in a school or a teacher….hence, the misunderstandings….

One thing I look for is the AMS, The American Montessori Society. Teachers usually have evidence of their training posted in their classroom and know who the AMS is. A seasoned directress knows how to use and instruct the children.
With any good quality early childhood program, check it out thoroughly.
One very dedicated Montessori teacher that has really touched my heart has been Ms. Mars. I urge you to check out her blogsite on blogger;
Montessori in Mars   
You'll get the idea of what Montessori is about on her site.

What is Developmentally Appropriate Practice in Early Childhood Education?

“A child’s play is a child’s work."

I have often looked at ‘early tools’ in museums done by skillful cave dwellers. Today we still have difficulty replicating them.

In the Montessori, play is viewed a bit differently, but there is a history behind it-I am not so quick to judge methods to learning for children because we all learn in so many different ways in early childhood settings. I know I learned many thing in unconventional ways, and many things I never learned in school.
I am often concerned when I see children made to ‘big kid work’ before they are ready or even interested. Early Childhood theorists have stated there are no tools out there today that will make any child smarter despite their claims, yet those marketing tactics are still out there. The fact still remains that the natural way children learn is through their work/play. In early childhood education this means bonding with the child, allowing the child to take healthy risks, enjoy meaningful activities, gain confidence in their skills/abilities and setting the child up for success in social situations.
Children recognize when they do something well. They appreciate when others notice it as well.
As a little girl I received lots of encouragement for certain skills and intelligences I had and I pursued them. It proved to be quite lucrative for me in the long run.
I have always seen compliments and encouragement as verbal hugs…
What kind of verbal hugs do you get or give?

Creating a Love for Words and Language in Early Childhood Education

 

“An animal's eyes have the power to speak a great language.”~Martin Buber

When I was young my dad read us the book, 40 Days to a More Powerful Vocabulary. I still remember some of the words and the meanings….I was in grade school.
Every now and then I give the preschoolers a word to use though out the month. I will use it in a sentence in different ways…point out its uses…and listen for opportunities when they use it.I like to incorporate it as part of the preschool curriculum. I have really noticed a difference in their language.
The word this month was, IMPRESSED.
As a class we clap for one another and they share with the group when they use it.
I found Marko staring at ‘Sushi’ the Fish. He was making faces at her and I walked over and asked him what he was thinking about.
“Ya know what, Ms. Barbra.”
“What would that be, Mr. Marko?”
“Well, I really like Sushi, here…you know why?” He said puckering and making faces at her in the tank.
“Actually, I was waiting for you to tell me….”
“Because she always looks impressed.” He said still puckering.
“Hey everyone! Let’s give Marko a hand!” I called out.
We all began clapping.

From Passion 2 Fruition

“Let your working ideas go for a picnic - sometimes the fresh air and ant bites are just what they need. Many great ideas were bitten a little at the beginning.”
~Carrie Latet

I loved to follow around ants as a kid. They built dams, bridges with their own bodies and dug endless tunnels. My mom was always heartsick looking for me at parks because I would always get lost following them….but I learned something.
Gather in the good times…the summers of your life-you will be prepared for the winters and look back in thankfulness. Together work, together build and teach it to your little ones. Be unified as a family.
There a lot nature can teach us....
I guess that's why I co-habituate with critters in the class. I'm not squeamish, either. We all are like little Fonzie's when it comes to the idea of nature....
coooooool.

Encouraging Scientific Thinking in Early Childhood Education

“Many saw the apple fall but Newton asked why.”

Bernard Baruch

How often do we provide opportunities for scientific thinking, questioning, and problem solving for our kids? Do we challenge them enough in their environment?
Take the challenge for yourself and ask yourself these questions.

*Are the children interested and excited about the materials in the environment both inside and outside?
*Do the questions I ask the children have a yes/no answer or a right/wrong answer at least 50% of the time?

*Do I allow the children to use materials in unconventional ways? Why or why not?
*Do I use materials in unconventional ways (in front of the children)? Why or why not?
*Do I ask children a question and correct them if they get the answer wrong?
*Do I ask children a question simply to hear their answer?
*Do I provide opportunities for children to problem solve together or individually.

What other questions do you think would be needful?

Fine Needlework

“We don't accomplish anything in this world alone ... and whatever happens is the result of the whole tapestry of one's life and all the weavings of individual threads from one to another that creates something.”

~Sandra Day O'Connor

“When you teach your son, you teach your son's son.”

~The Talmud

I first taught small children to sew on pieces of cut screen and with plastic needles and yarn. They were successful at it and learned the necessary hand eye skills to move in the using and managing of ‘real materials’. It was a successful prerequisite. I don’t know if the idea was mine or if someone taught me…I’m sure it has been done before, so I won’t take credit that bit of preschool curriculum.

I had great teachers as a child…my parents, my grandparents, friends-even my enemies. I was able to see what was woven in my spirit a teacher, friend and sister. I look at it with great appreciation for who I am now.
Sewing is an activity I love to have in my classroom.
At the end of the year the children have usually made a classroom tapestry…one gorgeous collage of individual threads all meeting together in a color splash community of art. At the end of the year the families all step back and marvel at its beauty.
I marvel through the process, though-How we all work together, agree on the colors, decide which way the thread goes….It’s a VERY big deal to kids…
And I agree whole heartedly with them, I must say.
But looking at their hard work pinned up on the all with four feeble thumb tacks…..well, it got me thinking….
The fine needlework of all of us….
It is-
A VERY
Big
Deal.

