Observing Communication
The observation that I observed happened in the Reading computer lab at the school I work in. The teachers in the school bring their children into the lab to take AR tests. AR tests are tests given on books in which the teacher, the child, or someone else has read to the child. On this particular day, a 2nd grade class was taking tests on the computer. What I noticed the most was the patience and the praise in which she was giving each individual child. She was so encouraging to them to be successful on taking the test. What caught my attention was, her words, and her tone. She would say to them I like these 100's, good job boys and girls, and you all are so smart. I just loved it.
Lisa Kolbeck stated in the media segment that it is important to let children have the space they need to learn and develop (Laureate Education,2011). She also stated that that people that work with children are those who are starting to work with children it is very important that we not close children off with walls of our assumptions. We need to leave ourselves open to surprises, because they (children) have so many surprises inside that we can learn about. This is so true, from my professional and personal experiences of working with children. If we just stand back and observe, and listen to what they are saying, not just during play, but any given activity, we can learn a lot.
I think the children in the 2nd grade class were very happy. Some of them would say to me, look Ms. Hollis, look what I made. Teacher talk is powerful in the classroom. It is very important in the development of children, especially when the language is used that they can relate to or understand ( Dangel& Durden,2010).
It is very important as educators that we watch our choice of words when we are communicating with children. The power of a hurtful word or comment can damage a young child for the rest of his/her life. I try to respect their opinions, and I always listen to what they are saying, because what they are saying is important too. Words shape our attitudes, feelings, and our thoughts (2010). The main purpose in my opinion when teaching and talking to children is to support their learning and development, to not bring any hurt, harm or danger to them ., but to keep them safe, to nurture them, and to bring joy into their learning experiences in the classroom.
References
Communicating with Young Children. (Laureate Education,2011). Retrieved from https://class.waldenu.edu/webapps/blackboard/content/lait/Content.jsp?course_id=_419753
Rainer, D. & Durden, T.R. (2010). The nature of teacher talk during small group activities. YC: Young Children, 65(1), 74-81. Retrieved from the Walden Library using the Education Research Complete database: http://ezp.waldenulibrary.org/login?url=http://searchebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=ehh&AN=47964033&site=ehost-live&scope=site.
Saturday, January 25, 2014
Thursday, January 16, 2014
Creating Affirming Environments
Children need to feel safe, loved and nurtured in order to develop the basic trust they need for healthy development ( Richards, 2010). I am in total agreement with the statement by Richards in saying that the goals are for children in providing a family child care home is to develop a strong positive concept and empathy for others through healthy, intellectual, physical, social, emotional, and moral development ( pg.52).
If I could design my own personal Family Child Care Home I would use the experiences provided in the readings by BJ Richards, and Adriana Castillo. My main goal would be to provide a family oriented atmosphere and a environment where families could leave their children and feel that their children are in a home that is similar and familiar to the home they live in. The materials I would use would be anti-bias related and a representative of the many cultures and differences as well as the similarities of my families. My room set-up would be one big area which will consist of divided off areas for a Reading center, a art center, a dramatic play center, a listening center, and large area for circle time. Each of these areas will be labeled by signs and pictures, along with the necessary materials for use in the learning and development of each child.
The reading center will have a variety of books and puppets that are representative of teaching children the diversity of human life. The art area will have a variety of paint colors, markers, paper, and crayons which represent skin tones. The dramatic play area will have dolls of many cultures, real clothing and play costumes, and also real and found materials that are representative of home living. The listening area will have music that represent that represent children's culture's and languages, a tape recorder with a variety of stories with the tapes and read along books. The large group area will be for story time, block play, and large puzzles. This area will be my main area where the children can talk together, interact together, and have room for exploration. It will be an area where we can come together as a group at the end of the day for sharing and saying good bye.
The readings and the media segment were both instrumental in helping me to implement my plan. I had the experience in working with preschool age children in a pre-kindergarten setting. I really enjoyed the experience of setting up the classroom. This is why I chose my action plan for setting up my family childcare home. The preschool settings are design as home away from home for children who attend the program. As Adriana Castillo recommends, anyone that wants to work with children, keep going, but never do it alone, because we always have good people around us, with good resources, because she di not do it alone, but found great people to work with ( Laureate Education, 2011). I totally agree, point very well taken in order to be successful.
References
Derman-Parks, L., & Olsen-Edwards, J. (2010). Anti-Bias Education for young children and ourselves. National Association for the Education of Young Children. Washington, D.C. (NAEYC).
Strategies for working with diverse children. Welcome to an Anti-Bias learning community. (Laureate Education, 2011). Retrieved from https://class.waldenu/webapps/blackboard/content/listContent.jsp?course_id=_419753.
Children need to feel safe, loved and nurtured in order to develop the basic trust they need for healthy development ( Richards, 2010). I am in total agreement with the statement by Richards in saying that the goals are for children in providing a family child care home is to develop a strong positive concept and empathy for others through healthy, intellectual, physical, social, emotional, and moral development ( pg.52).
If I could design my own personal Family Child Care Home I would use the experiences provided in the readings by BJ Richards, and Adriana Castillo. My main goal would be to provide a family oriented atmosphere and a environment where families could leave their children and feel that their children are in a home that is similar and familiar to the home they live in. The materials I would use would be anti-bias related and a representative of the many cultures and differences as well as the similarities of my families. My room set-up would be one big area which will consist of divided off areas for a Reading center, a art center, a dramatic play center, a listening center, and large area for circle time. Each of these areas will be labeled by signs and pictures, along with the necessary materials for use in the learning and development of each child.
The reading center will have a variety of books and puppets that are representative of teaching children the diversity of human life. The art area will have a variety of paint colors, markers, paper, and crayons which represent skin tones. The dramatic play area will have dolls of many cultures, real clothing and play costumes, and also real and found materials that are representative of home living. The listening area will have music that represent that represent children's culture's and languages, a tape recorder with a variety of stories with the tapes and read along books. The large group area will be for story time, block play, and large puzzles. This area will be my main area where the children can talk together, interact together, and have room for exploration. It will be an area where we can come together as a group at the end of the day for sharing and saying good bye.
The readings and the media segment were both instrumental in helping me to implement my plan. I had the experience in working with preschool age children in a pre-kindergarten setting. I really enjoyed the experience of setting up the classroom. This is why I chose my action plan for setting up my family childcare home. The preschool settings are design as home away from home for children who attend the program. As Adriana Castillo recommends, anyone that wants to work with children, keep going, but never do it alone, because we always have good people around us, with good resources, because she di not do it alone, but found great people to work with ( Laureate Education, 2011). I totally agree, point very well taken in order to be successful.
References
Derman-Parks, L., & Olsen-Edwards, J. (2010). Anti-Bias Education for young children and ourselves. National Association for the Education of Young Children. Washington, D.C. (NAEYC).
Strategies for working with diverse children. Welcome to an Anti-Bias learning community. (Laureate Education, 2011). Retrieved from https://class.waldenu/webapps/blackboard/content/listContent.jsp?course_id=_419753.
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