Changes in Routine in Early Childhood Education

 
“Empty your mind, be formless, shapeless - like water. Now you put water into a cup, it becomes the cup, you put water into a bottle, it becomes the bottle, you put it in a teapot, it becomes the teapot. Now water can flow or it can crash. Be water, my friend.”
-Bruce Lee

How flexible are we when it comes to changes within our own early childhood environments? How about routine changes. If I am having a bad day…do the preschooler know it? Should they know it?
I really like quotes for this reason….they make you think.

A Higher Standard

"Hold yourself responsible for a higher standard than anybody else expects of you. Never excuse yourself. Never pity yourself. Be a hard master to yourself-and be lenient to everybody else."
— Henry Ward Beecher

A Pastor once said that his beloved mother said to him...."I simply won't trust you with these people (the parishioners) unless I see a random child run up and hug your legs."
So true, isn't it.
I hold myself to the same standard....and strive to remain worthy of those hugs.
By the way....
She trusts her son....

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.