~ My Support ~

In discussing my supports, there are many people that are supportive to me daily. First my greatest support would have to be my Family. My family as a whole have been there for me in all areas of my life, and have been there since day one. (My mom, sister, dad, grandma, and my aunt.) I am currently working two full jobs and they are very supportive. They help out with my kids a great deal. Working two jobs trying to provide and make a living for those girls and I, I have little time to share with them. They alternate days to keep them for me while I work. They make sure the are fed and school work is done. I just recently had to move back home with my parents because of financial and health problems and they were there with open arms to accept us back in to their homes. I have a very close-knit family, we have a strong bond with each other and yes, disagreements arise, and we have heated moments but we get passed that and have each other backs no matter what. My family is very important and I do not know what I would do without them in my life.
~ " Family... a group experience of love and support. "  Author Unknown ~

Next, my greatest support would be my friends. I have two bestfriends who have been there for me since my early adulthood life. We met in college as roommates and have been friends every since. We have been through good times and bad times. Especially going through the bad relationships with my kids father they have been there by my side encouraging and uplifting me. Even when they gave me advice about different situations and chose not to listen they did not turn their back on me or not once said "I told you so". Road trips together, Drinks, Laughs, and Fun!! We are always there for one another and down for whatever. I love them and I don't know what I would do without them as well.
~ " A friend is someone who understands your past, believes in your future, and accepts you just the way you are" Author Unknown ~

My co-workers are also very supportive of me. We support each other. They are there to help me when I do not understand something or just need to talk. We constantly ask each other if it something we can do to make each other load lighter. At my second job they are supportive as well because they allow me to take breaks to catch on my school work, both jobs are very understanding and supportive of my dreams.

~"  I've learned that every day you should reach out and touch someone. People love a warm hug, or just a friendly pat on the back." Marianna Williamson ~

Last but not least, my church family is very supportive also. My faith in GOD plays a major role in my life. I am constantly praying to GOD for support, guidance, and strength. For I know I could not do anything without him in my life.

" ~ Understand to achieve anything require FAITH and belief in yourself, vision, hardwork, determination, and dedication. Remember all things all are possible for those who believe."
~ Gail Devers ~

A challenge for me to imagine is that if all my support was gone, there would be no way possible to do things I needed to do in order to make a living for my kids and I. I would probably be a mental wreck with no hair.  My state of mind would be devastating and I would be depressed. I would hate for this to happen, I even hate thinking about it. Thank GOD for my support system.

~ My Connections to Play ~

~ Play Quotes ~ 

“Children learn as they play. Most importantly, in play children learn how to learn.” ~ O. Fred Donaldson

“The opposite of play is not work. The opposite of play is depression.” Brian Sutton-Smith (play scholar)

“Play gives children a chance to practice what they are learning…They have to play with what they know to be true in order to find out more, and then they can use what they learn in new forms of play.” ~ Fred Rogers (Mr. Rogers’ Neighborhood)

When I was younger there were many people who supported play. My teachers, parents, neighbors, and other people around the community. I can remember in headstart we would have recess, at home after doing homework and on weekends my parents would always encourage us to go outside and play. At that time we were all staying with my grandmother and her yard was the biggest in the neighborhood in which we stayed. My uncle who is a couple years older than me would invite friends over and they would come over and play.  It started off just the boys playing basketball until my mom got out there with them and encouraged my sister and I to play. Then the girls finally started to come. Then before you knew it, grandma house was the spot to play. We went from basketball, to kickball, to dodgeball, to hide and seek, to play teacher. : ) (the good days) We would have a yard full of children. The parents of those children started coming over to see why their children were dying to get to grandma house and they ended up bonding and starting friendships with my grandma. My grandma would always encourage us and tell us to go outside and play. I can remember making mud pies with my cousins and when we played teacher the dirt road infront of our house was the board. We would use sticks to write and play in the dirt. I remember my first kitchen set. My mom and I would pretend we were having a tea party or even cooking and I would pretend to pour tea in her cup and we drink and talk. In playing I learned how to communicate, I learned gender roles, we stayed in fit, it helped to boost my self esteem which allowed me to positively accept myself and most of all I was able to form and build relationships that were meaningful and that I still cherish today. All because my grandma and my parents supported play.

Play today is not as important as it should be. Parents and society today are focused to much on academics and preparing children to pass test that they forget about how important it is. With technology taking over the world, the trend now is video games, IPOD, IPADS, Playstations and much more. I feel we are crippling and handicapping our children. On the health outlook so many of our children are overweight and obese because of poor diets and habits. Parents today, and myself at times are so tied up with making sure we buy our children that game they want instead of buying things that increases play. Even in pre-school now it's less recess time and more instructional time. My daughter who is two comes home with homework sheets to do. I thought this was a good thing and starting instructional teaching would put her ahead until now, I can truly see the difference and harm we are causing.