Analysis Paralysis

Some problems are so complex that you have to be highly intelligent and well-informed just to be undecided about them.
~ Laurence J. Peter

What to do…what to do…everyday is a new day with a shining new beginning. Bright smiling little faces may be looking at you for fun, excitement, learning and you’ve got……nothing. I am speaking of myself, of course. Some days I will admit, I feel like everything I have done with the children had gone wrong-or that I have simply sputtered out like a firecracker. In actuality, it couldn’t be further from the truth. It’s just a bad case of analysis paralysis. It’s very catchy…so be careful. Unlike the common cold or virus it only spreads when you over think or analyze-pouring... over a situation or subject far too long. When I first began teaching my first case of AP came with my preschool curriculum. Then I realized all the curriculum I will ever need comes from the children themselves….To this day, I have never run out of curriculum that has been engaging and exciting for both the families and the children. What we see in this life depends a lot on what we are mainly looking for. My friend, Morgane is an artist…she sees art everywhere, even in a hardware store. I have never known her to limit herself to canvas and paint. What I love about her and children is that everything about their creative mind says, “GO!”. So if you ever feel a case of AP coming on, you might need to get creative.

Primary Caregiving

It takes a village to raise a child.
-African Proverb

I know it’s out there. I learned about the effects of primary care giving on young children. Marked differences in receptiveness in learning, socialization and self control in preschool aged children can carry over into Kindergarten and yet….it is not always enforced. At a few centers and preschool I went to many directors and teachers didn’t even know what primary care giving was. It there some new word for it now? Or…am I just, O-L-D? Well, If this is the case, allow me to tell you what worked a long time ago.

Primary Caregivers were usually assigned children at the beginning of the year (if they worked in teams). As the children began to bond with the teachers and vise versa, the children were reassigned in “groups”. As a primary the teacher made a special effort to get to know the group. These are some of the situations or activities that may be directed to her for the special attention.

*emotional/physical availability
*conflict resolution
*avocation/ parent conferencing
*diapering/toileting
*noticing & understanding the child & children
*caring for the child to grow as a positive & well rounded individual

If the teacher works in a team with others, it is of course, everyone’s responsibility to care for, manage, motivate and encourage all the children. We care for all of them- as primary caregivers it takes lots of communication and teamwork. These skills develop over time. I have found that there is much more attention given to the children and the parents as a result. As a primary care giver one has to have to ability to work within a team. This takes cooperation, patience, and a positive attitude- and that is what we are teaching our children anyway… I really hope I see more primary caregiving out there!

An Organized Mind

"Loyalty cannot be blueprinted. It cannot be produced on an assembly line. In fact, it cannot be manufactured at all, for its origin is the human heart-the center of self-respect and human dignity. It is a force which leaps into being only when conditions are exactly right for it-and it is a force very sensitive to betrayal
~Maurice R. Franks

As a preschool teacher-when I am with the children I am focused on them. When I am working as a team teacher I am conscious that their eyes and ears are on me….I and careful about the things I say and do. I don’t spend time yakking on my cell phone, text messaging, I spend time with the kids…I devote the time to the children and unless there is a pressing emergency-everything else can wait. During naptime or specific times of the day is playing catch up with “big people” stuff. Your mind has to be organized and you must make a decision every day to do it or it will never happen. A lot of these skills I learned through cutting edge programs called Life Skills 4ll and youareaceo.com.
The children bounce off the teachers’ vibe…there is nothing like feeling calm, organized and focused…then your classroom will begin to fall in line.

The Teacher's Reward

Mental toughness is many things and rather difficult to explain. Its qualities are sacrifice and self-denial. Also, most importantly, it is combined with a perfectly disciplined will that refuses to give in. It's a state of mind-you could call it character in action."
~Vince Lombardi

Making conscious decisions everyday to put the children first speaks volumes as to what we as educators value. Creating variety in the learning environment is completely up to you…but that is the key to holding the children’s interest, sense of exploration, and enthusiasm about the classroom and how they feel about school. Our own mental energy is what will limit our children. Being the consistent person in the classroom is needful as well. You are the one person that holds the program together in that sense…providing consistency. Being the shoulder to cry on, the ear that will listen, and the cheerful face that provides a ready approving smile of encouragement. Yes, it’s difficult at times…and our payment is not visible on a paycheck. The reward is on the inward part of the heart….It’s just what good teachers do.

Tips to Promoting a Sense of Wonder in Early Childhood Education

"Without the playing with fantasy no creative work has ever yet come to birth. The debt we owe to the play of imagination is incalculable."
~Carl Jung

Kids are naturally curious and have a great imagination. Keeping it alive to inspire creative thinking as well as language is part of my job as an early childhood educator. Many of the ways I promote creative thinking and language is through the language I use in the preschool classroom. Here are a few tips to help promate a sense of wonder through open ended questioning.


Teaching Tips to Promote a Sense of Wonder:

"I wonder if/why.." 
"How did that happen?" 
"What if..." 
"How do you think we could..." 
"How do you feel about.." 
"Can you tell me about.." 
"How many different ways can you..." 
"How is___and ___the same?" 
"Do you have some ideas about..."

We are always surprised and delighted by the answers I get from children!