little world

sometimes i dream about the little world i want to create for my children.

and i think it will look something like this...

poems and rhythms, neutral and changing.
a space where their imaginations will create
the color, objects and characters.
a rich environment of exploration
and adventure at it's peak.
walls portraying the depths of their
ideas and spaces including their creatively
moving selves. painting each pathway as they
go, leaving behind messages of the journey
they wrote each day. this is no ordinary place.
its a destiny of magical appearances. nature
and imagination at it's best. fairytales and
folktales grace the shelves of books never ending.
they can only go as far as I allow.
what they are not exposed to becomes a world unknown.
so daring, I expose them to a limitless array of hope which
will carry their dreams beyond their imagination.

in the secret.

In the midst of my emotionally drained array I am eager with passion to create even more awareness of play for children and the lack of recognition in their developmental milestones. I am going on 13 hours of overtime and a day full of parent meetings, developmental portfolio's and conference profiles. It is unbelievable to me how little parents educate themselves on these days and how they have no clue that a dr and most teachers won't recognize if their child is on the autism spectrum or has developmental delays. I am Thankful and owe Jesus the credit for the ability to get through days like today and live them to the fullest.

In the secret of Your presence I know there I am restored. When You call I won't refuse.

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

A glimpse of lately

Such a time as this...

Leaving 2010 with more love for my husband than ever, great humility in all the trials God has brought us through together, a better understanding of the man I married for his character proved strong through the most difficulty, loyalty and love proven in friendships, a job that not only changed my world but is giving me a new profound way of raising my children, glimpses of eternity that strike the deepest cord in a being to long for that which he was made for in a greater way. Forgiveness on a whole new level... For those who forgive understand Gods love for them so much that the hurt another person caused them would not effect them, for they understand the forgiveness paid for them. A heart longing to be close to my family yet trusting Gods place for me and knowing He knows that desire and is near in times that are difficult. Accepting that He called me for something greater than myself, even if that means abandoning things not as worthy and sacrificing worldliness for someone who paid it all for me to h a v e life, life more abundantly. Living for what you were created for is not an easy path, it's finding He who is greater and letting Him carry you to places some long for but never take up their cross to follow. Stepping out of the normal perspectives and following One that is beyond normal thinking and living. It is know your identity, never wavering in it and knowing how the Almighty sees you, feels about you and desires all of you. He called me Mine, and i am His beloved... I was made for such a time as this...

There is only so much one can handle at a time. With teaching, I didn't think I would be able to balance it all... But I've found myself at a place where I can. Yet there are those days that you are just trying to keep your classroom in order in the midst of multiple different challenges with children, you pause, and start to doubt your abilities and wonder if you have been doing it the right way all along. I find in these times that it is only healthy and simply a vital reflection time that is necessary to go to that next level as a teacher. To examine yourself and the way you run the classroom. If this process fails to happen, then you will find yourself stagnant, at a place where you need challenge and change for growth to occur.

Here is a glimpse of what this balance entails...

While in the classroom, a teacher must:

Make sure everyone is safe at all times
Know who and how many are in the classroom
Give one on one facilitation for conflict resolution and problem solving
Depending on what center your in at the time- serve snack (not a simple packaged one, but a full on home made from scratch healthy snack that the children help make) watch all doors, refill supplies like paint, help children who have accidents, water the gardens if your outside, and a number of other things.
Problem solve when one child hurts another
Keep consistency and flow of children coming in and out of the room
Greet parents
Check in with parents
Facilitate the Childrens play, ask open ended questions, make your perspective their own so that you can see through their eyes, help them engage in activities if they are distracted, listen as they tell you stories, comfort the ones who are sad
Disengage in power struggles as children will try to test your limits at different stages, as they explore anatomy.
Read stories
Follow through with children who have not cleaned up
Be aware of each child and how they normally are to prevent unseen sickness which can cause them to act out
Observe the children to track their development and emerging skills
Write up incident reports for the ones who get hurt
Never loose sight of the passion which causes you to guide their discoveries
Be aware of their abilities to challenge them but not to give them something they cannot achieve which will cause discouragement
They list may go on... That is all I can think of for now!


- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

babies

Magda Gerber... her philosophy changed my perspective on babies. It is incredible and I will be following it when I have babies! If you have a baby or are pregnant... look into her books!



http://t3.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcSHicQMmi0Q9BkTWlEcarzLnqQ5Qq7drmbpSWUHUmpizjW46lqPBg


http://t0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcRCQIFHpwaC8e_ZUkqAVcEdM3fkdI-y9rBbez9w_FRIC2j3KD8B

http://www.rie.org/

skin

http://tbafblog.com/2010/11/great-skin-you-now-have-a-choice/