Play is very critical and is a very natural way for children to learn because it uses all of their senses. Playtime allows children to practice taking in information and organizing it to solve problems and understand their environment. Playtime gives an opportunity for children to learn, focus, and build self-confidence and self-esteem. 

Listed below are pictures of things I use to play with when I was younger.

  

 

                                    

 

 

 

 

~ Relationship Reflection ~

 

Relationships and partnerships are important to me because it is crucial in children development. There is nothing far more important than a child well-being and development of readiness. Educating children ensuring all their needs are met as well as being dedicated in providing and creating environments and interactions that fosters learning is one of my passions for life. In order to fully understand and bring out the best in a child you must form partnerships and relationships with families and other outside positive influences. Partnering is essential in enhancing children learning. Early Childhood is the time when foundations of learning and development are established and when brain development is at its optimal level. Having a relationship with parents, families and all other influences develops a sense of being and belonging. By communicating freely and respectfully, sharing insights and engaging in decisions we are partnering to give our children opportunity for a rich and diverse quality start in development and in school readiness.

In identifying several people with whom I currently have positive relationships I would say my student Casada, her mom and other teachers within the school. Casada is a special needs/inclusion student. I work with her only because of the much attention she needs, and I love her dearly. Our relationship is positive because we have built a strong bond. We trust each other and she has enough trust in me to know I am there for here. I have had the opportunity to know more about her outside of school. She also feels comfortable in telling me secrets and when things are bothering her. When given those opportunities I do and say things that will help to show how much I care. Another person I have a positive relationship with is Casada mother. Our relationship is positive because she also trust and know that I would do whatever it takes to ensure her daughter is receiving a quality education as well as have all the materials she need to do so. Our relationship is also positive because she is an involved parent. She is always giving helpful insights on what she thinks is best for her child and if anytime we disagree it is fine. We always fine a meeting spot. The more communicating we do the better I can make the curriculum to meet her needs as well as her strengths and weaknesses. We also have a personal relationship outside of school. I absolutely love how involved she is in her child education. I think more parents should be like her.

Lastly, I have a positive relationship with other teachers within the school. By my student being an inclusion student we go out to different classes. We communicate and collaborate daily to make sure we are on the same track. We also share what we know about the child so we can incorporate it in the curriculum that will work for them. It makes teaching more effective. We have even completed lesson plans together. We all are working together toward a common goal. The goal is to provide quality and to have the best interest of the child and their future. 

 

~ Quotes To Live By ~

Listed below are a few quotes that may be helpful in our daily work. I wish all of you the best in your future endeavors. Please know that I appreciate all of your comments, insights  and encouragements. You all are greatly appreciated!!!

* The whole purpose of education is to turn mirrors into windows. ~Sydney J. Harris

*  An educational system isn't worth a great deal if it teaches young people how to make a living but doesn't teach them how to make a life. ~Author Unknown

* Every time you stop a school, you will have to build a jail. What you gain at one end you lose at the other. It's like feeding a dog on his own tail. It won't fatten the dog. ~Mark Twain
* Education is an ornament in prosperity and a refuge in adversity. ~Aristotle

* Education is the ability to listen to almost anything without losing your temper or your self-confidence. ~Robert Frost

* "Children are like wet cement. Whatever falls on them makes an impression.- Dr. Hiam Ginnot

* "Free the child's potential, and you will transform him into the world."- Maria Montessori

* "This state has put a lot of concentration on reforming the K-12 system, but we've done very little with early childhood education. We can't wait until they get to kindergarten because then we're just playing catch-up."- Evelyn Keating

* "Experts tell us that 90% of all brain development occurs by the age of five. If we don't begin thinking about education in the early years, our children are at risk of falling behind by the time they start Kindergarten."- Robert. L. Ehrlich

* "We worry about what a child will become tomorrow, yet we forget that he is someone today."- Stacia Tauscher

 

 ~ Commitment To Young Children ~

In considering commitment to young children I think developmental assessments should be done to help identify possible developmental problems. The child may be showing signs ofhe child and he or she can be eligible for certain programs and interventions. The teacher can become aware of the child and their strengths and weaknesses. Some teachers may also need to give testing material at a lower level allowing the child to work themselves up so the teacher can properly identify where the weakness are.

Another factor I feel should be measured is a child social interactions and ability to form relationships. I think this is important because they can miss out on opportunities that are critical to resolve social conflicts, communicate, and compromise. Children then develop low self-confidence, and little faith in their own abilities. I also feel asseessing the child environment is also vital. In assessing the environment you can measure the family stressors, and coping styles. You can also look into the family support systems and caregiving skills. Environment plays a strong role in children development, i affects the child's mood, actions, and views of life.


Lastly, I would do Teacher Evaluations. This is important because it would allow the teacher to be aware of what he/she needs to work more on to help teach the students as well as herself grow. Constructive Critism too me  is very insighful. In Asia they focus on performance in classroom assessment, where they complete course reuirements . The course measure their ability to regurgitate information and being able to use it. They also perform self assessment, teacher observations, portfoilios, and uizzes/test. Assessment is important because all of the decisions made will be beneficial for educating the child, and all assessment decisions as whole will alter the child learning outcome.

References: http://asiasociety.org/education/

~ STRESSORS AFFECTING DEVELOPMENT ~

~VIOLENCE ~

There are many factors and stressors that affect development. However, I chose to discuss Violence. In choosing Violence it brings back memories not when I was 16 years old. I started dating the father of my oldest child. Everything was fine at first but attitudes and really bad arguments begin around the time I turn 18. I can remember my high school graduation he jumped on me because I wanted to go out and celebrate instead of being with him. That was the first time he ever hit me. After that the promise to never hit me again and after that hits and punches became regular. I remember lying to my parents like I ran into something or I fell or I would even stay weeks on campus to keep my family knowing I was in an abusive relationship. My mom has an idea of it but I would always lie because I thought I was in love. He took me down, I was even jumped on while I was eight months pregnant but did not know how to tell anyone I needed help. I had friends who would talk to me about getting out the relationship, even threatened to tell my parents but I begged them not too. However, that all came to an end when he pulled a gun on me and I knew I had to get away if not for myself for the sake for my little baby girl I had just had. I finally reach out and told my family and they literally wanted to hurt him. We were together six years and that was the most stressful period in my life. I hair fell out, my weight was up and down , my grades dropped in school, at times I could not eat or sleep, I was just down and out majority of time. Today I still have a few issues that I believe have to do with that relationship, there were many decisions I made that I did not agree with that I was forced to do that I believed hinder my development in certain areas of life. I just thank GOD for bringing me out that situation. I would not wish anything like I have experienced on anyone. I encourage anyone to get out before it's to late.

In researching about other regions or other counties that are affect by violence, I chose to discuss Mexico. The most pervasive violations of women’s rights involve domestic and sexual violence, both are widespread and vastly underreported. According to a national survey by the Secretariat of Health (SSA), one third of women in health centers and hospital were victims of domestic violence. 30-50% of women in Mexico reported that they have experienced physical violence or psychological abuse from their partners according to surveys in different localities. Because of the insufficent resources, Mexico has numerous other public health issues (aside from domestic violence), which are competing for attention and funding. While there are a few organizations and a few government institutions, adequate attention to domestic violence does not exist. However in Chihuahua Mexico, they became the first Mexican state to use satellite tracking bracelet to protect domestic violence victims. The bracelet is small snd similar to a watch. The victim will be able to call for help using their voice. 


References:
  latino.foxnews.com/latino/politics/2012/11/22/satellite
vocesunidas.org/training/Reports_on_Mexico_DV.pdf

~CHILD DEVELOPMENT AND PUBLIC HEALTH ~

~Breastfeeding~

Beastfeeding is giving human breast milk to infants to meet their nutritional needs. I chose Breastfeeding because I never knew much about it until my baby was ill and could only have breastmilk. I never really cared for breastfeeding and it was never an option for me. However, that changed with her being sick. My doctor informed me how it would provide nutrients for her body and also antibodies to protect her. The doctor also said how much easier it would be for her to digest the milk rather than formula. The first couple weeks I tried and it took me forever to fill a bottle and it bothered me, but I continued no matter how long it took. I would like to think that breastfeeding played a vital role in getting her well. In the Philippines out of almost 7 million children below the age of five (87%) were never breastfed. Nearly 3.4 million children were given liquid or food other than breastmilk within three days after being born. This was so shocking to me, especially feeding babies food starting the first couple days after being born. I usually did not give my kids tablefood until they were about 10 months old. 31% of the mothers claimed they did not breastfeed because they believed they didn't have enough milk. In the Philippines breastfeeding lasts only an average of 24 days. However the Philippines are experiencing hunger and malnutrition.1 out of 4 children are underweight, and 1 out of 20 die due to malnutrition. So now they are trying to promote exclusively breastfeeding, in which the infants only drink breastmilk. Some believe it will cut down the cost of buying milk and research shows that children who are exclusively breastfeeding have a higher I.Q and are 14 times more likely to survive. ILO an initiative was started to promote exclusive breastfeeding in the workplace. They believe this will reduce hunger, extreme poverty, and child morality rate.

References:
www.unicef.org/philippines/children/breastfeeding_2.html

Video: www.youtube.com/watch Exclusive Breastfeeding in the Workplace.